Theological Treatises

  How the Pastor Shepherds the Church Session For you non-Presbyterians out there, by "session," we mean, the currently-serving elders of a church congregation. . . . And though this little paper is designed to assist ministers and (lay) elders, everyone else should feel free to "listen in."   First of all, the pastor is the "least" among "servants" on the session.  He is there to minister to his fellow-elders.  Typically, the pastor, especially if he has had some years of experience, is "used to" the slings and arrows, darts and rocks that get hurled at church leaders.  Because of this, he is usually more in the position of being able to shield his brothers from the same.  Also, the pastor, being called by God to be an undershepherd of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, is endowed with a large measure of the blessed Holy Spirit; and he is also blessed to be able to spend an inordinate amount of time in prayer and in the reading and study of th...

  The Amazing Richard Sibbes The Puritan pastor Rev. Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), was very-appropriately referred to as, "the heavenly Doctor."  Sometimes his books and sermons seem to lift the souls of the church's saints right into glory, (even while we are still down here on Earth).   A sermon Sibbes preached on Song of Solomon 5:2 & 3, in a series entitled, "The Love of Christ," will prove the point.  Check out these remarkable words, as I quote him, (and all the  italics  are my emphases): "Thus [Christ] looks on us, and thus faith looks upon Him too, and  together  with the sight and sense of  sin,  at the  same  time it apprehends righteousness,  perfect  righteousness, and so is  undefiled . This is the main point in religion, and the comfort of Christians, to see  their  perfection  in  Christ Jesus, and to be  lost  in  themselves,  as it were, and to...

  Performance- vs. Depravity-Based Righteousness In all the world there are only two paths to "righteousness."  The most popular, by far, is "performance"; and the road "far less traveled," is by an acknowledgment of absolute, total personal depravity apart from Christ. The "performance" path is doomed before the first act is embarked upon.  The "depravity" way, as it finds its perfect analog in Jesus Christ's righteousness, is crowned with glory, salvation, life, forgiveness, love, and all good things (all in Christ). Those who conceive of themselves as only "circumstantially" sinful, i.e. only as guilty of bad habits or actions, are far from the kingdom of God--in fact, they are lost.  Only those who honestly know themselves to be "constitutionally" wretched, even infinitely-guilty sinners in the sight of God, are candidates for gospel grace in Jesus' blood and righteousness. In our natural pre-Fallen condi...

Loving Christ  When regenerated Christians love the Lord Jesus Christ, they are uniting their hearts, souls, and lives to the One who not only supremely matters; but also to everything and everyone that is good and valuable. Everything in the world seeks to assert its primacy; but, in the end, nothing has any ultimate worth, if it is in anyway separated from Jesus.  No matter how passionate one may be about their importance, no one (and no thing) has significance, if it does not willingly serve King Jesus. This truth, of course, has huge consequences. It means that all false forms of Christianity; as well as all other religions: Judaism, Islam, and all the others, are essentially worthless. Let all the true church's saints find our all-in-all in Christ alone; and let us spread His gospel of grace, love, and mercy all around the world. Rev. Mark J. Henninger Treatise #91 16 April 2026 https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/...

  "Who Died, and Left [Blank] In Charge?" Have you ever,  like  me, been listening to a stream of music on YouTube, when these intervening commercials come on, interrupting the songs you want to hear?  Some of these ads are fine, innocuous, and (even occasionally) interesting, or helpful. . . . But, have any of you ever heard the one, where the woman comes on, and says ( demands ) with great passion:  "NEVER, NEVER say, 'How are you doing?' "?   And she goes on with another injunction, (but I am not [happily] remembering it right now).  These kinds of ads are the ones you can break a leg, foot, or neck, seeking to get to the "Skip" button, before you are subjected to more intense fervor.   . . . My  whole  point, is simply this:  "Who died, and left this woman in charge of whether or not I should ask someone, 'how are you doing?'?"   Bottom line:  who  is this lady-- no matter how  well -intended ...

  Movie Review: "A Great Awakening" Lesley and I just returned home from seeing the premier showing of the movie, "A Great Awakening."  It was really good--one of the best movies she or I have ever seen.  The casting is outstanding; the acting is fantastic; and the plot line is wonderful.  I do not know who produced this movie--but they should be congratulated on doing excellent work; and; more than that, for being unashamed of the gospel of grace.   The way the producers weave the themes of the American Constitutional Convention (held years after the end of the American Revolution), with savory effects of The Great Awakening, is masterful.  The man who plays Benjamin Franklin is so well-cast, that you could almost imagine this being the original Benjamin Franklin.   George Whitefield is the main character in the movie; and he is also spectacularly-cast.  His voice, his demeanor, and his ways are completely convincing; and...