The books I completed during 2016: Jason Roberts, A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became the World’s Greatest Traveler J.I. Packer, Faithfulness and Holiness: The Witness of J.C. Ryle (including the full text of the first edition of Ryle’s, Holiness) C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold Timothy Keller, Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism Sarah L. Delaney and A. Elizabeth Delaney with Amy Hill Hearth, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress (part 1) Thabiti M. Anyabwile, The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors Warren and David Wiersbe, Ministering to the Mourning: A Practical Guide for Pastors, Church Leaders, and Other…
Read MoreMy RTS Jackson colleague Dr. Guy Waters responds to the question, “Is Paedocommunion Biblical?”
Read MoreSeventy-five years ago today Japanese forces attacked American military installations in Hawaii. A day later President Franklin Roosevelt requested Congress for a declaration of war with Japan. Listen his speech here. It concludes: Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces- with the unbounding determination of our people- we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Read MoreWinston Churchill was born November 30, 1874. He tops most lists of the twentieth century’s greatest leaders, the consummate man of word and action. From May 1940 to America’s December 1941 entry into World War II, Churchill’s leadership rallied Britain against Nazi domination. Of all the countries of northern Europe, only Britain stood between Hitler and freedom. It’s hard to imagine England resisting Germany’s onslaught without Churchill. British resistance was not a given. Other options were available, and many favored a negotiated peace. For readers wanting to become familiar with Churchill’s life but unable to invest the time it takes to read a lengthy biography, I recommend Winston Churchill: A Life by the late military historian John Keegan. This brief biography comes…
Read MoreI want my ministry students at RTS Jackson to become skilled in pastoral visitation, which includes visiting people in their homes. In the late 19th century, Bishop J.C. Ryle was troubled by “a growing disposition throughout the land, among the clergy, to devote an exaggerated amount of attention to what I must call the public work of ministry, and to give comparatively too little attention to pastoral visitation and personal dealing with individual souls.” In his excellent biography of Ryle, Iain Murray comments: “However eloquent or apparently knowledgeable a preacher may be, there will be something seriously lacking in the man who is not to be found in the homes of his people. Sermons which come only from the study are not…
Read More“Personal application has been called the ‘soul’ of preaching. A sermon without application is like a letter posted without a direction: it may be well written, rightly dated, and duly signed; but it is useless, because it never reaches its destination.” – J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew. 1856 (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2012), 126.
Read MoreMy RTS Jackson colleague, Dr. John Kwasny, teaches FPC Yazoo’s teacher/parents on the theological and philosophical foundations of Christian Education. John is director of One Story Ministries. First Presbyterian Church’s Fall Sunday School resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Read MoreCongratulations Brian Gault! For 21 years Brian has faithfully served Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson. On Tuesday he was licensed to preach by Mississippi Valley Presbytery. Bebo Elkin administered the licensure vows at Northpointe Presbyterian Church in Meridian.
Read MoreWith characteristic enthusiasm, conviction, and thoughtfulness, Stephanie Jones-Fosu spoke today to my Yazoo City Rotary Club on behalf of Teach for America. For the past three years, Stephanie has served as Teacher Leadership Development Coach, training more than 40 teachers in our district. Stephanie and Justin Jones-Fosu were my neighbors in Clinton, and among those who graciously welcomed Lynne and me to the Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson family two-and-a-half years ago. We are grateful for friends who work tirelessly to make our communities good places to live and work.
Read MoreCommenting on Psalm 128:1-3, William Plumer writes: “No man over-estimates the blessings of peace and concord in all the relations of life . . . Nor until he sacrifices truth, honor, righteousness or a good conscience does he ever pay too much for them.” William S. Plumer, Psalms: A Critical and Expository Commentary with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks. 1867 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1990), 1139.
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