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So what is the position of our Lord Jesus with respect to children? Is there any support in the gospels for the position that also today children are included in the new covenant? Can we learn anything here that helps us with questions about baptism and how we should view our children?

Dr. Rayburn will be speaking of the doctrine’s ups and downs in the Reformed tradition and of the response in Presbyterian and Reformed circles to his article, published in 1996, “The Presbyterian Doctrines of Covenant Children, Covenant Nurture, and Covenant Succession,” the first significant study of the theology of the covenant child in American Presbyterianism for upwards of 50 years.

Are the rest of the New Testament books supportive of the belief that your kids are in the covenant? Texts like Acts 2:39, 1 Cor. 7:14, and Eph. 6:1-4 will be discussed and brought to bear on the larger discussion.

Few things are dearer to the hearts of parents and pastors than our covenant children. We pray for them and instruct them with the goal “that we might present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). At the center of the church’s ministry is the preaching of the gospel, but our ministry to our covenant children also includes “warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom” (Colossians 1:28) in the context of covenant nurture. One of our greatest hopes and joys is to see them profess faith in Christ in the context of spiritual wisdom, maturity and servant-hood. The purpose of this essay will be to reflect on the way in which covenant kids are nurtured toward spiritual maturity in American Presbyterian Churches (OPC, PCA, etc.). Three particular questions will be addressed: 1. What is required of covenant children in order to make a profession of faith and begin partaking of the Lord’s Supper? 2. What sort of instruction is provided in order to equip covenant children for their profession of faith and servant-hood in the church? 3. What role do parents, pastors and youth ministries play in nurturing covenant children toward spiritual maturity? Empirical research will be presented that surveys the varying approaches taken within these churches, along with pertinent definitions and nuances. A summary and analysis will provide pastoral observations regarding the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the approaches described within these churches.

Shortly after the miracle of feeding the 5000 Jesus’ disciples stood at a crossroads. Would they continue to follow the Lord or leave like others had done (John 6:66)? Peter fervently declares he will stay because Jesus Christ has the “words of eternal life.” What are these words? Why do we need them?

If you see your own sins, you’ll never be surprised at the sins of others…

The gospel that Jesus rose from the dead is still as shocking as ever, and it’s a gospel that changes our lives.

God not only ordains the ends, but also the means to accomplish his ends. In this talk I plan to look at matters like the rearing of covenant children in relation to God’s promises versus the commands he makes to parents and children to accomplish those promises. I plan to look at how, in the church, we deal with different types of conversions, as well as the reality that some of our children never undergo a conversion experience, but nevertheless are Spirit-led (Rom 8:14) Christians. The doctrine of grace, and what that means for how we live in the church, will also be discussed, especially as many Christians have to learn not only that they are saved by grace, but that others are as well and so we need patience, love, and gentleness as evidence of our own gracious attitude towards others who are not at the same place we are.

Infants show from a very early age that they have their own will. How can we do justice to the whole of Scripture’s message when we describe the human will? Is it only bound to sin? Partly free? Like a robot that God controls? Objecting to Erasmus, Luther said the will was utterly bound to sin; Calvin said that there is no such thing as God “permitting” sin, for whatever he permits, he wills. Does this mean God has willed us to sin? Are we really responsible for sin? Today the discussion continues between those who describe the Reformed view as “compatibilism” and those who object that this philosophical category doesn’t fit what we confess in the Canons of Dort. I intend to present the options in a simple but clear manner, to help us preach and believe the whole doctrine of God with clarity and conviction.

To view the handout that goes with this video please see here.

Which news is better: that the battle has been won completely or that most of the fighting still has to be done? Did Jesus only make possible our salvation, or did he actually and fully complete it? In this presentation I hope to present the Son of God as all-glorious in his cross and resurrection, and help us preach the real good news that Jesus has fully redeemed, saved, reconciled, justified, and adopted those for whom he lovingly laid down his life.

To view the handout that goes with this video please see here.