From the Duomo of Milan on Easter Sunday Andrea Bocelli blessed a global, virtual audience singing the eponymous Amazing Grace. Just hours earlier my neighbors and I stood in our cul-de-sac singing the same hymn, a hymn Johnny Cash called “a song with no guile”. Our very ordinary homes can not compare to the Duomo, … Read more
COMMON GRACE IN AMAZING TIMES
Church Pivot podcast features church planting discussion with Tom Ricks
The third episode of Case Thorp’s “Church Pivot” podcast features the Moderator of the 39th General Assembly talking with Tom Ricks, leader of the EPC Church Planting Team. In their discussion, Ricks reflects on his years in church planting and explains what it takes to plant churches in a connectional denomination like the EPC in … Read more
YOUR JOB & NOAH’S ARK
How long has it been since you’ve heard a sermon from your pastor on Noah, the ark, and the flood? It seems the only place I hear about Noah’s journey is when my children bring home from Sunday School crafts depicting the ark full of animals, two by two. My cynical side says some pastors … Read more
Church Pivot: Podcast features Richard Mouw
The second episode of Case Thorp’s “Church Pivot” podcast features the Moderator of the 39th General Assembly talking with Dr. Richard Mouw, President Emeritus and Professor of Faith and Public Life at Fuller Theological Seminary. Mouw currently teaches courses on Christian Worldview and Contemporary Culture, and Perspectives on Christ and Culture. In their discussion, Thorp and … Read more
What is Scrupling?
*This article was written as a training guide for elders in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church* Throughout the Church’s history there has been a tension between holding unity within a worshiping community and, likewise, holding to a purity of doctrine. This is not an easy thing to do. Paul writes extensively in the New Testament about … Read more
Church Pivot: EPC church planter’s retreat: five takeaways
by Case Thorp Moderator of the 39th General Assembly Escaping the swamp of Florida’s heat and humidity is always a welcomed occasion. Such was just a side benefit of joining the EPC Church Planter’s Retreat in Colorado Springs in October. Little did I know how on-fire our church planting leadership and planters are! My time … Read more
Church Pivot: Podcast launch features Tim Keller
The first episode of Case Thorp’s “Church Pivot” podcast features the Moderator of the 39th General Assembly talking with renowned theologian, author, and pastor Tim Keller. In their discussion, Thorp and Keller examine how the American evangelical church can thrive in an increasingly antagonistic culture. Click below to listen. The 37-minute recording also is available … Read more
Church Pivot: Global evangelicals tackle 21st century issues
by Case Thorp Moderator of the 39th General Assembly JAKARTA, INDONESIA—The World Reformed Fellowship, a global association of evangelical Reformed Christians, met in Jakarta in August for its quadrennial General Assembly. This four-day gathering of 68 denominations and more than 162 affiliate organizations from 25 countries includes worship, workshops, and excursions to area ministry projects. The … Read more
Church, Pivot!
by Case Thorp Moderator of the 39th General Assembly Michael Jordan, I am not. Yet my stocky frame came into its own during middle school basketball. While I wasn’t the one leading in the number of baskets scored, setting the standard in layups, or scoring on average more than four points a season (yes, a … Read more
COMMON GRACE: SIX BENEFITS (5/5)
To combat the cultural disobedience and dualism that plagues the American church, common grace provides six practical benefits for individual discipleship and for the local church with her role in the public square (the first three come from the Christian Reformed Church’s 1924 Synod statement and subsequent revisions.) First, through common grace God shows favor … Read more
