Germany trip wrap-up — Wittenberg

When our trip to Germany was planned, we intentionally inserted an extra day at the beginning of the trip prior to beginning the teaching to give us a little more time to acclimate to the time change. When thinking about what to do on that day, Dad asked on one occasion, “Would you like […]

Salvation by grace alone

How important is salvation by grace — grace alone? God rescued us from His just wrath against our sins because He is by nature gracious! This quality permeates the being of God and causes Him to delight in doing good to those who deserve instead His wrath, His anger, His fury. It was that quality—and […]

A blog worth reading: Pulpit Magazine

I subscribe to a number of different blogs in order to help me stay informed of current issues of discussion and debate in the Christian world. Some are obviously better than others. One that I read has been on a kind of sabbatical for a while, and has just this week started posting daily comments […]

Book Review: Let Christ Be Magnified

Title: Let Christ Be Magnified Author: J. H. Merle d’Aubigne Publisher: Banner of Truth Trust (Reprint), 2007; 52 pp. $9.00 Recommendation (4-star scale): This being the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin’s birth, there are no shortage of books being written or re-released in tribute to him. I think I’ve acquired at […]

Recent conference audio

I have recently listened to the majority of the audio from two recent conferences; both of these sets are worth hearing. The Bethlehem conference featured Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, addressing the topic of evangelism (which was also the topic of a recent book by Dever). The Sola conference addressed the reformation […]

Catholics and Evangelicals, the Pope and Justification

In an interview posted yesterday at Christianity Today, Charles Colson commented on the recent death of Richard John Neuhaus, and the effect that his death might have on the movement Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT). In the interview, Colson makes this remarkable statement: Pope Benedict on November 19 in what was otherwise a routine audience […]

Book Review: The Reformation

I’ve always been a reader. In my elementary years, I was caught more than one time by my parents reading in bed by the light of a nearby security light that would provide just-barely adequate reading light if I held my book and the window blind just so. At dinner time I would invariably tote […]

Today’s Quote (9/29/08)

Stephen Nichols, The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World: Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes I hated the righteous […]

Today’s Quote (9/27/08)

Stephen Nichols, The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World: Luther and the other Reformers cast their vote for unity, but not for unity at all costs. The ecumenical spirit of our age neglects the caution of the Reformers, establishing a Christian unity that is built on the flimsiest theological foundations. Against […]

It’s Not Halloween. It’s Reformation Day.

The great event of October 31, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Church. We do well to remember what Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Cranmer, Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, and a host of others fought for. J. C. Ryle’s book, Five English Reformers helps us do just that: Let men say […]

Another Reformation?

On Reformation Day (October 31) Dallas Seminary professor John Hannah provided a compelling call to return to the driving force behind the Reformation — a commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture. He concludes with these insights and admonitions: Is the real point of Christ’s redemptive mission to create a body of people who grasp the […]

Reformation Week Reflection #4

John Calvin: As all mankind are, in the sight of God, lost sinners, we hold that Christ is their only righteousness, since, by his obedience, he has wiped off our transgressions; by his sacrifice appeased the divine anger; by his blood, washed away our stains; by his cross, borne our curse; and by his death, […]

Reformation Week Reflection #3

The story of the death of the two English Reformers Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley is well known. Ryle recounts their meeting and death at the stake: Ridley first entered the place, and earnestly holding up both his hands, looked towards heaven. Shortly after, seeing Latimer, he ran to him, embraced and kissed him, saying, […]

All Saints Day

“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” (Heb. 13:7; NASB) The typical American neighborhood was inundated last night by an assortment of ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires, interspersed with a few pirates, angels, cartoon characters, bunnies, puppies, scarecrows and […]

Reformation Books

Are you curious about the reformation, but don’t know much about it? Here are three books that I’ve found helpful (this is not intended to be an extensive listing, but just enough to give you an introduction and taste of the lives of some of the key men of the Reformation). They all offer brief […]