Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into שֵׁת The Hebrew term "שֵׁת" (šēṯ) vividly demonstrates the inherent uncertainties and variations in linguistic interpretation, making it a prime example of philological complexity. Its etymological journey is anything but straightforward, marked by multiple, often contested, derivations and a diverse array of meanings . One primary challenge lies in its uncertain root . Sc...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Parenting, Part 2 Parents are divinely commanded to teach their children. This is essential for several reasons: to prepare children to leave and thrive independently in society, and because, if left to themselves, children are naturally inclined towards destruction and a life away from God. This sacred task emphasizes that children are a gift entruste...

Deep Dive into An Old Testament Theology by Bruce K. Waltke - The Gift of God's History-Shaping Word, Part 1: 1 Kings Prophets in the book of Kings fundamentally shape history by serving as I AM's direct representatives , demonstrating that the prophetic word is mightier than the king's sword . They are the primary enforcers of the Mosaic covenant, determining the fate of both rulers a...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Parenting Parents should approach discipline as a comprehensive and positive act of intentional guidance , deeply rooted in God's love and aimed at a child's spiritual growth, not merely as punishment for misbehavior. This is encapsulated by the Greek word Padia , which encompasses both training and correcting . The foundation for discipline li...

Deep Dive into The Passionate Pursuit of Revival and Christ-Exalting Joy by John Piper - Jonathan Edwards, the Man and His Life: Learning from an Unmodern Evangelical Jonathan Edwards, born on October 5, 1703, in Windsor, Connecticut , was a pivotal figure in American religious thought. His father, Timothy Edwards, was a local Congregational pastor, and Jonathan was the only son among eleven child...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Marriage – Conflict Resolution Self-focus fundamentally obstructs conflict resolution by centering everything on one's own desires and a drive to "win." At its core, conflict stems from selfishness and a failure to "walk by the Spirit," leading the "flesh to naturally take over" and prioritize "Me Myself and I.&qu...

Deep Dive into Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson - The Virgin Birth The "virgin birth" in Christian theology, more accurately termed "virginal conception," refers to Jesus's conception in Mary's womb without sexual intercourse, through the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, with Mary remaining a virgin until his birth. It does not imply an abnormal physi...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - The Marriage Relationship - Her Role The fundamental purpose of marriage, for a wife, is to glorify God above all else. Prioritizing a "happy marriage" over this ultimate goal can turn the marriage into an idol. A wife can strengthen her marriage and honor God regardless of her husband's actions by focusing on her own internal and externa...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - The Marriage Relationship – His Role Christ exemplifies headship as the ultimate model for husbands through selfless service, sacrificial love, and humble leadership . He taught His disciples not to "lord it over" others but to be a servant , declaring He came "not to be served... but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.&quot...

Deep Dive into God as Yahweh The name "Yahweh" profoundly encapsulates God's nature and His covenant relationship with humanity, standing at the very heart of biblical revelation. Originating from the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, "Yahweh" is linked to the Hebrew root "to be" ( hāyâ ) , meaning "He is" or, more powerfully, "He causes to be." Thi...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Reconciliation/Restoration Restoring a relationship means bringing it back to its proper condition or what it should be in God's eyes . While reconciliation focuses on re-establishing peace and harmony, restoration is the deeper, subsequent step of repairing the relationship, likened to mending nets to put them back together properly. There isn&#39...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - The Supplements That They Add to Satisfactions, Namely, Indulgences and Purgatory The Romanist doctrines of indulgences and purgatory are critically examined in the sources for their profound theological implications. Indulgences are defined as the Pope's distribution of "merits of Christ and the holy apostles and martyr...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Forgiveness Biblical teaching does not support the concept of self-forgiveness . Scripture presents two primary perspectives on forgiveness: humanity's need to be forgiven by God , and the imperative for believers to wholeheartedly forgive others as God has forgiven them. The notion of "forgiving yourself" is explicitly stated as lacking...

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Gracious Affections Are Attended with Evangelical Humiliation. Evangelical Humiliation Is a Sense That a Christian Has of His Own Utter Insufficiency, Despicableness, and Odiousness, with an Answerable Frame of Heart Hypocrites exhibit humility in a manner that is counterfeit and primarily self-serving , rather than a genuine expression of...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Forgiveness and the Gospel Forgiveness, as defined through gospel principles, is a profound and active engagement that transforms the one who forgives . It is fundamentally about applying the gospel to one's suffering , prompting an individual to gaze at the cross and consider what Christ did for them on their behalf. This act is a costly activity...

Deep Dive into All of Grace: An Earnest Word for Those Who Are, by Grace, Seeking Salvation by Charles Spurgeon - How Repentance Is Given Repentance is fundamentally a divine gift bestowed by Jesus Christ, rather than a human effort or feeling that can be conjured by an individual's own will. It does not originate from an "unwilling nature" or a "dry well of corrupt nature.&quot...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Dealing with Anger Part 2 God's perspective on anger is deeply rooted in the distinction between righteous anger and sinful anger . While righteous anger can arise from a God-given sense of justice when witnessing true injustice (like child abuse or murder), it is always directed at sin against God, not self-interest, and reacts with compassion. Be...

Deep Dive into Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume - Psalm 12 In times characterized as "bad," which are primarily defined by the abounding of iniquity rather than economic hardship or war, society experiences a profound moral and spiritual decay. These difficult periods are marked by a general decline in piety and honesty , where godly an...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Dealing with Anger Anger becomes corrupted when it transforms into sinful anger , shifting its focus from God's will to self-centered desires . This is often summarized as "I want what I want when I want it the way I want it," revealing a problem within the heart rather than being caused by external circumstances. Sinful anger is not mere...

Deep Dive into צַדִּיק The Hebrew word צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq) is a multifaceted term, predominantly translated in the Septuagint as δίκαιος, meaning just or righteous . Its core meaning centers on being just, righteous, upright, innocent, or in the right , signifying conformity to a proper standard. The term is used in various key contexts. It can describe things examined and found to be in order or c...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Biblical Principles of Stewardship Based on the sources and our conversation, speaking gifts are a category of spiritual gifts that are considered to be actively used today within the church body. These gifts are described as directly benefiting the church itself. Unlike revelatory and confirmatory gifts, which are believed to have ceased with the comp...

Deep Dive into Galatians by Douglas Moo - Introduction Paul wrote his letter to the churches in Galatia primarily to confront false teachers , or "agitators," who were promoting "another gospel" . These agitators, likely Christian-Jewish missionaries, were telling Gentile believers that their faith in Christ needed to be supplemented by circumcision and observance of the Mosaic...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - The Fallacy of Self-Esteem The sources present a fundamental conflict between worldly concepts of self-esteem and biblical teachings on self-denial . The world, influenced by ideas like Maslow's hierarchy of needs, often teaches that many personal problems stem from low self-esteem or a bad self-image . The proposed solution is to love yourself mor...

Deep Dive into The Passionate Pursuit of Revival and Christ-Exalting Joy by John Piper - Introduction This collection explores the lives and ministries of three influential figures: Bill Piper , the author's father, Jonathan Edwards , and Martyn Lloyd-Jones . The author identifies his father and Jonathan Edwards as the most significant influences on his life at the deepest personal and theolog...

Deep Dive into Cornerstone by Jeremy Prayer - Overcoming Temptations Based on the sources and our conversation, a distinction is made between trials , temptations , and tests . Trials and temptations both come from the same Greek word, peirasmos . Trials are a broad, general term for any pressure-filled situation in life. These can be external hardships or internal struggles, cause grief, but are...