COVENANTER

The conversation around music in worship often centers on style, instruments, and preferences. But Scripture calls us to focus less on how we sing and more on why we sing—and with what kind of heart posture. Regardless of our tastes, our songs must rise from a place of joy in the Lord, for He is our salvation.

Have you ever wondered what the rhythm of Jesus’ daily life actually looked like? While we often picture Him constantly on the move—teaching, healing, and ministering—Scripture reveals that He didn’t live in a perpetual rush. Surprisingly, even with a mission of eternal significance, Jesus made space for something we often overlook: leisure.

Most of us long for financial stability, friendship, comfort, and ease, and we’re often disappointed when these don’t materialize. Yet the Christian life is not ultimately about gaining these things, but about being shaped into the likeness of Christ, even through suffering. What may seem like hardship is actually a gracious gift from God, meant to free us from clinging to lesser dreams.

Have you ever walked through a season of life that felt like standing under a relentless, scorching sun? Scripture often uses vivid imagery to speak to our real-life struggles, and Psalm 121 offers a comforting promise for just such times. In it, we’re reminded that the Lord is our shade—a cooling, protective presence when life’s heat becomes too much to bear.

Have you ever noticed how rarely we stop to simply think about Jesus—who He is, what He’s done, and how He’s revealed throughout all of Scripture? Remarkably, even in the Old Testament, Jesus is present—promised, foreshadowed, and gloriously revealed. When we read the Bible with this in mind, every passage becomes alive with meaning, drawing our hearts to know and love Him more deeply.

Scripture points us to a simple but radical paradigm: Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last — J-O-Y. When we live with this order in mind, we not only reflect Jesus to the world, but we also discover a deeper joy in the Christian life.

Today we will conclude our look at some common Christian vernacular by considering the role of Scripture in the life of the Church and the role of the Church in the unfolding of Redemptive History. Scripture, as the very Word of God, carries divine authority and is the ultimate standard for what we believe and how we live, both as individual Christians and as a covenant community. The Church is the “Israel of God,” composed of all who, throughout history, have trusted in the promises of God through Christ.

This week, we’ll explore the meaning of God’s sovereignty and grace in salvation. Scripture teaches that God reigns over all things, including the hearts of men, and that our salvation is not left to chance or human effort but is rooted in His eternal will and gracious purpose. As we consider what the Bible says, we’ll see that God's sovereign grace is not only true, but deeply comforting.

Words have incredible power—to bless or to harm, to build up or to tear down. This week, we’re pausing our series on the topic of “Christianese” to reflect on the biblical call to guard our speech, using three timeless diagnostic questions: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it edifying? Rooted in Scripture, these questions offer practical help in choosing our words wisely.

Today we’re exploring what it means to be both confessional and covenantal. To be confessional is to adhere to a historic Confession of Faith—specifically, the Westminster Confession—and to publicly declare our beliefs through Scripture, creeds, and catechisms. To be covenantal is to understand the Bible as a story primarily governed by covenants, principally the Covenant of Works (which Adam failed to keep) and the Covenant of Grace (which Christ perfectly fulfilled).

This week, we’ll discuss the term “Reformed Tradition,” which is a biblical, historic, and orthodox expression of the Christian faith that emphasizes God’s sovereignty, the authority of Scripture, and the centrality of the Church in His redemptive plan. Rooted in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, it draws from the teachings of early church fathers and sees itself as a recovery of biblical doctrine.

We Christians, especially in Reformed and Presbyterian circles, often use familiar church language without realizing how unfamiliar it may sound to others. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to pause and define some of our “Christianese” to clear up any confusion. We begin with the term “Redemptive History,” which describes God’s intentional plan to save His people, unfolding through real events in human history that fulfill His purpose in Christ. This grand narrative offers believers deep assurance, reminding us that every moment in history is part of God’s redemptive work for His glory and our salvation.