Hello! I am Jake. I am a teenager that has grown up in Georgia, and (big surprise) attended a Southern Baptist church. Most people including the Pastor are more Armenian. I never really questioned what I was taught at church. My mom is a minister at our church as well.

However, back in October 2008 I started reading the Bible on my own more frequently. I started to notice verses that didn't match what I had been taught. My first surprise was Proverbs 16:4. Later I came across Ephesians 1, Romans 8 and 9, and other texts. I did some searching online and found out that these verses were used by Calvinists. The verses in my Bible didn't help me (or so I thought) because I had gotten a MacArthur Study Bible that looked nice and was on sale while at Lifeway.

A friend I had met online that was very knowledgeable (comparative to me) in theology turned out to be Calvinist as well, so I began to talk to him. He explained the five points very well and suggested some books I could read. I got some Spurgeon, White, and Piper out of my church library. Soon thereafter I got The Institutes themselves. Pretty soon, I was sure that these men were teaching in accordance to the Bible. I can't even remember how I was able to make Romans 8-9 "work" with what I once believed.

I've been reading these forums for about a month already and finally decided to become a part. The one thing I wasn't sure about were confessions. I have read the London Baptist Confession of 1689 and agree with it, although I am not sure about everything. Consider me a learner for now. I'm still not convinced about some things.

Also, I am looking for book recommendations! Here is what I am reading or have read from Reformed Authors so far (some of these came off of my mom's bookshelf and had a bookmark right near the front... right next to Olsteen and others!):

City of God by St. Augustine
Debating Calvinism by James White and Dave Hunt
Desiring God by John Piper
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper
Spectacular Sins by John Piper
The End for Which God Created the World by Jonathan Edwards
The Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin
The Unexpected Jesus by R. C. Sproul
What is Reformed Theology by R. C. Sproul

And I have sermon collections from Spurgeon and Edwards.

Anyway, nice to meet you guys!

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Jake; Hold to Original WCF, member of SBC; Greater Atlanta, Georgia Area

The cross does not give us a minor shift or two with regard to a few of our ethical and moral and religious values; the cross radically disrupts the very center and citadel of your life from self to Christ. —Albert N. Martin

Hello Jake and Welcome.

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John Komenda
Symphony Bible Church
Conservative Baptist
Buffalo, New York

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Is.65:24 ESV

Welcome to the crew!!

Theognome

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Bill Cunningham
Covenant Reformed Church, URC
Kansas City
There are three kinds of people- those who can count, and those who can't.

Welcome Jake

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Steve Butts - Former SBC-er
Three Forms of Unity - Bradenton CRCNA - Bradenton, Florida
(A conservative member in a conservative congregation)

"Turning away to false Theology is equal to turning away to false gods" — Francis Schaeffer (Death in the City)

Hi Jake! I'm also still fairly new to Reformed Theology. Reading the authors you've already listed helped me a lot, too. Another book that I found very helpful was 'Living for God's Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism" by Joel R. Beeke

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Ashley
Crossbridge Community Church
Texas
vincit qui patitur

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Romans 11:33 NASB

Hey, thanks. I had seen the book before but not the author. I may get that.

Hi! Your testimony of God's goodness is convicting! I should be reading more, especially as so many good books are on my shelves!

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Shalom,
jessi
PCA
Steelers fan exiled to Virginia


“Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”
Martin Luther

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Josiah Lovett
Member of
Trinity OPC
Bothell WA
Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Westminster Standards

Welcome to the board.

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soli Deo gloria!
~Nicholas~ Ordained Pastor
Member, Fulton PCA; GPTS Student
Christians are like snow covered dung; it is the purity of the covering which the Father sees. -Luther-
There is nothing more ugly than a Christian orthodoxy without understanding or without compassion.
-Francis Schaeffer-

Welcome, Jake.

