CRC Pastor Raymond Coffey responded to my post on the 1959 baptismal rite with this comment: “Your notes were right on from the 1959 hymnal. Apart from updating and compressing some language, there are several significant differences between the 1959 Edition and the current one. The most significant is the change from ‘that thou hast forgiven us and our children all their sins’ to ‘for having forgiven our sins.’ No mention of the children here. I think that is because... Read more
Joseph Silk is Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, and in The Infinite Cosmos , he offers a layman’s summary of what’s happening in cosmology. One of the central principles of modern cosmology is the “cosmological principle,” the theory that the “universe is approximately the same in all directions. In contrast to pre-scientific mythical cosmologies, this principle is based on solid empirical evidence. Admittedly, it’s “not quite the evidence you can hold in your hand,” but it is “the evidence you... Read more
The 1959 CRC Psalter Hymnal’s rite for infant baptism includes an abbreviated version of Luther’s great flood prayer, and ends with this thanksgiving: “Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise Thee that Thou hast forgiven us and our children all our sins, through the blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through Thy Holy Spirit as members of Thine only begotten Son, and so adopted us to by Thy children, and sealed and confirmed the... Read more
My oldest son Woelke pointed out to me that 1-2 Samuel refer several times to David’s two wives – Ahinoam and Abigail (cf. 1 Sam 25:43). They are named – complete with their places of origin – when David goes to live with Achish (1 Sam 27:3), when the Amalekites attack Ziklag (1 Sam 30:5), when when David goes up to Hebron to receive the kingdom of Judah. Why the repetition? There may be several things going on here. (more…) Read more
My oldest son Woelke pointed out to me that 1-2 Samuel refer several times to David’s two wives – Ahinoam and Abigail (cf. 1 Sam 25:43). They are named – complete with their places of origin – when David goes to live with Achish (1 Sam 27:3), when the Amalekites attack Ziklag (1 Sam 30:5), when when David goes up to Hebron to receive the kingdom of Judah. Why the repetition? There may be several things going on here. (more…) Read more
INTRODUCTION Verse 19 opens a new section of the sermon, which focuses on our attitude toward wealth, but the verse also closes the earlier section on acts of piety. We lay up treasures on earth when we do righteousness to be seen by men; we lay up treasures in heaven by doing righteousness in secret. This might seem a prescription for earthly deprivation, but Jesus assures us that we have nothing to worry about. THE TEXT “Do not lay up... Read more
Responding the Homeland Security advisor Frances Fragos Townsend claim that Al Quaeda is on the ropes, Arnaud de Borchgrave points to the groups impressive cyber-organization. “As former Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said, ‘Al Qaeda’s organizing ability in cyberspace is unprecedented.’ Cyberpower has emerged as a complex ether power in which digital grass roots are truly global. Al Qaeda’s 6,000-plus Web sites supply the ability to liberate and dominate at the same time. Al Qaeda now operates in virtual... Read more
Matthew 6:17-18: But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your heavenly Father, who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Fasting was a duty of Jewish piety, and it’s one that the New Testament also endorses for Christians. Fasting is a physical manifestation of our humility before God, as we seek His mercy. We fast as a way... Read more
Matthew 3:17: At Jesus’ baptism, a voice from heaven said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Baptism is an adoption rite. By baptism, Jacob enters the family of God. He is going to gain dozens of older brothers and sisters, lots of parents, a heavenly Father, a heavenly Brother, a place at the Lord’s table, a promised inheritance, and on and on. In Jesus, the beloved Son, who was declared beloved Son at His baptism, Jacob... Read more
Some sins are obvious. Murder is both a sinful act and arises from a sinful motive. After a murder, there’s a dead body and a murderer with a smoking gun. Murder is obviously and thoroughly evil. And the same is true of adultery, theft, false witness, and a host of other sins. In today’s sermon text, Jesus deals with sins that are much more subtle. Jesus spends a lot of time in the gospels highlighting the sins of the pious.... Read more
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