Category: Church
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Notes on Roman Catholicism
Below are various emails I have exchanged over the years with Reformed church members who were drawn to Roman Catholicism or who had already converted to Romanism. Most of these discussions took place between 2009-2012. Obviously only one side of the conversation is presented, but I trust they will still be helpful. My hope is…
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Aiming at Shalom
THE CHURCH’S MISSION OF JUSTICE AND MERCY (This is an older article, originally published at Theologia.org in 2004.) Charles Spurgeon once quipped, “If you give a man the gospel, wrap it in a sandwich. And if you give a man a sandwich, wrap it in the gospel.” With those words, the great Baptist preacher captured…
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Discipleship and the Visible Church
This is an old article article, being republished for the blog. Discipleship is a vital dimension of the church’s life. The church’s motherly, nurturing role as discipler is indispensable. Indeed the church is the school of discipleship. We are enrolled in her school in baptism, educated in the word by her pastors and teachers, and…
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From Public Church to Private Christian
This is an old article article, being republished for the blog. It is critical for the church to understand the broader social trends that have undermined her existence as a public and visible community if she is going to act and react in appropriately biblical ways in our (post)modern situation. The progressive privatizing of religion…
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Orphan Care as a Christian Calling
This is an old article article, being republished for the blog. How does one become part of a family one was not born into? Adoption. One of the central privileges of the gospel is our adoption into the family of God. We are not children of God by nature; rather, we are by nature children…
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Liturgy and the Gospel
This article was originally written for the newsletter of Redeemer Presbyterian Church ion Austin, TX in 1997. It has been updated for TPC. Worship is a controversial topic among Christians in our day. Strong, passionately held convictions often clash over even the minutiae of how we should worship God. Considering the centrality of gathered worship…
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A Failure of Pastoral Nerve: Some Thoughts on Ecclesial Leadership in the 21st Century Church for Pastors and Ruling Elders
These are thoughts shared with the TPC ruling elders some years ago, but I have decided to make them public here with the hope others in church leadership will find them helpful. Pastors are required to be leaders of men. They must shepherd the shepherds, helping ruling elders do their work in the congregation effectively.…
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