The Obama administration is starting to look like an old couch, the kind you see at the dump with six or seven springs sticking out. But it is not an old couch; it’s a new couch. It is not supposed to look like this just yet. Have all the czars been coming over in the …
Call to the Ministry
Book 4/Chapter 3 An orderly call (section 10) 1. What things should be done “decently and in order” in the church? 2. Are some things more important than others in this regard? The outer call (section 11) 1. What aspect of a man’s call to the ministry is Calvin treating? 2. Why does he pass …
Not a Good Stunt to Pull
We have noted earlier that Psalm 22:3 says that God lives in the praises of His people. He dwells there. This means that our songs, our psalms, our hymns are the living stones of a glorious Temple. This means that our music is a cloud of glory, the same kind of cloud that God used …
Spiritual Bread, Spiritual Wine
This bread is spiritual bread, and this wine is spiritual wine. But it is not spiritual in the sense that the bread and wine are somehow ethereal or non-real. The bread and wine before us is recognizably bread and wine. So what do we mean by considering it spiritual food? When Paul says that in …
No Other God
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Our Father and God, You are the one true God, and …
Dumping Water in the Lake
Last night I was watching the news, as is my custom, and the story about Obama’s “Dear Leader” speech to the nation’s school children came up. And no, I am not going after Obama here, although he keeps doing one creepy thing after another. Let’s just not have any missile parades, all right? Rather, I …
Ministers and Governors
Book 4/Chapter 3 Apostles and prophets (section 6) 1. What should the heirs of the apostles do? 2. How should men regard ministers? 3. Why are ministers not set over the church? 4. Why are they set over the church? 5. In what do should pastors imitate the apostles? Focus (section 7) 1. What is …
Exquisite Thrill
To pick one of Calvin & Hobbes many high points, I would recall the time when Calvin was industriously pounding nails into the coffee table. His mother comes tearing up to him, screaming, “What do you think you’re doing?!” He looks and her and looks at the table and says, “Is this a trick question?” …
Calvin as Wobbly Cessationist
Book 4/Chapter 3 Church order (section 1) 1. If the Lord alone is to have rule in the church, then why has He established a governmental order? 2. What is a useful exercise in humility? 3. How may we best evidence our piety and obedience? Significant ministry (section 2) 1. What is a “chief sinew” …
Not All Israel Is Israel/Romans 32
Introduction It may not be immediately obvious, but it appears as though the apostle Paul painted himself into a corner. He began to wax a little too eloquent at the end of chapter 8, showing how absolutely nothing can separate the elect of God from the love of Christ. Who can lay a charge against …