Reformed Forum

The Book of Daniel, Part 19

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:39:44 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss the vision of the four beasts in chapter 7.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The True Witness (John 16) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 11–21) (Lesson 6)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Faithful Witness under Persecution

03:24 The Disciples' Sorrow and Jesus's Provision

08:01 Pentecost and the Giving of the Spirit

11:13 The Church's Witness and the Spirit's Work of Conviction

18:28 The Inspired and Infallible Word of God

23:49 Sorrow Turned to Joy

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/gospel-of-john-a-study-in-the-truth-chapters-11-21

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

The Nature of the Church with Matthew Vogan

Fri, 29 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

We welcome Matthew Vogan to discuss The Nature of the Church by John Brown of Wamphray, a concise seventeenth-century work on Presbyterian ecclesiology republished by Grange Press. Brown, a Scottish Covenanter exiled to the Netherlands, wrote with deep conviction about Christ's headship over the church, the visible and invisible church, church government, discipline, unity, and the distinction between church and state.

This conversation explores why Brown's work remains timely for pastors, elders, seminarians, and church members today. Rather than treating church government as a secondary or merely practical matter, Brown presents the church as a visible spiritual society established by Christ, governed by his Word, and ordered for the edification of his people.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

0:00 Introduction
1:15 The Nature of the Church by John Brown of Wamphray
4:30 John Brown's life, ministry, exile, and Covenanter context
8:40 Matthew Vogan's introduction to John Brown
9:36 Brown's 32 theses and the Westminster Confession
10:54 A majestic view of Christ's church
12:33 The scope of Brown's ecclesiology
15:12 The church as a visible spiritual society
21:43 Church and state under Christ's authority
27:08 Scripture and Presbyterian church government
30:53 Brown's polemics against Erastianism, prelacy, and independency
35:00 Ministerial authority and edification
39:17 The church's spiritual government
42:14 The spirituality of the church
44:59 Key insights from Brown's work
46:06 Communion within the visible catholic church
52:21 Further reading: Durham, Gillespie, Rutherford, and Bannerman
53:55 Final thoughts on The Nature of the Church
55:00 Scottish football and closing conversation
56:57 Reformed Forum resources and conclusion

Participants

Camden Bucey
Matthew Vogan

Resources mentioned

Grange Press
The Nature of the Church by John Brown of Wamphray
Trinitarian Bible Society
Christ the Center 682: David Dickson's Sermons on Lamentations

The True Vine (John 15) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 11–21) (Lesson 5)

Mon, 25 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The True Vine Discourse (vv. 1–17)

17:07 Abiding in the Vine amidst the Hatred of the World (vv. 18–27)

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

John Calvin as Counselor: Pastoral Wisdom from His Letters

Fri, 22 May 2026 08:41:00 -0400

We welcome Dr. Michael Mock to discuss his D.Min. dissertation on John Calvin's pastoral counseling through his correspondence. Drawing from Calvin's letters, Mock shows how the Reformer cared for people amid grief, anxiety, marital conflict, abuse, persecution, and suffering with theological depth and compassion. The conversation challenges the caricature of Calvin as cold or detached, highlighting his attention to the whole person—mind, heart, and will—and his confidence in God's providence, prayer, Scripture, and the ministry of the local church. Calvin's letters reveal a model of soul care that remains deeply relevant for pastors, elders, and church members today.

The Book of Daniel, Part 18

Tue, 19 May 2026 09:30:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel by developing some themes in Daniel with the Book of Revelation.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Our True Home (John 14) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 11–21) (Lesson 4)

Mon, 18 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 A Word of Comfort for Anxious Disciples

05:44 Christ's Departure and Return: Preparing Our True Home

09:14 Seeing the Father in the Face of Jesus Christ

13:15 Jesus Gives His Spirit to the Church

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

Confessional Reformed Renewal in Germany

Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this special on-location episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey visits Gießen, Germany, to explore a remarkable work of confessional Reformed renewal. Through conversations with Johann, Lukas Strauß, and Philip Paul, listeners are introduced to the Academy for Reformed Theology, a growing seminary that serves students across German-speaking Europe through a hybrid model of in-person intensives, online instruction, and close partnership with local churches. The episode also traces the recent formation of a new continental Reformed denomination in Germany, the challenges of church planting in a highly secular and heavily taxed society, and the need for pastors who can preach, plant, and patiently build confessional churches from the ground up by God's grace.

What emerges is a deeply encouraging portrait of ordinary, faithful labor. The conversation highlights the need for indigenous theological leadership, German-language Reformed resources, and strong ecclesial communities where believers are not left to grow in isolation. Lucas reflects on discovering Reformed theology and using podcasting and social media to introduce it to German listeners, while Philip describes the theological journey that led his family to move for the sake of a confessional church home. Taken together, these conversations offer a vivid glimpse into the opportunities and difficulties of gospel ministry in Germany today—and a compelling call to pray for theological training, church planting, and lasting Reformed witness.

