Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://ketoctin.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [KCPC Blog](https://ketoctin.org/resources/blog) - [Why We Use Wine in the Lord's Supper at KCPC](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/why-we-use-wine-in-the-lords-supper-at-kcpc) - We at KCPC are privileged to serve wine exclusively in the Lord's Supper that we celebrate weekly. Our use of wine is not intended to be a stumbling block to any, and we certainly recognize with deep compassion the fact that some have struggles with alcoholic beverages.I write this as a pastor who no longer - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part III: Tasting and Experiencing God's Love in Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-iii-affectionately-anointing) - “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” – 1 Peter 1:2-3 Why do we have affections? We have affections that move us like this because we are made in God’s image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-28). - [From Your Pastor: The Biblical Importance of Catechizing](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-biblical-importance-of-catechizing) - “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed…Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:6-7). A friendly, pastoral reminder to remember to review and memorize your catechism this year! I - [From Your Pastor: Preparing for Preaching and Worship](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-preparing-for-preaching-and-worship-2) - Beloved of Christ at KCPC: Remember prayerfully to prepare for worship and to be ready to worship the Living God and to hear His Word as it is read and preached to you. Our Larger Catechism instructs us helpfully: WLC 160 What is required of those that hear the word preached? A. It is required of - [From Your Pastor: One Thing Necessary in a World of Distractions](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-one-thing-necessary-in-a-world-of-distractions-2) - “…A woman named Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve - [From Your Pastor: Great Grace](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-great-grace) - And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:33). It can be notoriously and historically difficult to quantify true and genuine revivals of the Holy Spirit in church history, but I believe we can observe biblical evidences of great - [From Your Pastor: The Holy Spirit in Our Souls](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-holy-spirit-in-our-souls) - “There is a general omission in the saints of God, in their not giving the Holy Spirit that glory that is due to His Person, and for His great work of salvation in us, insomuch that we have in our hearts almost lost this Third Person [of the Blessed Trinity]…He is a Person in - [Real Gospel Hope: A Savior for Sinful Sentimentalists and Cynics](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/real-gospel-hope-a-savior-for-sinful-sentimentalists-and-cynics) - “…You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” …“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)….And he called his name Jesus.” –Matthew 1:21-25 Christmas is about Jesus. Christmas is about Jesus the Savior of sinners, - [Ishmael and Immanuel: Learning to Wait Upon God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/ishmael-and-immanuel-learning-to-wait-upon-god) - Read Genesis 16. “Behold…you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael” (Gen. 16:11). “Behold…[you shall] bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). God teaches us to wait so that He will fulfill His promises for us. This is to exalt God’s power and grace; this is - [Beholding the Glory of Christ at Christmas—What Did Simeon See?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/beholding-the-glory-of-christ-at-christmas-what-did-simeon-see-3) - I have a favorite hill in my little town of Round Hill, Virginia, which I enjoy ascending at a particular time of morning in the summer months. The light has already dawned by the time I start climbing to the summit. The light helps me on my way up the hill, but I don’t see - [“O Come, O Come, Immanuel”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/o-come-o-come-immanuel-2) - Beloved, let this truth be our deepest desire and prayer this Christmas! “O Come, O Come, Immanuel!” Let us pray as God’s people that Jesus Christ will come and take us to be with Himself, and to “close the path to misery” here in our lonely exile in this present age. The wonderful Christmas hymn - [From Your Pastor: A Biblical Theology of the Incarnation - “Immanuel: God with Us”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-a-biblical-theology-of-the-incarnation-immanuel-god-with-us) - * Image of God (Gen. 1:26-28; Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Heb. 2:5-18) – In the beginning, God dwelled with man created in His image. Adam was not “God in the flesh” but he was “like God in the flesh”, and he enjoyed the “Immanuel presence of God” in the Garden. Man was made in God’s image - [From Your Pastor: Zechariah’s Comforting Gospel (A Christmas Meditation)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-zechariahs-comforting-gospel-a-christmas-meditation) - Zechariah the Prophet prophesied at the time of Darius of Persia (ca. 520-18 BC), during the same time as the Prophet Haggai, with a preaching ministry that spanned about fifty years (520-470 BC). He became a martyr for His faithful preaching and teaching, and was nobly recognized by the Lord Jesus Christ for His faithful - [From Your Pastor: Magnifying and Rejoicing in Christ at Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-magnifying-and-rejoicing-in-christ-at-christmas-2) - Read Luke 1:26-55. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-47) Mary rejoiced in God her Savior because of Christ. We can too! What are specific ways to do this as a congregation during this Advent and Christmastide? 1. Let us know God our Savior in Jesus Christ - [From Your Pastor: Some Excellent Advent and Christmas Books for this Festive Season](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-some-excellent-advent-and-christmas-books-for-this-festive-season) - Behold the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative by Russ Ramsey (combine this with Andrew Peterson’s excellent companion music CD) Child in the Manger by Sinclair B. Ferguson Songs of the Nativity by John Calvin Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation by Joel R. Beeke Christmas Playlist: Four Songs that bring you the - [From Your Pastor: Pursuing Holiness in 2018](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-pursuing-holiness-in-2018) - Dear Beloved, Loved by God, at KCPC, As you plan your calendars for the new year of 2018, may you also have a plan for holiness. The Apostle Paul both encourages and commends the Christians at Thessalonica because their election by God was demonstrated very specifically in that the gospel came to them not only - [From Your Pastor: The Grace of Giving and Generosity](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-grace-of-giving-and-generosity) - Dear Family in Jesus, Let us seek to flourish and thrive in the grace of being magnanimously generous in our giving. Because of God’s grace to us, let us more eagerly desire to honor and glorify God in Christ by “crowning” our King in the extension and advancement of His Kingdom, to the ends of - [From Your Pastor: “We Confess One Holy Catholic and Apostlic Church”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-we-confess-one-holy-catholic-and-apostlic-church) - Happy 500th Anniversary of the Reformation! Regularly during our public worship services at KCPC, we confess together as a congregation the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is the corporate confession of the church that was formulated from the Councils of Nicea and Constantinople in 325 and 381 A.D. respectively. The Nicene Creed is a Trinitarian - [From Your Pastor: Calvin on the Blessed Practicality of the Providence of God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-calvin-on-the-blessed-practicality-of-the-providence-of-god) - “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days!” (Psalm 90:14) “By this [teaching of providence] we confess that we have all our trust fixed in God the Father, whom we acknowledge to be Creator of ourselves and of absolutely all things that - [From Your Pastor: The Solas of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-solas-of-the-reformation) - “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the Glory!” (Psalm 115:1) This month we have the privilege of celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. October 31st is the occasion when many Reformed congregations gratefully remember the Spirit of God’s work through Martin Luther in - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin on the Benefits of Union with Jesus Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvin-on-the-benefits-of-union-with-jesus-christ) - “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from - [From Your Pastor: Christ’s Voice in Preaching](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-christs-voice-in-preaching-2) - Preaching is Christ’s voice speaking with power in the church and to the world in salvation or judgment. As God’s people, we should understand that preaching is a continuation of Christ’s prophetic ministry to the Church. Christ still speaks. On the Day of Pentecost, the exalted, ascended Christ sent forth His Spirit to empower His - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion,’ Part 4](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-institutes-of-the-christian-religion-part-4) - Calvin’s ‘Institutes’: Theological Content and Growth Yale Church historian and Calvinian scholar Bruce Gordon writes that Calvin’s ‘Institutes’ went through revisions for more than twenty years because they embodied and reflected Calvin’s continuous study of Scripture, his deepening grasp of the theological tradition of patristic and medieval fathers, his pastoral experience, and the doctrinal controversies - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion,’ Part 3](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-institutes-of-the-christian-religion-part-3) - The Knowledge of God “For I believe I have so embraced the sum of religion in all its parts, and have arranged it in such an order, that if anyone rightly grasps it, it will not be difficult for him to determine what he ought especially to seek in Scripture, and to that end he - [Study Guide for Books of Samuel: A Man After God’s Own Heart](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/study-guide-for-books-of-samuel-a-man-after-gods-own-heart) - Summary of Books of Samuel: According to God’s perfect timing and through His most holy and wise determination, God graciously grants Israel a king after His own heart. Though Israel was largely characterized by “doing what is right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25), God powerfully raises up Samuel, who serves as a transition from - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion,’ Part 2](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-institutes-of-the-christian-religion-part-2) - "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets - [From Your Pastor: Further Reading on John Calvin](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-further-reading-on-john-calvin) - Beginner Apostolic-Reformed-Catholic-Christian Humanist Scholar Beeke, Joel R. 365 Days with Calvin: A Unique Collection of 365 Readings from the Writings of John Calvin. ________. The Soul of Life: The Piety of John Calvin (Profiles in Reformed Spirituality). Calvin, John. A Guide to Christian Living. Carr, Simonetta. John Calvin (Christian Biographies for Young Readers). Mackenzie, Catherine. - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion,’ Part 1](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-institutes-of-the-christian-religion-part-1) - “All the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: knowledge of God and knowledge of ourselves.” – John Calvin The risen and ascended Christ gives men gifts and grace to serve His Church. John Calvin was one of those graciously gifted men to teach and bless His - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s Pilgrim Life and Pastoral Teachings: “Calvin the Young Scholar and His ‘Sudden Conversion’”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-pilgrim-life-and-pastoral-teachings-calvin-the-young-scholar-and-his-sudden-conversion) - “I offer my heart, promptly and sincerely.” – John Calvin Theodore Beza (1519-1605), Calvin’s successor as pastor in Geneva, wrote one of the first biographies of his ministerial mentor after his death. He wrote of Calvin: “Having been a spectator of his conduct for sixteen years…I can now declare, that in him all men may - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin’s Pilgrim Life and Pastoral Teachings](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvins-pilgrim-life-and-pastoral-teachings) - July 10th, 2009, marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin (1509-1564). This year of 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of reformer Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the Castle Church at Wittenberg. As we celebrate together this blessed occasion of the special working of God’s glorious Spirit, let us seek as - [From Your Pastor: Wisdom and Discernment in Cultural Engagement](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-wisdom-and-discernment-in-cultural-engagement) - “As even some of your own poets have said . . .” – Acts 17:28 As Christians, let us seek to distinguish good from evil. As God’s children, we desire to seek and acknowledge truth wherever we may find it, but we desire to do so with discernment and wisdom. In fact, a mark of - [From Your Pastor: “Preaching as the Wooing of the Spirit”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-preaching-as-the-wooing-of-the-spirit) - For Puritan divine Richard Sibbes (1577-1635, also known as the “Sweet Dropper” for His soul-ravishing Gospel preaching), the work of preaching was a very important and primary aspect of Christ’s ministry to his church. Preaching was a wooing of Christ the Bridegroom to His Bride through the preached word in the power of the Holy - [From Your Pastor: Gentleness](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-gentleness-2) - Gentleness is having the tone and the touch of Jesus Christ. When Jesus speaks of himself he's gentle and lowly in heart. And He calls believers to learn from Him. Jesus says: “…Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29; cf. 1 - [From Your Pastor: Presbyterian Pentecostal Outpourings: Revival and the Reformed Tradition](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-presbyterian-pentecostal-outpourings-revival-and-the-reformed-tradition) - Reformed teacher Robert Davis Smart asks an important and pointed question in the book Pentecostal Outpourings: Revival and the Reformed Tradition: “What Presbyterian today is there who prays for the outpouring of God’s Spirit?”[1] Let us prayerfully consider his question. Is there anything particularly unusual about having the words “Pentecostal” and “Reformed” in the same - [From Your Pastor: The Spirituality of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-spirituality-of-jonathan-edwards-1703-1758) - Our godly forefather, Jonathan Edwards, wrote his classic The Religious Affections[1] to both define and defend genuine revival and the true, Holy-Spiritual wrought spirituality that should flow from it. What are the characteristics of a true and genuine spirituality that Edwards listed that must be present in true conversion, and that believers can expect in - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin and the Reformation of Piety](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvin-and-the-reformation-of-piety) - John Calvin’s piety is beautifully reflected in his affectionate prayer: “My heart I offer to you, O LORD, promptly and sincerely.” For Calvin, piety was an essential part of the true Christian life. He defined piety as the essence of true godliness.