Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into The Character of Paul an Example to Christians (Philippians 3:17) by Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon based on Philippians 3:17, argues that Christians are divinely obligated to imitate the Apostle Paul. While Jesus Christ is the ultimate and perfect model for humanity, Paul provides a uniquely relatable pattern because, unlike Christ, he was a fallen creature who ha...

Deep Dive into On Free-Will, the Nature and Power thereof by John Owen In his critique of the Arminian doctrine of free will, John Owen characterizes their exalted view of human volition as an idol that was historically dismantled during the Reformation but recently resurrected by innovators. While acknowledging that humans possess a natural liberty free from outward compulsion and inward necessit...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 96 Psalm 96 is a grand missionary hymn designed to celebrate the future conversion of all nations to Jehovah during gospel times. The psalmist invites the entire earth to sing a new song, signifying a departure from the gloomy, cruel rites of idolatry into an era of joyful, pure, and heavenly worship. This universal chorus will ultim...

Deep Dive into From Invitation to Resurrection: The Doctrine of Irresistible Grace The doctrine of irresistible grace, often termed effectual calling, asserts that salvation is entirely a sovereign, monergistic work of the Holy Spirit. According to Reformed theology, this doctrine is necessary because fallen humanity is spiritually dead, hostile to God, and entirely unable to choose Christ autonom...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Foundation Blocks for Faithful Pastoral Training The successful training of indigenous church leaders requires establishing formal pastoral training centers built upon core biblical values and strategic foundation blocks. These centers must uphold the supreme authority of Scripture, priorit...

Deep Dive into Matthew Poole’s Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volumes 1–3 - Psalm 8 Matthew Poole's commentary on Psalm 8 explores David's celebration of God's majesty, providence, and profound love for mankind. While the psalm contemplates humanity in general, Poole emphasizes that its principal subject is Jesus Christ and the great work of redemption. The psalm begins by praising God&...

Deep Dive into פֶּ֫לֶג The Hebrew term peleg primarily functions as a masculine noun referring to an artificial water channel, canal, ditch, river, or stream. Etymologically, the root is connected to several ancient Near Eastern languages, including Akkadian, Ugaritic, Ethiopic, and Arabic, carrying the foundational concepts of dividing a landscape, flowing, or bubbling up. In biblical literature,...

Deep Dive into “Such Were Some of You”: Kingdom Warning and Gospel Transformation (1 Corinthians 6:9–11) The apostle Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 serves as a severe warning against self-deception and worldliness within the church. Paul clearly declares that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, exposing the reality that unrepentant rebellion leads to final eschatological e...

Deep Dive into Mercy That Makes Worshipers: Kingdom Restoration and Doxology (Matthew 15:29–31) Matthew 15:29-31 portrays Jesus Christ as the authoritative Messianic King who effortlessly heals the profound brokenness of humanity, a merciful act that ultimately culminates in doxology. The narrative begins with Jesus ascending a mountain near the Sea of Galilee and taking a seated posture. This sea...

Deep Dive into The Well of Peace and the Root of Bitterness: Covenantal Fidelity and Profane Rebellion (Genesis 26:26–35) Genesis 26:26–35 presents a striking theological contrast between the public vindication of God's servant and the internal corruption of his household. The narrative first details a profound diplomatic reversal where Abimelech, the Philistine king who previously exiled Isaa...

Deep Dive into The Wisdom of God, Displayed in the Way of Salvation (Ephesians 3:10) by Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards argues that the wisdom of God revealed in the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ profoundly surpasses the wisdom of angels. This divine wisdom is manifold and is primarily made known to the principalities and powers of heaven through the church and the work of redemption...

Deep Dive into Romans by Robert H. Mounce - Romans 1 Robert H. Mounce’s commentary on Romans 1 explores the opening of the Apostle Paul’s letter, which establishes the foundation of the gospel and the universal need for salvation. Paul introduces himself as a servant and called apostle, set apart to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is both human through David's lineage and divine, auth...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 95 Psalm 95, frequently attributed to David, is aptly described by Charles Spurgeon as the Psalm of the Provocation. The text is divided into two main sections: an invitation to worship the Lord and a solemn warning against the perils of unbelief. The psalm begins by urging believers to sing with a joyful noise and come before God&#3...

