The Directory FOR The Publick Worship of God CHARLES I. Parl. 3. Sess. 5. An ACT of the PARLIAMENT of the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND, approving and establishing the DIRECTORY for Publick Worship AT EDINBURGH, February 6, 1645 THE Estates of Parliament now . . . Continue reading →
Piety and Practice
HB Classic: So You’re About to Call a Pastor?
[First published on the HB in June 2007] This is a sensitive topic. People don’t always think rationally or biblically or confessionally about the office of pastor. Many folk don’t understand what ministers do and most people who are involved in the . . . Continue reading →
Calvin as Theologian of Consolation (Pt 5)
Part 4: Consolation And Pastoral Ministry IV. Consolation Preached In part one of this series we considered Calvin’s interpretation of several biblical passages on consolation. In part two we looked at how he harvested a theology of consolation from his exegetical work. . . . Continue reading →
Calvin as Theologian of Consolation (Pt 4)
Part 3: His Theology of Consolation in The Institutes. III. Consolation and Pastoral Ministry For Calvin, christian consolation is not only a theological reality but it is also the result of good pastoral practice. Christians often fail to appropriate the consolation they . . . Continue reading →
Calvin As Theologian of Consolation (Pt 3)
II. His Theology of Consolation (1559 Institutes) In the previous installment we looked at the way Calvin read Paul’s epistles and how he drew from them a doctrine of consolation, of God’s presence with his people in Christ, by the Spirit, in . . . Continue reading →
Calvin As Theologian of Consolation (Pt 1)
Wikipedia, that ubiquitous source of unimpeachable scholarship, defines “consolation” as “something of value, when one fails to get something of higher value….” That is precisely the opposite of what John Calvin (1509–64) meant by “consolation.”For Calvin, the consolation that Christ gives to . . . Continue reading →
How To Fence the Lord’s Table (2)
How to Fence the Lord’s Table (Part 1) There is irony in fencing the Lord’s Table. What should be a joyous celebration, after due preparation of course, and a communion of believers with their risen Lord and with one another, is for . . . Continue reading →
I Get Questions: How to Fence the Lord’s Table?
After the Central Valley Conference last month I promised to answer some of the questions submitted for the Q/A for which we didn’t have time. One of them asked essentially: whom should Reformed Churches admit to the Lord’s Table? There are three . . . Continue reading →
So Many Reasons
On this day we rightly pause to give thanks for the innumerable blessings we have received, both those common to all image bearers and those saving benefits particular to believers. Chief among the latter are saving faith and Spirit-wrought union with Christ . . . Continue reading →
Helm Replies to Lucas on the Nature of “Affections” in Edwards
Paul Helm wrote a very interesting critique of Edwards, one with which the HB has some sympathy. Sean Lucas replied by arguing that Helm had read too much into the noun “affections.” Helm has replied to Lucas by arguing that, in Edwards . . . Continue reading →
Audio: Godfrey on the Psalms, Calvin, and Contemporary Worship
Thanks to Jeff Downs and the folks at GPTS for posting these: The Psalms and Contemporary Worship Calvin and the Worship of God
Crouching Tiger, True Repentance
There is an argument that Tiger’s sexual immorality is private and none of our business. Fine. His very public apology, however, gives us an opportunity to think about the nature of repentance and faith. During his apology Tiger made reference to his . . . Continue reading →
The Comfort of Prayer
Jon Moersch has an excellent post on the necessity and benefits of prayer.
Audio: Tim Keller and Lig Duncan Discuss the Question of Female Deacons
At Feeding on Christ (HT: Nick Batzig)
Sacramental Piety Reviews Caspar Olevian and the Substance
At Sacramental Piety. To order your copy of the book click on the icon (some icons are okay for some things!).
WCF vs NCT: Which is More "Spiritual"?
One of the most persistent caricatures of Reformed orthodoxy is that it was (and remains) a lifeless, dead orthodoxy. Apparently some enthusiastic supporters of the so-called (self-described) “New Covenant” theology have taken up this view as a way of contrasting the piety . . . Continue reading →
Published Today: Ames, A Sketch of the Christian's Catechism
It’s volume 1 in the Classic Reformed Theology series. Thanks to Todd, Jay, Joel, and to the editorial committee for their work toward getting this series off the ground. Stay tuned for more details about the next two volumes, which are already . . . Continue reading →
Which Has Priority: Private Devotion or Public Worship?
This question arises on the PB. I reply: Well, as I argue in RRC, there’s a strong case to be made from Scripture and the confession (defined broadly and narrowly) that, in Reformed theology, the public “means of grace” (the “due use . . . Continue reading →
Twice on Sunday
Iain Campbell explains the importance and even the necessity of the second service.
Andrew is Reading RRC
At the Reformed Reader.