This past Christmas we enjoyed a wonderful time with family. Both of our sons were able to take leave from the Navy and returned home for the festivities. At the end of a Christmas day spent eating, drinking, and being merry…darkness fell. My mom disclosed she had breast cancer and would soon be undergoing surgery. … More Taking Comfort in God’s Providence
When my children were young they loved to build with Legos. They loved to construct magical Lego worlds and then play in them. As a dad, this often served as a backdrop creating the perfect opportunity to explain the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. I’d have them imagine they had the power … More Covenant Theology and the Proto-Evangelium
Happy New Year from The New Geneva blog! I love the idea of new beginnings. There’s something about a fresh start that I find inspiring and motivating. I’m sure it’s no surprise, then, that I love the celebration of each New Year. I had an especially great New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day this … More Angela’s 2018 Favorites
Churches really like to pull out all the stops at Christmas, don’t they? Maybe you’ve been to an over-the-top evangelical church Christmas service, like I have? I read something just this week that gave advice for churches who want to go all out on a Christmas service: “Usually the goal is to create a ‘Wow!’ … More Christmas Church Services: An Introduction to the Regulative Principle of Worship
I love the Christmas season! One of my favorite things to do is take walks through the “Candy Cane Lane” in our neighborhood. What a delight to the senses to feel the cool winter air, smell the wood fireplaces, and see all the colorful Christmas decorations and lights. Several years ago I noticed more … More What About Nativity Scenes at Christmas?
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born … More Tidings of Great Joy
Who Is Jesus Christ? The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth ~ John 1:14 The Gospel of John is my favorite gospel—I was literally saved by reading it! I know this feeling isn’t exclusive to me. Many of you … More The Word Became Flesh: A Reflection on Christmas
Covenant theology is the engine that powers the whole system of Reformed doctrine. It is both elegant and complex, providing the framework through which the Reformed read and understand what the scripture says about God’s dealings with man. As we saw last week, every person in history has related to God through the Covenant of … More Paradigm Shifting Reformed Doctrines: Visible and Invisible Church
What Is A Covenant? When my family and friends ask me why I joined a Presbyterian church they’re always surprised when I don’t mention the Five Points of Calvinism. It may surprise you too, but here’s why: While I love the five points and view them as essential to being Reformed, they’re only a gateway! … More Covenant Basics and the Covenant of Works
I love my church. I mean LOVE. My family are members of a small, sweet, in many ways unremarkable Presbyterian church somewhere in Chicagoland. And yet every week on our way home, we marvel at just how remarkable our church actually is. If you had asked me just two years ago “Would you ever go … More Angela’s Reformation Story
