Living in Light of Two Ages
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Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 05:38PM 
Making Disciples: The Mission and Its Methods (part two)
On this special edition of the White Horse Inn recorded before a live audience at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, the hosts continue their discussion of the marks and mission of the church, based on the words of the Great Commission, and also take questions from the audience.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 02:01PM 
The Eleveneth in a Series of Sermons on 1 Corinthians
No question, it was very difficult to be a Christian in First Century Corinth. No question, it is very difficult to be a Christian in Southern California. Corinth was a highly sexualized, promiscuous, and litigious society. So is ours. The Corinthians loved pagan wisdom, celebrity athletes, superstitiously sought the blessings of the “gods,” and were prone to depreciate the body because of a pagan conception of the soul. Pretty much the same is true in modern America. Apparently, the Corinthians were clear about how sinners were justified, but they weren’t very clear about the fact that Christians need to stop thinking and acting like pagans once they came to faith in Christ. That is probably true of our age as well. Paul’s solution to all of these matters is for Christians to think about all of these issues in light of the cross. If we are were bought with a price–the blood of Jesus–then we cannot do and think as we please. We now belong to a risen Savior, who not only purchased us, but will raise us bodily from the dead.
We return to our series on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. We have made our way as far as the closing section of chapter six wherein Paul is addressing a number of serious issues that had been reported to him by members of Chloe’s family (or others). These include a man who had taken his father’s wife creating a huge scandal (chapter 5), Christians suing each other in secular courts (chapter 6:1-11), as well the misuse of Christian liberty so as to indulge the flesh (chapter 6:12-20).
As we have seen throughout our series so far, Paul is writing to people whom he knows well. These are relatively new Christians struggling to learn how to think and act like Christians. In a city with many pagan temples and guild halls known for their prostitutes and partying, with graphic sexual imagery found in homes, in public buildings and baths, and in a culture steeped in Greek and Roman paganism, it was difficult for these new Christians to begin to leave pagan religion behind, adopt a life-style of chastity and moderation, and to serve as witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul has instructed them in many of these matters, but the Corinthians are not moving on to maturity, and many are still acting like the pagans they recently were. While staying in the city of Ephesus, Paul received word of this conduct going on back in Corinth–which is the reason Paul writes this letter.
To read the rest of this sermon, Click Here
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 02:37PM 
Sunday Morning (11/13): We are currently going through the Book of Hebrews. On Sunday we'll be discussing the patriarchs in Hebrews 11:17-22.
For previous sermons in this series, go here: Sermons on Hebrews
Sunday Afternoon: We are continuing our discussion Lord's Day 24 of our catechism and Q & A 62-64 which deal with the role of good works in the Christian life. Our afternoon service begins @ 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday Night Bible Study: We are continuing our series on the sacraments, and this week we are going through the biblical-theological background to the sacraments. Bible study begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Academy: The Academy meets Friday night, November 11 @ 7:30 p.m., as we continue working our way through the the first chapter of Mike Horton's theology text, The Christian Faith.
Note: Ken Samples is not teaching this week at the Academy. Ken's class resumes on November 18.
For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website: Christ Reformed Church
Kim Riddlebarger
Ken Samples will be teaching his Academy class this Friday after all . . .
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:28AM 
The audio and handouts of my lectures from this past weekend are posted here: Israel and the Last Days
It was great to meet so many White Horse Inn listeners, fellow URC folk, and to make many new friends!
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:16AM 
Here is the audio from Ken's most recent Academy lecture, "Clear Pointers to God - Explanatory Power and Broad Scope of Christian Theism – Putting Abductive Thinking Together”
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:04AM 
Making Disciples: The Mission and Its Method (Part One)
Many churches in our day put a lot of emphasis on “being the church” or living missionally. Other churches focus on the worship experience, spiritual formation, or the pursuit of various social and political agendas. What is the mission of the church? How are we to make disciples of Jesus Christ? Turning to the Great Commission itself and various passages that unpack it, this special live edition of White Horse Inn, recorded at the Desiring God conference in Minneapolis, focuses on disciple-making through the marks of the church that Christ himself ordained.
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 11:06AM 
I will be speaking this coming weekend (November 4-6) at the Orthodox Reformed Church of Edmonton (a URCNA congregation).
Here's the link to the conference with all the necessary info. Click Here.
If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let them know!
Monday, October 31, 2011 at 11:03AM 
Sunday Morning/Afternoon (11/6): Rev. Andrew Compton will be preaching and conducting the afternoon catechism service.
Wednesday Night Bible Study (11/2): I am continuing my series on the sacraments, and this week we'll be taking up the biblical theological background to the sacraments. Bible study begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Academy (11/4): I will be in Edmonton this weekend, but Ken Samples is continuing his series on his forthcoming book, "CLEAR Pointers to God: The Biblical God as the Best Explanation for the Meaningful Realities of Life." Ken's book will be released by Baker Books in the spring-summer of 2012. Ken's lecture begins @ 7:30 p.m.
For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website: Christ Reformed Church
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 06:32PM 
Here's the audio from this morning's sermon, based on Deuteronomy 4:32-40 and Romans 9:6-29: Click Here
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 06:22PM 
Should We Reform or Abandon American Protestantism?
Have you grown impatient with your church's seemingly endless quest for being hip and relevant? Have you become weary of "meaningful worship services" that say more about radio dial preferences than biblical fidelity? Are you irritated by the constant flow of shallow, superficial, and even narcissistic books that stock the shelves of evangelical bookstores? On this program, Michael Horton talks about these issues and more with Notre Dame sociologist Christian Smith who describes his conversion to Roman Catholicism in his recent book, How to Go from Being a Good Evangelical to a Committed Catholic in 95 Difficult Steps. Mike also talks with Christian about his other new book, Lost in Transition.
