Category: Church Blog
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Top 12 Qualifications of Pastors of Megachurches
UPDATE (March 28, 2014): Carl Trueman compares the qualifications for ministry at Elevation Church and the church in Ephesus: I wonder if highly observant readers can spot the subtle differences between these two descriptions of the ideal candidates for ministry? Elevation Church: The typical applicant is 23-30 years of age who is a recent college/seminary…
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What About 21st Century Dating?
Some of our young men (maybe some young women also) have been discussing the merits of Biblical courtship and betrothal over modern dating and courtship. But it’s not clear what exactly is “Biblical” courtship and betrothal. In addition to being raised in the “sexually-liberated” 60s and 70s culture, I’m a generation-and-a-half disengaged from today’s Millennials,…
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“Of Good Reputation With Those Outside”
In this blog post, Dr. Carl Trueman focuses on one of the qualifications listed by Paul in 1 Timothy 3. The last of these, in verse 7, says, “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” This post is a…
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Top Ten Qualities of the Accidental Churchgoer
Thanks to Andrew Webb for this handy guide for the Accidental Churchgoer. I summarize it here: 1. Try to stay up as late as possible the night before. If possible, try to drink too much as well. Nothing says “not ready for worship†like a hangover. 2. Do nothing to prepare your heart to worship.…
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“Be Thou My Vision” or Pantheism Rock
My friend Andy Underhile compares “contemporary Christian music” with the 8th century hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” written by Dallán Forgaill (530-598). Here’s hymnary.org’s write-up on Forgaill: Saint Dallán Forgaill (ca. 530–598), also known as Dallán Forchella, Dallán of Cluain Dalláin, and born Eochaid Forchella, was an early Christian Irish poet, best known as the writer…
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Sacrament and Other Things “Catholic”
A Glossary of Terms Used in Reformed Churches Frequently Thought to be Roman Catholic To download a printer-friendly PDF version of this post, click here. People from mainstream evangelical churches who visit Reformed churches usually come away with the feeling that they had been to a Roman Catholic Mass or something similar. For example, when…
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Ampalaya in the Bible?
Of bitter food, drink, soul and cup Yesterday, a sister at church posted a picture of pinakbet pizza. Filipinos love pinakbet, a dish of mixed vegetables steamed in fish or shrimp sauce, with bagoong. In addition to veggies such as eggplant, tomato, okra, squash, string beans, chili peppers, and winged beans, it also has ampalaya…
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“The Evangelical Sacrament”
“The Evangelical church has one high sacrament: emotion.” Levi Nunnink, “Evangelical Catholic. Episcopalian in Ecclesiology, Lutheran in everything else,” has offered great insight about evangelicals in “The Evangelical Sacrament.” He offers as an example the preaching of Paul Washer. It saddens me that a Catholic-Episcopalian-Lutheran would have such better insight than Evangelicals. I repost about…
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Liturgy for January 12, 2014
The first worship service on the series “To the Praise of His Glorious Grace,” based on various Scriptures and the Canons of Dort.
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New Sermon Series: “To the Praise of God’s Glorious Grace”
“[In the Canons of Dort], the voice of the Holy Spirit can be heard as almost every phrase is saturated with the language of the inspired Scriptures on the crucial themes of soteriology.”