Chapters

0:00 — Introduction from Gießen, Germany
3:36 — The Academy for Reformed Theology—history and mission
7:23 — How the seminary serves students across Germany and Switzerland
13:14 — Why part-time theological training matters in Germany
16:53 — A new confessional Reformed denomination in Germany
21:43 — What church planting requires: men, people, and finances
25:59 — How the seminary is funded and how students manage study and work
28:51 — Why Germany needs indigenous Reformed pastors and literature
34:53 — Bullinger, suffering, and providence
38:56 — Lukas Strauß on becoming Reformed and serving through media
49:18 — Podcasting, social media, and explaining Reformed theology in German
58:17 — Why Reformed believers in Germany need real church connection
1:02:23 — Philip Paul on law, theology, and moving for church
1:18:09 — From Calvinism to covenant theology and paedobaptism
1:32:46 — Elder service, church commitment, and counsel for German Christians
1:39:13 — Reasons for gratitude and prayer for Reformed churches in Germany

True Purification (John 13) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 11–21) (Lesson 3)

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the third lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Introduction and Placement of John 13

01:22 Jesus's Foot Washing and the Redemptive Cleansing of the Cross

13:20 Judas's Betrayal in Fulfillment of Psalm 41

20:23 The New Commandment to Love One Another

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

Cornelius W. Grafton: "Mississippi's Greatest Minister" (with David T. Irving)

Fri, 08 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Camden Bucey welcomes David T. Irving, President of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, for a rich conversation on Irving's dissertation, Mississippi's Greatest Minister: A Historical Study of Cornelius W. Grafton's 61-Year Pastorate, 1873–1934. Before turning to Grafton, they discuss Irving's recent transition into seminary leadership and the growing pastoral shortage across confessional Presbyterian churches, reflecting on the need for prayer, training, and laborers for Christ's harvest.

The heart of the episode explores the life and ministry of Cornelius W. Grafton, a remarkable Mississippi Presbyterian pastor whose decades of quiet faithfulness, denominational leadership, educational labor, and pastoral endurance left a deep mark on church life in the American South. Camden and David consider why Grafton has been largely overlooked, what his ministry reveals about ordinary pastoral faithfulness, and how his life still instructs ministers and churches today.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:08 Introduction and guest welcome
01:09 Mississippi's Greatest Minister and today's topic
02:03 RTS Jackson update and the pastoral shortage
08:20 David Irving's connection to Mississippi and Cornelius W. Grafton
14:06 Why Grafton has been overlooked in church history
18:14 Grafton's early religious life and spiritual maturation
23:58 Education, pastoral formation, and early ministry
29:33 Union Church, rural ministry, and a sixty-one-year pastorate
36:46 Grafton's preaching, pastoral rhythms, and churchmanship
43:18 Denominational leadership, education, and public influence
49:19 Grafton as historian and the unpublished history of Mississippi Presbyterianism
54:03 Lessons from Grafton's life and ministry today
59:09 Closing remarks and upcoming Reformed Forum events

Resources Mentioned

Participants: Camden Bucey, David T. Irving

The Book of Daniel, Part 17

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:04:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the book of Daniel by discussing chapter 7 and Daniel’s vision of the four beasts.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The True Light (John 12) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 11–21) (Lesson 2)

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the second lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Theme of Light

02:14 The Light Exposes the Darkness through an Empty Perfume Jar (vv. 1–11)

12:35 The Light Exposes the Darkness through the Triumphal Entry (vv. 12–26)

22:45 Jesus Is the True Light (vv. 27–50)

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

Vos Group #108 — Kingdom and Church (The Finale)

Fri, 01 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this concluding installment of Vos Group's extended journey through Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton reflect on one of the most significant themes in Vos's account of redemptive history: the relationship between the kingdom of God and the church. Focusing especially on Matthew 16 and Jesus's promise, "I will build my church," they explain that Christ is not introducing an unrelated people, but bringing the covenant people of God into a new, eschatological mode of existence through his death, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The church is not a mere institutional add-on to the kingdom. Rather, in its inaugurated form, the church is the kingdom of God as constituted by the Spirit of the ascended Christ. The episode also explores the church's indestructible life, the meaning of the "gates of hell," the centrality of the means of grace, and the already/not-yet character of the kingdom's coming. Along the way, Camden and Lane also mark the end of this long-running series on Biblical Theology and preview the next phase of Vos Group on The Teaching of Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church.

