22 articles.
Canyon Missional Community (CMC) is a church plant located in Canyon, TX, approximately twenty minutes south of Amarillo, TX. Roughly three years ago, First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo sent Pastor Kim Talley and a team of elders and deacons to plant a church near the West Texas A&M campus. Thus, CMC is thoroughly concerned with reaching students with the Gospel of Christ, yet it is not a campus ministry.
My friend, I have noticed that you prefer prayer services and dialogue more than the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. It is okay that you have preferences, but I sincerely want you to see that sermons and lessons are as important as other aspects of Christian fellowship. I am writing you to encourage you to delight in such things.
Dear brother, why do you neglect to worship with us on Sundays? I know you believe worship is a lifestyle; indeed, it is. But you are missing out on so much when you are not there.
Rather than seven, as in Roman Catholicism and Orthodox expressions of the Christian Faith, most Protestant denominations have two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. This brief paper will focus on these two sacraments as proper, examine their significance as means of grace, and declare their proper methodologies and details of their administration, answering the questions, "In what way do they communicate grace, by whom are they administered, to whom are they administered, and in what setting?"
The Apostle Peter's words are profound: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 4:10-11). Not only do these words demonstrate the supremacy of Christ working in His people through varied gifts, but they also demonstrate the three offices of the church: member, elder, and deacon.
Sound polity in the local church is essential for a healthy ministry marked by faithfulness to Christ and His gospel, for polity determines how a church is structured, led, and connected to other churches. From a Presbyterian perspective, sound polity is characterized by covenantal membership, governance by elders and presbyters in graded courts, and binding association with other churches for accountability and mission. This short essay will examine the characteristics of polity and how they are understood by Presbyterians, while engaging the Baptist perspective.
Throughout church history, there have been various debates over what constitutes a church, yet there has been much consensus as well. The marks of the church are agreed upon by virtually all Christians; differences arise in their understanding and practice. While much could be said of the denominational differences in interpretation, this short essay will be concerned with the marks in an objective sense, interpreted in light of Scripture and history.
Throughout church history, the Lord's Supper has been a crucial aspect of Christian worship, yet the meaning of Christ's mighty words in instituting the sacrament has been widely disputed. Therefore, the practice of the Lord's Supper, following its varying interpretations, has also varied. This brief essay, composed of a historical narrative section and a case study, will examine these understandings, primarily focusing on the Reformation's practice and understanding of the Lord's Supper, as the Reformation Era represents many different positions on the sacrament.
Congregational polity, a longtime distinctive of Baptist ecclesiology, is rooted in Biblical convictions and historical development. John S. Hammett describes the polity of Baptist churches this way: "Baptists have stood virtuously unanimously in favor of congregational church government… In this model, the congregation exercises the ultimate human authority in the church, under Christ's divine authority.
Simply put, I am not a Baptist because I am a Presbyterian. Presbyterianism offers a more coherent and systematic expression of the Christian Faith that better aligns with Scripture, historical developments in light of Scripture, and theological doctrines derived from Scripture. This short essay will demonstrate my rationale for embracing a Presbyterian identity, particularly focusing on the doctrine of baptism, especially paedobaptism and baptismal efficacy.
While we are a Presbyterian church in a Presbyterian denomination, we can learn much from our Baptist brothers in Christ. One of the valuable teachings we would be wise to adopt is meaningful membership—"membership is not simply the record of a statement we once made or an affection toward a familiar place. It must be the reflection of a living commitment, or it is worthless." Membership commands our utmost commitment.
The communicatio idiomatum, or the communication of properties, is a vital doctrine of Christology that safeguards the unity of Christ's person while affirming the integrity of His two natures. It reflects a theological method rooted in Chalcedonian Christology and the Reformed tradition, both of which confess that Christ's natures are without change, confusion, separation, and division. This paper will approach this doctrine from a Trinitarian, Chalcedonian, and Reformed framework, defining it in light of its biblical and historical interpretation, defending it against historical and contemporary distortions, and declaring it essential to proper Christology and the Christian Faith.
The Doctrine of Inseparable Operations is significant in Trinitarian studies and devotion. Because God is one, He also works as one in the economy of salvation; this truth is paramount to understanding God's work in the world and in individuals. Therefore, this paper will explore this doctrine in light of Scripture, Church history, and contemporary opinions, defining, defending, and declaring it central to the Christian Faith.
The relationship between Scripture and tradition has been a central debate in Christian theology for centuries. Theologians have long wrestled with how these two authorities interact and inform one another in the life of the Church. This paper will explore key arguments in this debate, focusing on a classically Protestant position.
Graham Cole's Seventh Chapter of Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan, and Demons is titled "Spiritual Warfare." It provides in-depth definitions (pp. 164-165), perspectives (pp. 165-172), and approaches to the topic (pp.
In Part Three, "The Character of God's Word and Contemporary Challenges," of God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, Matthew Barrett systematically argues that Scripture is inspired by God or "God-breathed" (2 Tim. 3:16), that its authority proceeds from its inspiration by the Holy Spirit, and that it deserves the most profound respect (p. 223-224).
Matthew Barrett's Part Two of God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, titled "God's Word in Redemptive History," is far shorter than the previous Part One but still most valuable and informative. The first chapter, "God's Word in the Economy of the Gospel: Covenant, Trinity, and the Necessity of a Saving Word," introduces the next two. Barrett first signifies the distinction between general and special revelation, declaring, "General revelation is sufficient to condemn [humanity], it is insufficient to save [humanity]...
In Part One, "God's Word under Fire, Yesterday and Today," of the book God's Word Alone: The Authority of Scripture, Matthew Barrett argues that biblical authority, sufficiency, inerrancy, and infallibility are central to Christian orthodoxy (pp. 23-27). Therefore, his task is to "answer contemporary challenges to sufficiency from traditionalism (with a particular focus on Rome and her view of the canon) to science and reason, and finally experience and culture" (p.
Faithful Theology: An Introduction by Graham A. Cole is, precisely as the title says, a brief book on faithfulness in the theological process. In it, Cole posits that faithful theology involves five key elements: The Word of Revelation, The Witness of Christian Thought and Practice, The World of Human Brokenness, The Work of Wisdom, and The Way of Worship (pp.
The Westminster Confession of Faith systematically represents the Christian faith and doctrine. Since its conception, it has been well received by Christians of all denominations and remains relevant for Christians and churches worldwide today. Primarily, the Confession "[is] as much used now in Anglo-Presbyterian Churches as ever, and [has] more vitality and influence than any other Calvinistic Confession."
There are many characteristics of a Christian leader. Leading as a Christian requires humility, service, candor, ambition, balance, intentionality, and many other characteristics. However, to explain Christian leadership through characteristics in a short essay is a tremendous task.
Author, Jason Meyer, sets out in the book, Lloyd-Jones on the Christian Life: Doctrine and Life as Fuel and Fire, to tell and inspire other Christians about the God-fearing life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Moreover, Meyer seeks to accomplish a more specific goal in his work: to remind Christians "that according to Lloyd-Jones, the Christian life is doctrine of fire" (p. 21).