One of Francis Schaeffer’s greatest contributions was to warn Christians about what we now call Postmodernism, that truth-denying relativistic philosophy which in the last fifty years has had considerable and increasing sway over society. Schaeffer did well to warn us of it. For at least two hundred years the rationalistic philosophy of Modernism plagued the …
Christian ministers and theologians commonly note that our obligation to obey the magistrate ends whenever morality is concerned. That is, while the Christian is to “be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1), this is limited by the necessity to “obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) But recently I’ve been considering whether there are …
Sermon for Sunday, December 27th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Exo 1:1-14 ESV] 1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, …
Sermon on Exodus 1:1-14 – “God’s People, Bottomed Out” Read More »
For the fourth consecutive year I’ve kept track of the books that I’ve read. My favorite non-fiction books this year were Marsden’s biography of Jonathan Edwards, and Marvin Kamp’s history of the revival of the Dutch church in “1834.” My favorite non-fiction book was George Eliot’s “Silas Marner.” The average rating of books has increased …
Sermon for Thursday, December 24th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) PASTORAL PRAYER Lord, most heavenly Father, it is in the name of Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit in us that we come to you in prayer this day. You are most glorious, eternal, and full of wisdom. You have …
Sermon for Sunday, December 20th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Isa 45:14-17 ESV] 14 Thus says the LORD: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come …
Sermon for Sunday, December 13th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Dan 9:24-27 ESV] 24 “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both …
Sermon for Sunday, December 6th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Mal 4:1-5 ESV] 1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, …
Sermon for Sunday, November 29th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Deu 19:15-21 ESV] 15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of …
Sermon for Sunday, November 22nd, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Exo 6:2-3 ESV] 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not …
Bavinck, A Critical Biography by James Eglinton, 2020, Baker Academic, 450 pp. This will be something short of a proper review as I intend to only make a few short comments. Try as I might I can’t find myself interested in Herman Bavinck. (I only read this book because my brother, who knows the author, …
Review of Bavinck, A Critical Biography by James Eglinton Read More »
Sermon for Sunday, November 15th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Pro 22:1-6 ESV] 1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them …
Sermon on John 20:30 – 21:25 – “Jesus’s Third Appearance” Read More »
Sermon for Wedding of Eric and Michelle, Saturday, November 14th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Scripture reading: [Exo 20:2 ESV] 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” The account of the Exodus is the National …
Sermon on Exodus 20:2 – “Following from Love” (Wedding of Eric and Michelle) Read More »
Sermon for Sunday, November 8th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Job 19:23-27 ESV] 23 “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! 24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! 25 For I know …
In The Light of the Mind Ronald Nash notes four major interpretations of Augustine’s theory of Divine Illumination: the Thomist, the Franciscan, the Formal, and the Ontologist. (p. 94 ff.) As Gordon Clark was a proponent of Divine Illumination, it is proper to ask which, if any, of these interpretations did he subscribe to? Or …
Sermon for Sunday, November 1st, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Dan 12:1-4 ESV] 1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till …
Sermon on John 20:1-18 – “This Changes Everything!” Read More »
[I’m glad to present this post with the contributions of several individuals each writing on the question “Why I am a Clarkian.” – DJD] Rev. Doug Douma, M.B.A., M.Div. – Pastor of First Presbyterian Church (BPC), Unionville NY. While I’m not keen on promoting myself as a “Clarkian” any more than a “Calvinist,” there is …
Sermon for Sunday, October 25th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Isa 53:9-12 ESV] 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was …
You may know the name Elihu Carranza because of his Logic Primer and/or Logic Workbook, the latter of which was published by the Trinity Foundation. Who is Elihu Carranza? The “About the Author” section in his Epistemic Fragments tells us: Elihu Carranza, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, San Jose State University in California taught courses in Logic, …
Sermon for Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Isa 53:3-6 ESV] 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely …
Sermon on John 19:17-37 – “The Suffering of the Servant” Read More »
[A July 1883 sermon of Rev. Henry Frost Wadsworth, pastor of First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY. Given five months prior to his retirement.] Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. The apostle opens this chapter by showing the difference …
Sermon for Sunday, October 11th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Psa 47:1-9 ESV] 1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, …
Sermon on John 19:1-16 – “The Evil of Expediency” Read More »
Sermon for Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC) Old Testament reading: [Deu 10:12-17 ESV] 12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God …
