Why We Need Reformation Now
Lack of biblical doctrine, decreased confidence in the sufficiency of scripture, lack of meaningful prayer, and decreased dependence on the Holy Spirit are current issues which warrant the call for reformation today.
Lack of biblical doctrine, decreased confidence in the sufficiency of scripture, lack of meaningful prayer, and decreased dependence on the Holy Spirit are current issues which warrant the call for reformation today.
The distinction drawn between being spiritual instead of religious has resulted in negative thinking around formal religion. This has become a tool Satan has used to bring worldliness into the church. This is the third in a series of four articles looking at some examples of worldly thinking infiltrating the church.
Leading the church through change is challenging. How can you help the church go through a change in a good way, when needed? Here are nine ideas for leading a church through change.
Revival is not something we do, but what God does in and through us. This article looks at some historical revivals to affirm this truth.
Are you Reformed? To answer this question you must know what it means to be Reformed. This article discusses some of the distinctives of Reformed doctrine, particularly its view of God, man, covenant, God's mercy, and human responsibility.
This article looks at the reformations during the time of Josiah, Luther and Calvin. Although reformation is God's work, believers have a role to play by praying for God's will to be done and honoring God's word.
Currently in the church there are some claims of revival, and there are many calls for revival. This article shows that a distinction must be made between true and false revival. The revival under Josiah is an example of true revival, since it was rooted in the word of God and the desire for truth, was Christ-centrered, and displayed the evidence of repentance.
The rediscovery of the gospel was at the heart of the Reformation. This refocusing on the gospel brought about a change in how pastors viewed themselves, how the church was viewed, and the recovery of the family as a center for education.
If our lives are to mirror the great lessons of yesterday's reformation, we must pursue today's reformation by reforming our minds, family, church, and preaching.
Many people claim to have experienced a Holy Spirit revival. This article identifies 13 crucial questions to ask in order to determine whether revival is genuine or not.
The Reformation centered around the glory of Christ. This article shows that this conviction is a biblical one - everything should center around the glory of Christ. Christians find their identity in Christ. However, the danger exists that some may find their identity in other things. This article is a call to repentance and faith in Christ as all in all.
The Reformation was centered around the glory of Christ. This article shows how the glory of Christ can be reflected through the ministry of the church, in dealing with sin, in speaking about salvation, and in preaching.
Looking at Galatians 1:6-10, this article shows that the church must remain rooted to the gospel as delivered by the apostles. The church must reject all other forms or variations of the gospel message.
The gospel is vanishing in God's church. Preaching and teaching has become shallower and lacks an urgent call to repentance. Nonchalant attitudes lead to false assurance of salvation. Pastors must remember that their contribution to the church either builds or breaks her. Recovering the gospel is essential to building the church of God.
Reflecting on the modern trend where the self has become the law, this article shows how rebellion against the law can be used by Satan to bring worldliness in the church. The cure can be found in keeping the balance between justification and sanctification. This is the fourth and final article in a series looking at some examples of worldly thinking infiltrating the church.
This article shows how the church can become worldly by desiring to appear to be normal before the world. In this article, the author shows how Satan uses the desire for normality to bring a worldly influence into the worship service. This is the second in a series of four articles looking at some examples of worldly thinking infiltrating the church.
This article shows how the church can become worldly through distraction. In this article, the author shows how Satan can use distraction to negatively influence public worship in church. This is the first in a series of four articles looking at some examples of worldly thinking infiltrating the church.
This article is about Calvin's view of the reformation of the church. The author discusses Calvin's view on worship, justification, sacraments, and church government.
Do we need another reformation? This article explains what was unique about the first Reformation, and goes on to indicate that since the church today is in a worse state, there is a need for a second reformation.
This article distinguishes between reformation by kings, people, or preachers. The author maintains that we are currently facing a time of reformation by preachers. However, the fact that preaching does not always cause a change in individual life results in a lack of church growth.
Do we hunger for revival in the church? This the first of two articles on the topic of revival. The lack of genuine conversion today is cause to call for revival. However, if the church is not willing to live in obedience to God, it will not pray for revival or hunger for the conversion of sinners and will preach a shallow gospel.
Do we hunger for revival in the church? This the second of two articles on the topic of revival. One hindrance to revival today is the emphasis on human instrumentality rather than on God's work. This concept makes faith out to be a mechanical process and the work of the Holy Spirit to be of secondary importance. Revival can come when we understand the Holy Spirit's work to be priority.
This article shows concern regarding a growing drift away from the past in what it means to be evangelical. The author focuses here on the issues of inerrancy, the position of women in the church, homosexuality, intellectual idolatry, and the influence of consumerism in spreading the gospel.
This article looks at the character and views of Martin Luther, discussing whether or not they are in line with the modern evangelical church.
This article is about the reformation of the church. The author also discusses relativism and traditionalism in the church, church separation, the relevance of the church, and he looks at the church through the ages.
The author discusses the evils of error, heresy, ignorance, and dissension that can be found in the church. As far as error is concerned, the author is convinced that no one hardly lives without error of some kind.
This article discusses what it means that a Reformed church is continually reforming.
This article examines Charles Finney's revivalism efforts, discussing whether revival is biblical. The author discusses this by looking at the doctrine of the covenant and preaching.
Charles Finney is often viewed as the father of the Second Great Awakening. This article looks at whether revivals and revivalism are biblical.
This article looks at the state of the Presbyterian church in the time of the Second Great Awakening and at Charles Finney's theology and revivialism.
The author of this article names Charles Finney 'the father of American revivalism'. This article looks at the Second Great Awakening and gives a brief overview of Finney's life, conversion, and preaching.
What does it mean that the the church must be "always reforming"? This is a call expressed in the well-known saying ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. In this article Andrew Atherstone argues that the motto lays down a challenge to both radicals and conservatives in today’s church. It is a motto which sums up the sense of restless and continual energy of the church reforming seeking to be what the Lord wants her to be.