Chapters

00:00:08 Introduction and Vos Group finale
00:01:06 Save the date for the 1,000th episode celebration
00:07:23 Transition from Biblical Theology to The Teaching of Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church
00:09:01 Matthew 16 and the meaning of "my church"
00:12:14 Continuity and redemptive-historical newness in the church
00:15:28 Pentecost, Acts 2, and the constitution of the church
00:21:56 The church after Christ's ascension and the new mode of life in the Spirit
00:29:23 The indestructible life of the kingdom and the gates of hell
00:35:29 The means of grace, preaching, and the keys of the kingdom
00:36:52 The nearness of the kingdom and inaugurated eschatology
00:42:10 The church is not merely instrumental to some higher kingdom purpose
00:49:20 The church as the kingdom of God in inaugurated form
00:53:20 Pilgrim identity and longing for consummation
00:56:42 Closing reflections and upcoming resources

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane Tipton

Seeking a Better Country (John 11) | The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Ch. 11–21) (Lesson 1)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

This is the first lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Concept of Truth in John's Gospel

01:58 Jesus Comes to Give a Better Life (vv. 1–44)

19:30 Jesus Brings a Better Country (vv. 45–57)

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#truth #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

The Theology and Theologians of Scotland (w/Donald John MacLean)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Donald John MacLean, President of Westminster Seminary UK and trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust, for a rich conversation on James Walker's The Theology and Theologians of Scotland. Their discussion begins with an update on Westminster Seminary UK's move to Oxford and the remarkable ministry of the Reformed Colloquium in Budapest, where confessional Reformed believers from across Europe gather for fellowship, encouragement, and theological exchange.

The heart of the episode focuses on Banner of Truth's newly expanded edition of Walker's classic work. MacLean explains why the book has served for decades as an indispensable guide to the Scottish theological tradition, opening up figures beyond the better-known names and tracing major themes in church history, ecclesiology, providence, the atonement, and church-state relations. Together, Camden and Donald John reflect on the historical setting of Scottish theology, the value of Walker's new footnotes and translations, and the abiding importance of visible church unity and Christ's headship over his church.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

0:00 Introduction and episode overview
0:32 Donald John MacLean and the new Banner edition
2:25 Westminster Seminary UK and the Reformed Colloquium
10:17 Westminster Seminary UK's move to Oxford
16:07 James Walker and The Theology and Theologians of Scotland
19:01 The Cunningham Lectures and Walker's publication history
22:29 Why the new edition adds notes, biography, and sermons
26:20 Why Scottish theology still matters
27:42 Struggle, exile, and the international character of Scottish theology
29:29 Patristic influence and later shifts in Scottish scholarship
33:31 Providence, concurrence, and difficult doctrinal questions
37:26 The atonement, divine justice, and theological diversity in Scotland
40:06 The Marrow Controversy and covenant theology
43:54 Visible church unity and Scottish ecclesiology
51:14 Christ's headship, Erastianism, and church-state relations
55:16 Further reading in Scottish theology
57:40 Closing remarks

Resources Mentioned

The Theology and Theologians of Scotland, James Walker (Banner of Truth)
Westminster Seminary UK
The Whole Christ, Sinclair B. Ferguson
Scottish Theology, John Macleod
A Scottish Christian Heritage, Ian Murray
The Fifty Years' Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters, James Dodds

Participants: Camden Bucey, Donald John MacLean

Implications for Worship, Preaching, & Lord's Supper | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 14)

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the fourteenth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers The Heavenly Character of Worship, Calvin's Sacramentology and Doctrine of Union with Christ, Sacraments Signify, Exhibit, and Seal, Christ's Mediation and the Sacraments, and Calvin on Being Raised to Heaven in Communion.

Reformed Academy

Why Pastors Need Deep Theology and Real Friendship

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Pastoral ministry requires more than competence, productivity, or weekly sermon preparation. It requires deep theological roots and the kind of real friendship that helps a man endure, grow, and remain faithful over time. In this conversation, Camden Bucey is joined by Derrick Brite and Sean Morris to explore why theological formation and pastoral brotherhood are essential for long-term ministry health.

Together, they reflect on the value of places like Twin Lakes Fellowship, the dangers of pastoral isolation, and the way meaningful friendships can provide encouragement, accountability, and spiritual strength. They also make the case that deep theology is not a luxury for academics or large churches, but a necessity for faithful ministry in every context. This episode is a reminder that pastors are not meant to serve alone, and that rich doctrine and honest friendship are two of God's ordinary means for sustaining those called to shepherd his people.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Twin Lakes recap
02:55 Pastors Scholars Fellowship and last year's experiment
04:15 Chicago food banter—deep dish, beef, and regional cuisine
10:54 Why pastors need deep theology and real friendship
12:10 Reformed Forum updates, conference news, and the 1000th episode summit
18:03 Sean Morris on discovering Twin Lakes Fellowship
21:55 Derrick Brite on how Twin Lakes shaped his ministry path
25:01 What's at stake when pastors become isolated
36:19 Ministry networking vs. real pastoral friendship
41:57 How pastoral friendships bless wives and families too
45:06 Theology, friendship, and sharpening one another in ministry
55:36 Why deep theology matters in rural and small-church contexts
1:08:46 Theology, worship, and why doctrine leads to doxology
1:09:48 Larger for Life, listener feedback, and closing remarks

