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In layman’s terms, Rev. Hyde sketches the historical roots of the Reformed churches, their scriptural and confessional basis, their key beliefs, and the ways in which those beliefs are put into practice. The result is a roadmap for those encountering the Reformed world for the first time and a primer for those who want to know more about their Reformed heritage.

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(1) Introduction
(2) Catholic, Evangelical, and Reformed
(3) Scripture Alone
(4) Faith Alone – part 1
(5) Faith Alone – part 2
(6) Covenant
(7) Total Depravity – part 1
(8) Total Depravity – part 2
(9) Unconditional Election
(10) Limited Atonement
(11) Irresistible Grace
(12) Perseverance of the Saints

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(1) The Importance of Holiness
(2) The Trauma of Holiness
(3) Holiness and Justice
(4) The Insanity of Luther
(5) The Meaning of Holiness
(6) The Holiness of Christ

This series examines the meaning of holiness and why people are both fascinated and terrified by a holy God. This series closely explores God’s character, leading to new insights on sin, justice, and grace. The result is a new awareness of our dependence upon God’s mercy and a discovery of the awesomeness of His majestic holiness. Dr. R.C. Sproul says, “The holiness of God affects every aspect of our lives — economics, politics, athletics, romance — everything with which we are involved.”

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The Importance of Holiness

The Trauma of Holiness

Holiness and Justice

The Insanity of Luther

The Meaning of Holiness

The Holiness of Christ

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Sometimes blunt, crude words are the only things that can shock a person out of a rut and motivate him to improve to the next level. This article is for the church worker who needs such forthright words.

What if you die today? Would you be pleased with your legacy?

If the answer is “no,” then you need to figure out how to change it. Life is short. Some of us need to increase our tempo. Some need to act instead of waiting for tomorrow. Some need training. Some of us are doing everything right, but we need time to achieve it. You need to take care of your body by eating right and working out so that you will have that time. Do not forget that we are called to be doers of the word and not merely hearers.

James 1:22-25 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Is there anything distracting you from pursuing your purpose?
Is anything slowing you down?

At the same time, some of us need to be patient, wait for God’s timing, and not ruin things by forcing it on our own. You know the answers to these questions.

This article is an adaption from an article originally posted at ChurchRelevance.com.

Imagine church without sound.

I do not mean removing things that make noise – sound systems, music, people. I mean imagine experiencing your church as it normally is but not being able to hear anything. Would the non-audible elements be enough to minister to you?

If you were to take away sound, would people still be ministered to?

If someone saw a muted video of your church service, what would they think?

Ask Yourself

• Would your environment create a sense of awe for the Creator like the churches of the Renaissance?
• Visually, how does your worship music seem? Authentic? Passionate? Like a rock concert? Worshipful?
• When you take away the words, are the greeters authentic?
• Is the tone and subject of the message evident in the preacher’s body language?
• What about the sermon branding?
• Is the life-changing power of Christ evident on the congregation’s faces?
• Is there a sense joy, hope, and love?
• People can spot a fake smile. People can discern authenticity. If someone who was not a Christian watched your congregation worship, would they want what they have?

Albert Mehrabian’s research shows that communication is influenced only 7% by words, 38% by tone of voice, and 55% by body language. All too often, we focus on the 7% of words and forget to invest in non-audible influencers, such as body language and environment.

Ultimately, the preaching of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit is what changes lives. However, we must not forget that we are called to be representatives of Jesus in word and in deed in everything we do (Colossians 3:17). Don’t do something just because it is what other churches do. Instead, let everything you do echo back to the gospel and the glory of God.

This article is an adaption of one first published at ChurchRelevance.com.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

As I write this article, I am thinking of the souls who are living separated from the grace of God—they are graceless. We are living in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-7)! Save the grace of God, we are all but fools on our way to a sinner’s hell. “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV). Thank God for His indescribable grace!

His Grace is Sufficient!

God has a special grace and a special anointing for you to fulfill your assignment on the earth. No amount of self-sufficiency can empower you to do what only God’s grace can accomplish through you. Our sufficiency as believers is found in the power of His grace for our every need and circumstances.

Friends, you will never fully understand God’s grace, until all you have to fulfill your purpose is His grace.

God’s grace is truly sufficient and His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). I am grateful for God’s grace in and over my life. I have had my share of trials over the years (especially in 2010 and 2011), but God has delivered me out of them all. I am grateful that the grace of God is not only sufficient for my past, but it is sufficient for my present circumstances, and God promises to extend His grace through the rest of my life. He has covered me with His unmerited favor, and I pray that I can be found faithful as I steward His manifold grace toward me.

Treasuring God’s Grace!

Over the course of the past few months, I have been thinking about how blessed I am to have been a recipient of God’s grace. God has chosen you and me as vessels for the stewardship of His manifold grace. We have both the privilege and the responsibility to steward and share God’s grace in the most excellent and godly way possible. This is particularly true when I am reminded that I have been a Christian for 24 years this month—God has been so patient in working on me to develop both the character and servant qualities that reflect the grace and truth found only in Jesus Christ. I have a long way to go, and I am still a work in progress (Philippians 2:12-18; 3:12-16). The Christian life is indeed a wonderful journey of love, grace and forgiveness.

Choose Grace!

No matter what you are going through, I urge you to choose grace. Whenever you are dealing with exasperating situations and toxic people, I exhort you to choose grace. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul to his spiritual son Titus:

Titus 2:11-14 (Amplified)
For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].

I pray that as you envision to fulfill your calling on this side of eternity that you consider living a grace-filled life, and that you allow God’s grace to sustain you during these perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1).

Grace: Free but Costly!

I urge you to share God’s love with the people around you (friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, and family members), whom you know are living outside of God’s grace. A life without grace is a life without meaning and significance; hence, sharing the love of Jesus with unbelievers is an act of compassion. I urge you not to use grace as a license to sin. Grace is free but it is not cheap. Even though God’s gift of grace is freely given, it costs Him the life of His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). When the apostle Paul heard, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness,” Paul understood that Jesus is grace personified; and that it is only when we acknowledge our weaknesses, that the power of Christ and His grace can be fully manifested in and through our lives.

As Paul prayed for the Corinthians, may “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen,” (2 Corinthians 13:14, NKJV)!

Grace and peace be multiplied to you!