Reformation21

I was born and grew up in Australia, saved in my teens, attending a church on university campus, a church planted by a pastor from the States. This last detail is important, because I would marry his daughter one day, explaining why we now live in America. But such details also help frame a...

In February I published an article on extemporaneous preaching . Since then, I’ve received various comments and had a number of enjoyable discussions. But in all of these interactions a common question arose: “So Seob, do you really think extemporaneous preaching is the only right way to preach a...

Over the last week or so, there’s been something of an online dust-up involving the approach to Christian cultural engagement modeled by Tim Keller—pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Keller has long been a favored target of those who would challenge “establishment” American...

It is difficult to tell if the countenance is grinning, scowling, or yawning open with insatiable hunger, but it seems that Death’s face is closer than usual as it stares out from the inky shadows at the edges of life. Death feels more present than usual right now. International headlines continue...

After two years of the coronavirus, Christians are facing two temptations in relationship to the body of Christ. You might experience one or even both of these tendancies in your own life. I call them “a failure of heart” and “a failure of nerve.” [1] A Failure of Heart A failure of heart is to...

There are only 335 days until Easter. Are you excited yet? For many, Easter is a highlight in the annual life cycle of a church family. We mark our calendars months in advance. Our anticipation brightens and warms with the Spring. We clear our schedules of competing commitments and bend our lives...

Thieves are typically pegged under one of two caricatures. The first is the burglar ruffian who picks your pocket, breaks into your car, or steals your Amazon package. The second is the white-collar fat cat, embezzling from his employees and clients or pulling the strings of a Ponzi scheme. Both...

Jonathan Edwards’ short essay on Undiscerned Spiritual Pride [1] is something that should be read by all pastors or Christians in leadership positions. In that work Edwards writes, “The first and the worst cause of errors, that prevail in [our day], is spiritual pride . This is the main door by...

Every sinner effectually called by God receives the grant of repentance. God has mercifully provided a way for restoration His covenant of grace—a restoration that can overcome even our most grievous sins. This was the subject we saw last time in chapter 15 of the Second London Baptist Confession...

“You shall not steal” – Deut. 5:19 Back when Immanuel Church Nashville was first planted, Ray Ortlund made a case for spending money so people could have Starbucks brand coffee in the lobby. Setting aside the fact that Starbucks coffee by itself is not actually that good (it’s the blends), he made...