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Writings on Christianity

How Do I Know If I Am Predestined?

How Do I Know If I Am Predestined? Since the Scriptures teach that God chooses (predestines) some to be his sons and daughters (Eph 1:4-5, Rom 9; John 15:16), how do we personally know if we ourselves are predestined? Did God choose me? How do I  know if I am predestined? Where I look for […]

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Writings on Christianity

2 Errors to Avoid When Talking About Predestination (Calvin)

2 Errors to Avoid When Talking About Predestination (Calvin’s “Institutes”) Perhaps predestination is the doctrine that John Calvin is most remembered for. Predestination is a biblical word referring to “God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man” (Calvin’s definition 3.21.5). While theologians debate exactly what God’s […]

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Writings on Christianity

Cross of Christ Fellowship: 6 CORE VALUES

Cross of Christ Fellowship: 6 Core Values When planting a church, it is vital to consider your core values (ideas and motivations which shape and define the way your church operates). Aubrey Malphurs helped me to consider this in his book “Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting” (a vital read for all church planters).  Every […]

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Writings on Christianity

Calvin on Prayer

Calvin on Prayer I’ve continued my quest through John Calvin’s Institutes and been surprised by how incredibly practical and devotional it has been.  Time and time again I find my heart encouraged and better equipped to love the Lord and others. This past week I finished Calvin’s treatment on prayer.  Here’s some of my favorite […]

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Writings on Christianity

Evil Suspicions and the Gospel (1 Tim 6:3-5)

Evil Suspicions and the Gospel (1 Tim 6:3-5) “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, […]

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Church Planting

Acts 29 Assessment

Acts 29 Assessment As Rachel and I plant Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville, we have sought to be a part of the Acts 29 Network. This network of churches is united in several core convictions (gospel-centrality, reformed theology, complementarian leadership, empowered by the Spirit, commitment to church planting) and serves to train, equip, and […]

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Church Planting

Calvin on the Sum of a Christian’s Life (Forgetting Self)

Calvin on “The Sum of a Christian’s Life (Forgetting Self)” Part of my training for being a church planting resident at Redeemer Fellowship–as we hope to plant Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville–is to read books in preparation of ministry. The longest and oldest book I’m reading is John Calvin’s “Institutes.”  I’m reading about 125 […]

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Church Planting

Coffee and Christ–Talking With Others About Jesus in Naperville

Coffee and Christ–Talking With Others about Jesus in Naperville Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks in planting a church is sharing the gospel with unbelievers. How do I go about connecting with unbelievers? Who should I talk to? Where will this take place? Church planter Jamie Page–pastor of the Church of DeKalb–provided me with […]

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Church Planting

Church Plant Celebration: Pics and Outline

Cross of Christ Fellowship: Church Plant Celebration This past month we hosted an event at our church to inform and gather support for Cross of Christ Fellowship (an Acts 29 Network church plant in Naperville, IL.).  The event was a great success, as over 70 people turned out to hear about Cross of Christ Fellowship! […]

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Church Planting

3 Impossible Tasks for Church Planting in Naperville

3 Impossible Church Planting Tasks for Naperville (I’ve shared some of this in our most recent newsletter, but here’s the extended version) As we strive to plant a church in Naperville (Cross of Christ Fellowship), we are working on 3 seemingly impossible tasks. These pursuits are daunting and at times overwhelming, but we are encouraged […]