[2] Calvin warmly asserted that “True piety exists when men recognize that they owe - [From Your Pastor: Seasons under the Heaven](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-seasons-under-the-heaven) - “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die…” (Eccl. 3:1-2a) There are two seasons that we have absolutely no control over: 1) When we are born, and 2) When we die. That we are born; that we die; - [From Your Pastor: The Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Colossians](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-apostle-pauls-letter-to-the-colossians) - Summary of Letter to Colossians/Sermon Series: Christ and His Gospel are sufficient to live as saints and faithful believers in this present age as exiles/pilgrims awaiting our heavenly homeland. God’s people are “in Christ” (a very important heavenly identity), and yet “at Colossae” (or located in a particular time and space in history, within a - [From Your Pastor: The Spirit of Holiness](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-spirit-of-holiness) - “…Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him…” - ESV Ephesians 1:4 When the Eternal Son of God, the One who is eternally begotten, not made, who is very God of very God, became man, he took to Himself our nature, - [From Your Pastor: The First Commandment (WSC 45-48)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-first-commandment-wsc-45-48) - WSC 45: Which is the first commandment? A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exod. 20:3). WSC 46: What is required in the first commandment? A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and - [From Your Pastor: A Gracious and Holy God (WSC 43-44)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-a-gracious-and-holy-god-wsc-43-44) - WSC 43: What is the preface to the ten commandments? A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Exod. 20:2). WSC 44: What doth the preface to the ten commandments - [From Your Pastor: “We Need a King”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-we-need-a-king) - Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-23. King Jehoshaphat of Judah reigned over Israel faithfully, but not perfectly (2 Chr. 20:32-33). Through Moses, God had charged all of his kings to lead His people in righteousness, specifically according to His Word (Deut. 17:14-20). It was through faithfulness to the Word of God that Israel would be blessed - [From Your Pastor: Making the Best Use of Your Time](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/from-your-pastor-making-the-best-use-of-your-time) - Dear Beloved of Christ at KCPC, We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ so that we will walk wisely, making the best use of our time in this present age. In all we do, we are to seek to be imitators of God as His Beloved children (Eph. 5:1-2). We are taught: - [From Your Pastor: Law and Love (WSC Questions 41 & 42)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-law-and-love-wsc-questions-41-42) - WSC 41: Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. (1) (1) Deut. 10:4; Matt. 19:17 WSC 42: What is the sum of the ten commandments? A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with - [Remembering to Keep God’s Promises before You](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/remembering-to-keep-gods-promises-before-you) - What precious promises we have in God’s word as His people! ESV 2 Peter 1:3-4: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and - [Reading the Bible in 2017](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/reading-the-bible-in-2017) - Dear Beloved in Jesus, God has many promises awaiting for us in His Word! Many promises to remind us of his innumerable benefits to us in Christ! Let us not forget the great benefit we have of God's Word in English, and the (so!) many resources to help us to grow. Given what we possess - [From Your Pastor: Forget NOT His Benefits](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-forget-not-his-benefits) - Dear Beloved of KCPC, Do you know that you are the Beloved of the LORD? It’s true. You are: ESV Jude 20-21 “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that - [From Your Pastor: O Come, O Come, Immanuel](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-o-come-o-come-immanuel) - Beloved, let this truth be our deepest desire and prayer this Christmas! “O Come, O Come, Immanuel!” Let us pray as God’s people that Jesus Christ will come and take us to be with Himself, and to “close the path to misery” here in our lonely exile in this present age. The wonderful Christmas - [KCPC Vision Statement / Mission of Our Congregation](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/kcpc-vision-statement-mission-of-our-congregation) - Dear Beloved in Christ at KCPC, “…That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may - [From Your Pastor: Ishmael and Immanuel: Learning to Wait Upon God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-ishmael-and-immanuel-learning-to-wait-upon-god) - Read Genesis 16. “Behold…you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael” (Gen. 16:11). “Behold…[you shall] bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31).     God teaches us to wait so that He will fulfill His promises for us. This is to exalt God’s power and grace; this is - [From Your Pastor: Magnifying and Rejoicing in Christ at Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-magnifying-and-rejoicing-in-christ-at-christmas) - Read Luke 1:26-55. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:46-47) Mary rejoiced in God her Savior because of Christ. We can too! What are specific ways to do this as a congregation during this Advent and Christmastide? 1. Let us know God our Savior in Jesus Christ - [From Your Pastor: The Fear of the LORD](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-fear-of-the-lord) - Do you fear the LORD? It is for your good always (Deut. 6:25; cf. Prov. 10:27). Fear of the LORD is simply an important and foundational aspect of Christ-likeness. To put it starkly, one cannot truly love the true and living God and not fear Him. Jesus Christ says: “If you love me, keep - [From Your Pastor: All the Righteousness We Will Ever Need!](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-all-the-righteousness-we-will-ever-need) - This week marks the 499th Anniversary of the Reformation of the 16th century. It was on October 31st 1517 that God, through a man named Martin Luther, graciously helped His church to rediscover the truth that the Holy Scriptures must be the Christian’s only infallible rule of faith and life. From those Holy Scriptures, Luther - [From Your Pastor: On the Law of God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-on-the-law-of-god) - We read in our confession of faith concerning the law of God that “God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued - [From Your Pastor: The “Solas” of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-solas-reformation) - This month we have the privilege of celebrating the 499th anniversary of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. October 31st is the occasion when many Reformed congregations gratefully remember the Spirit of God’s work through Martin Luther in hammering his 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg Germany that was the means through which - [From Your Pastor: The Wonderful Benefits of Christ’s Resurrection (WSC 38)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-wonderful-benefits-of-christs-resurrection-wsc-38) - Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 38: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? Answer: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory,(1) shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment,(2) and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God(3) to all eternity.(4) (1)1 Cor. 15:43 (2)Matt. 25:23; Matt. - [From Your Pastor: The Sacrament of Baptism: Preparation and Reflections](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-sacrament-of-baptism-preparation-and-reflections) - Dear Family in Christ at KCPC, We have the privilege of participating in the baptism service of Clara Elaine Davis during the morning worship this Lord’s Day, September 25th, 2016. Fathers and Heads of Households: This brief study is provided to help your family to prepare for worship and especially the Sacrament of Baptism - [From Your Pastor: The Benefits from Christ at Death (WSC 37)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-benefits-from-christ-at-death-wsc-37) - Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 37: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? Answer: The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness,(1) and do immediately pass into glory;(2) and their bodies, being still united in Christ,(3) do rest in their graves,(4) till the resurrection.(5) (1)Heb. 12:23 (2)2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; - [From Your Pastor: Thoughts on the Upcoming Election](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-thoughts-on-the-upcoming-election) - Dear Beloved at KCPC, Here are some of my thoughts about what matters most about our hearts and our actions as a congregation during this political season. Please take time to prayerfully reflect on these things with Holy Scripture. And pray…pray continually (Eph. 6:18-20)…watch and pray! Remember the end is at hand, and you are - [From Your Pastor: The Glorious Benefits of Justification, Adoption and Sanctification](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-glorious-benefits-of-justification-adoption-and-sanctification) - Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 36: What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?  Answer: The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, (1) joy in the Holy Ghost, (2) increase - [From Your Pastor: God’s Covenant and the Law of God (WSC 19.1-2)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-gods-covenant-and-the-law-of-god-wsc-19-1-2) - Westminster Confession of Faith, 19.1-2: “God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it. - [From Your Pastor: John Calvin and Common Grace](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-calvin-and-common-grace) - What is commonly called “common grace” is an emphasis on the Fatherly care and kindness of God to all of His creation. Common grace is a theological term intended to stress God’s tender mercies, and kind faithfulness that God shows to the whole world. ESV Psalm 145:9 says “The LORD is good to all, and - [From Your Pastor: A Biblical Spirituality](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-a-biblical-spirituality) - A Biblical spirituality is basically a seeking to be holy as God the Father is holy in an intimate communion or relationship with Him through union with Christ by His Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; John 14:21, 23; 1 Pet. 1:16-17). True Biblical spirituality is knowing that God in Christ has made His “home” with and - [From Your Pastor: Preservation and Perseverance in Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-preservation-and-perseverance-in-christ) - Preservation from apostasy (falling away) and perseverance in our faith are blessed results of the priestly office and ongoing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ for His own. To put it simply, Christ has done all that believers need to persevere in their faith, and He continually prays for us that our faith will not - [From Your Pastor: “Making Disciples”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-making-disciples) - “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am - [From Your Pastor: “Do You Not Yet Understand?”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-do-you-not-yet-understand) - What do you need from Jesus today? Have you forgotten His goodness to give to you out of the riches of His lavish grace? Have you forgotten His power to provide for you above and beyond what you can ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21; Phil. 4:19)? Jesus’s compassion never fails (Lam. 3:22-24). His mercies are - [From Your Pastor: “Come, Ye Sinners, and Learn to Love Much!”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-come-ye-sinners-and-learn-to-love-much) - “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." (ESV Luke 7:47) What is your estimation of yourself? I’m not speaking in terms of estimating your financial worth or estimating your value to others in this world. What is your estimation - [From Your Pastor: Preparing for Preaching and Worship](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-preparing-for-preaching-and-worship) - Beloved of Christ at KCPC: Remember prayerfully to prepare for worship and to be ready to worship the Living God and to hear His Word as it is read and preached to you. Our Larger Catechism instructs us helpfully: WLC 160 What is required of those that hear the word preached? A. It is required - [From Your Pastor: “At God’s Right Hand” - Psalm 16](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-at-gods-right-hand-psalm-16) - “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”- Psalm 16:11 What hope we have as the people of God! We who were by nature wanderers from the fold of God, wanderers from the presence of God, wanderers from the - [From Your Pastor: Hope in the Face of Death](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-hope-in-the-face-of-death) - As Christians, we mourn the death of our loved ones, but we mourn as those who have hope. We hope because of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection. This is what we learn in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The believers at Thessalonica had written to the Apostle Paul concerning the hope of those who had - [From Your Pastor: Thoughts on the Assurance of Salvation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-thoughts-on-the-assurance-of-salvation) - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. - ESV 1 John 5:13 As God’s people, we can be grateful that those who truly are believers can never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus! - [From Your Pastor: Thank You!](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-thank-you) - Dear KCPC Family, Thank you for participating in our evangelistic outreach for the 4th of July Parade in Purcellville! Thank you for your prayers and encouragements and invitations to our neighbors. I thought of this Scripture: “…Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7) May the LORD richly - [From Your Pastor: “You May Not Sin”: Our Aim and Goal as Believers](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-you-may-not-sin-our-aim-and-goal-as-believers) - “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (ESV 1 John 2:1) If you are a Christian, you should rejoice that you are free from slavery to sin! You are - [From Your Pastor: What Is Sanctification? (A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-what-is-sanctification-a-study-of-the-westminster-shorter-catechism) - Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 32: What is Sanctification? Answer: Sanctification is the work of God's free grace,(1) whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God,(2) and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.(3) (1)2 Thess. 2:13 (2)Eph. 4:23,24 (3)Rom. 6:4,6; Rom. 8:1 Scripture Memory: - [From Your Pastor: Gentleness](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-gentleness) - Gentleness is having the tone and the touch of Jesus Christ. When Jesus speaks of himself he's gentle and lowly in heart. And He calls believers to learn from Him. Jesus says: “…Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29; cf. 1 - [From Your Pastor: Christ’s Voice in Preaching](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-christs-voice-in-preaching) - Preaching is Christ’s voice speaking with power in the church and to the world in salvation or judgment. As God’s people, we should understand that preaching is a continuation of Christ’s prophetic ministry to the Church. Christ still speaks. On the Day of Pentecost, the exalted, ascended Christ sent forth His Spirit to empower His - [From Your Pastor: What is Adoption? (A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-what-is-adoption-a-study-of-the-westminster-shorter-catechism) - Question 34: What is adoption? Answer: Adoption is an act of God's free grace,(1) whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.