Author: Pastor Rich Lusk
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The Principle of Covenant Inclusion: Covenant Children as Participants in the Sacramental Life of the Church
The inclusion of children in the sacramental life of the covenant community is no minor theme in Scripture. Again and again, we see that God includes the youngest children in the rites and rituals of the church. Children are included when the people of God gather. Children of believers are counted and treated as members…
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Civil Fathers
Civil magistrates are fathers to their people. But what kind of fathers are they? If the citizenry is irresponsible and undisciplined, he has to be a controlling father – usually some kind of tyrant, because they people cannot govern themselves. The citizens are like little children who need someone to do everything for them. Think…
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Jesus > Angels (Hebrews 1)
Hebrews 1:4-14 quotes 7 OT texts to show that Jesus is superior to the angels (6 are psalms, 1 is from Deuteronomy). This may seem like a strange argument to make. But it actually fits well into the overall theme of Hebrews, which is to show Jesus is superior to every facet of the old…
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Stories of Forgiveness
[This is a recent X post.] Stories of rejecting bitterness and being willing to practice forgiveness: — Corrie ten Boom’s family sought to protect Jews from the Nazis during WW2. They were betrayed, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp. Corrie’s sister Betsie was among those who died there. Years later, after the war, Corrie…
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1 Samuel 30-31 — More Sermon Scraps: David as Type of Christ
It would be impossible for me here to produce anything like a complete bibliography of books to read on typological hermeneutics, but here are a few that should be at the top of anyone’s list: Through New Eyes by James Jordan Knowing God Through the OT by C. J. H. Wright Jesus and Israel by…
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August ’25: Posts from X and Other Notes
Most of these notes are X posts form August, but some are pulled from the archives. — Natural revelation is infallible and absolutely authoritative. But Scripture still has a kind of primacy because of the form in which it’s given. I like how John Frame explains it: “God has given us Scripture, or “special revelation,”…
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How to Preach a Sermon and How to Listen to a Sermon
Pastors, as you prepare for the divine service tomorrow, remember, preaching is not just a lecture. Preaching an act of worship. Preaching is an effectual means of grace. Your sermon has a context – and that context is the whole of the liturgy and the baptized congregation gathered to receive God’s gifts. Pastors, know that…
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1 Samuel 30 Sermon Follow-up — A Biblical-Theology of Strength: Come, Men of Christ, be Strong
I have been making my way through 1 Samuel, usually doing one sermon per chapter. But this week I took a bit of detour to focus on one of my hobby-horses, namely a biblical-theology of strength. But I do not apologize for riding this horse because I think the topic is incredibly important – and…
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Satan, the False Accuser
One of Satan’s favorite weapons to use against the church is false accusation. There are plenty of examples of Satanic false accusation in Scripture. Pharaoh and Abimelech make false accusations against Abraham; Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph; Job’s so-called friends make false accusations against him, following Satan who did the same; plenty of false accusations…
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Notes on Family, Men, Women, Marriage, Sex, Feminism, Mothering and Fathering, Inheritance, Etc.
The purpose of marriage according to Ephesians 5 is ultimately gospel symbolism. The husband and wife are icons of Christ the church. But they can only portray the gospel in their marriage if there is role differentiation between them. They each have a script, a part to play, and while there is all kinds of…
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