Regarding you reading, you already have a gem in front of you that is hard to beat: Calvin's Institutes. I realize 1,000 pages is long, but if you slowly and thoughtfully work your way through it, especially at this very formative stage for you, it will be a great blessing for the rest of your life; and will especially teach you that Reformed theology is about a whole lot more than some "5 Points."

We're glad to have you here, and hope that your time will be edifying!

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Paul Korte
OPC
Flint, MI

They who perceive in themselves discoveries of the divine goodness, so full and absolutely perfect, and who make them the subject of earnest meditation, will never embrace new doctrines, by which the very grace they feel so powerfully in themselves is thrown into the shade. --John Calvin

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

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Lance G. Marshall
Pastor
Georgetown, Indiana

I got an adbridged version. I have gotten about half way through it thus far. Should I get the full work? And if so, which translation? I got what I could find at a book store.

t

I would have to let someone who has read that abridgment speak to that, as I have not done so and don't know what it contains/leaves out. At the very least, it will surely be a good thing to read! You picked a great book with which to start yourself off.

Greetings and Salutations.

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Donald Jacobs
Roanoke VA.
Covenant Reformed Episcopal Church.

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

Welcome Jake!

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Jennifer Flummerfelt
layman, P.C.A.
Wichita, KS

"Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Happily Married to KS_Presby as of September 12, 2009

Thanks for all the welcomes guys who I haven't responded to!

I recommend the following book because it is an easy read as well as packed with so much reformed theology:

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Joel de Leon
Member (man under care)
Christ Presbyterian Church, OPC
Salt Lake City, UT

The Cleansed Leper

Howdy, Jake.

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We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Lawrence Underwood, Jr.
Pastor - Providence Family Fellowship / Mobile, Alabama
1644/46 LBC
My Blog - Imprimis

Hello Jake and welcome to the PB!

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Toni Cunningham, Wife of Bill (Theognome)
Parkwoods OPC, Overland Park KS

"Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace." ~ Alexander Pope

Welcome Jake! For a teenager you are blessed to have such an introduction to the doctrines of grace on your own research! Impressive, but then that is His sovereignty at work!
I suggest The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink and/or Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul. Both will change your views and heart and give you and truly high and holy view of God and His attributes! Also, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by L. Boettner is great!
Many blessings!

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Nancy L./ www.foundersbaptist.org
Spring, TX

Your will, Lord Jesus Christ! Nothing more... nothing less... nothing else.

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Wayne Sparkman, Th.M.
Director, PCA Historical Center, St. Louis, MO
Blogs: The Continuing Story and PCA History Blog

Happened to a lot of us, Jake. Welcome to the PB!

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Norm
IA PCA

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5

Hi, Jake!
I grew up in Gwinnett, so we have something in common. I know a few good churches in the area, depending on what part of Atlanta you're in, if you ever want to visit around.

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Anna
Wife of Tim/Marrow Man
Louisville, KY
Member of Midlane Park Presbyterian (Associate Reformed Presbyterian)

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Wayne Whitmer
Member, Rio Rancho OPC
Albuquerque, NM

Welcome!

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Will Adair
will@crossmarkchurch.com

Crossmark Church: informing, reforming, transforming, God willing never boring.

Crossmark Church exists to glorify God by lives changed by Jesus Christ. As the lead elder its my job to help see that happen, God willing.

Welcome to the PB family.

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

Welcome!

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Albert, The Republic of the Philippines
Pasig United Covenant Reformed Church (a Reformed church plant)
United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (UCRCP)
Three Forms of Unity and Westminster Confession of Faith

Psalm 27:1a (AV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
“Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.” -

Welcome to the board Jake, thank you so much for sharing your testimony. Blessings.

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Bob Vigneault C.O.L, L.E., G.E, Dr.O.P., O.U.T.
The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog)
Deacon/Christ Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI OPC www.christ-opc.org

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

I'm South of Atlanta. The fellow I mentioned talking to online turned out to be from my county. He is planning to do a church plant nearby once he gets out of seminary (reformed baptist of some sort). However, there is an EPC (any thoughts on this denomination in general?) and a PCA church nearby as well, but I don't think my parents would respond well to me going to another church at this point.

