Epiphany was first observed in second-century Egypt, as both the day of Jesus’ birth and baptism. December 25 wasn’t established as a separate celebration of the nativity until around A.D. 336 and has never been universally celebrated on that day. Today some Eastern churches still observe Christmas on January 6, the day of Epiphany. The…
Posts by daniel (Page 8)
Being Taught by Grace Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people (the Abrahamic promise), training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of…
Pastor Cathey quotes Pastor Sumpter who quotes a scholar in the field of reformed worship: “Since for Americans there is often an in-built negative reaction to any mention of formality in worship, let us turn briefly to Hebrews 12 and Revelation 4-5. Hebrews 12:22-24 describes a New Covenant (contrasted with the Old Covenant worship of vss. 18-21)…
Scoring Points for Traditional Hymnody Written by G. Mark Sumpter Monday, 02 January 2012 00:00 What’s great at Christmastime can be great 48 other Sundays. At the Christmas season, traditional hymnody—it’s words and musical genre—scores big. For about 30 calendar days, traditional, even some really old, hymnody rebounds in worship-life…
Why Baptize Babies, Does it Matter? Rev. G. Mark Sumpter, Pastor of Faith OPC, Grants Pass, WA In the discussion of the administration of the water of the rite of Christian baptism, the question about the subjects of baptism gets most of the attention. To whom should the sacrament of baptism be administered? Does the…
Reformed Christians are accused of many false and foolish things regarding the doctrine of predestination. Here is a short list. Do you hold to any of these errors? Take a close look. 1. The doctrine of predestination and related subjects, by its very character and tendency, turns the hearts of men away from all godliness…
We are here to celebrate the birth of a baby boy born to a poor woman on a journey decreed by a pagan ruler. The baby boy was put into a manger – a feeding trough for cattle or other stable animals. The earth is 93 million miles from the sun, being third from the…
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now…
Dear Congregation: The importance of the mystery of the Incarnation of God is impossible to underestimate! It is a “mystery” not because it has not been revealed, but because it is unfathomable. I sincerely hope and pray that everyone who reads the words below will meditate upon this mystery during Christmastide and beyond. Great indeed,…
He was poor, that he might make us rich. He was born of a virgin that we might be born of God. He took our flesh, that he might give us His Spirit. He lay in the manger, that we may lie in paradise. He came down from heaven, that he might bring us to…