This is Christ the Center episode 955 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc955)

The Book of Daniel, Part 16

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 6, Daniel continues to face more challenges under the new regime and finds himself in trouble once again. We discuss Daniel in the lions’ den.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Consummation in Hebrews 12:26–29 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 13)

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the thirteenth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers The Shaking of the Earth and Heavens, Heaven as Enduring and Permanent, A New Heavens and New Earth and the Heavenizing Movement, and Hebrews 12:28 and Worship as the Central Religious Activity of the Kingdom.

Reformed Academy

Planting Ordinary Means of Grace Churches: Trusting Christ to Build His Church

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey speaks with Lee Hutchings and Ben Kappers about the work of planting ordinary means of grace churches and learning to trust Christ to build his church. Drawing from their ministry experience in North Canton, Ohio, and St. George, Utah, they reflect on the challenges of church planting, the slow and often hidden nature of growth, and the need to rest not in novelty, personality, or technique, but in the ordinary means God has appointed.

Lee Hutchings serves as senior pastor of Trinity PCA in North Canton, Ohio, a congregation he planted after years of ministry in Mississippi. Ben Kappers serves All Saints Reformed Church in St. George, Utah, as an evangelist under the oversight of Northern California Presbytery, bringing experience from both the Reformed Church in America and the Presbyterian Church in America.

Together they offer pastoral wisdom on planting confessionally Reformed churches through the clear proclamation of Christ, the faithful teaching of Scripture, prayer, and the ordinary ministry of the church. This conversation encourages pastors, elders, and church members alike to labor patiently and confidently, knowing that the Lord is pleased to gather and strengthen his people through his appointed means.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:15 Twin Lakes Fellowship, encouragement, and ministry refreshment
08:20 Lee Hutchings's Jackson years and his memorable film-extra story
13:10 Ben Kappers's path from the RCA to the PCA
19:25 How the St. George and North Canton church plants began
29:40 Trusting Scripture and Christ rather than strategy or novelty
34:05 What ordinary means church planting looks like in practice
39:20 Slow growth, discouragement, and resisting church-growth pressure
46:35 Confessional identity, Mormon context, and knowing the people you serve
56:10 Planting for future generations and final encouragement

The Book of Daniel, Part 15

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 6, Daniel faces more challenges under the new regime and finds himself in hot water once again. We discuss the events leading up to Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Christ as Forerunner in Hebrews 6:19–20 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 12)

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the twelfth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers Firstfruits and Forerunner, Resurrection Life Serves Ascension Life, Christ's Entrance into the Eschatological Fullness of His High Priestly Ministry, The New and Living Way, and The Application of Redemption in Hebrews.

Reformed Academy

Vos Group #107 — Kingdom and Church

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton continue their study of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology. Turning to Vos's treatment of the kingdom of God and the church, they explore the importance of Caesarea Philippi, Peter's confession, and Christ's promise, "I will build my church."

Lane explains why Vos sees this moment as a decisive redemptive-historical transition: the kingdom of God, proclaimed and embodied in Christ, begins to assume its ecclesial form. Together, Camden and Lane discuss the church as the kingdom in its present historical expression, the role of the Spirit poured out from the ascended Christ, and the distinction between the kingdom's inaugurated and consummated forms.

They also consider how Vos's teaching helps clarify ongoing theological questions concerning the kingdom of grace and glory, the already/not-yet structure of redemptive history, the thought of Meredith Kline, and the strengths and weaknesses of more recent reductionist or two-kingdom approaches.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and transition into Vos on the kingdom and the church
01:46 The kingdom as the sphere of blessedness
05:39 Caesarea Philippi as a redemptive-historical turning point
08:16 Peter's confession and "I will build my church"
10:26 The church as the kingdom in its present historical form
15:26 The kingdom in its inaugurated and consummated forms
18:10 The kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory
22:32 Kline and the "heavenization" of the church
26:50 Two-kingdom theology and Christ's mediatorial reign
29:53 Reductionist views of the kingdom
36:30 The kingdom, the church, and redemptive-historical development
43:45 Measuring the kingdom's progress in the world
49:30 Final reflections and concluding thoughts

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Heavenly High Priesthood in the Book of Hebrews Pt 2 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 11)

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the eleventh lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers Christ's Advancement to Beatitude by Ascension, Not Incarnation, The Regalizing and Sanctifying of Heaven Itself, Christ, Not a Priest on Earth, Copies and Shadows of the True Tabernacle, and Vos on The Vertical and Horizontal Aspects of Typology.

