Over the past several years, I have taught seminary courses on theology and practice of worship in the Reformed tradition. The syllabus requires students to interact with worship services posted online, evaluating the elements, coherence, and execution of the liturgy. The services . . . Continue reading →
Things Not To Say About Jesus At Christmas (Or Any Other Time)—Part 1
Like the celebrants of Festivus, Reformed folk have historically had a lot of problems with both the ecclesiastical calendar, including advent, and Christmas. It is not because we do not heartily affirm the incarnation of our Lord—we do!—but because neither the Scriptures . . . Continue reading →
A Confession Of Sin Regarding The Sabbath
O Lord, we admit today that even as we consider your goodness, we also see our failures. We find faults in our working, when we do too little, or do too much. We see wrongs in our resting, when we treat each . . . Continue reading →
Video: The Aim Of Preaching
Rev. Dr. Jon D. Payne and Chris Gordon look to define “preaching”, and how to do it effectively, and discuss the two broad aims of sharing the word of God. They talk about the pressures pastors face from behind the pulpit, the . . . Continue reading →
Riddlebarger: The Attraction Of Judge Judy
Only Americans could love Judge Judy–the über-mom, as I call her, because of her uncanny ability to make grown men look like disobedient children. Yet I’m sure that if the Corinthians had the technology we have, they too would love Judge Judy. . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Calvin And Baptism (Part 2)
In this episode Dr Clark answers a listener question on Calvin and baptism. Continue reading →
Review: Empowered Witness: Politics, Culture, And the Spiritual Mission Of The Church By Alan D. Strange (Part 1)
The debate last year over the overture by Evangel Presbytery to the General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church in America (overture 12), which was adopted by GA, presented acutely the question of the spirituality of the church. Overture 12 asked GA . . . Continue reading →
Fesko: Confessionalism Or Fundamentalism?
These days it seems like Christians are in search of conservatism in whatever forms they can find it, and with good reason. It seems like the cultural, political, and theological wheels on the bus are falling off. As a pastor I found . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Calvin And Baptism (Part 1)
In this episode Dr Clark answers a listener question on Calvin and baptism. Continue reading →
Gone, But Not Forgotten: The Influence Of The Scots Confession Of 1560 In The Theological Life Of Presbyterianism (Part 2)
In Reformed and Presbyterian circles, a great deal of attention is given to the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards, and rightly so. Continue reading →
Priscilla Discovers The Reformed Confession
The teenage version of me would be very shocked to find me in the Reformed faith. To be fair, my teenage self didn’t really understand what it meant to be a Reformed Christian. I grew up in a Christian home with two . . . Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Did Adam Need Jesus?
In this episode Dr Clark answers a listener question on Adam and Jesus. Continue reading →
Gone, But Not Forgotten: The Influence Of The Scots Confession Of 1560 In The Theological Life Of Presbyterianism (Part 1)
In Reformed and Presbyterian circles, a great deal of attention is given to the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards, and rightly so. Continue reading →
Colquhoun: The Great Use Of The Gospel
The gospel in its strict acceptation is, in the hand of the Holy Spirit, of special use…: To reveal Christ and God in Him as reconciled and as reconciling sinners of mankind to Himself. The great use of the gospel is to . . . Continue reading →
Top Five Posts For The Week Of December 9–15, 2024
These were the top five posts for the week of December 9–15, 2024. Continue reading →
POPLL: An Alternative To Christian Nationalism (And Theonomy, Christian Reconstruction, Theocracy, And Christendom) (Pt 8)
The fourth of our five points of Christian citizenship is Legislate. Last time we considered briefly what it means to legislate, i.e., to draft and pass a law, but how does it happen? How does one become a legislator and how does . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For December 15, 2024: The Comfort of the Covenant (16): God’s Providence
In this episode Dr Clark continues the series, “The Comfort of the Covenant.” Continue reading →
Heidelminicast: Ordinary Means Ordinary (4): The American Evangelical Fall From the Means of Grace (Part 3)
Dr Clark continues the series “Ordinary Means Ordinary” Continue reading →
The God Worthy Of Psalming And Hymning: Psalm 113 (Part 1)
Yuri Gagarin is an unlikely candidate to make an appearance in our churches. The Russian cosmonaut died in 1968. Nevertheless, you may have heard of him. He was the first man in space. He is also becoming a favorite sermon illustration of some. Continue reading →
What We Can Learn From 1524
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Half a millennium ago, as Europeans entered the year 1524, they were gazing at the heavens in trepidation, fearful of a Grand Conjunction that was set to occur. Johann Stöffler, a professor . . . Continue reading →