For the past three Sunday evenings I have had the enormous privilege of preaching through the first chapter of the Gospel of John. I am exceedingly thankful to be able to preach through such a glorious book. You can find the first three messages here.

I do not ordinarily read many novels, but I have just finished reading a marvelous fictional account of the life of John Calvin by Christian novelist Douglas Bond entitled The Betrayal.  The book can be found here.  I do not want to give away all the twists and turns of this well-told tale.  While this is a fictional account, it is historical fiction interweaved with a lot of historical truth.  The book has the merit of bringing the story of Calvin to life.  The account is told from the perspective …

American Vision Press and Covenant Media Press have teamed up to publish a long missing manuscript of the late Greg L. Bahnsen.  Presuppositional Apologetics:  Stated and Defended is a helpful systematic presentation of the apologetic method first articulated by Cornelius Van Til.  It is available here.  I would argue that this method of defending the Christian faith is the apologetic method most consistent with the Scriptures and the Reformed confessions.  That is a controversial statement, but one which I would stand by.  And after reading this volume, I am all …

Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary held a fine conference this week on Calvin’s enduring significance. Highlights included several fine addresses from Dr. David Murray, Ligon Duncan, and Joe Pipa on Calvin’s greatest merit: the theologian of the Holy Spirit. Derek Thomas and Joel Beeke each delivered heartfelt messages on the great value of Calvin as a theologian, exegete, and above all a pastor.
The cream of the conference: Calvin is a model for preachers of all denominations today. His commentaries invaluable, his letters reflecting tender pastoral care, his love for the church …

Not that long ago my dad sought to encourage me by reminding me that “the Kingdom advances one person at a time.” I have to admit, I didn’t want to hear these words at that time. I had big plans and a big vision. It included so many more people than I thought my dad had in mind. But, as I have labored at the work of planting and growing a church, I have learned that he was so very right. This Sunday I plan on preaching a sermon on …

Charles Spurgeon, in his sermons “Paul–His Cloak and Books,” wrote, “The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains, proves that he had no brains of his own.” I remember reading this quote when I was a very young Christian, and being deeply impressed with the need to be entrenched in the writings of the great men God has given as gifts to the church. Having read more than I ever …

Jonathan Edwards, as Craig Biehl has aptly demonstrated, frequently emphasized the importance of the active obedience of Christ. The active obedience (as the corollary to the passive obedience of Christ) is often explained as the perfect record of righteousness that Christ merits for us by His obeying the Law of Moses for us. But Edwards saw a dimension of the righteousness rooted in the mediatorial commands that the Father gave Him in the work of redemption. He wrote:
And yet, in the same person, is found the greatest spirit of obedience …

There is a lot at stake in describing regeneration and coming to faith. Above all is the certainty that faith is genuine, leading to eternal life; its hope valid, its conduct legitimate. The reality of rebirth in Christianity is certain for one long and historical reason. Upon serious reflection, theologians from Irenaeus onward had a difficult time explaining the change: they found describing this new life in the Spirit elusive, living beyond the formula of baptism. Can Bavinck solve this complex riddle? We shall see.   
The New Testament presentation of …

10 more sermons, from a series of sermons preached by Rev. Eric Alexander on the book of Genesis, have been posted here. There will be more posted soon!

As I preach through the Gospel of John, these are the most helpful resources I have come across.  I am sure you can add to this list:
Books:
1. John Calvin Commentary on John
2. A. W. Pink Exposition of the Gospel of John
3. Herman Ridderbos The Gospel of John
4. J.C. Ryle Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
5. D.A. Carson The Gospel According to John

Feeding on Christ is finally online again.  The entire Reformed Forum Network experienced a major outage over the weekend.  I’ve posted an explanation and apology.  Now that we’re back online, why don’t you listen to our latest episodes of Christ the Center?

The Theology of Samuel Rutherford with Guy Richard
Truth and Error in the Church with Martin Downes

There is a series of sermons that Rev. Alexander preached at St. George’s Tron on Genesis chapters 1-10 at the Eric Alexander website. It appears that more Genesis sermons will be posted in due time. For the time being, enjoy these!

Samuel Rutherford is one of the most important figures in church history. His love for Christ, heart for the people of God, and theological contributions make Rutherford exceedingly worthy of our considerations. It is for this reason that I wish to highlight the most recent Christ the Center interview with Rev. Guy Richard. Guy Richard, senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, MS, did his doctoral work on Rutherford’s  Examen Arminianus–Rutherford’s most comprehensive systematic theology–at the University of Edinburgh, New College. I believe you will find the interview to …

The two most recent Christ the Center interviews are now online. You can listen to Guy Richard discuss the theology of Samuel Rutherford here. Martin Downes speaks with us about his newly released book Risking the Truth. You can listen to this particular interview here.
If you have not taken the time to listen to some of the other interviews, you will find some of the most interesting ones below:

Lane Tipton “The Theological Contributions of Richard Gaffin”
Lane Keister “The Federal Vision”
Gary Johnson Reforming or Conforming
Drew Dinardo Reformed Church Growth
Mark Garcia Union …

Last year I posted links to all the D.A. Carson sermons and lectures that were available online. Because posts get lost in history, I thought I would re-post the links below:

Sermons and Lectures List 1
Sermons and Lectures List 2
Sermons and Lectures List 3