Deep Dive into Torah Laws: Covenant Commandments and Their Living Practice in Judaism Both perspectives acknowledge that the Torah laws are divine covenantal instructions given to Israel after their redemption from Egypt, demonstrating that grace and deliverance precede moral obligations. From a Reformed Christian viewpoint, the Torah acts as a divine mirror that exposes human depravity and the in...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Drafting the Distinctives of a Philosophy of Global Theological Education Theological education is an essential component of the local church, fulfilling the Great Commission's mandate to make disciples and teach them to observe all that Christ commanded. Because the church serves as th...

Deep Dive into Boxed-In Power: Ukraine’s Wartime Governance and the Democratic Survival of Emergency Rule Ukraine's use of martial law during the ongoing war presents a profound test of governance, analyzed through both democratic and theological frameworks. From a democratic perspective, the survival of Ukraine's political system depends on confining emergency powers within strict limits...

Deep Dive into Apart from Me, Nothing: Abiding in Christ for Much Fruit (John 15:5) John 15:5 counters the modern culture of self-reliance by establishing that Jesus Christ is the sole source of spiritual life and fruitfulness. Drawing on Old Testament imagery where Israel repeatedly failed as God's vineyard, Jesus declares Himself the true vine and the ultimate fulfillment of covenant faithfu...

Deep Dive into The Master's Crumbs for Gentile Dogs: Sovereign Grace and the Triumph of Justifying Faith (Matthew 15:21–28) In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus deliberately withdraws to the pagan territory of Tyre and Sidon, setting the stage to display sovereign grace and the nature of true faith. A Canaanite woman, entirely outside the covenant privileges of Israel, approaches him in desperation beca...

Deep Dive into Altars Before Wells: The Covenantal Cure for the Anxious Soul (Genesis 26:23–25) The provided texts offer a theological exposition of Genesis 26:23-25, focusing on how God provides covenant assurance to an anxious believer in a hostile world. The narrative begins with the patriarch Isaac retreating from the worldly strife of the Philistines to Beersheba. This location is profoundly...

Deep Dive into True Saints, When Absent from the Body, Are Present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) by Jonathan Edwards In his sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:8, Jonathan Edwards explores the profound promise that true saints go directly to be with Christ when they die. Edwards outlines five specific ways departed believers experience this presence with the Lord. First, they travel to the highest heave...

Deep Dive into Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook by Mark D. Futato - Proclaiming the Psalms The book of Psalms serves primarily as instructional material, making it highly suitable for preaching. Preachers can approach the Psalms by selecting individual texts for specific occasions or by developing sermon series that explore psalm categories, the overall shape of the book, or contigu...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 94 Psalm 94 addresses the timeless enigma of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. The psalmist cries out to the Judge of the earth, to whom vengeance belongs, asking Him to shine forth and deal with proud oppressors who violently crush the vulnerable, such as widows, strangers, and orphans. These evildoers act with arro...

Deep Dive into Pardon for the Greatest Sinner by Jonathan Edwards In his sermon, Jonathan Edwards analyzes David's prayer in Psalm 25:11 to establish that the immense weight of a person's sin is not an obstacle to receiving divine forgiveness. Instead of relying on his own righteousness or minimizing his offenses, David petitions God for pardon by pointing to the sheer greatness of his ini...

Deep Dive into Biblical Missions: Principles, Priorities, and Practices by Mark Tatlock and Christ Burnett - Training Pastors Theologically: A Sine Qua Non of Biblical Missions The modern missions movement has frequently neglected the theological training of indigenous pastors due to anti-intellectualism, Western partiality, and a pragmatic desire for rapid, cost-effective evangelization. However,...

Deep Dive into The Hidden Smile of God by John Piper - "Oh, That I Might Never Loiter on My Heavenly Journey!": Misery and Mission in the Life of David Brainerd David Brainerd was an eighteenth-century Christian missionary to Native Americans whose brief and afflicted life left a profound legacy on the modern missionary movement. Born in 1718, Brainerd experienced early tragedy with the...