Foxesforge

[Reformed Forum @reformedforum]

"It is the succession of doctrine rather than the succession of persons and places or acts of ordination that is the mark of the true church." —Herman Bavinck

https://t.co/eQ4tXN25WX

[Tabletalk Magazine @Tabletalk]

Everywhere you look in the Scriptures, you find covenants. —@JVFesko https://t.co/hE8Tv41Qpa

[Nancy Pearcey @NancyRPearcey]

Stressed? Read a book:

"A University of Sussex study found that just 6 minutes of reading cut stress levels by 68%. That beat listening to music (61%), drinking tea (54%), and going for a walk (42%)."

[Caleb Lenard @CT_Lenard]

I’ve spent a few years tweaking my sermon prep process to be more balanced, efficient, clear, and replicable. The images below show the sermon prep template I’ve been using for the past year ( which has been really enjoyable and helpful to me).

I use the same 7 questions from the @simeontrust worksheets, but have added helpful insights I’ve gained from:

1️⃣ @jasonderouchie & @AndyNaselli’s helpful books “How to Understand and Apply the OT/NT: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology.”

2️⃣Steve Wellum and @TrentHunter’s “Christ from Beginning to End”

3️⃣ @dandoriani’s excellent book on application “Putting the Truth to Work.” My chart is a summary of his main ideas.

4️⃣ @jeremypierre’s excellent work “The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life.” The heart image comes from his book.

5️⃣As for sermon outline and delivery, @tonymerida’s “Christ-Centered Expositor” has shaped me most.

[Union @UnionTheology]

If theology is the doctrinal frame on which our worship hangs, it must be strong and robust. If our theological frame is weak, our doxology will be weak too.

Natalie Brand

[Dan Hitchens @ddhitchens]

This is the basic reason why the AS bill failed. One impartial expert organisation after another looked at the detail and concluded that it was a nightmare in the making:

[Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary @CBTSeminary]

On Hermeneutics with Jared Ebert

In this conversation, we talk with Jared Ebert to discuss hermeneutics. Among the differing approaches to interpreting God's Word, Ebert critiques the quadriga, explains the meaning of words like allegory and typology, then provides a biblical hermeneutic.

https://t.co/glikBMFYUS

[Brandon Adams @brandon_adams]

Witsius believed that baptism was a sign of the benefits of the covenant of grace, which are given only to the elect. "The righteousness of faith, of which the sacraments are seals, and which is promised in the covenant, belongs exclusively to the elect"

[Matt Foreman @Foreman_FRBC]

@ScottAniol The Trinity was not divided. But, once again, in his humanity, the Person of the Son truly experienced being forsaken by the Father. This is not controversial. https://t.co/3D4cWxjdkG

[FoundersMin @FoundersMin]

We are delighted to share with you a new beautiful premium goatskin edition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith in Modern English!

Bringing together the central doctrinal standards of the historic Reformed Baptist tradition, this volume includes the Second London Baptist Confession, The Baptist Catechism (1693), An Orthodox Catechism (1680) by Hercules Collins, and the historic Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds.

Available on sale for a limited time for only $30.00 in celebration of 30 years of Founders Press Publishing!

Shipping August 2026.

Pre-order your copy today: https://t.co/kZABPOjcTu

[Alastair Roberts @zugzwanged]

I have brought the epic thread of posts on the Anchored Argosy—the place to follow all that @suzania and I are doing and writing—up to date.

[Brandon Scalf @brandonmscalf]

A family from China has been attending our church, but they struggle with English. This week I was able to convert my sermon into Mandarin through SermonAudio so they could understand it clearly. Technology, when used rightly, can be a powerful tool for advancing the gospel.
https://t.co/zYNTaa2Mh2

[Wilson Marsh @SpurgeonPiper]

I've never taken a sabbatical.

I didn't lead our church plant in adding a sabbatical policy into our bylaws.

I don't see myself taking a sabbatical any time soon (if ever).

However I would keep a few things in mind for your pastor(s):

1. There will be seasons he will be spiritually exhausted. The Puritan John Flavel noted "The labours of the ministry will exhaust the very marrow from your bones, hasten old age and death."

As a shepherd, if he doesn't take a time of reprieve (not necessarily a sabbatical) he not only puts the state of his soul at risk, his congregation will be at risk of spiritual maladies. Been there. Done that.

2. His family gets exhausted. I'm currently in a season where my family sees much of me. But over half of 9 years of ministry, that wasn't the case (fault falls on me for some of this).

There were stormy seasons full of deaths in the congregation, counseling, wandering sheep, church conflict, etc. There was no "leave work behind at 5pm". It came home with me. I missed dinners, family trips. If I was home, often my mind wasn't. My kids noticed. My wife felt it most of all, both at home and in the pew.

The pastor is a shepherd. The congregation has a right to his time. But be aware: His family shares his time with many people and that goes beyond 9-5 M-F.

Lastly and most of all:
3. He will answer for your soul.

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account." Hebrews 13:17

I became a pastor at 28yrs old. Before that, I was either farming or in the oil field. Not exactly fields of relaxation.

But no job has shouldered such heaviness like that of a pastor, and the spiritual reality of Heb 13:17 explains why.

There's an eternally weighty responsibility on the soul of your pastors/elders.

Summary: Again, this isn't an argument for sabbaticals. You may never see your pastors take one and that's fine. But it is an argument for your respect of his ministry. Not to coddle him, but love him and the responsibility on him by our Great Shepherd.

Even though you may work 10hr days at a blue collar job, he will stand before Christ and give an account for your soul. And that's something unique to his office.

[Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary @CBTSeminary]

"I object to the teaching that deceased Old Testament saints were confined in Sheol prior to Christ’s death and resurrection."

Ben Habegger

https://t.co/9FYPhrHMol

[Reformed Forum @reformedforum]

Our most-watched video of the past year: "A History of Dispensationalism."

How did dispensationalism develop—and how should Reformed Christians evaluate it? A must-watch.

▶️ https://t.co/4BsijvCWZE

#ReformedTheology #BiblicalTheology

[Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary @CBTSeminary]

Cessationism with Sam Waldron

In this episode of the Covenant Podcast, Dr. Waldron teaches Cessationism from Scripture, then shows how it relates to other important doctrines such as Sola Scriptura.

Listen here: https://t.co/gTuq6AQdrA

[Reformed Forum @reformedforum]

One of our most important episodes: "A History of Dispensationalism."

How did dispensationalism develop—and how should Reformed Christians evaluate it?

▶️ https://t.co/4BsijvCWZE

#ReformedTheology #BiblicalTheology

[Trevin Wax @TrevinWax]

In Bavinck, we find the ground zero for many of the ways Christians in the 21st century speak about how to analyze, critique, and evangelize the late-modern world. https://t.co/gYl8FjxDJp

[Matt Smethurst @MattSmethurst]

Alistair Begg on knowing vs. feeling in worship.

This is magnificent.

[Blackmagic Design @Blackmagic_News]

DaVinci Resolve is the world’s only solution that combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post production all in one software tool.