Theology / The Church

  • Accepting Nurturing from the Church

    Spend some time reflecting on the nurturing function of the church. Is this evident in your church fellowship?Read More

  • A Deacon’s Reward

    1 Timothy 3:13

    Our reticence to serve others may be one of the many things that can prevent us from serving Jesus boldly. Whether we are ever ordained to the office of deacon or not, we must never forget that greatness in the ...Read More

  • A New Humanity

    Colossians 3:11

    One commentator has aptly said that “no one is joined to Christ except together with a neighbor.” We cannot therefore be “lone ranger Christians,” and we cannot survive without the local church. It is incumbent upon all believers to become ...Read More

  • A New Humanity in Christ

    Colossians 3:9-11

    The image of God has not been entirely destroyed in fallen humanity, but our sense of what it means to function as we were originally designed has been severely warped. Consequently, we must learn what it means to be human ...Read More

  • An Example to Be Followed

    1 Timothy 3:2-3

    As we consider the qualifications for the offices of elder and deacon over the next few days, note that what the church is to look for is the quality of life since the candidate has professed faith. A man married ...Read More

  • A Personal Yet Public Faith

    Philemon 4-5

    John Calvin writes, “Even the most perfect, so long as they live in this world, never have so good ground for congratulation as not to need prayers, that God may grant to them, not only to persevere till the end ...Read More

  • Apostles

    Ephesians 2:19–20

    The prophets and apostles have given us a sure foundation—the inerrant and infallible Scriptures. We do not expect God to give us new revelation today but only to lead the church into a deeper understanding of the truth He ...Read More

  • A Problem of Sensitivity

    Acts 6

    Is it a good idea for people to be made leaders who have never served under authority? Is it a good idea for men to become elders in the church who have never served as deacons? What are some opportunities ...Read More

  • Being Clothed in His Righteousness

    Ask God to rekindle your love for members of the body of Christ, the true church.Read More

  • Bishops/Elders

    1 Peter 2:12

    We are to take the words and example of our elders seriously because they prepare us for the judgment seat of Christ. They preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, and discipline us so that we might be converted, brought back ...Read More

  • Caring for God’s Church

    1 Timothy 3:4-5

    John Calvin comments that Paul recommends for eldership a man “who has learned to govern a family by wholesome discipline.” If you are a parent, are you consciously trying to lead your child in the faith in a way that ...Read More

  • Christian Men in the Church

    John 19:5

    As the only man who never sinned (1 Peter 2:22), Jesus is the supreme example of what it means to be a man, and all men would do well to live after the pattern of His life, relying upon ...Read More

  • Church Authority

    Matthew 18:18–20

    The church’s ability to liberate people, says John Calvin, is not limited to the restoration of disciplined members to full participation in the congregation. Such liberation is also discharged when elders, according to Scripture, assure repentant people of pardon ...Read More

  • Church Discipline

    1 Corinthians 5:9–13

    The doctrine of justification by faith makes no sense if God is not a God of judgment. When people see God’s judgments in the church, they ought to tremble and must come to grips once again with their free ...Read More

  • Creation Ordinances

    Genesis 1-2

    In this day and age, there is a great temptation for the church in the United States to think that its mission is coextensive with the platform of one or more of the political parties in this country. Yet while ...Read More