The month of November is a kind of turning point in the year. While the summer and early fall months are behind us and school is back in full swing along with its busy schedule of homework, catechism, and sports, there is much to look forward to in the coming holiday season. As we collectively […]
The Great Reformation of the sixteenth century is a lesson in God’s providence. This is certainly true of all history when seen through the eyes of faith, but it becomes especially clear when we consider the striking renewal of the church that God worked through men like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin. Most […]
This month’s issue of Beacon Lights is an open edition, which means that it departs from our usual pattern of having a focused theme for all the feature articles. The open format provides an opportunity for writers to submit articles on topics they find interesting and profitable to share with other members in the body […]
There might be a temptation for readers who are not planning to attend college to read the title of this month’s issue of Beacon Lights and think to themselves, “Well, this doesn’t apply to me, so I’ll pass on this one. Maybe next month will be more relevant.” If that is what is going through […]
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. This month’s issue of Beacon Lights takes as its theme the words of the inspired apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11. Near the […]
For young people considering their future, the question of marriage looms large. Among the various choices we make during our lives, the decisions of whether to marry and whom to marry are probably in the top two or three for most of us. For many Christian young people, the answer to the first question regarding […]
One of the greatest evidences of God’s blessing in a church is the public confession of faith by young people in that congregation. For the pastor, elders, and parents this is cause for great rejoicing! It is the visible fruit of the Holy Spirt working in the hearts of young people, blessing the many years […]
Our use of the word “passion” has changed since its first use. Today you may hear it used by people like this: “I am passionate about my work.” What they mean, generally, is that they love what they do, and they exert themselves to do their best. Passion can also describe the bond of love […]
“He who does little, but in a state to which God calls him, does more than he who labors much, but in a state which he has thoughtlessly chosen: a cripple limping in the right way is better than a racer out of it.” Augustine “The Lord enjoins every one of us, in all the […]
“Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?” Matthew 17:17 What does a perverse generation look like? If I were to have answered this question in the past, I would have pointed out to you the perversions of other […]