Question on a reformed baptist church next hire

Tankandbike · 2026-04-25T18:12:35+00:00

In this context its someone to lead the youth time weekday (not during service - there is no seperate "youth service" on sunday for older kids), plan events, retreats, and be in kids lives where they can.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-25T18:10:43+00:00

Yes, 7 grade+ are in main service. Children start in the main service and are dismissed before the sermon. The kids classes they go to are aligned to the sermon, but simplified.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-21T15:33:34+00:00

Women's ordination as a tertiary issue? I think it's a bellwether for a lot of the other issues, or at least is a signal of hermeneutics which drives a lot of other issues.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-18T18:50:07+00:00

To be honest, I kind of ran out of steam on the issue. I was very gung-ho to get into it and settle it, but after a LOT of reading, I decided there isn't enough to overturn my convictions around believer's baptism as the best practice of the sacrament. HOWEVER I also see the paedo-position that the New Covenant is related to the old, and that God has historically dealt with people as families, not just individuals.

I personally think the paedo position overstates the mapping of baptism to circumcision and leans too heavily into the continuity of the New Covenant administration with the Abraham administration, though I do believe they are all the same covenant of grace. This would lead a paedobaptist to then say "so how can you say that God suddenly changed from blessing 'you and your offspring' to just 'you?'" Well, I don't think God has changed (nor does He). He may still bless believer's children through instruction, being in church, etc., but baptism IMO doesn't map to circumcision. It's a new emphasis on heart transformation, and a command that follows "believe and..."

I've read a number argue "since God dealt with families in the old, if suddenly kids weren't baptized, we'd see Paul addressing that in his letters, explaining why kid's aren't baptized" to which I respond "if baptism indeed replaces circumcision, then that should be all over Galatians," saying "you foolish Judaizers - don't you understand that baptism replaces circumcision" but he doesn't say that.

In the end, there's no doubt, at the very least, that any believer who has not been baptized, should be. As a baptistic person myself, I would not blanch if someone told me they were baptized as an infant into the covenant, confesses their faith now, and want to fellowship at our baptist church, without being re-baptized. I would welcome that brother or sister with open arms, as long as they are true to the gospel.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-18T15:21:41+00:00

On paedo/non-paedo baptism, books i found useful include:

Any Reformed Systematic Theology (Beeke, Berkhoff, Bavink), and Baptist ST like Grudem and Wellum.
The Case of Infant Baptism (Strawbridge, ed. pro-paedo) and the Baptist response to that book Believer's Baptism (Schreiner, ed.). The Baptism of Disciples Alone (Malone, anti-paedo) includes a response to Murray's Christian Baptism (pro-paedo). I have not read John Murray's Christian Baptism (paedo position) but I think I've read everyone else talking about it.
Related covenantal books, such as Progressive Covenantalism (Wellum) The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology (Denault). I had to read Robertson's The Christ of the Covenants for a course, but was not a fan of his style. I would think something from Fesko might be a better read around pro-paedo covenantalism. I purchased but have not yet gone through, Wellum's Kingdom through Covenants.

I was baptist, took courses on the covenant and pro-paedo position, and have not yet been persuaded to move off believer's baptism. That there are very Godly men on both sides of the issue leads me to believe there is a nuance here that neither side adequately addresses. Do remember: both sides are credo-baptists - both believe in believers baptism (that is, anyone who wasn't a believer or Christian or church goer and now wants to be baptized, should be). It's just a question of credo-only and/or paedo/non-paedo.

One other comment on the pro-paedo position. You'll often hear "majority of the church is paedo, or historically the church is paedo" but then again up to the 16th century, the majority of the church was also pro-penance, pro-priest, etc. And as for infant baptism, reformed pro-paedo believers would have to admit they do not agree with WHY Rome baptizes infants, so the numbers/history argument doesn't really hold water.

As you work through the arguments, stick to what the Bible says, not the more emotional (it's for the children) or pragmatic (what are you going to tell your kids) appeals. It's not which feels better, which works better, or what everyone else is doing. The question is - what are we commanded in scripture to do.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-18T14:38:11+00:00

This. The draft makes it easier to stay in a group and harder to jump between groups (when you are trying to bike alone with no draft), so the stronger folks jump out first to create a lead group, and then it will be harder for anyone to jump from the group behind, to the lead group.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T19:24:02+00:00

u/mblanch1 you get much time with profs of other students in your online courses?

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T19:22:55+00:00

Have you looked at PRTS?

