Orthodoxy + Orthopraxy
Articles from Covenant Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends about the Bible, theology, and Christian living.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kingdom Something: Thoughts About Calling
Choosing a career path can be a daunting task, but prioritizing biblical principles can help.
Navigating a Quarter-or Mid-Life Crisis
When it comes to calling, who we are becoming is far more important than what we are doing.
Grace for Leaders from Numbers 20:1-13
We are not the first generation among God’s people who have found the task of ministry leadership challenging, both for leaders and for their followers. Indeed, it has always been hard. But God's grace enables flawed leaders to keep leading and flawed followers to keep following.
A Road Paved With Books
When I started down this road of working with people, I figured what I learned in school would carry me along. Now I know you must keep up on the advancements in our understanding of people, their problems, and how to help. Keeping up takes books, lots of them.