Theology / The Church

  • Strangers in the Kingdom

    Psalm 47

    Read Acts 13:45–49. Why did Paul go to the Gentiles? Was this part of God’s providential plan? How did this magnify God’s majesty (consider v. 48)? If you are a Gentile, thank God for grafting you ...Read More

  • Teachers

    James 3:1

    God holds accountable all of the teachers in His church, whether they lead the two-year-old Sunday school class or teach a graduate-level seminary course. Thus, all Christian teachers must study diligently and work hard to present their subjects clearly and ...Read More

  • The Apostolic Church

    Ephesians 2:18–22

    It may be important to know the historical succession of church leaders, but it is more important to preach the gospel faithfully. A church can be built on the Apostles only if it loves what the Apostles loved and affirms ...Read More

  • The Authority of the Church

    1 Corinthians 5

    Today’s passage is a proof text for question and answer 85 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which deals with how church discipline opens and shuts the door to the kingdom of heaven. Excommunication shuts the door by declaring that the ...Read More

  • The Body of Christ

    1 Corinthians 12:12–31

    In summarizing today’s passage and the communion of saints, answer 55 of the Heidelberg Catechism says that “each member should consider it a duty to use these [spiritual] gifts … for the service and enrichment of the other members.” One ...Read More

  • The Bride and Her Husband

    Ephesians 5:22-33

    Jesus certainly loves us individually and justifies us via our personal faith in Him. However, the relationship between Christ and His bride is a relationship between the sovereign Lord and a corporate body. Jesus loves a people as His bride ...Read More

  • The Church and Forgiveness

    John 20:19–23

    John Calvin comments that Christ “does not convey to [the Apostles and their successors] what is peculiar to himself. It belongs to him to forgive sins… . [Instead, He] enjoins them, in his name, to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, that ...Read More

  • The Church in Antioch

    Acts 11:19–30

    The church at Antioch was built up by means of Bible teaching. Ligonier’s annual teaching conference begins tomorrow in Orlando. Pray that those attending will have teachable hearts and minds and that the teachers would faithfully and accurately present ...Read More

  • The Church is Holy

    1 Corinthians 1:2

    Through the blood of Christ, God sees His church as holy, although He is by no means ignorant of the sin that persists in our lives. Yet this declaration of holiness gives us confidence that we can make real progress ...Read More

  • The Church Is Holy

    Ephesians 1:1

    The holiness of the church universal should make us take our membership in local congregations seriously. Were we to be convinced of the church’s holiness, we would not casually drift from one denomination to another. We would understand that ...Read More

  • The Church is One

    John 17

    Are you concerned for the unity of the church? Although we can never compromise on the essential truths of the gospel, striving toward reconciliation with other believers and the unity of the faith, both invisible and visible, is a commendable ...Read More

  • The Church Is One

    John 17

    Consider today the importance of true Christian unity, one that is a unity of faith and not only an organizational unity. What type of unity is your particular church concerned to promote? What type of unity is your passion? Take ...Read More

  • The Church Universal

    Hebrews 12:18–24

    As important as it might be, the commitment we have to our country is superseded by our commitment to the church of Jesus Christ. Because the church is to embrace people from across the globe, it is incumbent upon us ...Read More

  • The Church Universal

    Hebrews 12:18-24

    Our great God has united us to Christ by His Spirit and has given us fellowship with every believer throughout the world. Praying regularly for the church in other places is a great way to evidence this fellowship and help ...Read More

  • The City of God

    Psalm 48

    How has God adorned the church to make it beautiful? How can that beauty be increased in your own life? How can the church be a “joy of the whole earth”? Think this week about what part you play in ...Read More