TPC Pastor's Page

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  • Usury (Again)

    Ronald Wallace summarizes John Calvin’s view of usury (charging interest on loans): “For centuries before Calvin’s day, the Church and most other authorities had applied the Biblical condemnation of usury quite directly to commercial practices, and had prohibited loans at interest… Calvin was the first to question the older method of interpreting the Bible on… Read more

  • Whose Rainbow Is It? Notes on Genesis 9

    The rainbow (or “war bow”) is a sign of God’s covenant fidelity to Noah – he will preserve the created order and will not destroy the world in a flood again (even though men will continue to be sinners). Further, the rainbow is a sign that God himself will bear the judgment his people deserve… Read more

  • JESUS’ BAPTISM — THE FOUNT OF LIFE: A Study in Biblical and Practical Theology

    [These are Sunday School notes from a class taught during Epiphany, 2004.] Introductory Note: January 6 is Epiphany in the traditional church calendar. Though Epiphany is often treated as a single day, with the Sundays following counted as “Sundays after Epiphany,” we will treat Epiphany as an extended season. “Epiphany” means “revelation” or “manifestation.” Following… Read more

  • Notes on Suffering

    Thanksgiving is the key to the enjoyment of any gift. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks joy. Thanksgiving in all circumstances, especially in the midst of suffering, is crucial. When we are suffering, the great temptation is to think God isn’t good, meaning he isn’t generous, he doesn’t love us, he doesn’t have our best… Read more

  • From the Archives: Theses on Food and Feasting (Revised)

    [This was written several years ago and has been available on the the “essays” section of the website, but I’m republishing it here with a few edits.] Jesus made it clear we are not defined by what goes into our mouths but what comes out of them (Mark 7). To call some foods “clean” or… Read more

  • December 2025 – X Posts and Miscellanies: Feminism, Christmas, Parenting, Drugs and the Demonic, Sexual Ethics, Socialism as Substitute Patriarchy, DEI, Guns and the Second Amendment, Civil Government/Romans 13, Virgin Birth, Communism, Newbigin on Christendom, Etc.

    In C. S. Lewis’ Last Battle, Queen Lucy says, “In our world too, a stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world.” Christmas is about the Creator becoming a creature in order to redeem his creatures. It’s about the God of Israel becoming the perfect Israelite to fulfill Israel’s mission… Read more