Living in Light of Two Ages
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Friday, December 30, 2011 at 09:36AM 
Ken Samples recently did an interview for the Christian Examiner on the life of the mind and New Year's resolutions. Christ Reformed Church's ladies bookclub is mentioned as an example of one of the ways in which churches can help their members read good books and cultivate the life of the mind.
To read the article, Click Here
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 11:30AM 
Mike has won the 2012 Christianity Today book award for best theology/ethics text. Congrats Michael!
The award states, "averting his gaze from the kind of popular evangelicalism that is nondenominational in style and never quite confessional in ethos, Horton delivers the Reformed goods to a new generation." True enough!
Here's the link to the rest of the award winners: Click Here
Monday, December 26, 2011 at 12:12PM 
The Messiah (Part Four)
Each year at Christmas in countless churches throughout the world, Christians focus with renewed attention on the birth of the Messiah. But what was the mission of this Messiah, and where can this story be found in the Old Testament? On this program, the hosts wrap up their discussion of Christ’s redemptive mission to seek and save the lost as it is unpacked throughout the Old Testament. And on this episode in particular, they walk through messianic prophecies from the Pentateuch through the writings of the prophets.
Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 07:44AM 
From the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 14
35. What is the meaning of “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?”
That the eternal Son of God, who is and continues true and eternal God,[1] took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,[2] by the operation of the Holy Spirit;[3] so that He might also be the true seed of David,[4] like unto His brethren in all things,[5] except for sin.[6]
[1] Jn 1:1-4, 10:30-36; Rom 1:3-4, 9:5; Col 1:15-17; 1 Jn 5:20; [2] Mt 1:18-23; Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:14; [3] Mt 1:18-20; Lk 1:35; [4] 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32; Rom 1:3; [5] Php 2:7; Heb 2:17; [6] Heb 4:15, 7:26-27
36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?
That He is our Mediator,[1] and with His innocence and perfect holiness[2] covers, in the sight of God, my sin,[3] wherein I was conceived.[4]
[1] 1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 2:16-17, 9:13-15; [2] Rom 8:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4-5; 1 Pt 1:18-19; [3] Ps 32:1; 1 Jn 1:9; [4] Ps 51:5
I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!
Friday, December 23, 2011 at 10:09AM 
You are invited to join us for an evening of Lessons and Carols tonight (December 23) at 7:00 p.m.
Lessons and Carols is a service celebrating the birth of Jesus. The fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns. We hope you and your family can join us for this wonderful evening as we remember the birth of Christ and hear of God’s faithfulness throughout the ages.
For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website: Christ Reformed Church
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 09:46AM 
Another typical fall/winter day in Orange County. It is nearly 70 degrees, the leaves on my Liquid Amber have turned bright red (the only fall foliage in my yard), and then they fall off. Winter begins today and it is supposed to be 75 degrees on Christmas--probably too warm to build a rip-roaring fire (as is our custom).
California has its troubles--but the weather is usually glorious!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 01:49PM 
Mike Horton's take on Tim Keller's recent discussion of the two kingdoms and the transformation of culture has been posted on the White Horse Inn blog. Well worth reading.
Monday, December 19, 2011 at 01:59PM 
Service of Lessons and Carols (Friday night, December 23 @ 7:00 p.m.): Lessons and Carols is a service reflecting upon the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus. The story of redemption is told in nine Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas hymns. You are invited to join us for this wonderful evening as we remember the birth of Christ and hear of God’s faithfulness throughout the ages.
Christmas Morning (December 25 @ 10:30 a.m.): I am preaching on 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and Paul's focus upon Christ Jesus who came into the world to save sinners.
New Year's Day (January 1, 2012 @ 10:30 a.m.): I am focusing upon Jesus as the Lord of History, as we reflect upon the dawn of a new year. Our text is Ephesians 1:3-14.
Note: There will be no Sunday school classes on Christmas and New Year's Day, and no Wednesday night Bible studies until mid-January. The Academy will reconvene in February.
For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website: Christ Reformed Church
Monday, December 19, 2011 at 10:40AM 
Michael Brown's new book on Samuel Petto will be released in January. Petto may be unknown to you (as we was to me), but he was very influential in his own day, and pastor Brown introduces him to us in Christ and the Condition. Rev. Brown is the pastor of Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, California.
Here's the publisher's blurb:
Covenant theology is the “warp and woof” of Reformed theology, and its development was most seriously worked out during the seventeenth century. In Christ and the Condition, Michael Brown introduces us to an influential Puritan pastor who, though now largely forgotten, was a significant contributor to the covenantal debates of his day. Brown analyzes the covenantal thought of Samuel Petto and reveals a diversity of thought among the Puritans, especially concerning the Mosaic covenant. Brown’s assessment places Petto in the context of the covenantal debates and also demonstrated the implications of covenantal thought on the doctrine of justification.
Table of Contents:
A Puritan Pastor-Theologian: Petto in Context
Petto’s Covenant Schema
The Mosaic Covenant in Reformed Theology
Petto on the Mosaic Covenant
Implications for Justification
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You can order it here: Click Here
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 08:27PM 
Here's the audio from this morning's sermon for the fourth Sunday in advent on Daniel 9:24-27 and the ultimate jubilee brought about through the birth of Christ (cf. Luke 2:1-14).
