“Solitude produces melancholy” by Martin Luther “More and graver sins are committed in solitude than in the society of one’s fellow men. The devil deceived Eve in paradise when she was alone. Murder, robbery, theft, fornication, and adultery are committed in solitude, for solitude provides the devil with occasion andContinue Reading
By Michael Horton According to a 2013 survey by LifeWay Research, one-third of Americans agree that “prayer and Bible study alone can overcome serious mental illness.” Nearly half (48 percent) of evangelicals agree. (1) Why on earth would Modern Reformation imagine that it had something important to say, from aContinue Reading
Christians suffer in this life, not only because they live in a fallen world, but also because of their cross-bearing identity with Jesus Christ. Depression is one way that disciples of Christ suffer. With the advancement of medical technology, there is an ever-increasing range of psychotropic drugs available for treatingContinue Reading
[Sermon audio here.] If there is one thing that people can agree on, it is that children should be protected at all costs. When infants or children are killed on purpose, by accident or neglect, there is understandable outrage. Children cannot defend themselves. They are vulnerable and dependent. So whatContinue Reading
[Sermon audio here.] Most of us have at some point in our lives been shocked and appalled at the suffering in this world. You drive past the mangled body on the side of the road. Your neighbour is beaten to near death for his cell-phone. Another helpless girl is gang-raped. Continue Reading
[Sermon audio available here.] The scandal of Christianity is that central to its message is suffering and death. Suffering and death are the two things that the world tries to avoid at all costs. What our society values is in many respects the opposite of what Christianity holds dear. PopularContinue Reading
There are different kinds of pleasures in this life, and then there is what the Bible describes as joy. Can you imagine the rush of pleasure that Adam felt when he ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden? For a moment, he must have felt like heContinue Reading
You have probably heard the saying: “You are what you eat.” If you eat too much or eat a steady diet of fast food, your body will pay a price. If you eat too little or too much of the same thing, you will feel the effects. What can beContinue Reading
Is it not true that what often captivates us when the countless adverts and news headlines flash past our eyes every day is not so such much their content, but how they are packaged? We are often so dazzled by the presentation of the message that we never stop toContinue Reading
The following is the sermon that was preached this past Sunday at the morning service of Cape Town Reformed Church in the city bowl. For other examples of Reformed sermons and resources, please look here. Salvation hidden in suffering Life is rather predictable and ordinary, at least most of theContinue Reading