Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into Missions and Suffering by Sinclair Ferguson The core theme linking missions and suffering is the "Christ pattern," a foundational concept where suffering is a key instrument for advancing God's kingdom . This pattern is woven throughout the entire Bible. From Genesis 3:15 , which foretells conflict and sacrifice for deliverance, the Old Testament serves as "footno...

Deep Dive into חָמָס The Hebrew term חָמָס (ḥāmās) is a profoundly multifaceted word, primarily signifying violence and wrong . Its semantic range extends far beyond simple physical aggression, encompassing a broad spectrum of harmful actions and states. At its core, it refers to physical violence , denoting a strong, destructive force that can maim, destroy, and kill. However, it also includes no...

Deep Dive into The Life And Diary Of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards - Study of Divinity until Being Licensed to Preach David Brainerd, after his expulsion from Yale College, dedicated himself to studying divinity with Reverend Mr. Mills in Ripton , preparing for the ministry. His spiritual journey during this period, from April to July 1742, was marked by intense self-reflection and profound f...

Deep Dive into Church Planting in Taiwan by Mark Kuo Mark Kuo, a missionary sent by the Presbyterian Church in America, shares profound insights from his church planting work in Yilan County, Taiwan. His core understanding of mission work is that it must center on the preaching and teaching of God's Word within the local church . This involves qualified, ordained ministers being sent out to pl...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - The Central Theme of the Atonement Atonement is a fundamental Christian doctrine explaining how humanity's sin is reconciled with God through Jesus Christ's death. It centers on four core elements: sacrifice, propitiation, substitution, and reconciliation . The penal substitution theory provides the most comprehensive understanding...

Deep Dive into Why the Tried and True is Still Better, Even in Missions by Kevin DeYoung Kevin DeYoung argues that effective modern missions must adhere to "the tried and true" or "Old Paths," which are biblical principles exemplified by the Apostle Paul in Acts 14. This "apostolic model for missionary service" is a "three-legged stool" comprising: New Conve...

Deep Dive into God as El Elyon "El Elyon," meaning "God Most High," represents God's absolute transcendence, supreme elevation, and cosmic sovereignty. It is the granite foundation of Reformed theology and piety . From its initial appearance in Genesis 14, where Melchizedek blesses Abram, El Elyon is portrayed as the "Possessor of heaven and earth," demonstrating...

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Gracious Affections Soften the Heart, and Are Attended and Followed with a Christian Tenderness of Spirit Gracious affections fundamentally soften the heart , progressively transforming it from stone to flesh and cultivating a profound spiritual tenderness . Conversely, false affections, despite any initial emotional intensity, ultimately h...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - Bearing the Cross, a Part of Self-Denial For Christians, "bearing the cross" is a fundamental aspect of faith , signifying a hard, toilsome, and often difficult life filled with various evils. This is not an arbitrary suffering but a divinely ordained process intended to conform believers to Christ , who himself endured...

Deep Dive into The Great Commission by Michael Morales The church's active engagement in the Great Commission stems from a renewed vision of Jesus Christ in all His glory and splendor . Matthew's Gospel strikingly concludes not with an ascension, but with a powerful image of Jesus already exalted and reigning at the Father's right hand, a foretaste of His heavenly glory. This scene on...

Deep Dive into The Forgotten Doctrine in Missions by Jonathan Master The new birth, also known as regeneration, is presented as a radical, supernatural transformation of a spiritually dead heart, brought to life by God the Holy Spirit through His Word. Jesus emphasized its absolute necessity, stating that "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." This is an internal, G...

Deep Dive into All of Grace: An Earnest Word for Those Who Are, by Grace, Seeking Salvation by Charles Spurgeon - Why Saints Persevere The perseverance and ultimate security of believers are firmly rooted in two immutable foundations: God's unwavering faithfulness and their indissoluble union with His Son, Jesus Christ . Unlike the unreliable and "mere vanity" of human faithfulness,...

Deep Dive into Tyndale - To the Ends of the Earth by John Piper The central message from the sources is that there is no optimal time for world evangelization or truth clarification . Ideal conditions for God's mission will never naturally occur due to pervasive spiritual and earthly challenges. Therefore, engaging in Christian work requires embracing "inhospitable, unsuitable, uncongenia...