We are now setting out in volume 4 of Bavinck’s Dogmatics. Part 1: The Holy Spirit gives New Life to Believers covers faith and calling, justification and regeneration before dealing with the community of the church in part 2. Readers should not feel intimidated by the massive size of this book (940 pps. w/index) for one reason: application. As these few remaining articles hope to show, the sum of Bavinck’s theology upholds the industry of the gospel. Christ is preached; not to the elect; not to the reprobate; but to …

In response to the rising need for solid, Reformed podcasts, Wesminster Seminary California has launched a new podcast called, Office Hours. It will be a theologically substantive program (as Christ the Center seeks to be), however, Season 1 will be more biographical in nature, including interviews with the following Professors and pastors:
Episode #1   August 31 – Bob Godfrey President and Professor of Church History
Episode #2   August 31 –  Julius Kim, Associate Professor of Practical Theology
Episode #3  October 5 - Mike Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and …

Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing has continued to build its fascinating series American Reformed Biographies with the latest addition, Dr. Tom Nettles’ James Petigru Boyce:  A Southern Baptist Statesman.  This outstanding volume is available here.  For a Presbyterian such as myself this volume was not only informative, but also inspiring.  While I would differ from Boyce on baptism and ecclesiology, we would be of one mind about the biblical nature of Calvinism.  Nettles provides for the reader an entree into the life of a well-known theologian and educator in his own …

Reformation Heritage Books is offering an additional $10 off a 4 volume set of Wilhelmus á Brakel’s The Christian’s Reasonable Service which is good only through tomorrow. Simply enter this cupon code: Brakel2009 in the checkout field online, or mention it if ordering by phone. The last day for the discount is Saturday, August 15, 2009.
One of the faster ways to gain a full perspective on patience is being a parent. If one were to reflect on a time in childhood when denied a toy, a treat, or play it …

In a recent interview with Mark Dever, Darryl Hart suggested that Westminster (CA) students tend to be more historically focused while Westminster (PA) students tend to gravitate toward biblical theology.  Hart has asked students from each school which three authors they would prefer to have if stranded on an island.  The typical Westminster (CA) would prefer Calvin, Berkhof and Kline whereas Westminster (PA) students would select Vos, Ridderbos and Gaffin.
Do you think this assessment is accurate?  Which three (non-inspired) authors would you select?  Please comment and include your ecclesiastical affiliation …

Eric Alexander’s sermon series on Romans chapters 1-11 is now available online here. If you have never listened to Rev. Alexander preach, you really are missing out on an exceptional Gospel minister. You can listen to the interview Rev. Alexander did with Christ the Center here.

Tony Reinke has posted several Spurgeon quotes about Christless preaching. We would all do well to heed them. Here is a sample:
Sooner by far would I go to a bare table, and eat from a wooden porringer something that would appease my appetite, than I would go to a well-spread table on which there was nothing to eat. Yes, it is Christ, Christ, Christ whom we have to preach; and if we leave him out, we leave out the very soul of the gospel. Christless sermons make merriment for hell. …

Here is the link to a new website dedicated to the writing of Matthew Henry. At present, the site has a digital copy of Henry’s A Method of Prayer, edited by Ligon Duncan. This is one of Henry’s most noteworthy works. It is a work that every Christian should read.
HT: Iain D. Campbell

As I teach a midweek Bible Study on the book of Genesis, I have been reminded of the usefulness of the following books in helping to explain the Christological focus of Genesis:

Promise and Deliverance (vol. 1)
Last Things First
Kingdom Prologue
Preaching Christ From Genesis
Theological Studies in Genesis
Calvin on Genesis
Contributions Towards the Exposition of the Book of Genesis (vol. 1), and (vol. 2)
Christ is All: The Gospel of the Old Testament in the Book of Genesis
A History of the Work of Redemption
Gleanings in Genesis

A few years ago I happened across a volume of sermons, by a well loved and well respected Presbyterian missionary to China, that I have found incredibly useful. You can read Walter Lowrie’s sermons here. I especially recommend the sermon, “Martha and Mary.”

Browsing an obscure volume on Google I found an article by Groen van Prinsterer on religious liberty. I thought it might not be commonly known, but would be uncommonly interesting to those with interest in all things “Reformational.” You can find the article on pp. 183-189 here.

I happened across this great quote today by John Newton:
I am not what I ought to be
I am not what I want to be
I am not what I hope to be
But by the grace of God
I am not what I was
HT: Tom Martin

Over the past four years or so I have come to deep appreciation for the music of Andrew Peterson. I am drawn to it partly on account of his biblical fidelity, partly for his creativity, and partly for his ability as a musician. In any case, if you are not familiar with his music I want to recommend it to you. Among the 10 albums he has produced, my favorites include Behold the Lamb of God and Resurrection Letters, Vol. II. If you have small children you will love Slugs, …

I am excited to tell you about a new history of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY by church historian and professor of church history Greg Wills.  It is called Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 1859-2009.  Wills does for SBTS what George Marsden did for Fuller Theological Seminary in Reforming Fundamentalism. Wills’ book is published by Oxford University Press and comes to over 500 pages.  Now if we could only get a similar history of Westminster Seminary.  However, as I have been recently told, folks at Westminster are focusing on …

Oh Father, please help me claim no rights to myself . . . no right to my understanding; my will; my affections; my body or its members; my tongue; my hands; my feet; my ears; my eyes; or my sexual members and desires. They are all Yours and belong to You. You bought me with Your dear Son’s blood. You own all of me Oh God! Use me as You please for Your glory.
Help me give myself clear away to You today and not retain anything …