Reformed Academy

John L. Girardeau on Adoption: The Forgotten Glory of the Gospel | Jonathan Master and Matt Holst

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Why has the doctrine of adoption received so little attention in Reformed theology?

In this live episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined by Jonathan Master and Matt Holst at Shiloh Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, to discuss John L. Girardeau's rich and pastoral treatment of adoption. The conversation explores why adoption should not be collapsed into justification or regeneration, how it addresses our alienation from God, and why it matters so deeply for prayer, suffering, assurance, and the Christian life.

Along the way, the panel reflects on Girardeau's life and ministry, Adam's original sonship, Christ's filial obedience, the believer's inheritance in Christ, and the comfort of knowing God not only as Judge, but as Father.

This is a warm and theologically substantial discussion on one of the most beautiful and neglected doctrines in Scripture.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and live recording at Shiloh OPC
01:45 Why discuss John L. Girardeau on adoption?
03:12 Who was John L. Girardeau?
09:52 Why adoption is such an important doctrine
14:05 Why adoption has been neglected in Reformed theology
17:50 Courtroom and family room: justification and adoption
23:19 Adam's original sonship and what was lost in the fall
27:07 Christ's sonship and key Christological distinctions
33:14 The pastoral comfort of adoption
37:33 Adoption, suffering, and inheritance
41:17 God's name on his people and the hope of glory
43:24 How adoption transforms prayer
50:11 The Father's generosity toward his children
53:04 Final reflections and conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master, Matt Holst

Genesis 36:1–37:1 — A Directory of Earthly Inheritance

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Immediately after the death of Isaac in Genesis 35 we get a genealogy of Esau — an interruption, it seems, to the story of the patriarchs. Should you preach on a genealogy? Does it “preach” at all? In this episode we see how the story of Christ is found even in the genealogy of the ungodly line.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder

Heavenly High Priesthood in the Book of Hebrews Pt 1 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 10)

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the tenth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers The Kephalaion or Central Point of Hebrews, Dennison on Hebrews 2:5, 3:1, and 8:1, The Theme of the World to Come in Hebrews 2:5, and The Program of Christ as Our Great Apostle and High Priest.

Reformed Academy

What Is a Presbyterian—and Why Does Presbyterian Government Matter?

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

What is a Presbyterian? Is Presbyterianism merely a style of church government, or is it a coherent biblical and theological system? In this episode we welcome Matthew Adams and Ben Ratliff for a lively conversation on Presbyterian identity, church government, and why polity still matters.

The discussion begins with Matt Adams's article, "Grassroots Presbyterianism ≠ Congregationalism," and expands into a broader exploration of Presbyterian ecclesiology. Along the way, the panel considers plurality and parity of elders, the role of presbyteries and general assemblies, the importance of connectionalism, and the ways accountability serves the peace, purity, and unity of the church.

They also reflect on differences in ecclesial culture among the PCA, OPC, and URCNA, discuss overtures and church courts, and offer practical encouragement for ordinary church members who want to be active, faithful Presbyterians in their local congregations.

Matthew Adams serves as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina. A native of Dillon County, he holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Christian Counseling from Liberty University and an M.Div. from Erskine Theological Seminary, and he is pursuing doctoral studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. In addition to his pastoral ministry, Adams serves as a council member for the Gospel Reformation Network and co-hosts the podcast Larger for Life.

Ben Ratliff serves as Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Mississippi. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, he earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Belhaven University and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson in 2013. Before coming to Cleveland, he served at Providence PCA in Salisbury, Maryland, and later at churches in south Mississippi. Ratliff is also a co-host of the podcast Polity Matters, where helps lead conversations on Presbyterian polity and church government.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:49 Why Presbyterian government matters
03:12 Grassroots Presbyterianism is not congregationalism
08:56 Why the confusion persists
11:02 Different Presbyterian cultures: PCA, OPC, and URCNA
14:25 Overtures, church courts, and how change happens
22:27 What Presbyterianism is
25:50 Plurality, parity, and connectionalism
32:48 Accountability, freedom, and the well-being of the church
39:27 How church members can participate
48:36 Polity Matters, Larger for Life, and final thoughts

Participants: Ben Ratliff, Camden Bucey, Matt Adams

Jesus and Heavenly Mount Zion | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 9)

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the ninth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers Heavenly Mount Zion, the Convergence of God's Self-Revelation and Permanent Dwellin, The Verticalizing Movement in Hebrews 12:22–24, A Biblical Theology of the Mountains of God: Eden, A Biblical Theology of the Mountains of God: Ararat, and A Biblical Theology of the Mountains of God: Moriah.

