Archive for category: Pastoral Theology

The conclusion of the Sola Fide Conference at Countryside Bible Church in Dallas.

This is my first presentation in the Sola Conference at Countryside Bible Church in the Dallas area, February 7, 2009.

The audio from James’ sermon preached at Grace Baptist Church titled “Our Need to Answer the Critics,” is online here.

Surprise! I’m not talking about my debates. I am talking about a re-ignition of the justification controversy due to the publication of NT Wright’s new book, from IVP no less, Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision, expected in June, 09. One of the “endorsements” should get our attention: “Tom Wright has out-Reformed America’s newest religious zealots–the neo-Reformed–by taking them back

Below is a paper I recently finished for an Ancient Church History course at GPTS. A PDF file (perhaps a bit more readable) can be downloaded by clicking here. ==== The Apostles Creed is one of old the earliest1 confessions of the Christian Church. The doctrines avowed in this creed were clarified and expanded upon during the early centuries of

My morning sermon from the Trinity Road Chapel in London on the tremendous words of Jesus after His resurrection.

   Yesterday for the first hymn at Trinity Road Chapel we sang #31 in the Christian Hymns hymnal, one most of us are familiar with, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, King of Creation.” But two of the verses differed from what I am accustomed to in our Trinity Hymnal, and two really struck me in light of the open, unbridled,

   The works of Thomas Manton, highly recommended by Spurgeon and others who know sound theology, are back in print. I know many who frequent this blog know the name, and know the wealth of sound biblical writing this set represents. And now, you can obtain this set, at a tremendous price, and help support Alpha and Omega Ministries, all at

I am providing the entirety of the morning service from PRBC on 9/28/08. Normally I only provide the sermon, but since some have never been to a Reformed Baptist service, I thought I would provide it all. Of course, the sound is marginal in light of the fact that this is just a small (very small) digital camera doing the

   OK, I’m obviously behind the times. Too buried to see straight, all that stuff. But after a couple who frequent our chat channel went and saw Fireproof a few evenings ago, and came back just bubbling about how good it was, I decided I would take my wife and we would catch a matinee showing today. I don’t see many

I recently came across the following proverb. The proverb is superficially witty: “Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved.” This proverb is partly correct. While one is sleeping, for example, one is generally not out stealing, murdering, fornicating, and telling lies.

So this morning I see a shot of Mark Driscoll’s sermon notes, found here. And so I thought it might be helpful to some folks if I posted my own. So, here is exactly what I had in the pulpit with me when I preached this sermon on John 3 a few weeks ago. Here’s a PDF (ignore the blank

This is the PM sermon from the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, August 31, 2008, on Philippians 2:5-11.

Here is the Wednesday evening devotional from the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church from 3 John. Untitled

   Once again my hope is that someone will be helped by these thoughts.

   A monument to how deep sound theology was not so long ago. The Complete Works of Thomas Manton being offered by Solid Ground. “The renowned Thomas Manton (1620-1677), whose writings have long been prized by thousands, was known first and foremost as a great preacher. In a day when good preaching is sorely lacking, we need the reprint of his

   I see that I forgot to mention that I am currently ministering the Word in the Lord’s Day services at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church. Last Sunday I spoke on contentment, service to Christ, and the attitude that should be ours as a result. Hate to explode the myth that RB’s only preach “high doctrine sermons,” but anyone who actually

   I had the opportunity to minister in both morning and evening services at the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church this weekend, speaking from Matthew 7 in the morning, and Galatians 1 in the evening. You can find the sermons here. The morning sermon addressed the plague represented by the Hodges/Wilkin “cheap grace” teaching, and the evening emphasized the fact that the

   The “religion of peace” has been busy proving that they desire only peace over in the UK of late. In such times, it is helpful to remember the words of God himself to Job: Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements? Since you

   I read this on the Strange BaptistFire blog, and I thought it was worth repeating. This message was recorded by Kirk Cameron and played for the SBC pastors:    Can I speak to you from my heart for a moment? I realize that, theologically, I’m not worthy to wash your socks. But imagine this scenario with me, if you will: Imagine

   I saw this website a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the US version of the book won’t be out till July. It looks like excellent “supplementary reading” for the October class from what I can see. The UK price is up there…£17 + shipping is pretty steep! But it is good to know faithful men are standing in the gap in

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phil. 4:8, NASB) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,

   Our world is filled with ugliness. The ugliness caused by sin, caused by rebellion, by hatred of God and His truth. Ugliness caused by the perversion of God’s goodness. Destroyed relationships, ruined marriages, are ugly. Lives marred by drug abuse and alcoholism—ugly. Beautiful women living in constant debauchery, adultery and fornication–ugly. Abortion as a birth control method, greed ruining lives.

   “Whatever is pure.” Here we enter into a portion of the secret to Christian contentment that could profitably be addressed by a book-length treatise. We live in a day where we literally wallow in impurity. You cannot drive down a street without seeing billboards that are filthy and impure. You check the distance to the car in front of you

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   “Whatever is honorable…dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8). Honorable, worthy of respect, dignified, serious, above reproach, even holy. These are terms used to translate the single Greek term Paul uses here. We see here the value of interpretation in context, because the use of this term in conjunction with others helps us to identify Paul’s intention (to use technical terminology,