A Christian can never experience too much conviviality. Yes, there needs to be balance when it comes to our expressing our emotions, but conviviality is different. It’s not a mere sentiment, it’s a state of being. A virtuous state of being.

You can fall into a ditch of somberness or seriousness, for example, but conviviality doesn’t really have a ditch. Because conviviality means living life together as we worship the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In this third and final installment of episodes on conviviality, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle discuss the “highs and lows” of covenant renewal worship, whether a ranch is a house flipped on its side (or a dressing), and what makes Peter a Labrador and Kyle a crow.

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

Welcome to more conviviality!

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In this second installment of a three-parter on conviviality, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle apply their reflections on conviviality to the Lord’s Supper and the serving and partaking of the elements.

How should we come to the Lord’s Table? Shamefaced, guilt-stricken, dour? Looking like we’re dragging ourselves to the gallows? Or with abundant joy and eager to be nourished? Like we are ready for refreshment and renewal?

How we carry ourselves to receive the bread and the wine is a sure indicator of the presence or absence of conviviality. And it tells us a lot about how we perceive Our Lord and what He is offering us at the Table.

He is not only our Savior who spilled blood for us. He is also the Creator of grain and grapes, and the King who likes to throw banquets. So be of good cheer! Come with thanksgiving in your heart! Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

P.S. We hope you enjoy the intro and outro of the podcast, which comes from our very own Elder, Chad Winkler! The piece is an arrangement of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, the Jupiter movement. It’s guaranteed to be a shot of joy in the arm! Here's a link to his arrangement: https://m.soundcloud.com/chad-winkler/jupiter-the-bringer-of-jollity.

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

Are you happy? Are you blessed? Are you full of joy? Does it show on your face? How about feasting and festivity? Are you fond of them? Or do you find yourself gravitating toward what’s grave? Sulking, constantly dour?

A necessary feature of the Pittsburgh Posture here at Beverly Heights is conviviality. To live life together, and to experience and enjoy life together. When singing. When eating. When praying. Even when confessing.

In this first of a three-parter, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle discuss the importance of conviviality in the Christian’s life, too much seriousness and somberness in the modern church, and the virtue of celebration.

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

Jesus makes it clear that it is the mission of the church to make Christians. After the resurrection and before his ascension, He gives the Church the Great Commission, which we read about in Matthew 28:18-20: "Go and make disciples."

A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who learns to observe all of Jesus’ teachings and participates in the practices He instituted—like observing the Sabbath and participating in the sacraments.

Confirmation classes here at Beverly Heights do just that. Students learn what it means to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and how to be member of His Church.

This is done through Scripture memorization, learning the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, and discussions about the confession and catechism of our Reformed tradition.

Join Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle as they discuss this part of the ongoing mission of the Church and the work of sanctification in the lives of our youngest covenant members.

Please pray for Pastor Nate, our confirmands, and their sponsors as confirmation class starts this Sunday!

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

“Did you see the game last night? Did you watch until the end and see him make that game-winning shot? I could not believe it! The kids were absolutely hysterical, and my neighbor was jumping up and down so erratically he almost fell out the window. Man, that was wild.”

When you watch something that others have watched, you have something to talk about. When you eat something others have eaten, you have something to talk about. When you read something others have read, you have something to talk about.

In this episode, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle discuss the Robert Murray M'Cheyne Bible reading plan and why it’s important for a congregation to read the same books, chapters, and verses of the Bible. Being on the same page and having the same diet brings God’s people together.

Moreover, they discuss what you should do if you “drop the ball.” That is, what’s the best practice for catching up when you get days, weeks, and months behind on your reading plan? Should you skip to the current day? Cram it all in on a Saturday? Just give up?

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

Education means to "lead out" (educere). When you educate someone, you take them out of darkness into the light. Out of deception and into true perception. Out of a vicious way of thinking or acting into the freedom of the abundant life.

In this episode, Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle discuss the various classes being taught at Beverly Heights this season. Everything from Pastor Nate's "Pittsburgh Posture" class to Pastor Pete's class on Romans.

It gets really interesting when they start talking about eating greasy cheeseburgers to the glory of God and brushing your teeth like a Christian. There is a culture to 1207, and we are all about making Christians.

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

Is God still communicating with His people? What does it mean to hear from the Spirit? Is there more going on around us than what meets the eye? What does the Bible mean by principalities and powers? Who is the Anti-Christ?

This past week we entered the season of Advent. ’Tis the season of waiting, of being patient, and of observing. It's a time of reflecting on the Word made flesh and His “coming-to” (advenio) His people. On that day, heaven broke through and brought the abundant life.

In this episode, Pastor Nate delineates and discusses this year’s Advent sermon series. It will focus on the Spirit of Christmas, which will include two themes: the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ and the principalities and powers that seek to contest His kingdom.

Join Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle as they reflect on the season of Advent and Christmas and the life the Lord is producing in our midst. A life of anticipation, preparation, and blessing. A life in step with the Spirit of Life.

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/

Do you have teeth? Are you thankful for them? How about the toothbrushes and the paste you use to make them all pearly? What about hair? Are you thankful for it, and for your husband’s scraggly beard?

We’re back in time and talking about Thanksgiving! What does it mean to be thankful? What does it look like to express gratitude? We love our pilgrims, turkeys, and yellow leaves—but are we thankful for them?

Everything is a gift, and Christians must have a heart that can turn its gaze toward the many donations of our divine Lord and appreciate them. And Christian parents must cultivate this heart in their children.

But how do you turn Complainers into Celebrators? How do you get yourself or others to move from Grieving to Gratitude? Get a sneak peek into how Pastors Nate, Peter, and Kyle do this.

Join Pastor Nate, Pastor Peter, and Pastor Kyle as they reflect on the holiday of Thanksgiving in contradistinction to Halloween, Christmas, and Black Friday, and how the Church must defend Thanksgiving and resist consumerism!

Welcome to another episode of We Make Christians!

https://beverlyheights.org/ | https://theparrhesians.com/