We Make Christians

It's underway! This past Sunday, Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle started a five-week Adult Christian Education class on the CREC and our upcoming denominational decision. They focused on the CREC's Memorials. Subsequent classes will cover rhetoric, polemics, cultural engagement, theology and polity, and an honest conversation about what, if anything, will change if we enter the CREC.  In t...

This past Sunday, Pastor Kyle finished an Adult Christian Education class on public theology and the need for Christians to honor and serve the Lord in every area of life— including how we associate and affiliate with others.  This upcoming Sunday, Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle will be starting a five-week Adult Christian Education class on the CREC and our upcoming denominational decision. How sh...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this seventh and last installment, Elder Chad Winkler reads his article entitled,...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this sixth installment, Pastor Kyle reads his article entitled, “Reformed and Alw...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this fifth installment, Elder Tom O'Boyle reads his article entitled, “Let&a...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this fourth installment, Pastor Pete reads his article entitled, “Putting the Bib...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this third installment, Pastor Pete reads his article entitled, “Structurally Sou...

Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their discussion of the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article reads their article and then it is discussed.   In this second installment, Pastor Nate reads his article entitled, “On Principle.”...

Over the next few episodes of We Make Christians, Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle will be discussing the articles written in the most recent Scattered Seeds Newsletter, which is entitled, “Why the CREC Is a Good Choice: Essays on Choosing Our Next Denomination." In each episode, the author of an article will read their article and then it will be discussed.   In this first installment, Pastor N...

Constitutions are like boundary markers: They say, “This is who we are (and who we aren’t).” They say, “Here’s how you inhabit this space.” They say, “No trespassing (this or that).” They say, “This is what we expect of each other and what our God expects of us.” They notify, clarify, and solidify.  And like boundary markers, sometimes constitutions need to be reread and even updated. Like King Jo...

A Christian can never experience too much conviviality. Yes, there needs to be balance when it comes to our expressing our emotions, but conviviality is different. It’s not a mere sentiment, it’s a state of being. A virtuous state of being.  You can fall into a ditch of somberness or seriousness, for example, but conviviality doesn’t really have a ditch. Because conviviality means living life toge...

In this second installment of a three-parter on conviviality, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle apply their reflections on conviviality to the Lord’s Supper and the serving and partaking of the elements.  How should we come to the Lord’s Table? Shamefaced, guilt-stricken, dour? Looking like we’re dragging ourselves to the gallows? Or with abundant joy and eager to be nourished? Like we ar...

Are you happy? Are you blessed? Are you full of joy? Does it show on your face? How about feasting and festivity? Are you fond of them? Or do you find yourself gravitating toward what’s grave? Sulking, constantly dour?  A necessary feature of the Pittsburgh Posture here at Beverly Heights is conviviality. To live life together, and to experience and enjoy life together. When singing. When eating....

Jesus makes it clear that it is the mission of the church to make Christians. After the resurrection and before his ascension, He gives the Church the Great Commission, which we read about in Matthew 28:18-20: "Go and make disciples."  A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who learns to observe all of Jesus’ teachings and participates in the practices He instituted—like observing the Sabbath...

“Did you see the game last night? Did you watch until the end and see him make that game-winning shot? I could not believe it! The kids were absolutely hysterical, and my neighbor was jumping up and down so erratically he almost fell out the window. Man, that was wild.”  When you watch something that others have watched, you have something to talk about. When you eat something others have eaten, y...

Education means to "lead out" ( educere). When you educate someone, you take them out of darkness into the light. Out of deception and into true perception. Out of a vicious way of thinking or acting into the freedom of the abundant life.  In this episode, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle discuss the various classes being taught at Beverly Heights this season. Everything from P...

Is God still communicating with His people? What does it mean to hear from the Spirit? Is there more going on around us than what meets the eye? What does the Bible mean by principalities and powers? Who is the Anti-Christ?   This past week we entered the season of Advent. ’Tis the season of waiting, of being patient, and of observing. It's a time of reflecting on the Word made flesh and His...

Do you have teeth? Are you thankful for them? How about the toothbrushes and the paste you use to make them all pearly? What about hair? Are you thankful for it, and for your husband’s scraggly beard?  We’re back in time and talking about Thanksgiving! What does it mean to be thankful? What does it look like to express gratitude? We love our pilgrims, turkeys, and yellow leaves—but are we thankful...

This past Lord’s Day, Pastor Peter led us in the Unison Prayer of Confession, Silent Confession of Sin, Assurance of Pardon, and the Unison Confession of Faith. He had never done that before.  This past Monday, after introducing Nehemiah and his role as Protector of the King, Pastor Kyle gave the Benediction to the Preschool and Academy students in Morning Matins. He had never done that before.  O...

What if we don’t find what we’re looking for? What if the PCA or the OPC or the CREC isn’t right for BHPC? What do we do as a church if we don’t find a denomination to come alongside? How would we  then function as a congregation?  Well, independency is an option. After all, our church has been through a lot. Maybe we should just take a deep breath and take our time? We don’t have to rush into any...

In this episode, Pastor Nate, Peter, and Kyle continue their mini-series on denomination affiliation by examining the CREC—the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches.  It’s a small and controversial denomination. You’ve probably heard people squabbling about the “Federal Vision” and expressing worry about that intrepid grandpa who comes out every November with a cigar in his mouth and flamethr...

You can tell a lot about a denomination by its name.  Take, for example, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC).  Their name tells you that they are Presbyterian and they care about Orthodoxy.  Sounds pretty good, huh?  But you can also tell a lot about a denomination by how many times a year it defrocks a pastor.  Or how many charges of heresy are being adjudicated in a given month.  Oof. No than...

What’s the purpose of being a part of a denomination? Why not just soak up the freedom found in independency? Do what we want. Well, because that wouldn’t be very Presbyterian of us.  To be Presbyterian, we have a plethora of options. But which denomination is "best" for us? Which would be most fruitful, edifying, supportive, and conducive to fellowship and collaboration in gospel minist...

Do you know how many ordination services there have been at Beverly Heights? In ninety six years, it hasn’t been more than a handful. Of course, Pastor Nate was one. But now, after passing their ordination exams, Peter and Kyle are set to be ordained on Sunday, November 9th!  Ordination is the laying on of hands on a man to separate him for a specific office, a particular gospel ministry—namely, t...

After a brief hiatus, the boys are back in town! It’s been a while since we released an episode, but make no mistake, we never stopped making Christians.  Some exciting happenings occurred over the past few months. One of which was Peter and Kyle’s ordination exams, which they completed a few weeks ago.  Peter and Kyle discuss the process in detail—starting with a written exam with over a hundred...