Note: This is part ten in our series from Calvin's Institutes on church government and offices. Here Calvin begins to turn to the issues of calling and ordination.
Note: This is the ninth in this series from Calvin on church government. Here Calvin outlines his view of the office of deacon.
Note: Part 6 in this ongoing series from Calvin's Institutes on church government and officers:
Note: Here is part 5 in this series from Calvin's Institutes, Book IV, Chapter III.
There was an AP article a few days ago titled, "Evangelists Target Spiritually Cold New England." It even got picked up in the Saturday edition of the Daily Progress.
Note: This is part four in this series of excerpts from Calvin's Institutes (Book IV; Chapter III) in which the great Refomer lays out his views on Biblical church government and offices.
Note: This begins a new series from John Calvin on the question of church government and officers. In our day many evangelicals are embracing Calvinistic soteriology, but fewer are asking what the Reformation meant for church government. Calvin addresses this issue in Book Four ["The" [...] 
Note: This is a series of occasional verse by verse expositions of Jude. An archive of this and past commentaries may be found under the label "Jude Exposition" below.
Christ's Constant Devotion
Another quote from Charles Bridges’ The Christian Ministry on "the Law and Gospel" (p. 231, n. 1). This one is from the Scots Worthy Patrick Hamilton:
Byron G. and I picked up Conrad Mbewe at the Charlottesville Airport this afternoon. He safely made the 24 hour plus journey from Zambia. We had an interesting chat on Reformed theology, the history of the Kabwata Baptist Church, how he came to Reformed theology, [...] 
The last few years I have offered an "Orientation to the Evangelical Forum" in our first session. Here is the text from this year's orientation:On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Evangelical Forum and as Pastor of our host church let me warmly welcome you' [...] 
The 8th annual Evangelical Forum began on Friday evening, September 25, 2009.
In Charles Bridges’ The Christian Ministry, he shares this quote from John Colquhoun on the relationship between law and gospel (pp. 230-231):
The North American branch of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) has a summer family conference each year at a camp in West Virginia, not far from Harrisonburg. One of the speakers this year was Gavin Beers, a young Pastor from Ayr, Scotland. He gave [...] 
My friend Steve Clevenger sent me a link to this article by Sam Waldron on "The Relation of Church and Family" on the Reformed Baptist Fellowship Blog. It's worth pondering. JTR [...] 
Photo: This picture of J. L. Dagg is more than a little intimidating. His eyes look like they could pierce your soul! The image no doubt reflects the sobriety that was expected of ministers in Dagg's day.
Photo: Timothy and Benjamin Moore hold their Dad's new book.
Photo: Outside the Grace Baptist Church meetinghouse in Fremont, California.
Sermonaudio is one of the biggest internet broadcasters of conservative, evangelical preaching. Ever wonder how the ministry got started? Watch this three part interview with Sermonaudio founder Steve Lee: Part one. Part two. Part three. JTR [...] 
J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) was an evangelical Anglican bishop who wrote and preached often on personal holiness. One of his classic works is a booklet titled, Thoughts for Young Men. You can usually find a free copy on our tract table in the sanctuary. [...] 
I am back in the Northern Neck this week. Yesterday, I had the privilege of preaching for the annual Lord's Day Homecoming service of Nomini Baptist Church in Montross, Virginia (the county seat of Westmoreland County). I preached on Acts 2:42 "Four Marks of the" [...] 
Asa was one of the few kings in Judah who receives a generally favorable review by the writers of Scripture. According to 2 Chronicles 14:2, "Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD his God." He is praised by the Chronicler, [...] 
Baptist theologian J. L. Dagg (1794-1884) offers his view on what is fitting with regard to the musical aspects of the worship of God's people in his Manual of Church Order (The Southern Baptist Publication Society, 1858) in a section under the mode of [...] 
Our guest preacher at JPBC this upcoming Lord's Day (August 9th) will be Pastor Brian Russell.
I recently finished reading Greg Wills' Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: 1859-2009 (Oxford University Press, 2009). This is an impressive work, thorough (weighing in at 566 pages), meticulously researched, and remarkably well written. As an alumnus of the school during the moderate days of Roy Honeycutt's leadership,' [...] 
Photo: Francis Wayland (1796-1865)
Though the Riddles have by no means gone "locavore," we have enjoyed eating fresh vegetables (yes, even Llewellyn) from our garden this summer.
Last Sunday I made reference in my sermon to Thomas Boston’s analogy of growth that should be expected in the Christian’s life:
About 800 pages of Codex Sinaiticus have been posted online. Here's a BBC article. I looked at a few pages including the ending of Mark and few pages in Acts. It is pretty amazing to be able to see it without visiting a monastery' [...] 
Note: This is a series of occasional verse by verse expositions of Jude.
Romans 8:15: For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and [...] 
The Southern Baptist Convention is meeting this week in Louisville, KY. I am staying home to participate in Vacation Bible School at JPBC. It really isn't a sacrifice, because I did not have a desire to attend. I'd much rather use my conference funds to [...] 
Sunday was Father's Day and God reminded me again of the five incredible blessings he has given me.
Friday evening we were back at Cove Creek Park where Sam pitched three of six innings in a playoff game (combining with a team-mate for a one hitter in a 3-0 victory) that put his team (the Brewers) into the Saturday Minor League Championship [...] 
Wow! We have done a lot over the last week. On Thursday-Friday we went to Washington, DC and visited the National Zoo, the Mall and Memorials, and the new visitor center at the Capitol Building.
JPBC's John B. and Byron G. also got the opportunity to hear Voddie "Big Papi" Baucham at the HEAV Conference last week. I think they have definitely become Voddie-ites. In fact, the photo above might even indicate shades of stalking. You draw your own [...] 
Note: This article below is adapted from the conclusion to last Sunday’s morning sermon from Romans 2:12-16.
Photo: The exhibit hall in the Richmond Convention Center at HEAV.
I listened to this testimony a few weeks ago and made reference to it in a sermon. Wagner tells his story of conversion and call to ministry and makes effective use of Psalm 34:6: "This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, and" [...] 
Audio has been posted of the talk (and ensuing discussion) I did a few weeks ago at the SPBPP fraternal in Roanoke on "The Coming Evangelical Collapse."
