Faith & Practice #74

In this episode of "Faith & Practice," Dr. Pipa and Pastor Groff handle a diverse array of questions pertaining to worship in the PCA, accountability in the Christian life, harmonizing the accounts of Jesus's childhood found in Matthew and Luke, and the doctrine of sin (harmartiology).

Questions include:

• If we assume our brothers have an overly strict view of what is permissible in worship, should we still avoid those things in worship we know will be controversial, or is this a misapplication of what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8?
• Is person-to-person accountability a biblical practice? If it is, what passages of Scripture support it? What is your advice on how it should be pursued?
• Would you explain the sequence of events during Jesus' first two years in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2?
• What is the biblical course of action for dealing with a besetting sin?
• How do I get a right view of the differences between temptations of "the world," of "the flesh," and of "the devil"?
• What is the origin of temptations and suggestions to do evil which are not triggered by anything we physically perceive (e.g., when evil thoughts and temptations just enter into our mind, seemingly at random)?
• Why shouldn't Christians beset by a particular sin avoid the company of "normal Christians" who aren't struggling in the same way?
• How can a pastor help a church member - or how can a church member help a fellow Christian - who is dealing with sin which is foreign to the one otherwise in a position to help?
• Once saved, why do we as Christians still sin and die?
• Please explain to me the difference between modern and Puritan Reformed authors on assurance of salvation.