The priesthood and the eldership of the Old Testament and the ministry and eldership of the New Testament are unmistakably male offices. If the diaconate in the New Testament broke with this pattern, the change would have represented a dramatic revolution in biblical polity.

There is a very human desire to participate in seasons and commemorate important events. It is important to follow the Reformed instinct and seek an answer from the Scriptures, to discover if the historical church calendar has a foundation in the Scriptures or if it solely grew out of church tradition.

The basics of the pastoral argument are that the Bible gives us permission to regard the children of believers as Christians who need to be discipled, not unbelievers who need to be converted.

The basic promise of God’s covenant with his people in the Old Testament was to be a God to them and to their children after them. In fact, the Lord gave the lavish promise to those who love him that he would be a God to their descendants to a thousand generations.

The Word of God is central to our life as a church. It is the power by which God speaks and creates a Bride for his Son. For us to give God’s Word the reverence, love, wonder, faith, and obedience it deserves, we must think carefully about the role it plays in our life together. 

One of the primary ways Christians throughout history have passed down the faith to their children is through catechisms and confessions.

Church is not a lecture hall but a family gathering at our Father’s table.

The question came up recently, “If the Bible says to obey church leaders, is it ever okay to go against your pastor?”

A church member asked me this past week about what the Bible teaches about women in leadership in the church. There are two ways to answer that question.

A position paper from the session of Christ Church Bellingham on ordained & commissioned officeholders, representative participation in worship & women exercising teaching authority.

A position paper from the session of Christ Church Bellingham on God-given roles in the Bible & the church.

A paper from the leadership of Trinity Church Seattle explaining their decision to have ministerial staff wear pastoral uniforms.

Surely we should have a very good reason why we should abandon the practice of the Christian centuries to be in God’s house, to sing his praise and hear his Word, twice on the Lord’s holy Day.

If there is a great error being made by today’s Christian ministry, it is the reluctance to insist that Christians learn the Bible.

We forget that most of this clatter will be forgotten tomorrow or the next day or week or month. It will, by then, be replaced by another set of urgent communications to command our attention.

If we are to adorn our place within the one, holy, catholic Church, we cannot give way to tribalism in thought, speech, or behavior.

Part one of a series of challenges and encouragements from Rev. Dr. Rayburn to the church’s next generation.

Nobody becomes a pastor in order to do administration. It isn’t inspiring. It isn’t flashy. It isn't fun. And yet, whether they realize it or not, everyone appreciates it. Good administration keeps the church moving.

A Letter to CCB introducing Renew Northwest & Renew Book Company

It has become common for people to criticize conservative Christians for "bibliolatry"—that is, worship of the Bible. Has our esteem for the Bible turned a book, a created thing, into the object of our worship? Are we idolaters?