Category Reformation21

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Mission Accomplished

“It is finished.” (John 19:30) Have you ever left a project unfinished? Our lives are filled with projects that we have never quite managed to finish. We have half-read books on our shelves, half-eaten meals in our refrigerators, and half-finished…

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Covenant Memorials

While reading Nehemiah 9, I was impressed by how much Covenant theology is rooted in history. In the Old Covenant, God spoke through his prophets, priests, and kings to remind his people of what he had done for them in…

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Should I Get a Tattoo?

Should Christians get Tattoos? There is only one clear reference to tattoos in Scripture: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28). Obviously, this is a strict prohibition. It…

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A Fresh Look at an Old Confession

Note: This post has been adapted from the preface of A New Exposition of the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, slated for release by Mentor in January 2023. It has been correctly said that true Christianity “is confessional Christianity,”…

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A Word on Gender and Sex

In modern debates over sexuality, few terms have generated more confusion than “gender.” As distinct from “sex” (which focuses on biology), “gender” has to do with socially constructed roles and expectations. These terms are separated in order to emphasize the…

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Hypocrisy, Self-Doubt, and the Supper 

Just before Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, he predicted that one of his disciples would betray him. All the disciples, Judas included, responded with a heart-searching question: “Is it I?” (Matt. 26:22, 25). For most of the disciples, it…

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St. Anselm, the Praying Monk

Several years ago, I was texting another pastor while I was waiting for a somber meeting. I remarked that I at least had Anselm to keep me company. He shot a wonderfully nerdy reply: “That’s the greatest way to pass…

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Why I Decided to Preach Extemporaneously

Preaching is the most evident supernatural activity that Christians can witness on a weekly basis. Dr. Charles W. Koller bears witness to this as he writes, “Preaching is that unique procedure by which God, through His chosen messenger, reaches down…

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Mind the Gap(s)

Note: This article was originally published on reformation21 in May 2011. Error and heresy are not always immediately obvious. Some problems are indeed glaring, and ought to require only a functioning pair of eyes and ears in order to determine…