However, I am concerned for my church more than just doctrinally, so I would like to find a new church... but that's for another time.

Welcome. It was encouraging to read your introduction, thank you!

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Wendy, Jersey City, NJ
attending Englewood Baptist Church

"This Spirit – abiding originally as to his person, and immeasurable as to his effects and operations, in himself – he gives to all believers, to inhabit and abide in them also....And in this he is unspeakably glorious."
John Owen The Glory of Christ
blog

to the PB

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Martin - Reformed
Husband to the most godly, honorable and loyal wife Line
Searching for a Church
Webpage www.5solas.dk
Free Online Reformed Seminary - http://www.tnars.net
Soli Deo Gloria

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~Beth Ellen Nagle~
Lakeside Church -Wales, WI (PCA)
Married to John
One wonderful daughter, Chaela Joelle


My work in digital art and photography: http://www.puritanboard.com/members/...ms-images.html

Jake: I spent 16 years in the EPC (now OPC). You may find Reformed folk there; but more often than not they are more "evangelical" than Presbyterian or Reformed. They may also be in transition as more former PCUSA congregations join them. Your nearest congregation may be one of these recently transferred congregations. They're often sincere and loving people; but too swayed by evangelical trends. Check out the PCA congregation. If your parents want you to continue in their congregation for now, perhaps consider attending another congregation for the evening or a mid-week service.

Read Calvin unabridged. The Beveridge translation is solid theologically, but the English may not be as contemporary. I appreciate the Battle's translation with the footnotes. Having it is two volumes also makes it easy to carry half at a time. Get a hardback version. You'll want to mark and keep it as a reference for the rest of your life.

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Glenn Ferrell
Pastor, Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Boise, Idaho

http://sovereignredeemer.org

http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_de...formationidaho


Nec Tamen Consumebatur


The duty of magistrates...extends to both tables of the law, ... those laws are absurd which disregard the rights of God, and consult only for men. - Calvin, Institutes, IV:20:9

Welcome to the PB!

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Yvonne
Reformed Presbyterian
Currently seeking a Church

"A man's most glorious actions will at last be found to be but glorious sins, if he hath made himself, and not the glory of God, the end of those actions." -T. Brooks

Okay, I looked at their history page and this appears to be the case. I missed that before. They left PC(USA) in November 2007.

I may be able to go Sunday evenings.. I would like to go. Since my mom is a minister, we go to my church whenever the doors are open, so it's not too practical for me to go elsewhere.

I don't have a problem with older English myself. I can read older works pretty well... I've always been a bit of a bibliophile though. But thanks for the suggestion. I may get that soon, but I want to at least finish my abridged copy I have now.

welcome bro!!!

ill recomend a couple of books
yo check out the bondage of the will by martin luther
and freedom of the will by johnathan eddwards.
now thats a good question rc sproul
chosen by God rc sproul

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Kevin
Reformed Southern Baptist
Texas
www.redemptionevangelical.com
www.reachrecords.com/speak
For if you doubt or disdain to know that God foreknows and wills all things, not contingently, but necessarily an immutably, how can you believe confidently, trust, and depend upon His promises? Martin Luther

Hey, I actually have 3 of those books on my list of books that I am planning to get! I haven't looked at Now That's a Good Question though. I'll take a look.

Greetings and welcome to the PB!

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John
Member
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.christpres.net

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sarah
WI
OPC
My Pastor's Sermons: Mark Jenkins...he's awesome!!!

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Michael Tremmel
attending Christ Reformed Baptist Church
Hales Corners, WI.

Isaiah 46:5-11

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Ps.16:8 ESV

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Cor.15:10a ESV

Praecepta docent, exempla movent (precepts teach, but examples move)