(2) (1)1 John 3:1 (2)John 1:12; Rom. 8:17 Scripture Memory: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back - [From Your Pastor: Richard Sibbes: “Preaching as the Wooing of the Spirit”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-richard-sibbes-preaching-as-the-wooing-of-the-spirit) - For Puritan divine Richard Sibbes (1577-1635, also known as the “Sweet Dropper” for His soul-ravishing Gospel preaching), the work of preaching was a very important and primary aspect of Christ’s ministry to his church. Preaching was a wooing of Christ the Bridegroom to His Bride through the preached word in the power of the Holy - [From Your Pastor: A Wedding Feast](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-a-wedding-feast) - What a glorious privilege we have as a congregation to take part in a wedding this weekend! Let us rejoice in our Heavenly Bridegroom, and let us serve with joy in this special time for Josiah and Jennifer. As we serve, let us have the proper focus on Christ, and let us meditate upon His - [From Your Pastor: Justification by Faith Alone (A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism)](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/from-your-pastor-justification-by-faith-alone-a-study-of-the-westminster-shorter-catechism) - Question 33: What is justification? Answer: Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, (1) and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, (2) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, (3) and received by faith alone. (4) (1)Rom. 3:24,25; Rom. 4:6-8 (2)2 Cor. 5:19,21 (3)Rom. 5:17-19 - [From Your Pastor: Our Identity at KCPC in the Christ of Hebrews](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-our-identity-at-kcpc-in-the-christ-of-hebrews) - Identity. How do we define ourselves (to others, or in our own minds)? How do we think of ourselves before God and other men? Our identity is most important to us all. And we define our identity in different ways. We are fans of certain ball teams (this can be our identity, e.g. Redskins, - [From Your Pastor: Sons of Encouragement](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/from-your-pastor-sons-of-encouragement) - Dear Beloved of Jesus at KCPC, The Apostle Paul teaches the church: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1), and "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us" (Phil. 3:17; cf. Heb. 12:2). Our gracious God gives - [From Your Pastor: Our Adoption in Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-our-adoption-in-christ) - What wondrous grace that the Father has lavished on believers that we should be called the children of God and that is what we are! (1 Jo. 3:1). The Apostle John makes clear that it is an “out of this world” truth that sinners are not only righteous by God through a legal declaration - [From Your Pastor: To Live Is Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-to-live-is-christ) - "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." -ESV Philippians 1:21 As Christians we must learn not merely to live for Christ, but to realize that Christ is our life. If we have Christ, we have everything we need and we can lose nothing. Even death will be our gain, not - [From Your Pastor: John Flavel on Six Ways to Keep Your Heart before God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-flavel-on-six-ways-to-keep-your-heart-before-god) - John Flavel: Six Ways to Keep Your Heart before God [1]  “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this…” (1 Tim. 4:16a); And… “Is it I, Lord?” (Mark 14:19) 1. Converse with your heart. Listen to what it is saying, both evil and good. Where is it disputing with God? - [From Your Pastor: John Owen, On Mortification of Sin](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-john-owen-on-mortification-of-sin) - “How Can I Put to Death the Deeds of the Body, and Live?!”[1] What is mortification? A habitual weakening of sin. Although we are united to Jesus Christ by faith and sin has lost it’s dominion, or rule and reign over believers, nevertheless, sin remains in us, and is hostile to our spiritual growth (Romans - [From Your Pastor: Extraspective Faith](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-extraspective-faith) - “We See Jesus…Consider Jesus…Looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith” (Heb. 2:9a, 3:1, 12:2a). Faith is extraspective, always looking out of oneself to Christ. As one of our forefathers put it well, our faith is always looking for Christ throughout one’s day. Faith humbly looks up to receive Christ’s forgiveness, looks around - [From Your Pastor: Congratulations! “…Everything Beautiful in Its Time”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-congratulations-everything-beautiful-in-its-time) - “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a - [From Your Pastor: Richard Sibbes on “Entertaining the Holy Spirit”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-richard-sibbes-on-entertaining-the-holy-spirit) - There is nothing good in man by nature (Rom. 3:10-23). The Holy Spirit is sent from the risen-ascended Christ to make believing men good (Acts 2:33-36). The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to come and live within believers and to conform them to Christ’s likeness (Rom. 8:29). The Holy Spirit is particularly the “Spirit of Holiness” - [From Your Pastor: “Christ’s Beautiful Heart towards His People” by Thomas Goodwin](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-christs-beautiful-heart-towards-his-people-by-thomas-goodwin) - (Edited by Charles R. Biggs) "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens , Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been - [From Your Pastor: Richard Sibbes’ Affective Spirituality: “To Look to Christ”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-richard-sibbes-affective-spirituality-to-look-to-christ) - Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) was affectionately known as the “Sweet Dropper” as a Puritan preacher.[1] He has been distinguished among the Puritans as the “Heavenly” Dr. Sibbes because he was famous for his affective spirituality.[2] Affective spirituality is a focus on the affections or the desires as they are transformed by the Spirit of God - [From Your Pastor: Are You Assured of God’s Love for You?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-are-you-assured-of-gods-love-for-you) - Are you assured of God’s love for you? Do you have a firm and growing assurance of God’s love for you? Are you like Abraham who was fully convinced that the Lord is able to do what He has promised to you (Rom. 4:19-22)? You may have faith in Christ, and yet not have - [From Your Pastor: Thomas Watson on How to Profitably Hear the Word Preached](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/from-your-pastor-thomas-watson-on-how-to-profitably-hear-the-word-preached) - Prayer- Come with your soul prepared to hear God’s Word by praying for God’s blessing. Appetite- Come with holy appetite. Tender Teachable Heart- What will you have me to do? Speak to me. Be Attentive- Discipline your mind to be attentive with your mind; keep yourself from distractions as much as possible. To be as - [From Your Pastor: One Thing Necessary in a World of Distractions](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-one-thing-necessary-in-a-world-of-distractions) - ESV Luke 10:38-42: …A woman named Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left - [From Your Pastor: The Benefits of Effectual Calling (WSC Question 32)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-the-benefits-of-effectual-calling-wsc-question-32) - Question 32: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? Answer: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification,(1) adoption,(2) and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.(3) (1)Rom. 8:30 (2)Eph. 1:5 (3)1 Cor. 1:26,30  Scripture - [From Your Pastor: Is Time on Your Side?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-is-time-on-your-side) - There was a popular song in the 1960s that boasted: “Time is on my side- -yes, it is!” (We should ask the aging singer now if this is still true). Is time on our side? In our culture today, how easy it is for us to waste time. Yet as Christians we are called as - [From Your Pastor: Phunctional Pharisees?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-phunctional-pharisees) - Our Lord Jesus reserves his harshest criticisms for the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a conservative sect in Judaism whose mission statement was to live pure lives before God and to keep Jews separated from the world by their conformity to God’s Law. The problem was that although the Pharisees knew a lot of the - [From Your Pastor: Why Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy Is Glorious (Part 4)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-why-keeping-the-lords-day-holy-is-glorious-part-4) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [From Your Pastor: Why Keeping the Lord's Day Is Glorious (Part 5)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-why-keeping-the-lords-day-is-glorious-part-5) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [From Your Pastor: Why Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy is Glorious (Part 6)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-why-keeping-the-lords-day-holy-is-glorious-part-6) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [From Your Pastor: Why Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy is Glorious (Part 7)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-why-keeping-the-lords-day-holy-is-glorious-part-7) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [From Your Pastor: Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 31](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-westminster-shorter-catechism-question-31) - Question: WSC 31 What is effectual calling? Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit,(1) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery,(2) enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ,(3) and renewing our wills,(4) he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.(5) (1)2 Tim - [From Your Pastor: "Why Are You Angry?"](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-why-are-you-angry) - The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." 8 Cain spoke to Abel his - [From Your Pastor: Justification and Sanctification](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastor-justification-and-sanctification) - Justification and Sanctification[1] Below is a helpful chart to help you to distinguish between justification and sanctification. A very important truth to keep in mind when thinking about justification and sanctification is that you should always make a distinction between the two, but never separate them (Calvin used the helpful Latin phrase: “distinctio non sed - [Repentance before God: Psalm 51](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/repentance-before-god-psalm-51) - Repentance is not merely a changing of one’s mind toward sin, but a turning completely away from sin with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, to receive God’s forgiveness in Christ by faith. True repentance is seeing the ugliness of sin, of our particular sins against God and others, and turning away in - [Easter Meditation: John Calvin on Carrying Our Cross](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/easter-meditation-john-calvin-on-carrying-our-cross) - “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” - ESV 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 From Calvin’s ‘Institutes of the Christian Religion’ 3.7.1, - [Good Friday / Easter Meditations](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/good-friday-easter-meditations) - Good Friday Meditation: BEHOLD THE LORD JESUS: “With what less than ravishment of spirit can I behold the Lord Jesus, who, from everlasting was clothed with glory and majesty, now wrapped in rags, cradled in a manger, exposed to hunger, thirst, weariness, danger, contempt, poverty, revilings, scourgings, persecution? Into what ecstasies may I be cast - [Where Are You?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/where-are-you-2) - “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" - ESV Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?” is the first question in the Bible. Interestingly, it is the first question that God utters to mankind. The first question in the Bible teaches us that God seeks to ask His people - [Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/is-anything-too-hard-for-the-lord) - ESV Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Beloved in Christ, this is your question today: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” Sometimes you think there is something too hard in your - [Why Keeping the Lord's Day is Glorious (Part 3)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/why-keeping-the-lords-day-is-glorious-part-3) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [Why Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy is Glorious! (Part 2)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/why-keeping-the-lords-day-holy-is-glorious-part-2) - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is an opportunity to please and glorify God in obedience to His commandments. * Keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious because it is a privilege and - [Why Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy is Glorious! (Part 1)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/why-keeping-the-lords-day-holy-is-glorious) - Dear Beloved, the next few weeks on the KCPC blog will be focused on showing why keeping the Lord’s Day holy is glorious! I hope this will encourage you in your faith. – Pastor Biggs ----------------------------- "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) Why is keeping the Lord’s Day holy glorious? * - [Jonathan Edwards: "The Excellency of Christ"](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/jonathan-edwards-the-excellency-of-christ) - Jonathan Edwards- 'The Excellency of Christ' (edited and updated for 21st century Christians by Rev. Charles R. Biggs)  “And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." And between - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q30 (Part 1)](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q30) - Question: WSC 30: How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. Scripture Memory: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q30 (Part 2)](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/westminster-shorter-catechism-q30-part-2) - Question: WSC 30, Part 2: How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.  More on Union with Christ Scripture Memory: ESV Galatians 2:20: I - [Soul Idolatry, Or, “How Do I Discover and Destroy My Idols by Faith in Christ"](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/soul-idolatry-or-how-do-i-discover-and-destroy-my-idols-by-faith-in-christ) - Soul Idolatry, Or, “How Do I Discover and Destroy My Idols by Faith in Christ” By David Clarkson[1] Edited by Pastor Charles R. Biggs “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of - [Be Filled with the Spirit](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/be-filled-with-the-spirit) - Pentecost was a once-for-all, unique, redemptive-historical, unrepeatable act of the Risen-Ascended Christ in sending forth His Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; 2:33-36). Pentecost was the coming of Christ to His Church as the life-giving Spirit at a new stage of redemptive-history (Acts 2:33-36; cf. 1 Cor. 15:45). Pentecost can be no more repeated than the - [‘BELOVED’: What is in a name?