We are grateful for the signs and seals of your covenant; indeed they are precious gifts. But at the same time, oh Lord, we have a sinful proclivity as fallen human beings to idolize the good gifts that you have given us and forget who has given us the gifts.

In recent days Christianity Today’s editor-in-chief Mark Galli published an editorial calling for the impeachment and removal of President Trump from office. Before I wade into the debate, I want to distinguish two important issues that Mr. Galli raises in his article. First, there is his call for President Trump’s impeachment.

One of the casualties of the modern theological curriculum is the division of the different theological disciplines. In the nineteenth-century theologians created the fourfold division of theology: biblical studies, church history, theology, and practical theology.

Over the years I have had many students come into my office and ask me about pursuing doctoral studies. One of the first questions I ask them is, “Why?” I ask this question because many students don’t know that pursuing doctoral studies is a long, difficult, and burdensome path.

Someone recently contacted me to ask about good resources for doing further study in church history. There is, of course, an ocean of literature on the subject but I’ve found the following books particularly useful in my own study of church history, both for personal edification and preparing for courses that I have or presently teach.

As Christians we commit ourselves to the truth of God’s word—we profess to worship and believe in the truth incarnate, Jesus Christ, and we devote ourselves to the study of God’s written truth, namely, his word. We regularly seek the truth of God’s word each and every Lord’s Day as we go to church and draw near to Christ through the means of grace—word, sacrament, and prayer. We walk away from a worship service and give thanks to God when one of his faithful ministers heralds the truth and preaches the gospel of grace. But as dedicated as we are to knowing and living the truth, many of us fear it.

Preachers often give thought to the question of how they will get the message of the gospel out to people who need to hear it. The church is, after all, supposed to evangelize the nations. While preachers are ready to preach God’s word, there is the practical question of what means he will use beyond standing in the pulpit and speaking. Should a church advertise? Send out e-mail blasts? Broadcast radio messages? Encourage people to invite their friends to church? There is a myriad of ways that a church can get the word out. Regardless of what methods a pastor chooses, there is an important principle to remember: never seek to appeal to the masses. This may seem counterintuitive. But in truth, preachers and churches must remember that their calling is to address the remnant.