Reformation 500: Theology and Legacy – Lecture 5: The Reformation, Sola...
Our 2017 Theology Conference will be held February1-3 on the campus of Trinity International University. In the introduction to the conference, we will focus on the EFCA’s roots in the Reformation and...
View ArticleThe Incarnation
At this time of year, we celebrate the incarnation: “the act whereby the eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, without ceasing to be what he is, God the Son, took into union with...
View ArticleAdvent Devotional: A New Song: The Song of Eternity (Revelation 5)
Introduction The text of Scripture serves as a fitting conclusion to our Advent series on The Songs of Christmas: Mary’s Song (Magnificat), Zechariah’s Song (Benedictus), the Angels’ Song (Gloria in...
View ArticleJanuary 1, 1863, The Emancipation Proclamation and Ongoing Matters of Race...
As the calendar turned this year, I was reminded of President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. By signing this Proclamation, the legal status of more than...
View ArticleLuther’s Excommunication: Final and First Words
This year, on October 31, we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther posting the 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. That sounds unusual to us, but the door served the purpose...
View ArticleA New Year: “Teach Us To Number Our Days” (Psalm 90:12)
As we begin a new year, we read and pray the words of Moses, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12, ESV). The key to what Moses writes is that we ask God to...
View ArticleMartin Luther and Johannes Agricola: Antinomianism
On this date in 1538, Martin Luther (1483-1546) and Johannes Agricola (1494-1566) met, in a second disputation, to discuss/debate antinomianism (against the law). Agricola, and the other antinomians,...
View ArticleThe God of Christmas and the Doctrine of the Incarnation
One of my commitments is to read and study the biblical and theological truths associated with the celebrations of the Christian year. Having just celebrated and worshiped as we focused on the arrival...
View ArticleEvangelicals and Catechisms: The Heidelberg Catechism
On January 19, 1563, the Heidelberg Catechism was first published by Reformed scholars in Germany. This Catechism was written by Peter Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus, and espouses a Reformed view of...
View Article“What is Catechism?”
Catechisms have been used as a means/method of imparting truth and passing on the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). One of the early ones written in the wake of the Reformation was...
View ArticleGod, Life and the Sanctity of Life
This past Sunday many focused on Sanctity of Life. We celebrated life, all of life for all peoples from birth to death and all the joys and struggles associated with that life. We also remembered...
View ArticleReformation 500: Theology and Legacy – Lecture 7: The Extent of the...
Our 2017 Theology Conference will be held February 1-3 on the campus of Trinity International University. In the introduction to the conference, we will focus on the EFCA’s roots in the Reformation and...
View ArticlePre-Reformation: John Wycliffe
On this date this date, February 19, in 1377, John Wycliffe (1330-1384) was on trial at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, for having criticized the Roman Catholic Church. What were his criticisms? Wycliffe...
View ArticleEFCA Theology Conference 2017 Resources: Reformation 500: Theology and Legacy...
Our EFCA 2017 Theology Conference was excellent! We learned, we worshiped, we were encouraged – and we encouraged one another, and we were equipped. Resources Resources from the Conference have been...
View ArticleTIU Founders’ Day Lecture: “Immeasurably More Than We Asked or Imagined: The...
A couple of years ago, David Dockery, president of TIU, established the Founders’ Day lecture series. He did so for the reason of learning our history for the first time, or for others to be reminded...
View ArticleChristian Unity in the Essentials of the Gospel
In the EFCA, we strongly affirm the infallibility, inerrancy, authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures. We also affirm unequivocally the essentials of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our commitment to...
View ArticleDepicting Our Commitment to Jesus
H. Wilbert Norton, a dear old saint recently died. He lived a faithful life and fruitful life, for his whole life. He was 102. Will was ordained in the EFCA in 1940, and served as a missionary with the...
View ArticleA Few Books on Marriage
This past year Karen and I celebrated 33 years of marriage. I am grateful for my dear wife, and grow more grateful with each passing year. In the good providence of God he not only pronounced us...
View ArticlePatrick and St. Patrick’s Day
Chicago celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by making the Chicago River green for the day. This annual tradition goes back to 1961. When I served as a youth pastor, one St. Patrick’s Day celebration, I...
View ArticleEFCA Theology Preconference 2017 Resources: Genesis and the Age of the Earth:...
Our EFCA 2017 Theology Conference was excellent. We learned, we worshipped, we were encouraged – and we encouraged one another, and we were equipped. Resources Resources from the Preconference have...
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