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/beloved-what-is-in-a-name) - “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (ESV Jude 20-21). “Beloved”. I was stirred to joy this morning by the meditation on the meaning of - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q10](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q10) - Question: How did God create man? Answer: God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures Scripture memory: “God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion… over all the earth… So God created man in - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q11](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q11) - Question: What are the works of providence? Answer: God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. Scripture memory: Scripture memory: “[Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q12](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q12) - Question: What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? Answer: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q13](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q13) - Question: Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created? Answer: Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God (Gen. 3:6,7,8,13; Eccl. 7:29). Scripture memory: “See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q14](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q14) - Question: What is Sin? Answer: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (1 John 3:4) Scripture memory: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 Jo. 3:4). An explanation: Sin is described in so many descriptively deplorable ways in Holy Scripture. Sin - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q15](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q15) - Question: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? Answer: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit. Scripture memory: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q16](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q15-2) - Question: WSC 16: Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression? Answer: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression Scripture memory: ESV Romans 5:12-14: Therefore, just as sin came - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q17](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q17) - Question: WSC 17: Question 17: Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? Answer: The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. Scripture memory: ESV Romans 5:12-14: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q18](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q18) - WSC Question 18: Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate wherein man fell? Answer: The sinfulness of that estate wherein man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q24](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q24) - Question: WSC 24 How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Answer: Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation? Scripture Memory: ESV John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q19](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q19) - WSC Question 19: What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? Answer: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever (Gen. 3:8,10,24; Eph. 2:2-3; Rom. - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q20.1](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q20-1) - WSC Question 20, Part I: Answer: God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. An explanation: A - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q20.2](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q20-2) - Answer: God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. An explanation: “…Did enter into a covenant of - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q21.1](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q21-1) - WSC Question 21, Part I: Who is the only Redeemer of God’s Elect? Answer: The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures, and one person forever. An explanation: This - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q22](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q22-1) - WSC Question 22: How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Answer: Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul,being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin (Heb. - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q25](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q25) - Question: WSC 25 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? Answer: Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. Scripture Memory: ESV Hebrews 9:14 …How much more will the - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q26](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q26) - Question: WSC 26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king? Answer: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Scripture Memory: “…We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37) An - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q27](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism) - Question: WSC 27: Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? Answer: Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q28](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q28) - Question: WSC 28: Wherein consists Christ's exaltation? Answer: Christ's exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. Scripture Memory: “…This Jesus, who was taken - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q29](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q29) - Question: WSC 29: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? Answer: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. Scripture Memory: “…He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his - [Solas of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/solas-of-the-reformation-2) - 496th Anniversary of the Reformation of the 16th Century This month we have the privilege of celebrating the 496th anniversary of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. October 31st is the occasion when many Reformed congregations gratefully remember the Spirit of God’s work through Martin Luther in nailing his 95 Theses on the church door - [The Grace of Giving and Generosity](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-grace-of-giving-and-generosity) - Dear Family in Jesus, Let us seek to flourish and thrive in being magnanimously generous in our giving. As we learned in Zechariah 6:9-15, we have been set free from slavery as God’s people to give our gifts to the LORD in gratitude! Because of God’s grace to us, let us more eagerly desire to - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part I: Affectionately Anointing](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-i-affectionately-anointing) - “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! …Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways” – Psa. 119:32, 37 There is nothing in this world that will draw a person’s heart and soul more vehemently to the Lord Jesus Christ, and - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part II: Understanding the Affections](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-ii-understanding-the-affections) - “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” - KJV Colossians 3:2 What are the affections? Are they our “hearts”? Are they our “wills”? Are they our “emotions”? Our affections include all of these, but our affections might be described more specifically as the intersection between the mind or understanding, and - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part IV: The Affections and Beauty of Holiness, Part 1](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-iv-the-affections-and-beauty-of-holiness-part-1) - “My son, give me thine heart…” (Prov. 23:26, KJV) “The great contest of heaven and earth is about the affections of the poor worm which we call man….Affections are in the soul as the helm in the ship; if it be laid hold on by a skillful hand, He turneth the whole vessel which way - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part V: The Affections and Beauty of Holiness, Part 2](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-v-the-affections-and-beauty-of-holiness-part-2) - Although the soul of man is most happy and satisfied in God, not all find this happiness in Jesus! What makes Jesus so lovely, so glorious and beautiful to some—and yet so reprehensible to others? We know externally as a man “[Jesus Christ] had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and - [Affectionately Desirous of Him | Part VI: The Affectionate Journey Home to the Beloved](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/affectionately-desirous-of-him-part-vi-the-affectionate-journey-home-to-the-beloved) - “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” - KJV Colossians 3:1-2 The Christian life is a pilgrimage; it is a journey home. Here on our pilgrimage we must - [“Comfort, Comfort, My People…”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/comfort-comfort-my-people) - Zechariah’s prophetic Gospel message is to bring comfort and encouragement to God’s people as they await the coming of the LORD in full glory to His temple. Yet many are confused by the Book of Zechariah. The book is written in both prophetic and apocalyptic forms. Apocalyptic is a genre, or type of Scripture that - [Jesus Christ is the Same](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/jesus-christ-is-the-same) - From Your Pastor “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever…Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls…We have an altar…Through Him…let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise…” (verses from Hebrews 13) The Gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. It is the same today as it - [Entertaining the Holy Spirit](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/entertaining-the-holy-spirit) - The Beloved Holy Spirit has been given to believers by the Father and the Son to guide us, to comfort us, to teach us, to conform us to Christ. What greater, more glorious gift could God have given to His people?! Though we are evil, we know how to give good gifts to our children. - [A Biblical-Theology of the Incarnation of the Son of God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/a-biblical-theology-of-the-incarnation-of-the-son-of-god) - * Image of God (Gen. 1:26-28; Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Heb. 2:5-18) – In the beginning, God dwelled with man created in His Image. Adam was not “God in the flesh” but he was “like God in the flesh”, and he enjoyed the “Immanuel presence of God” in the Garden. Man made in God’s image - [Taking Up the Shield of Faith Against Our Fears](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/taking-up-the-shield-of-faith-against-our-fears) - “…In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…” - ESV Ephesians 6:16 It’s easy when listening to the news broadcast today to fall into the temptation to be filled with fear, wondering about the uncertainty of our future. It can be - [Beholding the Glory of Christ at Christmas: What Did Simeon See?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/beholding-the-glory-of-christ-at-christmas-what-did-simeon-see-2) - “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's - [Seeking Wisdom in Christ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/seeking-wisdom-in-christ) - “Now after Jesus was born…wise men…came…saying, ‘Where is He…?’” (Matt. 2:1-2a) After Christmas, they came earnestly seeking to worship and adore Christ. They came to seek Jesus after He had graciously and powerfully, yet silently came into this world. They came as we ought to come in hopeful humility, through the Scriptures, seeking the wisdom - [The Biblical Importance of Catechizing](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-biblical-importance-of-catechizing) - Dear Beloved of Christ, “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed…Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:6-7). A friendly reminder to remember to review and memorize your catechism - [Kingdom and Culture/Christ and Culture](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/kingdom-and-culturechrist-and-culture) - These are the fundamental basics of understanding Kingdom and Culture. The Bible teaches that once Jesus ascended and was enthroned at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:1-2; Psa. 2:6), the Kingdom was restored to Israel through the apostles with the giving of the Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:6-8, 2:33-34; cf. John 7:37-39). - [Prayers for KCPC from the Book of Acts](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/prayers-for-kcpc-from-the-book-of-acts) - Memory Verse for 2016 “So the church…had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (Acts 9:31) Gratitude that Jesus is our Exalted King and Mediator (1:2-4; 2:25-36; 3:13,26; 10:38-42): Lord Jesus, thank you that you were “taken up” - [Costly Joy](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/costly-joy) - Rejoicing in the LORD is wonderful. What a glory to be able to stand together as God’s people and praise the LORD from renewed and thankful hearts! Remember how the Israelites joyously sang the “Song of Moses”: “The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, - [An Uncomfortable Christmas Card for Unbelievers Comfortable at Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/an-uncomfortable-christmas-card-for-unbelievers-comfortable-at-christmas-2) - “…For Unbelievers “TOO” Comfortable at Christmas” Dear Passionate Believers Resting in His Grace at KCPC, Below is a “Christmas card” I wrote awhile back that I hope will bless you all this Christmas. I don’t expect all of you will forward this to “Auntie May” or give this to unbelieving “Uncle Charlie”, or even post it - [Why We Baptize Our Children at KCPC](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/why-we-baptize-our-children-at-kcpc) - God in His glorious grace condescends to give outward covenant signs to believers and to their children that are in essence a beautiful picture of the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ for all who believe. At KCPC we recognize both the continuity and discontinuity, both the similarities and the differences, between the Old - [Solas of the Reformation: 497th Anniversary](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/solas-of-the-reformation-497th-anniversary) - Reformata Semper Reformanda! Introduction On October 31, 1517, a young pastor and Bible teacher in Wittenberg, Germany posted 95 Theses (or "things he wanted to discuss with other pastors and teachers in the church" -- what we might call a group distribution email to the clergy or a blog today!) on the door of the - [O Come, O Come, Immanuel](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/o-come-o-come-immanuel) - Beloved, let this truth be our deepest desire and prayer this Christmas! “O Come, O Come, Immanuel!” Let us pray as God’s people that Jesus Christ will come and take us to be with Himself, and to “close the path to misery” here in our lonely exile in this present age. The wonderful Christmas hymn - [The Grace of Thanksgiving](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-grace-of-thanksgiving) - We are called by our God to be thankful in Christ Jesus! (1 Thess. 5:18; Col. 3:16-17). Thankfulness for God’s mercies runs as a glorious river of grace throughout redemptive history. But how are we to feed and fuel this thanksgiving? We want it to do be from the heart. We know that we can - [Book Review: Joy for the World](https://ketoctin.org/book-reviews/book-review-joy-for-the-world) - Greg Forster’s Joy for the World: How Christianity Lost Its Cultural Influence and Can Begin Rebuilding It is a welcome, winsome, and wise contribution to how Christians can hope to make a realistic difference in the world. After compellingly and convincingly tracing how Christianity has lost its cultural influence to a certain degree (very interesting!), Forster - [A Special Invitation to Prayer from Pastor Biggs](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/a-special-invitation-to-prayer-from-pastor-biggs) - Dear KCPC Congregation of Jesus, This is an important invitation. Would you read it prayerfully and carefully with your family? I love you. This is an invitation to our congregational prayer meeting this Lord’s Day evening! Would you consider making plans to attend our prayer meeting this Sunday evening at 6 pm? We plan to - [The Holy Spirit in Our Souls](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-holy-spirit-in-our-souls) -  “There is a general omission in the saints of God, in their not giving the Holy Spirit that glory that is due to His person, and for His great work of salvation in us, insomuch that we have in our hearts almost lost this Third Person [of the Blessed Trinity]…He is a person in the - [The Spirit of Holiness](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-spirit-of-holiness) - “…Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him…” - ESV Ephesians 1:4 When the Eternal Son of God, the One who is eternally begotten, not made, who is very God of very God, became man, he took to Himself our nature, - [Have You Thought About Your God Today?