Reformed Thinking

• Deep Dive into Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry by John Piper - Brothers, Be Bible-Oriented Preachers, Not Entertainment-Oriented Preachers

  Sin is considered intrinsically ugly due to its very nature and its profound, horrifying consequences. It is described as outrageous and possessing a moral horror so immense that human suffering in the world serves as a testament to its profound depravity. To treat sin as minor or casual is to fundamentally misunderstand its true, grievous nature.One of the most significant aspects contributing to sin's intrinsic ugliness is its outcome of eternal misery. The ultimate penalty for sin is depicted as a terrifying and unending state, involving torment with fire and sulfur in the presence of holy angels, with the smoke of torment rising forever, offering no rest. This horrific and ceaseless suffering undeniably highlights sin's infinite ugliness.Moreover, sin holds a unique power to damn a soul. Unlike other severe afflictions or evils, such as Satan, sickness, or insanity, none of these can condemn an individual to eternal perdition. Only sin possesses this devastating ability to lead a soul to eternal torment. This singular capacity to bring about such a final and dreadful fate is a key factor in what makes sin so profoundly serious and intrinsically ugly. Therefore, any casual or flippant approach in preaching dangerously communicates that sin is not as grave as the Bible declares, despite its immense moral horror and infinite ugliness, which should be a constant focus for preachers to address and overcome.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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• Deep Dive into נֶ֫פֶשׁ

  The Hebrew term "נֶ֫פֶשׁ" (nepeš) is a deeply significant and highly multifaceted word in the Old Testament, appearing approximately 754 times. While frequently translated as "soul," its semantic range is considerably broader and it holds a distinct meaning from the Greek philosophical concept of a disembodied "soul" (ψυχή).At its most fundamental, "nepeš" refers to concrete physical parts like the throat and neck, linking directly to the concept of breath. This "breath" is understood as the vital inhalation that makes a person or animal a living being (nepeš ḥayyâ), as seen in creation accounts. Consequently, "nepeš" frequently signifies life itself, representing the vital principle that departs at death and can be restored. A foundational belief is that this life (nepeš) resides in the blood, which underpins the biblical prohibition against its consumption."Nepeš" extensively refers to the individual person or self, functioning both for singular individuals ("an individual person") and collectively in enumerations ("seventy souls"). It can also act as a reflexive pronoun, emphasizing "myself," "yourself," or "himself," highlighting the direct involvement of the person.Furthermore, "nepeš" is considered the central seat of human emotions, desires, and will. It expresses physical hunger and thirst, as well as broader longings and cravings. It encompasses a wide spectrum of feelings, from deep sorrow and distress to joy, and from love and affection to abhorrence and hatred. It also conveys intent and volition. In specific legal and cultic contexts, paradoxically, "nepeš" can refer to a deceased person or corpse.The overarching understanding is that "nepeš" describes the holistic individual, representing the complete living, breathing, desiring, feeling, and willing person in their totality, rather than a separate spiritual component.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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• Deep Dive into Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry by John Piper - Brothers, Fight for Your Life

  Pastors must fight for time to read because it is fundamentally a "fight for one's life," crucial for spiritual vitality and effective ministry. The relentless demands of pastoral work — sermon preparation, counseling, and church decisions — cause significant intellectual and spiritual drain, leading to a "leaking bucket" and an inability to revive "on the run." Without dedicated time for unhurried reading and reflection, pastors face the "beginnings of barrenness" and the "specter of ministerial death." The church needs "prayerful, spiritual poets" who deeply sense God's presence, not just "productive managers."To overcome perceived time constraints, a key discovery is that substantial reading can be accomplished in disciplined twenty-minute blocks daily. Reading for this duration six days a week allows for the completion of fifteen average books or several major classics like Calvin's Institutes in a year. This strategy frees pastors from the "paralysis of not starting great books."The emphasis is on deep mastery over superficial skimming. It's far more beneficial to thoroughly engage with one book than to merely skim twenty, as skimming "only feeds pride and breeds spiritual barrenness."Old books are particularly vital. C.S. Lewis advises reading an old book between every new one, or at least one old for every three new. These historical texts, especially those by the Puritans, are crucial for correcting the "characteristic mistakes" and "blindness of our own period," providing a "clean sea breeze of the centuries." They offer profound spiritual food that contemporary, often shallow, devotional material lacks, helping to "kindle a flame" in one's spirit and prepare for prayer. The ultimate goal is not just to consume many books, but to stay alive in one's soul, keep the juices flowing, and fan the flame of spiritual life.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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• Deep Dive into The True Church with Which as Mother of All the Godly We Must Keep Unity by John Calvin

  The Church is understood as the "Mother" of all believers, essential for spiritual growth, nourishment, and ultimate salvation. God, in His providence, has provided external helps within the Church, such as appointed pastors, teachers, and sacraments, to accommodate human weakness and to beget, increase, and perfect faith. Outside the Church, there is no hope of forgiveness of sins or salvation.The Church has two aspects: the invisible Church, known only to God, comprising all His elect throughout history; and the visible Church, the observable body of people worldwide who profess Christ, initiated by baptism and partaking in the Lord's Supper. This visible Church, while necessary for believers, contains a mixture of hypocrites and imperfect individuals.To recognize the true visible Church, God has provided two essential marks: the sincere preaching and hearing of the Word of God and the proper administration of the Sacraments according to Christ's institution. Where these marks are present, the Church exists and should not be abandoned.Believers are strongly urged not to separate from the visible Church due to moral imperfections among its members or minor doctrinal differences. The sources illustrate through parables and biblical examples that the Church on earth will always contain a blend of good and bad until the final judgment. Such separation often stems from pride or a false sense of sanctity.Finally, forgiveness of sins is an ongoing, daily necessity for believers, not a one-time event. This benefit is peculiar to the Church and is continuously dispensed through the ministry of its pastors and the sacraments, manifesting the "power of the keys" given by Christ. This perpetual pardon is the "only anchor of salvation" for consciences, enabling believers to persevere in faith despite their continued struggles with sin. The Church's holiness is progressive, not yet perfect, as it daily advances toward its goal.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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• Deep Dive into Brothers, We Are Not Professionals: A Plea to Pastors for Radical Ministry by John Piper - Brothers, Beware of Sacred Substitutes

  Ministry paradoxically poses the greatest threat to a pastor's spiritual growth and prayer life, not external worldly distractions. The sources reveal that "good ministry activity" itself is ministry's own worst enemy, leading to self-destruction. Top obstacles reported by pastors include busyness, lack of discipline, and interruptions, most of which are ministry-related tasks like budget development, staff meetings, and counseling.These seemingly beneficial activities can become "sacred substitutes," subtly displacing essential spiritual disciplines. The apostles faced this when the legitimate need to serve tables threatened their core duties. They deliberately delegated this work to "devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word," recognizing it as their "chief work." This "devotion" (proskartereō) signifies an unbending commitment to preserve uninterrupted time for prayer, emphasizing that it is a time-consuming labor requiring solitude, not something to be done while multitasking. Jesus himself modeled this by withdrawing to desolate places to pray for extended periods.Neglecting extended, concentrated prayer causes the ministry of the Word to wither and bear no fruit, leading to a decline in faith and holiness. While activity may persist, life, power, and fruitfulness fade away. Historical figures like Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon reinforced this, advising that prayer must "possess the heart exclusively and completely" and be the "first business in the morning and the last in the evening," warning against delaying it for other "good things." The urgent call is to beware of sacred substitutes and rigorously prioritize prayer as the indispensable source of spiritual vitality and effectiveness in ministry.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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