Kevin DeYoung’s new book, Just Do Something.
Reformed Piety
On "Private Spirits" and the Westminster Confession
Here’s a helpful post from the folks at the IRBS gathering up some recent resources on this question.
Iain Campbell on "The Means of Grace"
…the Reformed tradition recognised, alongside its great emphasis on grace, that while we experience that grace personally and individually, we recognise it through particular channels, or ‘means’. There is a distinction to be made between means and ends – the end that . . . Continue reading →
For What It's Worth: This Paedo is Not Offended
My friend Mark Dever says that baptizing infants is sin. Mike Bird and others are offended and Mark has replied. I’ve received a few emails about this. Frankly, I don’t understand why folk are in high dudgeon.
Sproul on Getting Your Teen-Ager to Church
At the Ligonier blog (HT: Danny Hyde).
If Ursinus Read USA Today
At DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed.
Candychism
Years ago Leonard Coppes wrote an essay in the OPC magazine, New Horizons, on catechizing children. He called it “candychism.” In it he advocated rewarding children who memorize a catechism question and answer. To anticipate a frequent objection: No this isn’t crass . . . Continue reading →
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (7)
Part 6 Much of contemporary evangelical piety (and too much contemporary Reformed piety) is taken up with the Quest for Illegitimate Religious Certainty (QIRC) and the Quest for illegitimate Religious Experience (QIRE—see Recovering the Reformed Confession for more on these two phenomena). . . . Continue reading →
Speaking of Knowing God's Will
Kevin DeYoung has a new book out on that topic. There is a series on this topic right now on the HB. I haven’t read the book but it looks useful.
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (6)
Part 5. In 1381 Archbishop William Courtenay held a synod at the Blackfriars in London for the purpose of condemning the Oxford theologian John Wycliffe. After the condemnations had been adopted, as Synod was breaking up, there was an earthquake. Courtenay took . . . Continue reading →
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (5)
Part 4. We like the idea of special, individualized messages from God about our particular circumstance or question. We don’t much like the idea of struggling in prayer and thought over what is the wisest course. But as important as the Reformed . . . Continue reading →
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (4)
Part 3. Prior to the modern period the predominant question in the West was, “What has God said?” There were different answers to this question. Rome pointed to the church as the source of revelation and the Protestants pointed to Scripture as . . . Continue reading →
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (3)
Part 2 Modern evangelicals often assume that the line between post-canonical and canonical life is blurry or non-existent. It is widely assumed that we are in the exact same place in history as the prophets and apostles and that we can, if . . . Continue reading →
The Program-Driven Church
One link led to another and I happened recently upon the website of a large NAPARC congregation. As I often do I looked to see who the pastor was. That link led me to a list of “pastoral staff” who coordinate a . . . Continue reading →
Nick is Reading RRC: Keep the Sabbath Wholly
I wish I had thought of that.
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (2)
Part 1. According to Deuteronomy 29:29, believers are to trust in, rely upon, listen to, and obey that which God has revealed rather than seeking that which He has not revealed. In the history of salvation, seeking what God has not revealed . . . Continue reading →
The Secret of Knowing God’s Will (1)
The single most pressing question I hear is: “How can I know God’s will?” Prospective seminary students want to know whether they should attend seminary. Couples want to know whether they should get married. Ministers want to know whether to take a . . . 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 →
The Latin Bible of Reformed Orthodoxy
More good stuff from Todd Rester.
Audio: Calvin, Geneva, and Psalmody
An interesting joint talk/lecture by Karin Maag and Paul Fields at the Meeter Center (Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin College) on Calvin, the Psalms, and the Reformation of worship in Geneva.