Theology Blog: Orthodoxy & Orthopraxy | Covenant Theological Seminary Orthodoxy + Orthopraxy Articles from Covenant Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends about the Bible, theology, and Christian living. Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 4/4/26 Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 4/4/26 God’s Vindication for New Life: An Easter Reflection What should make all the difference in your life? In the words of Robert Frost’s famous poem, it is “the road less traveled” that changes everything. Theologically, that road less traveled is the road which leads from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every Easter (actually, every Sunday) we are confronted with two roads that promise to take us forward, but only one of those roads truly leads to life. Dr. Derek Rishmawy 3/16/26 Dr. Derek Rishmawy 3/16/26 Holiness as the Mission and Apologetic Method of the Church Like everything else in the Christian life, the task of apologetics works best when it flows from a faith that rests in the hope of Christ and a life that honors him in word and deed. Dr. Dan Doriani 2/16/26 Dr. Dan Doriani 2/16/26 What Happened to Our Pastor? The church rightly seeks assurance that its pastors know and believe Scripture and orthodox theology. But we should also examine their character more thoroughly as well. Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 12/15/25 Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 12/15/25 Becoming a New Kind of Family: An Advent Reflection on the Gospel of John One of the things we love most about Christmas is its association with the idea of family and the traditions we share with our families. These things shape in ways we’re not even aware of. And it’s this aspect of family that takes on new significance in this advent reflection on the opening verses of John’s Gospel. Dr. Aaron Goldstein 12/2/25 Dr. Aaron Goldstein 12/2/25 The Word Became Flesh Meeting our heroes can bring a momentary thrill—but knowing the One who “became flesh and dwelt among us” brings eternal joy. Dr. Dan Zink 10/27/25 Dr. Dan Zink 10/27/25 The Holy Spirit and Counseling What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the counseling process? A paucity of literature on the topic led Dr. Dan Zink on a journey of discovery and growth—both personally and professionally. Neal W. 8/26/25 Neal W. 8/26/25 Challenges of Church Planting in our Muslim Majority Context Planting a church can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Doing so in a Muslim context brings with it a whole new level of challenge and complexity. Mission to the World missionary Neal W. shares some of his team’s experiences in planting churches in a Muslim majority context and some of the important lessons learned. Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 8/11/25 Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 8/11/25 On the Relevance of Creeds and Confessions Creeds and confessions have historically served many purposes in the life of the church, but are they still relevant today? And why do we need them if we have the Scriptures? Dr. Robert Kim 7/21/25 Dr. Robert Kim 7/21/25 Glorifying the Triune God Through Church Planting How are we best to “glorify God and enjoy him forever”? For Jesus, it meant fulfilling the mission God gave him. For us, it means planting churches to the glory of the Father. Dr. Phil Douglass 6/23/25 Dr. Phil Douglass 6/23/25 Twenty Ways to Plant Churches in North America – Part 2 In the second of a two-part series on models of church planting, Dr. Phil Douglass shares from his extensive experience as a church planter and mentor of church planters, retired professor of applied theology at Covenant Seminary, and overseer of church planting efforts for the Missouri Presbytery of the PCA. Dr. Phil Douglass 5/27/25 Dr. Phil Douglass 5/27/25 Twenty Ways to Plant Churches in North America – Part 1 In the first of a two-part series on models of church planting, Dr. Phil Douglass shares from his extensive experience as a church planter and mentor of church planters, retired professor of applied theology at Covenant Seminary, and overseer of church planting efforts for the Missouri Presbytery of the PCA. Dr. Jay Sklar 5/22/25 Dr. Jay Sklar 5/22/25 Responding to a Holy God: How Understanding God’s Holiness Leads to Our Godliness What does it mean that God is holy? And how should our lives look different because of it? With a focus on the Torah, this seminar from The Gospel Coalition’s 2025 National Conference explains how God’s holiness is central to who he is, how it refers to much more than moral purity, and how it calls us to respond with love, fear, and worship. Dr. Philip Douglass and Dr. Robert Kim 2/24/25 Dr. Philip Douglass and Dr. Robert Kim 2/24/25 Church Planting: A Reformed View We continue our year-long special focus on church planting with this reflection on that topic from a Reformed perspective by Dr. Philip Douglass, Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and mentor to generations of church planters, along with some additional comments by his successor at Covenant, Dr. Robert Kim, who holds the Philip and Rebecca Douglass Chair of Church Planting and Christian Formation. Dr. Murray Lee, MNA Executive Coordinator, and the MNA Executive Team 1/20/25 Dr. Murray Lee, MNA Executive Coordinator, and the MNA Executive Team 1/20/25 Church Planting in Our Cultural Moment: Challenge and Response As we begin a year-long special focus on church planting, this post by Dr. Murray Lee, MNA Executive Coordinator, and the MNA Executive Team offer a reflection on the challenges of our cultural moment and how MNA and its partners are working to address them. Dr. Gavin Ortlund 1/8/25 Dr. Gavin Ortlund 1/8/25 Sharing the Gospel in a Time of Disenchantment A world less open to Christianity presents many challenges for believers, yet our calling to evangelize remains the same as always. How can we share our faith effectively in such a time as this? Dr. Thurman Williams 1/8/25 Dr. Thurman Williams 1/8/25 Compelling Preaching and the Mission of God If it is true that “faith comes by hearing,” as the apostle Paul said, then preparing church leaders to preach the Word in compelling and powerful ways is a vital part of the ongoing mission of God. Dr. Dan Zink 12/18/24 Dr. Dan Zink 12/18/24 Thinking About Trauma Trauma is a word that has many aspects and many implications. Is it really the best word to use? Maybe it’s time to start thinking about trauma in another way. Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 12/6/24 Dr. Thomas C. Gibbs 12/6/24 The Waiting: An Advent Reflection on Jeremiah 33:14–16 Waiting is hard. Nobody likes to wait. Yet, when we are confident of our destination, we can somehow press through the pain of what can feel like endless waiting. This is the message Jeremiah has for us in this passage, which is particularly apt for the season of Advent. Dr. Paul Loosemore 11/19/24 Dr. Paul Loosemore 11/19/24 Counseling Virtues and Faithful Companionship Dr. Suzanne Bates 10/17/24 Dr. Suzanne Bates 10/17/24 Cultural Identity Development: A Necessary Component of Professional Identity Development Professional identity development is often an overlooked aspect of growing as a licensed counselor. But it's important for us as counselors to be aware of the personal and cultural factors that influence our lives and our decision to become counselors. Dr. Paul Loosemore 10/1/24 Dr. Paul Loosemore 10/1/24 Kingdom Something: Thoughts About Calling Choosing a career path can be a daunting task, but prioritizing biblical principles can help.