Reformed Academy

Jonathan Master | The History of Special Revelation: Geerhardus Vos and Reformed Biblical Theology

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this special crossover episode—recorded at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary—Camden Bucey joins Jonathan Master, President of Greenville Seminary, for a conversation on the life, method, and enduring relevance of Geerhardus Vos (1862–1949). Vos stands as a remarkable bridge figure: Dutch by birth, deeply shaped by continental Reformed theology and close friendship with Herman Bavinck, yet firmly planted in the American confessional Presbyterian tradition as the first chair of biblical theology at Old Princeton Seminary alongside B. B. Warfield.

Drs. Bucey and Master explore Vos's foundational distinction between biblical theology and systematic theology—and why both are indispensable for faithful exegesis and preaching. Biblical theology, which Vos himself preferred to call "the history of special revelation," reads Scripture as the organic, progressive unfolding of God's redemptive acts in history—from the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 to the consummation of all things in Christ. That redemptive-historical framework opens up notoriously difficult passages (Hebrews 6, the unforgivable sin) in ways systematics alone cannot. The conversation also covers Vos's two-age eschatology, his key works (Biblical Theology, The Pauline Eschatology, Grace and Glory, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church), and the question of why Vos remained at Princeton when Machen and others departed.

Chapters

0:00 Introduction: Camden at Greenville Seminary
1:08 Greenville Seminary Launches Confessional.org
3:47 Geerhardus Vos: Bridge Figure Between Princeton and the Continent
9:03 What Is Biblical Theology? The History of Special Revelation
13:49 Why We Need Both Biblical Theology and Systematics
16:33 "You Cannot Do Either Without the Other"
22:19 Why Did Vos Remain at Princeton?
27:48 Vos's Key Works
31:39 The "Vibe of Vos": Redemptive History in Practice
37:44 The Two-Age Eschatology: Already and Not Yet
40:33 Closing Remarks

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master

Moses and Earthly Mount Sinai | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 8)

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the eighth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers The Contrast Between Two Mountains, Reading of Exodus 24, Mount Sinai's Three-Fold Partitioning Reflected in the Tabernacle, and Moses' Ascent Up the Mountain.

Reformed Academy

Justin Poythress | Who You Are in Christ—Identity, Purpose, and the Christian Life

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In a culture saturated with self-help strategies, identity politics, and the language of "manifesting," where do Christians turn for a stable, coherent sense of self? On this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey sits down with pastor and author Justin N. Poythress to explore the deep theological roots of the identity crisis plaguing our age. Drawing from his new book, Who Am I? And What Am I Doing With My Life? Finding Stability and Purpose in Jesus (The Good Book Company), Poythress argues that only Christ can rightly function as our "master identity"—the organizing center beneath every role, relationship, and calling. Work, sexuality, politics, and even parenting all fail catastrophically when elevated to that ultimate position, because none of them can bear the weight of the human soul.

At the heart of the conversation lies a powerful biblical framework: we are in Christ while also being conformed to his image. Romans 8:29 declares that God predestined His people to be conformed to the image of His Son—a settled identity and a lifelong trajectory of growth. Poythress unpacks how 2 Corinthians 3:18 reframes the secular obsession with "manifesting" into the biblical practice of beholding Christ, the true mechanism of transformation. The episode also explores the church as a "thick community" designed for the kind of multi-dimensional, embodied relationships that curated online personas can never provide. For pastors, elders, and anyone seeking maturity in Christ, the takeaway is both liberating and compelling: the Christian life is a matter of becoming what you already are in Christ.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
08:50 Master and Sub-Identities
13:53 Identity as a Theological Issue
16:58 Romans 8:29
21:22 Manifesting vs. Beholding
28:09 The Means of Grace
32:19 Thick Communities
41:12 Authenticity
46:14 Work, Sexuality, and Politics as Functional Religions
51:12 Becoming What You Are in Christ
56:29 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Justin N. Poythress

Sabbath Rest in Hebrews 3:7–4:11: Millennial Views | The History of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 7)

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the seventh lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers Author of Hebrews Is Not a Premillennialist, Author of Hebrews Is Not Postmillennialist, Gaffin on the Usefulness of the Cross, and Amillennialism on Suffering in Christ as Redemptive Blessing.

Reformed Academy

The Eternal Son

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Dr. Robert Letham joins Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey to discuss Dr. Letham’s recent book The Eternal Son (P&R Publishing). Their conversation presses into a simple but urgent claim: Christology is not a side department of theology—it is the living center. When the church loses clarity about who the Son is, the gospel itself becomes unclear because salvation depends on the identity of the Savior. They also explore why the church must listen carefully to the whole ecumenical tradition, especially the often-neglected debates after Chalcedon.

