Foreward by Joel Beeke

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1—Man's Media: Images

2—God's Media: Preaching

3—God's Media: Sacraments

Conclusion

Scripture Index

Confessions Index

“THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT SEEN HIM.”

While man has universally and perpetually desired the visual in his relationship with God, God has given his people the Word and sacraments as manifestations of his presence until Christ comes again, visibly and corporeally—in living color. This is the classic Reformed exegesis of Scripture as expressed in its confessions.

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Danny Hyde has written an excellent piece on a very misunderstood subject. Through effective combination of biblical, theological, and confessional discussions, he has presented the Reformed view of the second commandment winsomely and attractively. He helpfully emphasizes not the negative prohibition of making images of God but the positive facts that God has revealed himself now so generously in Word and Sacrament and will one day reveal himself visibly in the most perfect and authentic way.

—David VanDrunen, Robert B. Strimple Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Westminster Seminary California

In these pages, Danny Hyde argues with great clarity against all images of Jesus as man-made media. He shows that all such images are abominated in Scripture and roundly rejected by the Reformed confessional heritage without exception. Hyde goes on to argue, however, that God does provide us with His “media”—the preaching of His Word and the administration of His sacraments.

—Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

DR. JOEL BEEKE PREACHING AT THE OCEANSIDE URC

You are cordially invited to worship with us on February 15th at the Oceanside United Reformed Church as Dr. Joel Beeke will be preaching in the morning (11:00am) on Matthew 15:21–28, “How Christ Matures Our Faith,” and in the evening (5:00pm) on Matthew 27:38–50, “Christ Forsaken!”

The Oceanside URC meets at the Army & Navy Academy Chapel, 2605 Carlsbad Blvd. in Carlsbad. For directions go online or call 760.803.0981.

Dr. Beeke is President & Professor of Systematic Theology, Church History, and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and pastor of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, both in Grand Rapids, MI. He is the editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, president of Inheritance Publishers, and vice-president of the Dutch Reformed Translation Society. He has written, co-authored, or edited fifty books and contributed over fifteen hundred articles to Reformed books, journals, periodicals, and encyclopedias. Among Dr. Beeke's books are the following:

A Loving Encouragement to Flee Worldliness

Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children

Family Worship

Gisbertus Voetius: Toward a Reformed Marriage of Knowledge and Piety

Heidelberg Catechism Sermons (2 vols.)

Heirs With Christ: The Puritans on Adoption

Holiness: God's Call to Sanctification

Jehovah Shepherding His Sheep: Sermons on the 23rd Psalm

Living for God's Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism

Overcoming the World: Grace to Win the Daily Battle

Portraits of Faith

Puritan Evangelism: A Biblical Approach

Puritan Reformed Spirituality

Reformed Confessions Harmonized

Striving Against Satan

The Epistles of John

The Family at Church: Listening to Sermons and Attending Prayer Meetings

The Lasting Power of Reformed Experiential Preaching

The Quest for Full Assurance: The Legacy of Calvin and His Successors

Walking as He Walked

My little "Pastor's Perspective" in the February 2009 issue of TableTalk is available online. It's entitled, "The Gospel of the Gospels."

Well, today I am excited. I just found out that Reformation Trust, the publishing arm of Ligonier Ministries, will be publishing my book, Welcome to a Reformed Church: An Introduction. It is due out in late 2009. As with all my writing projects, this one came out of a desire to provide members and especially visitors a clear, concise introduction to the history and theology of Reformed churches.

Special thanks goes out to Wayde, Inwoo, and Sara M. from OURC, as well as my friends and colleagues, Revs. Kevin Efflandt, Jerrold Lewis, Shane Lems, and Kim Riddlebarger.

Here is a link to an article that is now in-print as well as available online. It is entitled, "Lutheran Puritanism? Adiaphora in Lutheran Orthodoxy and Possible Commonalities in Reformed Orthodoxy.” American Theological Inquiry 2:1 (January 2009): 61–83.

Thanks to Dr. Robert Kolb (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) for his stimulating lectures in class back in Jan. 2008 and feedback that made this paper publishable.