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The unique character of faith
Faith is knowledge of a higher sort. We too often want to assess and evaluate faith compared to what we view as real, certain, and valuable (e.g. sensory experience) and as a result diminish faith. However, if we understand faith from that which is highest and most conclusive, God’s revelation,
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Unity and the Church’s Witness
I am a firm advocate for being unified where there should, by God’s providence, be unity. Continuing outward separation, especially among Christians agreeing on the primary truths of scripture and vastly agreeing on secondary matters, troubles me greatly. Along this line, Herman Bavinck has written the following, The church’s witness
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Herman Bavinck on the great task of Christian theology
From Herman Bavinck’s “The Certainty of Faith” we learn how science and other disciplines are unable to truly provide the certainty we need. However, theology, also, must be of a particular sort (i.e. not critical or merely historical) to provide certainty. Bavinck writes, Nevertheless, there is also a practical side
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The 7 Last Words of Christ
Every year, 7th Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan holds a community service on Good Friday. This service consists of seven meditations by seven Reformed ministers from different churches, each treating one of the seven sayings of Christ from the cross. They are usually very edifying and help maintain the
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Let not your Heart be Troubled
A collection of sermons by Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones is entitled Let Not Your Heart be Troubled addresses an existential struggle we all are going through right now – trouble and anxiety. All of the chapters address the matter helpfully and from a robustly biblical perspective. It is a very satisfying
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Mary’s Love for Jesus
In between two tragic developments of opposition against Jesus in Mark 14:1-2 and 10-11 we have the contrast presented in Mary’s anointing of Jesus. Jesus receives this act of devotion, defends its high purpose, and establishes its significance for perpetuity. In this passage we are searched by God’s Word as
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Wednesday – Growing Opposition and Betrayal
On Wednesday of the final week of Jesus’ humiliation we find the opposition to Jesus rising to a feverish pitch and Judas spies out an opportunity to betray Him. In the middle of these acts of aggression we have Mary’s act of devotion and love to Jesus. Bible passages that
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Passion Week Tuesday – Temple questions
Jesus always stirred the ire of the religious leaders, whether it was by the timing of his miracles (e.g. taking place on the Sabbath) or the words that He spoke (e.g. “Your sins be forgiven you…” So too now, the religious leaders were plotting to take Jesus and yet could
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The Cleansing of the Temple
Good day, I pray that God blesses your meditations on the ministry of His Son as He went to the cross. We know that this is spiritual food for believers every day of our lives, but I hope considering our present circumstances, that we find these thoughts precious and uplifting.
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Laboring in Faith
19th century French pastor, Adolphe Monod, in reflecting on his ministry wrote, “Faith is my strength. My success in everything is in proportion to my faith. Certainly God always hears me when I cry to Him in faith. O happy experience! May God continue to bless my ministry. To Him