Dr. Letham explains why it matters that the acting subject in the Gospels is the eternal Son, who assumes a true human nature without change in his divine person. From there, they engage contemporary confusions—especially biblicism that isolates Scripture from the church’s confession—and they address the claim that Christ was “adopted” at the resurrection, showing how such proposals unravel both orthodox Christology and the gracious character of adoption for believers.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
02:04 This Book within the Trilogy
04:36 Christ and the Center of Christianity
11:05 Reading the Bible in Isolation
16:44 The Ecumenical Councils After Chalcedon
26:44 The Pre-Existent Son
30:24 Christology from Below
35:54 The Doctrine of Adoption
44:48 Twin Errors of Christology and Soteriology
53:15 An Exhortation to Re-Examine the Historical Confession of the Church
56:19 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton, Robert Letham

The Book of Daniel, Part 14

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 5, we see the handwriting on the wall, Daniel’s interpretation of what is written, and King Belshazzar’s response.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Sabbath Rest in Hebrews 3:7–4:11: Use of Psalm 95:7–11 | The History of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 6)

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the Wilderness-Testing and Land-Resting Paradigm, Analogical Application to the Church, the Church as Wilderness Community of Strangers and Exiles, and the Use of Psalm 95:7–11 in Hebrews 3:7–4:11.

Reformed Academy

Cornelius Van Til’s Letters from America

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Dan Ragusa speaks about Letters from America (Reformed Forum). Between 1935 and 1940, Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) wrote twenty-four letters from America for the Dutch magazine De Reformatie at the invitation of its editor Klaas Schilder (1890–1952). Daniel Ragusa’s translation presents these letters in English for the first time.

Letters from America opens a window into a critical moment in Reformed history—when orthodox and confessional Presbyterianism in America was under siege from both modernism and the rising influence of Barthianism, which Van Til labeled “the new modernism.” Ragusa introduces these letters by situating them within the broader relationship between the Dutch Reformed in the Netherlands and the orthodox Presbyterians in America—a relationship that reaches back to the seventeenth century.

Van Til’s wartime-like correspondences—written in the heat of theological conflict—offer a firsthand account of the spiritual and ecclesiastical upheavals of the era. Through Van Til’s eyes, fixed steadfastly on his risen and reigning Lord, readers witness pivotal moments in American Presbyterian history, among them J. Gresham Machen’s trial, deposition, and sudden death; the founding of Westminster Theological Seminary and the evangelistic work of its graduates; and the formation of the Presbyterian Church of America and its subsequent renaming as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

These letters bring to life a pivotal chapter in the defense and development of the Reformed faith that helps us to make sense of our present ecclesiastical and theological landscape.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:06:13 Upcoming Seminar in Raleigh, NC
00:09:29 Dr. Ragusa’s Introduction to Van Til’s Dutch Letters
00:20:54 Van Til’s Concern for the Church
00:29:16 Highlights of the Letters
00:36:19 Van Til’s Hope for the Church
00:42:38 The Afscheiding (Secession) of 1834
00:57:46 A Vision for the Future of the Church
01:06:05 Remaining Faithful Today
01:12:15 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Ragusa

Sabbath Rest in Hebrews 3:7–4:11: Use of Genesis 2:2 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 5)

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the Reading of Hebrews 3:7–4:11, Introductory Comments and Observations, the History of Heaven, and the Use of Genesis 2:2 in Hebrews 4:4.

Reformed Academy

Vos Group #106 — Repentance

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:22:00 -0400

In this episode, we continue engaging Geerhardus Vos’s treatment of repentance and the righteousness of the kingdom. The discussion begins by clarifying the close relationship between faith and repentance: Both are saving graces, sovereignly gifted by God, inseparably joined in conversion, yet not identical. Faith uniquely receives and rests upon Christ for justification, while repentance—though necessary—never functions as the instrument of union with Christ or the ground of God’s verdict. This careful distinction protects the gospel from subtle moralism and keeps repentance in its proper place as fruit flowing from mercy apprehended in Christ.

Vos then situates repentance within Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom: Repentance corresponds to the kingdom’s righteousness-aspect, just as faith corresponds to its power-aspect. Repentance is not a meritorious condition for entry, but the moral-spiritual “fitness” that belongs to life under God’s righteous reign. The episode explores Vos’s “vernacular of repentance” in the Gospels—regret, inner reversal, and outward turning—showing that biblical repentance is comprehensive, God-centered, and transformative. Far from mere remorse or isolated moral adjustment, repentance is a whole-life reorientation toward God, forming a people whose inner and outer life increasingly reflects the righteousness of the kingdom.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 2026 Raleigh, NC Seminar
02:19 Introduction
04:40 Faith and Repentance
11:42 The Connection to the Kingdom of God
16:05 The Logical and Instrumental Priority of Faith
22:19 Aspects of the Kingdom
32:47 The Vernacular of Repentance
37:05 The Universal Demand of Repentance
46:36 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

The Land of Canaan and Typology in Hebrews 11:8–16 | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 4)

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the Order of the Texts and the Path of Redemptive History, the Call of Abram, True Religion and the Symbol of the Altar, and the Land of Canaan and Typology in Hebrews 11:8–16.

