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Six Days are Six Days
Read the GPTS Statement on Creation


I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:11
A 21st Century 
Puritanism

Pur'-i-tan n.one who seeks a purer, more Biblical form of life, doctrine and worship.


Whereas modern religion often glorifies man, 
the religion of the Bible glorifies our sovereign God, 
who is most blessed and glorious in all His ways.











Prayer Concerns
Homeschooling Outlawed in California - A California Court of Appeals recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher. The court has decided to reconsider the case. Please pray for a favorable outcome.
Family - The salvation of your children lies in the hands of our sovereign and holy God who answers the fervent prayers of His people.
Revival & Reformation - The church today is in great need of God's mighty, transforming power.
Persecuted Church - Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer persecution daily.
World Missions - Are you faithfully praying for missionaries and Bible translators?
Upcoming Conferences
reFocus Preaching & Theology Conference
Leading with Biblical Authority
Donald A. Carson, R. Kent Hughes, John Neufeld, David Short, Bruce Ware
Burnaby, BC Apr 14-16, 2008
Together for the Gospel
Four Friends, One Passion
John Piper, John MacArthur, R. C. Sproul, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C. J. Mahaney
Louisville, KY Apr 15-17, 2008
PCRT 2008
Precious Blood: Christ's Atoning Work
Joel Beeke, Robert Godfrey, Richard Phillips, Philip Ryken, R. C. Sproul, Derek Thomas
Grand Rapids, MI Apr 18-20, 2008
Philadelphia, PA Apr 25-27, 2008
The Scottish Reformed Conference 19
Joel R. Beeke
Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland May 10, 2008
Basics 2008 Conference
Preaching the Gospel to Ourselves: The Gospel in the Heart and the Mind of the Pastor
Jerry Bridges, Voddie Baucham, Alistair Begg
Cleveland, OH May 12-14, 2008
New Attitude Conference
Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.
John Piper, Joshua Harris, Al Mohler, Mark Dever, Eric Simmons, C.J. Mahaney
Louisville, KY May 24-27, 2008
Defending Your Faith Family Conference
Defending Your Faith in a Secular America
Ken Ham, Voddie Baucham, Doug Phillips, Carl Kerby
Branson, MO Jul 15-18, 2008
2008 International Conference on Creationism
Developing and Systematizing the Creation Model of Origins
Russ Humphreys, Steve Austin, John Baumgardner, Andrew Snelling, John Woodmorappe, Larry Vardiman, John Hartnett, Georgia Purdom, Don DeYoung, others
Pittsburgh, PA Aug 3-7, 2008

 
What's New?
as of  08 April 2008
Posted Location Name
08-Apr-2008 Conferences 2008 International Conference on Creationism
A major conference on Creationism will be held in Pittsburgh, PA on August 3-7, 2008. Speakers include Russ Humphreys, Andrew Snelling, Larry Vardiman, John Baumgardner, Don DeYoung, John Hartnett, Georgia Purdom, John Woodmorappe and others.
Conferences/August 2008
29-Mar-2008 Books Book Updates
New books have been added to my 'Recommended Books' section: The New Answers Book (Creation), and Beyond Opinion (Apologetics). Also, Tables of Contents have been added to many of the existing (and new) entries, and some of the descriptions have been updated as well.
Books
21-Mar-2008 Conferences Granted Ministries Conference
Granted Ministries is hosting a conference in Hannibal MO on March 27-29, 2008. The theme is The Majesty of the Gospel of Christ. Speakers include: Bob Jennings, Michael Durham, Mack Tomlinson, Tim Conway & Chad Thompson.
Conferences
21-Mar-2008 Books New Book Recommendations
I have added some new items to my listing of recommended books.

Apologetics - Conspiracies and the Cross
Creation - Dismantling the Big Bang
Creation - Thousands Not Billions
Theology - Christian Thumbnails

Books

20-Jan-2008 Conferences Defending Your Faith Family Conference
A Family Conference in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Answers in Genesis and featuring speakers Ken Ham, Voddie Baucham, Doug Phillips and Carl Kerby.
Conferences
25-Nov-2007 Conferences Conference List Updated
The list of conferences for 2008 has been posted. This list will be expanded as additional conferences are announced by their sponsoring organizations.
Conferences
 