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/have-you-thought-about-your-god-today) - Thoughts on Meditation Adapted from John Owen Joyless today? Too focused on self, on your problems, on your struggles, on your sins, and on this world? Is Jesus Christ too small for you right now? Are your thoughts of God orthodox and true, but not experienced in your emotions and in your heart? Do you - [Beholding the Glory of Christ at Christmas—What Did Simeon See?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/beholding-the-glory-of-christ-at-christmas-what-did-simeon-see) - I have a favorite hill in my little town of Round Hill, Virginia, which I enjoy ascending at a particular time of morning in the summer months. The light has already dawned by the time I start climbing to the summit. The light helps me on my way up the hill, but I don’t see - [The Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/the-bible-and-ancient-near-eastern-literature) - “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead… For the living know that they will - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q1](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q1) - Question: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify and enjoy Him forever. Scripture memory:  ESV Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. An explanation: God made man specifically so that man could glorify and enjoy - [Richard Greenham On Reading the Word of God Well](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/richard-greenham-on-reading-the-word-of-god-well) - Richard Greenham (1542-1594) was a Puritan pioneer in spiritual counseling according to God’s Word, and for establishing a seminar devoted to theology and its practical application. Greenham was much respected in the later Puritan movement, and often quoted in their writings. Greenham was a master of practical divinity, or the gift of applying the Scripture - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q2](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q2) - Question: What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? Answer: The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. Scripture memory: All Scripture is breathed out by - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q3](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q3) - Question: What do the Scriptures principally teach? Answer: The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Scripture memory: ESV 2 Timothy 1:13 “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q4](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q4) - Question: What is God? Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth Scripture memory: ESV John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." An explanation: The Shorter Catechism in question four focuses our attention on the - [Thomas Watson On How to Profitably Hear the Word Preached](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/thomas-watson-on-how-to-profitably-hear-the-word-preached) - Prayer- Come with your soul prepared to hear God’s Word by praying for God’s blessing. Appetite- Come with holy appetite. You are about to feast with Christ. Tender Teachable Heart- “What will you have me to do? Speak to me, dear Father.” Be Attentive- Discipline your mind to be attentive with your mind in preaching; - [John Owen On Communion with the Triune God](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/john-owen-on-communion-with-the-triune-god) - God’s revelation of Himself as Triune is very profitable for the spiritual experience of believers. God is a personal God who has revealed Himself so that His children might walk with Him in obedience, love, fear, and happiness. What a wonderful privilege to commune with this Glorious and Personal God! Communion, or fellowship with God - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q5](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q5) - Question: Are there more Gods than one? Answer: There is but one only, the living and true God. Scripture memory: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” – Deut. 6:4; “But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.” – Jer. 10:10a An explanation: - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q6](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q6) - Question: How many persons are there in the Godhead? Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Scripture memory: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q7](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q7) - Question: What are the decrees of God? Answer: The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. Scripture memory: ESV Ephesians 1:4 “…Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we - [Thomas Goodwin on Christ's Beautiful Heart Towards His People](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/thomas-goodwin-on-christs-beautiful-heart-towards-his-people) - "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens , Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q8](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q8) - Question: How doth God execute his decrees? Answer: God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. Scripture memory: ESV Ephesians 1:9-10: “…Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things - [Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q9](https://ketoctin.org/shorter-catechism/westminster-shorter-catechism-q9) - Question: What is the work of creation? Answer: The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good. Scripture memory: Acts 17:24; Psa. 104:24: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven - [Six Things to Ask](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/six-things-to-ask) - "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything" (1 Cor. 6:12). Here is something I learned from our Puritan forefathers recently. We desire to sincerely please our Lord and Savior who has redeemed us (2 Cor. 5:9; Heb. - [Keeping Your Heart before God: Wisdom from John Flavel](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/keeping-your-heart-before-god-wisdom-from-john-flavel) - Six Ways to Keep Your Heart before God “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this…” (1 Tim. 4:16a); And… “Is it I, Lord?” (Mark 14:19). Converse with your heart. Listen to what it is saying, both evil and good. Where is it disputing with God? Where is it joyful? - [Loving the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/loving-the-lord-jesus-christ-in-sincerity) - Christus meus est Omnia “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” - Ephesians 6:24 How do you know that you love the Lord Jesus Christ “in sincerity”? What are the genuine characteristics of a soul that loves Jesus in sincerity? * Sincere Love is Gospel Love: This sincere love - [What is Genuine Repentance?](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/what-is-genuine-repentance) - “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret…- 2 Corinthians 7:10a How do we know that we have truly repented from our sins, and turned by faith to God in Christ? William Perkins (1558-1602), one of the Pioneers of Reformed Spirituality wrote with clarity on this topic. He  defined repentance as - [John Owen on the Mortification of Sin](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/john-owen-on-the-mortification-of-sin) - ESV Romans 8:6-13 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the - [Confidence and Courage for Our Pilgrimage](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/confidence-and-courage-for-our-pilgrimage) - Dear Beloved Flock of Jesus, With the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriages, there is potential persecution coming for Christians who seek to be faithful to the Gospel, and who long to see Jesus glorified in the salvation of sinners enslaved to sin. With this landmark decision, how should we then live as Christians? - [Thoughts on the Assurance of Salvation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/thoughts-on-the-assurance-of-salvation) - I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. - ESV 1 John 5:13 As God’s people, we can be grateful that those who are truly believers will never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus! - [The Importance of Sober-Mindedness](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/the-importance-of-sober-mindedness) - “…Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” ~ 1 Peter 1:13  The Apostle Peter desires for God’s people to be sober-minded. Three times in his first epistle, Peter tells God’s people of the importance - [Phunctional Pharisees](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/phunctional-pharisees) - (Adaption of an application from last Lord’s Day sermon) Our Lord Jesus reserves his harshest criticisms for the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a conservative sect in Judaism whose mission statement was to live pure lives before God and to keep Jews separated from the world by their conformity to God’s Law. The problem was - [“Looking Unto Jesus”: A Devotion by Archibald Alexander](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/looking-unto-jesus-a-devotion-by-archibald-alexander) - Dear Beloved of KCPC: This is a particularly challenging time in our wilderness pilgrimage at KCPC right now (Deut. 2:7). May we recommend you use this short devotion to help you to look prayerfully on your Savior today, and to seek Him in prayer and adoration? Perhaps it would be good to get down on - [Maintaining or Moving](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/maintaining-or-moving) - The life of a Christian can be characterized at times as either maintaining or moving. The maintaining Christian comes to worship or kneels to pray for the purpose of sustaining their existing life and ministry of the church. This person is focused mainly on the internal needs and concerns of the church. There is not - [“Where are you?”](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/where-are-you) - “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” – ESV Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?” is the first question in the Bible. Interestingly, it is the first question that God addresses to man. God is omniscient and this means He knows all things, why then would He ask us questions? Doesn’t - [An Uncomfortable Christmas Card for Unbelievers Comfortable at Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/an-uncomfortable-christmas-card-for-unbelievers-comfortable-at-christmas) - Dear Family in Christ at KCPC, Each year at this time, I think about how I would like to remind my unbelieving friends and loved ones of the glorious gospel and hope found in Jesus Christ. Seasons like Christmas give us another great opportunity to make the good news of Jesus known to the whole - [Quotes on the Incarnation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/quotes-on-the-incarnation) - “The plain meaning of these words (John 1:14) is, that our divine Savior really took human nature upon Him, in order to save sinners. He really became a man like ourselves in all things, sin only excepted. Like ourselves, he was born of a woman, though born in a miraculous manner. Like ourselves, he grew - [From Pastor Halley - Growing in Grace](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-pastor-halley-growing-in-grace) - “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”(2 Peter 3:18). If you haven’t yet experienced it you will soon. There is a day coming when your faith will be tested. Will you find that your faith in Christ is like the Sunday clothes that you wear to church, that - [From Pastor Biggs](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-pastor-biggs-2) - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever…Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls...We have an altar...Through Him...let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise..." (various verses from Hebrews 13) The Gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. This Gospel is the same today as it - [From Pastor Biggs](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-pastor-biggs) - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever…Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls...We have an altar...Through Him...let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise..." (various verses from Hebrews 13) We learned from the sermon last Lord’s Day morning that we are a congregation - [From Your Pastors ](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/from-your-pastors) - The Apostle Peter desires for God’s people to be sober-minded. Three times in his first epistle, Peter tells God’s people of the importance of being sober-minded (1:13; 4:7; 5:8). Two of the times are imperatives that teach that this is an important truth that God commands for His people in light of His grace to - [Solas of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/from-your-pastor/solas-of-the-reformation) - 496th Anniversary of the Reformation of the 16th Century This month we have the privilege of celebrating the 496th anniversary of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. October 31stis the occasion when many Reformed congregations gratefully remember the Spirit of God’s work through Martin Luther in nailing his 95 Theses on the church door at Wittenberg Germany - [Living by Faith in the Wilderness](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/living-by-faith-in-the-wilderness) -  The author of Hebrews teaches God’s people in Christ that although we have been redeemed from sin, death and the devil, we live between promise and fulfillment in the wilderness of this present age. As God’s people we have yet to arrive and receive the full consummation of God’s promises. We are already made - [Sermon Notes 3-10-13](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sermon-notes-3-10-13) - Here are the notes from Pastor Biggs' sermon on March 1oth. Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.3.1_6.God's House.03.10.10 Blessings! Caleb - [Sermon 3-3-13](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sermon-3-3-13) - You will find the sermon notes from Pastor Biggs' sermon on March 3rd. Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.2.14_18.Faithful Big Brother.03.03.13 Have a blessed week! Caleb - [Sermon Notes Sunday 2-24](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sermon-notes-sunday-2-24) - Hello All, Here are Pastor Biggs' sermon notes from this Sunday. I hope you are blessed by them! Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.2.10_13.Jesus the Suffering Savior.02.24.13 In Christ, Caleb - [Sermon Notes 2-18-13](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sermon-notes-2-18-13) - Here are Pastor Biggs' sermon notes from yesterday! Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.2.5_9.Jesus Son of Man.02.17.13.final - [Sermon Notes 2-10-13](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sermon-notes-2-10-13) - Pastor Biggs' sermon this Sunday, Such a Great Salvation, was from Hebrews 2:1-4. The scripture lesson came from Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; 7:21-27. Here are the sermon notes: Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.2.1_4.Such A Great Salvation.02.10.13 - [Book Review](https://ketoctin.org/book-reviews/book-review) - Pastor Biggs wrote the following review for the upcomming edition of New Horizon's: “The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness” Charles R. Biggs  The Bible teaches us that “without holiness no man shall see the LORD.” The glory of God and our holiness are - [Newsletter Week Ending 2-9-13](https://ketoctin.org/newsletter/newsletter-week-ending-2-9-13) - kcpc newsletter February 9 2013 final - [Sermon 2-2-2013](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/417) - This Sunday Pastor Biggs continued his sermon series from the Book of Hebrews. His sermon was entitled "The Son of God" with the text Hebrews 1:1-14. The Scripture Lesson came from Psalm 89:19-37 and Acts 2:22-36. The theme of the sermon was: Jesus Christ is the eternal and exalted Son of God who is superior to the angels. - [Newsletter](https://ketoctin.org/newsletter/newsletter) - Below is the church newsletter for this week. kcpc newsletter February 2 2013 final blessings! Caleb - [Sunday, January 27 (The Glory of Christ)](https://ketoctin.org/hebrews-meditations/sunday-january-27-the-glory-of-christ) - Pastor Biggs' sermon this past Sunday was on the first four verses in the book of Hebrews talking about the glory of Christ. The Scirpture Lesson came from Colossians 1:15-20 and  2 Corinthians 3:5-18. Here is the outline from this week: Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.1.1_4.Glory of Christ.01.27.13 You can also find the audio recording on Sermon Audio. - [God's Covenant House: A Sketch of God's Construction Project Pt. 1](https://ketoctin.org/hebrews-meditations/gods-covenant-house-a-sketch-of-gods-construction-project-pt-1) - God's Covenant House: A Sketch of God's Construction Project Pt. 1 Pastor Charles R. Biggs Today, I want to start a new study on the Biblical teaching of covenant. I have entitled this: "God's Covenant House: A Sketch of God's Construction Project". We will view the covenant revealed in Scripture from various aspects and angles. - [Sunday, January 20, 2013 ](https://ketoctin.org/sermon-notes/sunday-january-20-2013) - Pastor Biggs' sermon this Sunday was "The Final Word" from Hebrews 1:1-2. The Scripture Lesson was Isaiah 45:18-25 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17. You can view a manuscript of the sermon notes by clicking on the link below. Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.1.1_4.God Speaks.01.20.13 God Bless and have a wonderful week! Caleb Sasser - [Sunday Sermon on Hebrews 1-13-2013](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/sunday-sermon-on-hebrews-1-13-2013) - Pastor Biggs' sermon this Sunday morning was an introduction to the book of Hebrews. His sermon texts were Hebrews 1:1-4, and 13:20-25. While the Scripture Lesson came from Deuteronomy. 29 and Isaiah 40:1-3. View a PDF sermon outline here: Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.Introduction.01.12.13 Listen to the recorded sermon on Sermon Audio with this link: - [Church Blog](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/church-blog) - Welcome to the new KCPC church blog! You visit this blog to find weekly resources for reviewing the morning sermon, such a PDF of the sermon outline and links to the audio recording. You will also find periodic information from Pastor Biggs about things he did not get to in the sermon. If you look - ["Why Have You Fallen On Your Face?" - The Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/why-have-you-fallen-on-your-face-the-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending March 17th, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us “Why Have You Fallen on Your Face” – Joshua 7:10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of - ["Who Has Made Man's Mouth...Is It Not I, the LORD?" - Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/who-has-made-mans-mouth-is-it-not-i-the-lord-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending March 10th, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us “Who Has Made Man’s Mouth…Is It Not I, the LORD?” – Exodus 4:11 ESV Exodus 4:11-12: Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, - ["Why Is It That You Ask My Name?" - The Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/why-is-it-that-you-ask-my-name-the-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending March 3rd, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us "Why Is It that You Ask My Name?" – Genesis 32:29 ESV Genesis 32:29-30: Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob - ["Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?" - The Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/is-anything-too-hard-for-the-lord-the-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending Feb. 25th, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us “Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?” – Genesis 18:14 ESV Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." - ["Why Are You Angry?" - The Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/why-are-you-angry-the-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending Feb. 18th, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us “Why Are You Angry...?”- Genesis 4:6 ESV Genesis 4:6-10: The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, - ["Where Are You?" - The Questions God Asks Us](https://ketoctin.org/we/where-are-you-the-questions-god-asks-us) - Word of Encouragement- Week Ending Feb. 11th, 2012 Series: The Questions God Asks Us “Where are you?” ------------------------ “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" - ESV Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?” is the first question in the Bible. Interestingly, it is the first question that God - ["Hear, O Israel: Hearing and Listening to God in Worship"](https://ketoctin.org/we/hear-o-israel-hearing-and-listening-to-god-in-worship) - People of God: Remember to prepare for worship prayerfully and to be ready to worship the Living God and to hear His Word as it is read and preached to you. Pray for your ears to be opened, your heart to be ready to receive, your mind to be fresh, our worship to be - [Christmas Is About Jesus: Salvation from Sentimentalism and Cynicism](https://ketoctin.org/we/christmas-is-about-jesus-salvation-from-sentimentalism-and-cynicism) - Word of Encouragement: Christmas Is About Jesus “…You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God - ["Being a Blessing in a Consumeristic World"](https://ketoctin.org/we/being-a-blessing-in-a-consumeristic-world) - Word of Encouragement 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'- Acts 20:35 “…And I will bless you…so that you will be a blessing…And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." – Genesis 12:2-3 If you’re a believer, you are blessed! All who believe in Jesus are blessed by - ["Death and the Christian Hope"](https://ketoctin.org/we/death-and-the-christian-hope) - “Death and the Christian Hope” -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 A Sermon for the Memorial Service for John Curtis Connor (1935-2011) Note: This is the unedited version of the homily I was privileged to preach at John Connor’s memorial service. Thanks be to God for the privilege of leading the service of such a great man! As - ["Fall Down at the Savior's Feet"](https://ketoctin.org/we/fall-down-at-the-saviors-feet) - “Fall Down at the Savior’s Feet” – Luke 8:40-56 What makes us fall down? The weight of something can make us fall down. We fall down and stumble sometimes because we are careless and frail. What makes us fall down before God? Our need. His great power and glory. The weight - [Giving and Generosity](https://ketoctin.org/we/giving-and-generosity) - Yes, this is a message on giving. I am unashamedly writing as your pastor for you to think about giving and generosity. No, please do not put in trash and delete this email; please don’t set your “spam” settings to anything from Pastor Charles on giving! :-)  I realize that giving is more than financial - ["To Live is Christ!"](https://ketoctin.org/we/to-live-is-christ-2) - "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." -ESV Philippians 1:21 As Christians we must learn not merely to live for Christ, but to realize that Christ is our life. If we have Christ, we have everything we need and we can lose nothing. Even death will be our gain, not - [Your Mission Today](https://ketoctin.org/we/your-mission-today) - Word of Encouragement Dear Beloved Congregation in Jesus, Here is your mission for today, and as you prepare for worship tomorrow:  ESV Hebrews 10:23-25: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another - ["What the Spirit Says...Perseverance and Purity"](https://ketoctin.org/we/320) - Word of Encouragement- The Church of Thyatira: “Perseverance and Purity” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”- Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “…We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so - ["Reformation Righteousness"- 494th Anniversary of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/we/reformation-righteousness-494th-anniversary-of-the-reformation) - REFORMATION DAY- 494th ANNIVERSARY "Get over it!" "The Reformation was a historical event that took place years ago; it is irrelevant to me and to modern people." "Just give me Jesus and I will be happy. What good could come from revisiting the teaching of the Reformation in today's church?" "I'm interested in what Jesus - ["What the Spirit Says...Diligence and Discipline"](https://ketoctin.org/we/what-the-spirit-says-diligence-and-discipline) - Word of Encouragement- The Church of Pergamum- “Diligence and Discipline” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”- Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “…We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so - [Communion with God](https://ketoctin.org/we/communion-with-god-2) - Word of Encouragement The following is a digest of John Owen’s excellent work entitled ‘Communion with the Triune God’ for those who may not have the time to read it right now but would like to benefit from the rich teaching. John Owen on ‘Communion with God’ (Excerpts from his book and a digest - ["You May Not Sin"- Our Spiritual Aim and Goal](https://ketoctin.org/we/you-may-not-sin-our-spiritual-aim-and-goal) - Word of Encouragement ESV 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. If you are a Christian, you should rejoice that you are free from slavery - [Words without Christ- "Why Sin and Suffering?"](https://ketoctin.org/we/words-without-christ-why-sin-and-suffering) - Word of Encouragement  Almighty God asks: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?!”- Job 38  Dear Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ at KCPC, Recently, I had an excellent question asked to me about suffering and our sins. The question was concerning someone from another congregation in - ["What the Spirit Says...Tried and True"](https://ketoctin.org/we/what-the-spirit-says-tried-and-true) - Word of Encouragement- The Church of Smyrna- “Tried and True” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”- Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “…We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so - ["Has God Forgotten Me?"- Psalm 77](https://ketoctin.org/we/has-god-forgotten-me-psalm-77) - Word of Encouragement ESV Psalm 77:19-20: Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Dear Congregation of KCPC, Have you ever asked these questions: “Has God’s steadfast love toward - ["What the Spirit Says...Orthodox and Loving"](https://ketoctin.org/we/what-the-spirit-says-orthodox-and-loving) - Word of Encouragement “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”- Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “…We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is - ["Deep Waters in Christ"](https://ketoctin.org/we/deep-waters-in-christ) - Dear Congregation of KCPC, When you read the story of Noah, what do you see in the flood waters? Noah passed through the waters of judgment and found salvation in the promises of God. God’s covenant promises to Noah were ultimately fulfilled in Christ and were for Noah and his household; Biblical faith - [What the Spirit Says: "Assessment, Alignment and Aim"](https://ketoctin.org/we/what-the-spirit-says-assessment-alignment-and-aim) - Word of Encouragement “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”- Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “…We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due - ["At Your Right Hand"- Psalm 16:11](https://ketoctin.org/we/at-your-right-hand-psalm-1611) - Word of Encouragement  “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”- Psalm 16:11 What hope we have as the people of God! We who were by nature wanderers from the fold of God, wanderers from the presence - [Communion with God in Christ](https://ketoctin.org/we/communion-with-god-in-christ) -  Word of Encouragement We as Christians walk with God now in union and communion with Jesus Christ by faith. The Bible teaches us that even though we still live here in this world, we are really already translated, raised, taken and resurrected to live with God. Notice this truth in Colossians 3:1-4:  ESV - ["Walking with God"- Do You Walk with God in Union with Christ?](https://ketoctin.org/we/walking-with-god-do-you-walk-with-god-in-union-with-christ) - Word of Encouragement  ESV Genesis 5:22-24: Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. ESV Hebrews 11:5-6: By faith Enoch was taken up - [True Repentance: "Against You Have I Sinned, O God"](https://ketoctin.org/we/true-repentance-against-you-have-i-sinned-o-god) - Word of Encouragement  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment....For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. – Psalm 51:4; 2 Corinthians 7:10 - ["To Live is Christ!"](https://ketoctin.org/we/to-live-is-christ) - Word of Encouragement ESV Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. As Christians we must learn not merely to live for Christ, but to realize that Christ is our life. If we have Christ, we have everything we need and we can lose nothing. Even death will be - [From the Blogosphere: "Scared of Sin" and "Tickling Ears"](https://ketoctin.org/we/fromthe-blogosphere-scared-of-sin-and-tickling-ears) - Two excellent short blog articles to read: “Scared of Sin” by Ed Welch: http://www.ccef.org/blog/scared-sin “You Might Be An Ear-Tickling Preacher if…”- By Trevin Wax http://trevinwax.com/2011/07/11/our-ears-still-itch/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wordpress%2Ftrevinwax+%28Kingdom+People%29 Love in Christ, Pastor Biggs - ["Fear Not, for I am with You."](https://ketoctin.org/we/fear-not-for-i-am-with-you) - Word of Encouragement  “…Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I - [Growing in and Praying God's Precious Promises](https://ketoctin.org/we/growing-in-and-praying-gods-precious-promises) - Word of Encouragement  Earlier this week, we considered the assurance of our salvation in our W*O*E. One of the ways that we grow in our faith and so in our assurance of salvation is through believing the precious and very great promises of God (as we considered in 2 Peter 1:3-11). Let us look - [Assurance of Salvation: Are You Sure?](https://ketoctin.org/we/assurance-of-salvation-are-you-sure) - Word of Encouragement- Pastor Charles’ Thoughts on Assurance of Salvation  ESV 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. As God’s people, we can be grateful that we can have confidence that we - ["Knowledge of Ourselves, Knowledge of Our Savior"](https://ketoctin.org/we/knowledge-of-ourselves-knowledge-of-our-savior) - Word of Encouragement "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For - [Communion with God](https://ketoctin.org/we/communion-with-god) - Word of Encouragement ESV 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Have you taken time to commune with God today? Have you - ["Are You An Idolater?"](https://ketoctin.org/we/are-you-an-idolater) - Dearest Congregation of the Lord Jesus, I desire to share with you a challenging sermon I read recently and have been deeply meditating upon since last week. I realize you’re very busy, but I hope you will take an opportunity to read this for yourself, and if head of the household, that you will share - ["Blessed Are the Peacemakers...the Prince of Peace"- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-the-peacemakers-the-prince-of-peace-the-beatitudes) - "Blessed are the Peacemaker, for They Shall be Called Sons of God." “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good-will toward those on whom his favor rests!” The seventh beatitude, or characteristic of Christ and His people, is being those who are peacemakers. Christmastime is Here! During the Christmas season we are often - [Spiritual Warfare: The Spiritual Forces of Evil](https://ketoctin.org/we/spiritual-warfare-the-spiritual-forces-of-evil) - “Spiritual Warfare”: “The Spiritual Forces of Evil”- Ephesians 6:10-20 Rev. Charles R. Biggs As Christians we are united to Jesus Christ and seated with Him in the Heavenly Places as we are taught in Ephesians 2:6. Although we are more than overcomers in Jesus and His victorious death and resurrection over death, hell - [Growing Weary? Sow Far, Sow Good!](https://ketoctin.org/we/growing-weary-sow-far-sow-good) - Dear Beloved Congregation in Christ at KCPC, God has been so good to us the past few years as we have grown together in Him. It is easy to rejoice in Jesus when times are good, but when difficulties come with their challenges to our families, it is easy to grow weary in doing - ["Lazarus, Come Forth!"