What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission, Kevin DeYoung, Greg Gilbert, Crossway, 2011, paperback, 288 pp. There is confusion among young people today about the mission of the church. This confusion is being spread by “Reformed” colleges and universities who are presenting cultural redemption, […]
Each Sunday, we assemble at church for the purpose of worshipping God. Every element of our worship service brings praise and honor to our God. Central to the work of the church is the preaching of the gospel. In a special issue on the church, therefore, it is fitting that we focus our attention on […]
What is the church? This issue of Beacon Lights attempts to answer that question by explaining several aspects of the church. There are many things that characterize the church. The church is characterized by the pure preaching of the gospel. The church is described as the bride of Christ. The church is described by adherence […]
The terms church militant, triumphant, and latent are used to describe a threefold distinction in the church of Christ. The one church of Christ can be described as she exists throughout history in three different states. A threefold distinction in the church was often used by the medieval church theologians. However, they spoke of the […]
The relationship between the church and the state is big news these days. God has made it big news by sending a coronavirus pestilence upon the whole earth. In response to this pestilence, government officials in most states have forbidden their citizens from assembling in public gatherings. The purpose of these orders is to prevent […]
Four Great Things Upon the Earth (1): The Lion There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any. — Proverbs 30:29–30 The mighty lion prowled the savannah. As he moved, his muscles rippled beneath his gleaming, golden […]
Introduction The question is not, “Who makes a church Reformed?” The answer to this question would be, “the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” By his Spirit, Jesus Christ himself, who is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23), creates a group of believers and their children as his body in a certain place at a […]
June 8 Read Psalm 95 God is worthy of our praise! Singing is one of the means that he has provided for us to praise him. In both Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3, Christians are instructed to use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to give thanks to the Lord. Singing is also a beautiful way […]
Of all the pictures in God’s word that describe the church of Jesus Christ, there are two that are surpassing in beauty and joy. The church is often described as the sheep of God, or the flock of Jesus Christ. The beauty of this description of the church is that it pictures the gracious and […]