In previous articles on the topic of Christ’s kingship in all of life, I offered a summary of what is known today as the “two kingdom/natural law” (2KNL) view. According to this view, Christians live in two kingdoms, the kingdom of the church where Christ reigns by his Word and Spirit, and the “common kingdom” […]
Which do you really like the most? 1 Opening God’s Holy Book or opening your Facebook? 2 Checking your spiritual life’s status or checking who likes your Facebook status? 3 Knowing your best friend Jesus more or knowing your Facebook friends more? 4 Inviting people to church or inviting people to like your new Facebook […]
n earlier articles we have discussed the concerns of IRBC’s founding elders about the corrupted elements of culture and how these elements are being seen in increasing measure within the visible church. Thus far we have considered various aspects of these elements under the headings of hedonism and liberalism. Both of these systems of thought […]
The Reformed Fellowship Board received Christmas greetings from an inmate in California. He receives The Outlook, and in an enclosed letter he wrote: “I really enjoy reading each issue from cover to cover. I then pass them along for others to read. Then I follow up and ask them questions on the articles, and this […]
Have you ever noticed a change in your church’s youth group right after attending a Reformed Youth Services (RYS) convention or participating in a Reformed Mission Services trip? In addition to gushing with enthusiasm for their favorite memories of the week or the countless new friends they made, there’s often a euphoria that’s harder to […]
Introduction Together we’ve been looking at what I believe to be some of the more glaring weaknesses of conservative Reformed and Presbyterian circles. Perhaps we might look at these as our seven deadly sins. I confess that my thoughts about these matters aren’t grounded in extensive research or the product of statistical data. Rather, they […]
Scripture Reading: Ezra 7 Background Reading: Esther 1:1–8; 2:5–7; 5:9–14; 7; 9:1–4; 26–27 Discussion Starters 1. When do the events of chapter 7 occur? How much time has elapsed since the end of chapter 6? (See Notes 7:1 and 7:8.) 2. Who was Ezra? Why is such a long genealogy given? To whom does he […]
Scripture Reading: Ezra 6 Background Reading: Zechariah 1 Discussion Starters 1. What was the response of King Darius to the request he had received from Tattenai and Shethar-Boznai? What did their research uncover? (See Note 6:1.) 2. Compare the text of the decree found in 6:3–5 with that found in 1:2–4. Are they identical? What […]
Have you ever asked yourself when it comes to what you believe and how you live as a Christian, “Is the Bible enough?” I’m not asking whether the Bible says everything about every detail of life, but whether in what it says about faith and godliness, theology and piety, it says what you need. Take […]
“I Am the Resurrection and the Life”: A Meditation on John 11:25–26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” –John 11:25–26 Sometimes it is the case […]