Deep Dive into The Power of a Sigh (Psalm 12:5) by Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s sermon, "The Power of a Sigh," delivered on April 22, 1886, offers immense comfort by focusing on God's response to human suffering. The central message is that even in the darkest times, God hears the deepest sorrows of His people, especially when expressed through a simple sigh, and is pow...

Deep Dive into Missions Today by Brooks Buser The core of effective missions, as presented by Brooks Buser, centers on the ultimate goal of church planting as the fulfillment of the Great Commission. He emphasizes that missionaries must aim high from the outset, as they rarely achieve more than what they initially set out to do. This is a long-term endeavor , with anything less than five years con...

Deep Dive into מְנָת The Hebrew word מְנָת (menāṯ) is a versatile feminine noun primarily meaning a "part" or "portion." It originates from the Hebrew root מָנָה , which signifies "to count" or "to allot." While considered an Aramaic loanword into Hebrew, it has deep linguistic roots across Semitic languages, with cognates like "מְנָתָא" in various...

Deep Dive into Modern Missions: What's Really Going On? by Chad Vegas The church's overarching purpose is to shine the light of the Gospel of Christ to the Earth , acting as a "lampstand" through which Christ's light radiates. This is fundamentally tied to fulfilling the Great Commission , which involves making disciples of all nations, proclaiming Christ to every tribe, tong...

Deep Dive into the Nature of the Church The Church's mission is the outward pulse of the life she already possesses in union with her risen Head . It flows directly from God's own being and work, signifying that the Church exists for God, from God, and toward God . At its core, the Church's chief end is doxological: to glorify and enjoy Him now and forever . This doxology is never pass...

Deep Dive into Who Was William Tyndale and Why Does He Matter? by Ian Hamilton William Tyndale dedicated his life to one singular purpose: to make the word of God accessible to the English people in their own language . He famously declared he would make it possible for even a plow boy to know more of the scriptures than learned clerics. His ultimate goal was that his countrymen might encounter th...

Deep Dive into The Passionate Pursuit of Revival and Christ-Exalting Joy by John Piper - Evangelist Bill Piper: Fundamentalist Full of Grace and Joy Paradox and irony are fundamental to Christian identity and experience, profoundly shaping lives and expressions of faith. Irony is the incongruity between expectation and reality. This inherent nature stems from Christians being simultaneously fallen...

Deep Dive into Q&A by Brooks Buser, Chad Vegas, Jonathan Master The concept of "missio Dei," or the mission of God, has become a significant problem in contemporary missions because its interpretation has strayed from its historical and biblical roots, primarily by separating it from the specific missions of the Son and the Holy Spirit . Historically, missio Dei referred to the Fathe...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - Theories of the Atonement The Governmental Theory of atonement, primarily developed by Hugo Grotius , a lawyer by training, posits a unique understanding of how God deals with sin. This theory views God as a holy and righteous ruler who has established moral laws. Sin is understood as a serious violation of these laws, inherently deserving...

Deep Dive into Tyndale and the Word of God by Conrad Mbewe William Tyndale, educated at Oxford and later Cambridge, stands as arguably the single greatest translator of the Bible into the English language . His life was consumed by one fervent passion : to make the scriptures accessible to ordinary English-speaking people, including "the boy that driveth the plow," in their own language....

Deep Dive into God as El Shaddai The name El Shaddai profoundly embodies God's power and provision through its multifaceted meaning and consistent biblical usage. Lexically, "Shaddai" is often linked to "overpower" (signifying almighty power ) and "breast" (denoting all-nourishing sufficiency ), reflecting interpretations like "God Almighty" and "Al...

Deep Dive into Why Spread God’s Glory Among the Nations by Costi Hinn Costi Hinn's central message addresses "Why spread God's glory among the nations?" He states that the primary motivation is the glory of God , which radically transformed his own life. He recounts his past immersion in the prosperity gospel , where he viewed God as a "magic genie" for personal gain, a...