Blogs by Phil Ryken

Sunday was a marvelous day of worship at Tenth Presbyterian Church, with the ordination of Jonathan David Olsen as Assistant Minister for City Outreach.  I heard Jonathan's membership interview ten years ago, when he first came to worship with us... continue

I see that it has been a little while since I have managed even a brief post.  Among the many things that occupied my attention this week were two days of board meetings at Philadelphia's Westminster Theological Seminary.  This week... continue

Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in C Minor ("Resurrection") was played at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center last night to rapturous applause.  I am sorry that Derek Thomas couldn't have been here for the performance, which was welcomed with four curtain calls... continue

"A creed and a grave never did equal the life of anything" -- Wendell Berry... continue

At last week's Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (in, of all places, Philadelphia), Don Carson shared a telling anecdote from a colleague involved with the Princeton Evangelical Fellowship.  Women on campus face three crushing cultural pressures: first, to get all... continue

The Protestant Church of Smyrna (modern day Izmir) has sent a letter to their brothers and sisters in the global church detailing the martyrdom of three Christian men in Malatya.  An earlier version of this letter has been widely circulated. ... continue

I am saddened to learn today of the passing of Robert Webber, who was kind to me in my growing up years and happened to be one of the best professors I had at Wheaton College.  It is good to... continue

In addition to Carl's excellent points, I offer the following:1. The Church Fathers have a more constant concern for the poor -- an emphasis sometimes lacking in contemporary evangelicalism.2. The Church Fathers placed a prominent emphasis on the resurrection --... continue

The news of John Stott's upcoming retirement brings many thoughts of appreciation for his ministry, with gratitude to God.I first heard Dr. Stott preach at Wheaton College -- a marvelous Bible exposition, with Stott's characteristic clarity in explaining the Gospel. ... continue

It was a great blessing to have D.A. Carson at Tenth Presbyterian Church this weekend, both for the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology (PCRT) and for preaching on Sunday.  Preaching yesterday from James 1, Dr. Carson made a memorable comment... continue