Articles
Semper Reformanda
On my mind lately is the matter of our regular celebration of Reformation Month at our local assembly of believers. It has been on my heart to fan the flame of the reformed faith in such a way because my own heart has been encouraged by reading Calvin and Chesterton...
Solving the Mysteries of Antiquity
Acts 17:16–34 We have hear the apostle solving the mysteries of antiquity. There were three: the mystery of life, of motion, and of being. It is the mystery of the one and the many. Philosophers have been and still are trying to solve these mysteries, but can only do...
Doctrine—Not Indoctrination
This text has one thing united both experiences at each place, Thessalonica and Berea. This one thing is the Word of God or the Scriptures received and tested. We see that it is by the doctrine of Christ up against the dogma of Caesar that the world is apparently...
The Eucatastrophe of Acts
Acts 16:16–40 Photo by Linus Sandvide on Unsplash The first thing I see in this text is it is a fairy tale—that’s true. You can see this as soon as it is stated that the prison guard was to keep the prison secure. You immediately know what is going to...
Eucatastrophe
Eucatastrophe Good Turns on the Way to a Happy Ending Tolkien coined a word to explain what he called a genre of literature called Fairy Stories. He was a philologist as well as a Roman Catholic, both of which C.S. Lewis says he was told to distrust. Nonetheless, when...
Sovereign Joy
We see in this text (Acts 16:11–15) beginnings, foundation, preparations, though not meritorious, are necessary and blessed of God. Civility may prepare a nation for salvation like these things prepared a city for joy. At the same time, we must recognize that joy...
Fresh Hope from this Week
In light of all of what appears to be the clown world we live in and the related things that happened this week (I’m not going in to all that stuff here), it was good for me to take a stroll through some Scriptures to keep the goodness and sovereignty of God in front...
The Crucible of Sovereignty
There is in this passage that which puzzles many (vv.1–5) and that which pains us all (vv.6–10). That which puzzles many is that after it has been made so clear that the Jewish rite of circumcision is not required for salvation, we see the apostle circumcising the...
Morals and Morale
Acts 15:22–41 This past week in France we have seen immense destruction reportedly die to open borders. One journalist wrote, “Historic buildings in France that survived bombardment in WW2 can not survive the cultural “enrichment” of open borders. Tells you everything...