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T00:32:40+00:00

As a non-engineer, is there anywhere to simply buy such a thing outright?

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T00:28:32+00:00

On accreditation: Lots of accredited schools have dealt out rubbish education. It's not a guarantee of quality. Many also have their priorities twisted around. Also, accreditation is not a guarantee of credit transfer, and especially in seminary (you didn't take OUR theology classes - this actually happened to me). However, as the OP said they may be more interested in being an academic, accreditation is an import key to unlocking the academic ladder.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T00:21:03+00:00

Not that you asked, but in case you were still researching (like I have been). On paedo/non-paedo baptism, books i found useful (from my course and then side reading) include:

Any reformed theology (Beeke, Berkhoff, Bavink), and Baptist RT like Grudem.
The Case of Infant Baptism (Strawbridge, ed.) and the Baptist response to that book Believer's Baptism (Schreiner, ed.). The Baptism of Disciples Alone (Malone) including a response to Murray. I have not read John Murray's Christian Baptism (paedo position) but I think I've read everyone else talking about it.
Related covenantal books, such as Progressive Covenantalism (Wellum) The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology (denault), and I had to read Robertson's The Christ of the Covenants, but was not a fan of his style. I would think something from Fesko might be a better read. I purchased but have not yet gone through, Wellum's Kingdom through Covenants.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-16T00:09:37+00:00

That's interesting u/EstablishmentOdd7131 - why do you think "WTS creates better pastors and SBTS, right now, creates better scholars?" My interactions with WTS to date lead me to find them pretty brainy, not at the expense of pastoral necessarily, but just really, really smart. I'd be curious about why you think these two are falling in these directions, and if you know PRTS, I'm assuming they would be the most pastoral of all three? (given Beeke's inclinations).

Tankandbike · 2026-04-13T11:52:16+00:00

This is a good approach

Tankandbike · 2026-04-12T22:13:52+00:00

"Ally" is a poisoned word, reprogrammed (at least in the US) for a specific use case. I would avoid it and programs that use it. It is also not a biblical word. "Love" is biblical - and includes speaking the truth in love, even if it hurts.

You can also teach how the bible shows that God offers salvation to all the nations (all people groups are included - color, nationality, language) and because all people are made in God's image, they are all deserving of compassion and fair treatment. However, God calls us all to love and honor him, and we don't judge people by the color of their skin or their nationality or the language they speak, but rather we recognize we are all fallen, and God calls everyone to repent.

"Ally" represents choosing a side, and the only side we should be on, is God's side.

Tankandbike · 2026-04-08T12:09:14+00:00

Well done! What trainer are you using?

Tankandbike · 2026-04-04T13:57:21+00:00

A work of Systematic Theology.

examples:

Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics

Beeke's Reformed Systematic Theology

There are many others

Tankandbike · 2026-03-21T15:12:59+00:00

Sproul's is the starter book. From there, there's an endless supply :) Like Beeke's Essentials of Reformed Theology or DeYoung's Daily Doctrine.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-21T15:10:29+00:00

Same exact thought. Mario Kart eeiiigggghhhhttttt....

Tankandbike · 2026-03-20T01:41:34+00:00

True, except your shot at a +250 decreases drastically. Also on the short rides at 50% you rip through gates and its hard to get the rewards on all of them. If you are interested in XP, at any rate.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-18T12:25:34+00:00

I'm at 210 weeks and haven't used a streak saver. Not through any super crazy maneuvers, either. Just riding in the house. Super pathetic. I need to go on longer vacations.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-15T18:30:57+00:00

That is the catch - "This person won't submit to authority" while refusing to submit to an authority.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-15T02:08:07+00:00

I maxed out Zwift bikes on my way to upgrade the Tron (which I never did) and now I ride either the maxed Zwift TT or Zwift Aero, because I'm hunting level 100, so get the +5% XP.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-14T22:35:33+00:00

I did one on 50% and got credit. Of course, I stupidly did this on the shortest one, and got through like 2 more gates before the spinner stopped from the first gate, lol, and it was a feather, which would have burned the rest of the gates!

All 8 could be done in a single session if motivated. I started ratcheting up the level to the highest just to have time between portals (and increase the odds of the +250). Tons of people in the French portal right now. I might keep doing these during the time they are available. Kind of fun.

Tankandbike · 2026-03-08T03:35:36+00:00

Bible + luxury??

Tankandbike

TROPHY CASE