Reflections on
the Love of God
by A. W. Pink

... One of the most popular beliefs of the day is that God loves everybody, and the very fact that it is so popular with all classes ought to be enough to arouse the suspicions of those who are subject to the Word of Truth. God's Love toward all His creatures is the fundamental and favorite tenet of Universalists, Unitarians, Theosophists, Christian Scientists, Spiritualists, Russellites, etc. No matter how a man may live--in open defiance of Heaven, with no concern whatever for His soul 's eternal interests, still less for God's glory, dying, perhaps with an oath on his lips--notwithstanding, God loves him, we are told. So widely has this dogma been proclaimed, and so comforting is it to the heart which is at enmity with God we have little hope of convincing many of their error. That God loves everybody, is, we may say, quite a modern belief. The writings of the church fathers, the Reformers or the Puritans will (we believe) be searched in vain for any such concept. ... (continued)
Introductory Essay
by J. I. Packer


... Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of His redeeming work as if he had done no more by dying than make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing;  we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust;  and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence "at the door of our hearts" for us to let them in.  It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe.  But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel.  The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. ... (continued)
What is "A 21st Century Puritanism?"
by Mitch Cervinka


Puritanism is a movement that arose within the English Protestant church in the late 1500's and continued into the 1700's.  The Puritans were Christians who believed that the Bible ought to be the sole authority for the doctrine and practice of the church.  They were convinced that the Protestant Reformation had not gone far enough in eliminating unscriptural traditions from the Church, and so, in a very real sense, they were second-generation Reformers, seeking to finish the work begun by early Reformers like Luther and Tyndale. 

The reforming spirit of the Puritans ought to exemplify Christianity in every age.  The Latin phrase "Semper Reformanda"—"Always Reforming"—should be the continual watchword of the Church of Jesus Christ, as we diligently seek to root out every false teaching and to bring the church 's worship into full conformity with the apostolic teaching revealed in the Holy Scriptures. 

Reformation is a never-ending task for two reasons.  First, because the church has never achieved 100% perfection, and thus there is always room for improvement.  Secondly and more importantly, because human depravity makes us so prone to wander from the truth. God's people need to be constantly vigilant to identify and oppose the age-old errors that keep reappearing, sometimes in new disguises, that threaten the spiritual vitality and radical witness of the church. 

The great enemy of Biblical Christianity in the days of the Puritans was Roman Catholicism, both in its full manifestation as well as in the vestiges of Catholicism carried over into the Anglican Church.  Puritans were often decrying the form of Anglican worship—crucifixes, kneeling at communion, and especially the "Popish" attire of the Anglican "priests".  But Puritans were also on guard against a return to the Catholic doctrines of human free-will and personal merit—doctrines that militate against the free grace of God as revealed in the gospel. 

In our present day, the great enemy of Biblical Christianity is the arrogant pragmatism that measures success by counting noses rather than seriously assessing the spiritual condition and progress of its converts.  This pragmatic approach turns its back on what the Bible says about God's sovereignty , man 's depravity, and the manner of worship that is most pleasing to God.  Instead, modern Christianity is often guilty of seeking to please men rather than God, thereby repeating the error of the self-righteous Pharisees. 

With the Puritans of old, we confess the Biblical gospel that God saves rebellious, Christ-rejecting sinners—He doesn't wait until they trust in Christ of their own accord, for men are too rebellious to ever willingly submit themselves to God.  Instead, God does for men that which they never would nor could do for themselves:  He chooses certain ones to be saved, although no one, of himself, would ever have freely chosen to leave his sin and humbly submit himself to God's authority.  He purchases their forgiveness by giving up the life of His dearly-loved, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in payment for their sins, even though no one could ever have purchased his own forgiveness.  He quickens them by His Holy Spirit, changing their hearts, bringing forth genuine faithand lasting repentance, even though no one could ever have made such a change in his own heart—indeed, no one would even bother to try!  And God completes this work which He began, even though no one would ever be persistent enough by his own will to persevere very long in faith and repentance, even if he could savingly believe or repent. 

A "21st Century Puritanism", then, is the always-reforming spirit of 17th-century Puritanism applied to the challenges of the 21st century church.  In place of an Arminian "free-will" gospel that exalts human worth and ability, the 21st Century Puritan calls us back to the Biblical gospel that exalts the power and sovereignty of Almighty God.  In place of the "seeker-sensitive", man-pleasing paradigm for worship, the 21st Century Puritan points us back to the Biblical, God-ordained pattern of worship revealed in Scripture—emphasizing a Godward focus—preaching Hisglories, rejoicing in His mercy to hell-deserving sinners, falling at His feet in humble supplication, singing from joyful, forgiven, God-saturated hearts psalms and hymns that exalt His majesty and honor. 

It is my prayer that this website will help you gain a greater appreciation for the glory and splendor of our sovereign Creator, Provider and Redeemer. 

Soli Deo Gloria!  .. To God Alone be the glory!
















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