Not all preaching is good preaching. Some preachers do not exposit the text when they preach on Sunday. Other preachers exposit the text in ways that fit their agendas. And some preachers simply do not have a Christ-centered approach to preaching. The . . . Continue reading →
Church History
Talking With Kids About Medieval Theology, Piety, And Practice
Almost a year ago we let you know about a new church history podcast for kids, Kids Talk Church History. Our own Dr. Clark recently appeared on this podcast to talk with Lucy, Linus, and Mina about how well the ancient Christian theology, . . . Continue reading →
Review: The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes By Nancy Pearcy
The content of Nancy Pearcy’s The Toxic War on Masculinity is as thought-provoking as the title of the book itself. The fact that I had to train myself to stop saying, “The War on Toxic Masculinity” proves Pearcy’s point—whether a person agrees . . . Continue reading →
Video: Lessons For Exiles On Main Street—Huguenots As A Christian Minority
Dan Borvan traces a path for Christian life in a post-Christian culture by studying the French Reformed as a suffering church. Continue reading →
The Establishment Principle
In my mind, the Old Testament model of theocracy doesn’t clearly correlate with the New Testament or Apostolic Church practices, or even the Patristics for that matter, which suggests that applying Old Testament concepts to Christian statecraft might be anachronistic or misguided. . . . Continue reading →
The Early Church Fathers On The Anti-Christ
The earliest Christian documents which mention the Antichrist contain slight theological reflection, apart from a brief mention of him in connection with a particular biblical passage. Over time, the short-shrift given him begins to change. Some tie Antichrist to heresy (appealing to . . . Continue reading →
The Dispute of Tirano and the Trial of Calvin’s Orthodoxy
In the eventful sixteenth century, few people took notice of a court trial in a small town on the Italian side of the Alps. And yet, the stakes were high. It all started on May 1, 1595, when Simone Cabasso, parish priest . . . Continue reading →
Review: Divine Providence: A Classic Work for Modern Reader by Stephen Charnock
To paraphrase the concern of one of the leading theologians of the past century: one of the great issues with reading texts from within the tradition, but from a much earlier time, is that it is as if we live in a . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Dan Borvan On The Perseverance Of The French Reformed Church
Recently, the Rev Dr Dan Borvan (DPhil) gave a talk at Providence Christian College (Pasadena, CA) on the history of the French Reformed Church. As he says, the French Reformed are an important part of our history and they are, for a . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (14)
The same multiplication of relics has prevailed in the case of Anthony. By pretending that he is passionate and mischievous, and inflames those who may have given him offence, they have made him an object of dread; from this dread has arisen . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (13)
I had almost determined to be silent concerning the Innocents, as they call them; for although I could muster something like an army of them, it might always be alleged that there is nothing in this contradictory to history, because their exact . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (12)
The other things must be briefly dispatched; for otherwise we should never be able to get out of this forest. We shall merely mention a few of the alleged relics of saints who lived in the days of our Saviour, and then . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (11)
Now let the Apostles come forward in order. Their number, however, may beget confusion; and, therefore, the better course will be to take Paul and Peter by themselves, and afterwards proceed to the rest. Their bodies are at Rome, half at St . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (10)
To proceed in order, we must now consider the case of John the Baptist, who, according to the account given in the Gospel, that is, according to the truth of God, after being beheaded, was buried by his disciples. Theodoret relates that . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (9)
With regard to the Virgin Mary, as they give out that her body is not on the earth, they are of course prevented from pretending to have her bones; were it otherwise, I can well believe they would have given her a . . . Continue reading →
Review: How the Church Fathers Read the Bible by Gerald Bray
If you were to survey your average Reformed churchgoer on the extent of their knowledge of church history, my guess is that their knowledge would extend as far back as the sixteenth century and the Protestant Reformation. They know the story of . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (8)
For to convince all men how little credit is due to the proofs which they adduce in support of their relics, it is to be observed, that the chief and most authentic of those which are seen at Rome are said to . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (7)
In regard to the linen clothes in which our Saviour’s body was wrapped, I would, in like manner, ask how it comes, that while the Evangelists carefully enumerate the miracles which took place at the death of Christ, and omit nothing which . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (6)
The next thing in order is the soldier’s spear. This ought to be one only, but perhaps, from having felt the fire of some alchymist, it has increased and multiplied. For four have come to light, besides those which exist in different . . . Continue reading →
Calvin: Time For An Inventory (5)
We come now to the principal relics of our Lord, viz., those connected with his sufferings and death. And, first, let us consider the case of the cross on which he was suspended. I know it is regarded as a certain fact, . . . Continue reading →