- The Day of the Dead Living](https://ketoctin.org/we/lazarus-come-forth-the-day-of-the-dead-living) - Death is the Dark Madman and Killer Death. Foreboding black darkness. Unexpected. Unnecessary. Mysterious. Frightening. Disheartening sadness. Mortality Hell? Heaven? Everyone likes a birthday party or a wedding, but no one likes a funeral. We all want to pay our respects to the dead and gather with the family in mourning, but no one - ["Seeing God...Only for the Pure in Heart"- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/seeing-god-only-for-the-pure-in-heart-the-beatitudes) - The sixth beatitude, or characteristic of Christ and His people, is being those who are pure in heart. We live in a very compromising world. As Christians, we want to live uncompromising lives to our Lord because of all he has done on our behalf in Christ. We want to be pure in heart. Being pure in - ["Blessed are the Merciful..."- Mercy Me!](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-the-merciful-mercy-me) - "Blessed are the Merciful, for they Shall Receive Mercy." We often so easily forget the mercy that God has shown to us in Christ. We deserve only God's wrath and justice for our sins, but he has offered his hand of mercy to us in Christ! What have you been given by God that you truly - [Important! Reminder for All Preachers](https://ketoctin.org/we/important-reminder-for-all-preachers) - Recently I've been reading Arturo Azurdia III's book 'Spirit-Empowered Preaching' (Mentor, 2010) and have been reminded of some very important truths. What has been most helpful to me as a preacher was to be reminded of the great promise and hope of God's power when we pray. Additionally, I have been struck with how important - ["Blessed are the Hungry and Thirsty..."- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-the-hungry-and-thirsty-the-beatitudes) - "Blessed are those Who Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, for they Shall be Filled." In the last three studies, we learned that the poor in spirit are those who are totally dependent upon the Living God both for life and salvation. The mourners are not "cry babies" but those who mourn over their own sins and - ["Blessed are the Peacemakers..."- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-the-peacemakers-the-beatitudes) - "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for They Shall be Called Sons of God." The angels greeted the shepherds with this great proclamation of peace: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good-will toward those on whom his favor rests!” The seventh beatitude, or characteristic of Christ and His people, is being those who are peacemakers. Christmastime is Here! - ["Courage with Endurance"- John Newton](https://ketoctin.org/we/courage-with-endurance-john-newton) - On Fortitude in the Christian Life by John Newton Psalm 119 says in verse 67: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." What is fortitude? It has been defined as 'courage with endurance'. When God sends and allows afflictions in our lives, we need fortitude to persevere by his - ["Blessed are Those Who Mourn..."- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-those-who-mourn-the-beatitudes) - "Blessed are Those Who Mourn, for They Shall be Comforted." From our previous studies, we learned that the Beatitudes characterize how a Christian should think and live. They are ultimately pictures of Jesus Christ our Lord. As we come to know him by grace through faith, we begin to be conformed more and more to his - ["Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit..."- The Beatitudes](https://ketoctin.org/we/blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit-the-beatitudes) - In our last study we learned the meaning of 'Beatitude' (here) as well as what Jesus was communicating when he was preaching these "blessings". We learned that the 'Beatitudes' are ultimately a picture of Christ's character, and yet as we learn from Christ by His Spirit, these are the characteristics of Christians as we reflect - [Octavius Winslow on Prayer](https://ketoctin.org/we/octavius-winslow-on-prayer) - Hebrews 4:14-16: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we - [Thomas Brooks on Humility](https://ketoctin.org/we/thomas-brooks-on-humility) - We are taught in Scripture "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."- James 4:7 This outstanding quotation from Thomas Brooks will grant us a better understanding of what this means. He commented: "Humility is both a grace, and a vessel to receive grace from God. There is none that sees so much - [The Beatitudes: "Blessed of God"](https://ketoctin.org/we/the-beatitudes-blessed-of-god) - Introduction to the Beatitudes Today we will begin a study on the 'Beatitudes' from Matthew chapter five. The Beatitudes teach us of the blessedness, or covenantal happiness we have as the people of God because of God's salvation and His continued working in his people. In the past, the 'Beatitudes' have been falsely interpreted by some - [Martin Luther on Idolatry](https://ketoctin.org/we/202) - Martin Luther came to understand the gospel from his study of the books of Galatians and Romans. In 1520, Dr. Luther wrote a book entitled 'Treatise Concerning Good Works'. This most important book (or "treatise") is still extremely relevant today. Read carefully this quotation that reveals all of our "sin underneath the Sins" that we - ["The Whole Gospel to the Whole of Our Lives"](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/the-whole-gospel-to-the-whole-of-our-lives) - The Whole Gospel to the Whole of our Lives- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Dr. David Martin Lloyd-Jones was one of the most faithful and greatest preachers of the 20th century. Here is a quotation from his sermon on Romans 6. He is speaking concerning the failure to understand the fullness of the gospel to our lives. - [Meditating on the Future Life with Cyprian and Perkins](https://ketoctin.org/we/meditating-on-the-future-life-with-cyprian-and-perkins) - In the day-to-day, never ending blinding blitz of lightning-fast bandwidth, bustle, busyness and buzz, do not allow yourself to forget to be hopeful of heaven. Meditate on the future life. Take time to think about heaven and your future home. Think on your Savior and the reality that he is awaiting you. - [Dr. Sinclair Ferguson on "Union with Christ"](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/dr-sinclair-ferguson-on-union-with-christ) - This is an excellent Gospel lecture on the Apostle Paul's teaching on union with Christ by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. Sinclair Ferguson - Paul on Union With Christ (Main Session - Video) from Parkside Church on Vimeo. - [Forgiven and Forgiving, Loving Little and Much](https://ketoctin.org/we/forgiven-and-forgiving-loving-little-and-much) - Jesus says: "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven- for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." -ESV Luke 7:47 What is your estimation of yourself? I’m not speaking in terms of estimating your financial worth or estimating your value to others in this world. What is - ["Redeeming the Time"- Time and Wisdom- Part 2](https://ketoctin.org/we/redeeming-the-time-time-and-wisdom-part-2) - We learned in part one of the vital importance of Christians seeking God for wisdom on our use of time (see: Here for first part). Ephesians 5:15-17 teaches us: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do - ["Are You Humble?"- Drawing Near to God](https://ketoctin.org/we/are-you-humble-drawing-near-to-god) - Wisdom on humility from Thomas Charles and Richard Baxter. The Bible describes humility as a character that the Holy Spirit develops as well as a response to God that is commanded (see James 4:6ff; 1 Peter 5:6-9). Here is wisdom from two great teachers of Christ's Church to encourage us to seek humility by God's - [The Apostle Paul's Prayer of Power- Ephesians 1:15-23](https://ketoctin.org/we/the-apostle-pauls-prayer-of-power-ephesians-115-23) - The Apostle Paul's Prayer of Power The prayers of the Apostle Paul teach us a lot of truth about who we are in Jesus Christ. After Paul speaks in Ephesians chapter 1, verses 3-14 concerning the great Trinitarian work of God in our salvation, he begins to pray specifically for the Ephesian Christians that their - [Dr. Sinclair Ferguson on the Pastor's Heart](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/dr-sinclair-ferguson-on-the-pastors-heart) - Excellent lecture on the pastor's heart from lectures at Westminster Seminary in California. - [R. C. Sproul on Abortion](https://ketoctin.org/uncategorized/r-c-sproul-on-abortion) - R.C. Sproul & R.C. Sproul, Jr. discuss the topic of abortion—its place in the culture, in the church, and where it has come since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. They discuss Christian ethics, what they believe the church should do about abortion, and how they feel the church can make an impact to protect unborn children. Dr. Sproul's book, Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue is being re-released 20 years after the original edition. - ["Redeeming the Time"-Time and Wisdom- Part 1](https://ketoctin.org/we/redeeming-the-time-part-1) - “IS TIME ON YOUR SIDE?” - TIME AND WISDOM/EPHESIANS 5:15-17 There was a popular song in the 60s that boasted: “Time is on my side- -yes, it is!” (We should ask the aging singer now if this is still true). Is time really on our side? ESV Ephesians 5:15 says (paraphrase) "Look carefully then how - [John Owen’s ‘Meditations on the Glory of Christ’](https://ketoctin.org/we/john-owens-meditations-on-the-glory-of-christ) - John Owen was a faithful pastor and theologian who lived in the 17th century in England (1616-83). He was a prolific writer and a master theologian of God's grace. His complete works are available as a sixteen volume set by Banner of Truth Trust. The two volumes to begin with if you are interested in reading Owen - [Richard Baxter's Thoughts on Meditating on Heaven](https://ketoctin.org/we/richard-baxters-thoughts-on-meditating-on-heaven) - Richard Baxter’s Thoughts on Meditating on Heaven Christians do not merely grow from reading through the Bible. Christians grow by meditating on what the Bible says. We should prayerfully seek not to merely comprehend what we're reading, but to digest it by the help of God's Spirit. Thomas Watson wrote: "The promises of God are - [Calvin on the Necessity of Prayer, Pt. 1](https://ketoctin.org/we/calvin-on-the-necessity-of-prayer-pt-1) - Calvin on the Necessity of Prayer, Pt. 1 "...We clearly see how destitute and devoid of all good things man is, and how he lacks all aids to salvation. Therefore, if he seeks resources to succor him in his need, he must go outside himself and get them elsewhere....But after we have been instructed by - ["Cheap Grace" - Bonhoeffer](https://ketoctin.org/we/cheap-grace-bonhoeffer) - Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Costly Grace (rather than 'CHEAP' Grace) "Costly grace is the gospel which must be 'sought' again and again in Jesus Christ, the gift which must be 'asked' for, the door at which a man must 'knock'. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it - [Augustine's Conversion- from his 'Confessions'](https://ketoctin.org/we/augustines-conversion-from-his-confessions) - Aurelius Augustine's Testimony of His Conversion to Christianity (from his 'Confessions') Augustine died in AD 430. He is one of the most influential (if not 'the' most influential) Christian teacher in the church of the post-apostolic age. It was the teaching of Augustine that instructed John Calvin and the Reformers to return to true and - [“Hear, O Israel”: The Importance of Preparing for Worship](https://ketoctin.org/we/hear-o-israel-the-importance-of-preparing-for-worship) - People of God: Remember to prepare for worship prayerfully and to be ready to worship the Living God and to hear His Word as it is read and preached to you. Pray for your ears to be opened, your heart to be ready to receive, your mind to be fresh, our worship to be full - [What Is Man?](https://ketoctin.org/we/what-is-man) - Volume I, Issue 1 "What is man that thou are mindful of him?" asked the Psalmist. In Calvin's Catechism of 1538, John Calvin writes concerning the Biblical teaching of man: "Man was first formed to God's image and likeness, that in his adornments, with which he had been resplendently clothed by God, he might look - [De Tocqueville's Observations on American Culture](https://ketoctin.org/we/de-tocquevilles-observations-on-american-culture) - Volume I, Issue 2 -  In the early 1840s, Alexis De Tocqueville wrote on his observations of American culture, from politics to religion. In the book 'Democracy in America' he claims in the preface that he writes as a "friend" to Americans, from one who has objectively observed the culture as an outsider from France. ## Pages - [Home](https://ketoctin.org/) - Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church is an evangelical, Presbyterian, Christ-centered church in Purcellville, Virginia. Rev. Ben Franks is our pastor. We invite you to join us for worship this Sunday! Check our Announcements page for updates and Visit KCPC for info on our location and what to expect on Sunday mornings. Please pray for our pastor, - [Announcements](https://ketoctin.org/resources/announcements) - KCPC news and activity info. - [Events](https://ketoctin.org/events) - All the events for Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church are on this page, embedded using a Google Calendar. There is also information on the Sunday Schedule and Bible Studies. - [The Drama of Redemption: From Chaos to the Dawn of New Creation](https://ketoctin.org/resources/old-testament) - The Rev. Charles R. Biggs, in conjunction with Providence Prep, is offering this survey course for adults and high school students, exploring the biblical theology of the Old Testament. Moses, Prophets, and the Writings: Everything Written about Jesus Christ! Our Lord Jesus admonished His disciples because they had not read their Old Testaments as carefully - [Our Pastor & Elders](https://ketoctin.org/about-kcpc/our-pastors) - Pastor: Ben Franks Please pray for our pastor, Ben Franks, and his family, as their daughter Emma died in a tragic accident on April 25th. Here is Emma Jane’s obituary. Rev. Ben Franks was ordained and installed as the pastor of KCPC in January of 2022. He and his wife Cherie were married in 2015 - [Worship](https://ketoctin.org/about-kcpc/worship) - From "Why We Worship the Way We Worship": (For info about practical logistics for Sunday morning, see Visit KCPC.) "As God's people, we are invited as a corporate covenantal community in Christ to hear and respond to the Word of God each Lord's Day! What a privilege that we can experience in our worship together - [Campaign](https://ketoctin.org/campaign) - [Papers](https://ketoctin.org/resources/papers) - Enjoy these edifying Th.M. thesis papers by our founding pastor, Rev. Charles R. Biggs. The Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature We should expect there to be similarities between the Bible and other ancient Near Eastern literature, and we should in no way be intimidated by this. We should expect to find mankind who is - [Visit KCPC](https://ketoctin.org/visit) - We welcome you to join us for worship and fellowship! When are worship services on Sunday? Worship is at 11:30 am on Sunday. Please arrive a few minutes earlier to quietly prepare your heart for worship. View the schedule of events for the details on the full Sunday schedule and upcoming events. Where is the - [Sermons](https://ketoctin.org/resources/sermons) - Sermons by Rev. Charles R. Biggs, recorded at Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church, and uploaded for you to stream from your browser. - [About KCPC](https://ketoctin.org/about-kcpc) - Our Beliefs AN EVANGELICAL CHURCH. We believe that the Bible is God’s holy, inerrant and inspired Word and that salvation from sin is by grace alone through Christ alone, who must be received by faith alone (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). We do not use the term “evangelical” loosely, but understand it as describing - [Resources](https://ketoctin.org/resources) - Resources for Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church include our pastor's blog, recorded sermons, and papers on in-depth subjects. - [Locust Street Film Night](https://ketoctin.org/locust-street-film-night-2) - Friday, Dec. 17 at the church building. Dinner and a movie! Please RSVP and provide count (to info@ketoctin.org or on Facebook) for free pizza at 6pm--movie is at 7pm. We'll be watching Roberto Rossellini's 1952 film, Europe '51. The film stars one of the great actresses in cinema history—Ingrid Bergman—in the second of four films she made with - [New Testament Biblical Theology](https://ketoctin.org/resources/new-testament) - The Drama of Redemption: From New Creation to Consummation A Survey/Biblical Theology of the New Testament Autumn 2019 – Spring 2020 Rev. Charles R. Biggs, Th.M. Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe - [John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion](https://ketoctin.org/resources/institutes) - Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (or “Principles of the Christian Religion”) is not strictly speaking a summa theologiae (“summary of theology”), but more precisely (and pastorally!) a summa pietatis (“summary of piety/godliness”). It is a book about Christian piety, or how to rightly cultivate godliness and true spirituality in the fear of the LORD, - [Westminster Shorter Catechism Study](https://ketoctin.org/resources/westminster-shorter-catechism-study) ## Calendars - [ComingUp](https://ketoctin.org/calendar/coming-up-at-ketoctin) - [start-date] [start-time] [title] ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://ketoctin.org/category/uncategorized) - [Word of Encouragement](https://ketoctin.org/category/we) - Word of Encouragement - [Sermon Notes](https://ketoctin.org/category/sermon-notes) - [Hebrews Meditations](https://ketoctin.org/category/hebrews-meditations) - [newsletter](https://ketoctin.org/category/newsletter) - [Book Reviews](https://ketoctin.org/category/book-reviews) - [From Your Pastor](https://ketoctin.org/category/from-your-pastor) - [Shorter Catechism](https://ketoctin.org/category/shorter-catechism) - A question-by-question study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism by KCPC’s pastors ## Tags - [Holy Spirit](https://ketoctin.org/tag/holy-spirit) - [Christian Life](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christian-life) - [Grace](https://ketoctin.org/tag/grace) - [Worship](https://ketoctin.org/tag/worship) - [Meditation/Devotional](https://ketoctin.org/tag/meditationdevotional) - [Church History](https://ketoctin.org/tag/church-history) - [Prayer](https://ketoctin.org/tag/prayer) - [Meditation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/meditation) - [Biblical Reflections](https://ketoctin.org/tag/biblical-reflections) - [Biblical Expositions](https://ketoctin.org/tag/biblical-expositions) - [Preaching](https://ketoctin.org/tag/preaching) - [Sin](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sin) - [Repentance](https://ketoctin.org/tag/repentance) - [Godly Sorrow](https://ketoctin.org/tag/godly-sorrow) - [Communion with God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/communion-with-god) - [Delighting in God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/delighting-in-god) - [Book of Revelation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/book-of-revelation) - [Judgment Seat of Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/judgment-seat-of-christ) - [Baptism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/baptism) - [Brotherly Love](https://ketoctin.org/tag/brotherly-love) - [Service](https://ketoctin.org/tag/service) - [Sanctification](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sanctification) - [Persecution](https://ketoctin.org/tag/persecution) - [Suffering](https://ketoctin.org/tag/suffering) - [Sickness](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sickness) - [John Owen](https://ketoctin.org/tag/john-owen) - [Puritan Spirituality](https://ketoctin.org/tag/puritan-spirituality) - [Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/reformation) - [Solas of Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/solas-of-reformation) - [Christ Alone](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christ-alone) - [Faith Alone](https://ketoctin.org/tag/faith-alone) - [Grace Alone](https://ketoctin.org/tag/grace-alone) - [Scripture Alone](https://ketoctin.org/tag/scripture-alone) - [Heresy](https://ketoctin.org/tag/heresy) - [Church Discipline](https://ketoctin.org/tag/church-discipline) - [Perseverance](https://ketoctin.org/tag/perseverance) - [Works](https://ketoctin.org/tag/works) - [Joy](https://ketoctin.org/tag/joy) - [Giving](https://ketoctin.org/tag/giving) - [Generosity](https://ketoctin.org/tag/generosity) - [Death](https://ketoctin.org/tag/death) - [Resurrection](https://ketoctin.org/tag/resurrection) - [Blessing](https://ketoctin.org/tag/blessing) - [Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christmas) - [Sentimentalism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sentimentalism) - [Cynicism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/cynicism) - [Book of Genesis](https://ketoctin.org/tag/book-of-genesis) - [Anger](https://ketoctin.org/tag/anger) - [Murder](https://ketoctin.org/tag/murder) - [Cain and Abel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/cain-and-abel) - [God's Promises](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gods-promises) - [Affliction](https://ketoctin.org/tag/affliction) - [Difficulties](https://ketoctin.org/tag/difficulties) - [Genesis](https://ketoctin.org/tag/genesis) - [Jacob](https://ketoctin.org/tag/jacob) - [Wrestling with God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/wrestling-with-god) - [Moses](https://ketoctin.org/tag/moses) - [Exodus](https://ketoctin.org/tag/exodus) - [Gifts](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gifts) - [Christian Service](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christian-service) - [Confidence in God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/confidence-in-god) - [Fear and Anxiety](https://ketoctin.org/tag/fear-and-anxiety) - [Joshua](https://ketoctin.org/tag/joshua) - [Discipline](https://ketoctin.org/tag/discipline) - [Holiness](https://ketoctin.org/tag/holiness) - [Purity](https://ketoctin.org/tag/purity) - [Church](https://ketoctin.org/tag/church) - [Body of Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/body-of-christ) - [Judgment](https://ketoctin.org/tag/judgment) - [Death of Jesus](https://ketoctin.org/tag/death-of-jesus) - [Love](https://ketoctin.org/tag/love) - [idolatry](https://ketoctin.org/tag/idolatry) - [faith](https://ketoctin.org/tag/faith) - [Sabbath](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sabbath) - [Lord's Day](https://ketoctin.org/tag/lords-day) - [Union with Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/union-with-christ) - [Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christ) - [Belief](https://ketoctin.org/tag/belief) - [God's Power](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gods-power) - [Good Friday](https://ketoctin.org/tag/good-friday) - [Easter](https://ketoctin.org/tag/easter) - [Cross](https://ketoctin.org/tag/cross) - [Psalm 51](https://ketoctin.org/tag/psalm-51) - [Justification](https://ketoctin.org/tag/justification) - [Westminster Shorter Catechism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/westminster-shorter-catechism) - [Election](https://ketoctin.org/tag/election) - [Calling](https://ketoctin.org/tag/calling) - [Predestination](https://ketoctin.org/tag/predestination) - [Pride](https://ketoctin.org/tag/pride) - [Legalism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/legalism) - [Law](https://ketoctin.org/tag/law) - [Time](https://ketoctin.org/tag/time) - [Culture](https://ketoctin.org/tag/culture) - [Effectual Calling](https://ketoctin.org/tag/effectual-calling) - [Catechism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/catechism) - [Adoption](https://ketoctin.org/tag/adoption) - [The Lord's Day](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-lords-day) - [Sermons](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sermons) - [Assurance](https://ketoctin.org/tag/assurance) - [God's Love](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gods-love) - [Assurance of Faith](https://ketoctin.org/tag/assurance-of-faith) - [Looking to Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/looking-to-christ) - [Richard Sibbes](https://ketoctin.org/tag/richard-sibbes) - [Affective Spirituality](https://ketoctin.org/tag/affective-spirituality) - [Thomas Goodwin](https://ketoctin.org/tag/thomas-goodwin) - [Graduation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/graduation) - [Mortification of Sin](https://ketoctin.org/tag/mortification-of-sin) - [John Flavel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/john-flavel) - [Barnabas](https://ketoctin.org/tag/barnabas) - [Encouragement](https://ketoctin.org/tag/encouragement) - [Identity](https://ketoctin.org/tag/identity) - [Book of Hebrews](https://ketoctin.org/tag/book-of-hebrews) - [Wedding](https://ketoctin.org/tag/wedding) - [Gentleness](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gentleness) - [4th of July](https://ketoctin.org/tag/4th-of-july) - [Hope](https://ketoctin.org/tag/hope) - [Righteousness](https://ketoctin.org/tag/righteousness) - [Discipleship](https://ketoctin.org/tag/discipleship) - [Promises of God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/promises-of-god) - [Spirituality](https://ketoctin.org/tag/spirituality) - [John Calvin](https://ketoctin.org/tag/john-calvin) - [Common Grace](https://ketoctin.org/tag/common-grace) - [Covenant](https://ketoctin.org/tag/covenant) - [Law of God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/law-of-god) - [Westminster Confession of Faith](https://ketoctin.org/tag/westminster-confession-of-faith) - [Politics](https://ketoctin.org/tag/politics) - [Christ's Death](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christs-death) - [Christ's Resurrection](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christs-resurrection) - [Five Solas](https://ketoctin.org/tag/five-solas) - [Reformation Day](https://ketoctin.org/tag/reformation-day) - [The Law of God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-law-of-god) - [The Fear of the Lord](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-fear-of-the-lord) - [Fearing God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/fearing-god) - [Advent](https://ketoctin.org/tag/advent) - [Rejoicing](https://ketoctin.org/tag/rejoicing) - [Ishmael](https://ketoctin.org/tag/ishmael) - [Immanuel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/immanuel) - [Patience](https://ketoctin.org/tag/patience) - [Mission Statement](https://ketoctin.org/tag/mission-statement) - [Vision Statement](https://ketoctin.org/tag/vision-statement) - [O Come O Come Emmanuel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/o-come-o-come-emmanuel) - [Bible Reading](https://ketoctin.org/tag/bible-reading) - [Robert Murray M'Cheyne](https://ketoctin.org/tag/robert-murray-mcheyne) - [Michael Card](https://ketoctin.org/tag/michael-card) - [God's Law](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gods-law) - [Ten Commandments](https://ketoctin.org/tag/ten-commandments) - [Sermon Notes](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sermon-notes) - [Christ the King](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christ-the-king) - [Steadfast Love](https://ketoctin.org/tag/steadfast-love) - [God's People](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gods-people) - [The First Commandment](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-first-commandment) - [The Ten Commandments](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-ten-commandments) - [Jesus Christ](https://ketoctin.org/tag/jesus-christ) - [Mediator](https://ketoctin.org/tag/mediator) - [Incarnation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/incarnation) - [Christ's Human Nature](https://ketoctin.org/tag/christs-human-nature) - [Colossians](https://ketoctin.org/tag/colossians) - [Sermon Series](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sermon-series) - [The Christian Life](https://ketoctin.org/tag/the-christian-life) - [Seasons](https://ketoctin.org/tag/seasons) - [Eternity](https://ketoctin.org/tag/eternity) - [Life](https://ketoctin.org/tag/life) - [Piety](https://ketoctin.org/tag/piety) - [Jonathan Edwards](https://ketoctin.org/tag/jonathan-edwards) - [Revival](https://ketoctin.org/tag/revival) - [Revivalism](https://ketoctin.org/tag/revivalism) - [Pentecostal](https://ketoctin.org/tag/pentecostal) - [Presbyterian](https://ketoctin.org/tag/presbyterian) - [Reformation 500th Anniversary](https://ketoctin.org/tag/reformation-500th-anniversary) - [Series](https://ketoctin.org/tag/series) - [Wisdom](https://ketoctin.org/tag/wisdom) - [Conversion](https://ketoctin.org/tag/conversion) - [Institutes of the Christian Religion](https://ketoctin.org/tag/institutes-of-the-christian-religion) - [Bibliography](https://ketoctin.org/tag/bibliography) - [Books of Samuel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/books-of-samuel) - [David](https://ketoctin.org/tag/david) - [Saul](https://ketoctin.org/tag/saul) - [Samuel](https://ketoctin.org/tag/samuel) - [Providence](https://ketoctin.org/tag/providence) - [Knowledge of God](https://ketoctin.org/tag/knowledge-of-god) - [Solas of the Reformation](https://ketoctin.org/tag/solas-of-the-reformation) - [Sola Scriptura](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sola-scriptura) - [Sola Fide](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sola-fide) - [Sola Gratia](https://ketoctin.org/tag/sola-gratia) - [Solus Christus](https://ketoctin.org/tag/solus-christus) - [Soli Deo Gloria](https://ketoctin.org/tag/soli-deo-gloria) - [Catholic and Apostolic](https://ketoctin.org/tag/catholic-and-apostolic) - [Creeds](https://ketoctin.org/tag/creeds) - [Confessions](https://ketoctin.org/tag/confessions) - [New Year](https://ketoctin.org/tag/new-year) - [New Year's Resolution](https://ketoctin.org/tag/new-years-resolution) - [Books](https://ketoctin.org/tag/books) - [Book Recommendations](https://ketoctin.org/tag/book-recommendations) - [Holiday](https://ketoctin.org/tag/holiday) - [Magnificat](https://ketoctin.org/tag/magnificat) - [Rejoice](https://ketoctin.org/tag/rejoice) - [Reflection](https://ketoctin.org/tag/reflection) - [Zechariah](https://ketoctin.org/tag/zechariah) - [Waiting](https://ketoctin.org/tag/waiting) - [True Meaning of Christmas](https://ketoctin.org/tag/true-meaning-of-christmas) - [Jesus](https://ketoctin.org/tag/jesus) - [Mary](https://ketoctin.org/tag/mary) - [Martha](https://ketoctin.org/tag/martha) - [Order](https://ketoctin.org/tag/order) - [Watch](https://ketoctin.org/tag/watch) - [Remind](https://ketoctin.org/tag/remind) - [Gospel Goals](https://ketoctin.org/tag/gospel-goals) ## Att. Categories - [Shepherd's Voice](https://ketoctin.org/attachment_category/the-shepherds-voice) - The Shepherd’s Voice is a short, weekly KCPC newsletter that contains upcoming events, aids to preparing for weekly worship, and an encouraging article from KCPC’s pastors. - [Events](https://ketoctin.org/attachment_category/events) - [Westminster Shorter Catechism](https://ketoctin.org/attachment_category/westminster-shorter-catechism)