Reformed Academy

Ephesians 3:14–21 — For This Reason I Bow My Knees

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, once said that prayer is the breath of the soul. Christians pray! We are a people called to live and to walk in close fellowship and communion with our Savior and King. And as He speaks to us in his word, so we speak and enjoy fellowship with the Lord through prayer. In Eph 3:14–21, we see the Apostle Paul at prayer. What moves him to prayer? What sustains his prayer life? What does he pray for? What is Paul’s burden for the church? What is the Lord’s burden for you and for me? Join us as we listen in and learn from the great Apostle as he goes to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

The Book of Daniel, Part 13

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 5, the scene changes from Nebuchadnezzar’s praise and extolling of the King of heaven to a new king, Belshazzar. King Belshazzar does not honor the King of heaven as seen in the desecration of the “golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Heaven in the New Beginning: In Christ's Ascension | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 3)

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the third lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the Biblical Account of the Ascension in Acts 1:9–11, the Ascended and Enthroned Christ in Colossians 3:1–2, Hebrews 8:1 and Revelation 4, and Christ's Exaltation and the Outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2:32–33.

Reformed Academy

Irenaeus of Lyons

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode we welcome church historian Stephen O. Presley to explore the life, theology, and enduring relevance of Irenaeus of Lyons. Writing in the latter half of the second century, Irenaeus emerges not merely as a polemicist against Gnosticism but as a deeply pastoral theologian—one whose doctrine, biblical interpretation, and ecclesial commitments were inseparably bound to the life of the church.

Presley highlights Irenaeus’s vision of Scripture as a unified, Christ-centered story, summed up in his doctrine of recapitulation: All things find their meaning, coherence, and redemption in Christ, the true head of humanity. Against both ancient Gnosticism and modern disembodied spiritualities, Irenaeus affirms the goodness of creation, the integrity of the human person, and the necessity of catechesis rooted in the rule of faith. For today’s church—navigating doctrinal confusion, cultural fragmentation, and questions of discipleship—Irenaeus offers a compelling model of theological method that is biblical, confessional, pastoral, and profoundly Christ-centered.

Dr. Stephen O. Presley is Director of Education and Engagement and Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. He is the author of Irenaeus of Lyons: His Impact and Life (Christian Focus) and Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church (Eerdmans).

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
01:47 The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy
04:48 How to Pronounce Irenaeus
08:48 The Early Church
13:31 Irenaeus as a Church Theologian
16:00 The Rule of Faith
20:36 Reading Scripture
26:11 Recapitulation
30:18 Against Gnosticism
33:38 Christ as the New Adam
44:07 Surprises While Writing the Book
46:39 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Stephen Presley

The Book of Daniel, Part 12

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 4, we read of the dream given to Nebuchadnezzar wherein a large protective tree bearing much fruit is chopped down, it’s branches lopped off, it’s leaves stripped, and it’s fruit scattered. What’s all this about? Well, Daniel provides yet another interpretation for Nebuchadnezzar.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Encoronation and the Primordial Dwelling Place of God | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 2)

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the second lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers Colossians and the Expanded Interpretation of Genesis 1:1, Encoronation and Endoxation Related, and Psalm 104.

Reformed Academy

Vos Group #105 — Our Lord’s Critique of Jewish Ethics

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton discuss a deceptively brief but theologically weighty section of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, exploring Jesus’s critique of first-century Jewish ethics. Far from addressing merely surface-level moral failures, Vos shows that Jesus exposes a deeper religious collapse—one marked by practical deism and pervasive self-centeredness. When God’s glory is displaced as the center of ethical life, obedience becomes external, fragmented, and ultimately irreligious.

This conversation presses the listener to consider how these same distortions reappear across church history and into the present—whether in moralistic fundamentalism, liberal Protestant ethics, or debates surrounding the New Perspective on Paul. The antidote Vos commends is not tighter rules or refined casuistry, but a recovery of true religion: life coram Deo, grounded in union with Christ, animated by delight in God himself as our supreme reward. In Christ, obedience is restored to its proper place as worship, flowing from grace rather than self-reliance.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
07:32 Jesus’s Critique of Jewish Ethics
18:07 Common Distortions of Ethics
32:55 Modern Expressions of the Same Error
40:46 Von Harnack and the Essence of Christianity
44:08 The New Perspective on Paul
49:35 The Antidote
52:28 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Mark 2:1–12 — Healing from Sin

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The story of the healing of the paralytic is a picture of God’s work of redemption through Jesus Christ. We are healed—saved—not because we merit favor, but because of the grace of God. Their faith is demonstrated by their works, but their works do not save them. True saving faith is an instrument of justification.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Heaven as the Primordial Dwelling Place of God | The Theology of Heaven in Hebrews (Lesson 1)

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the first lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton's Reformed Academy course, The Theology of Heaven in the Book of Hebrews. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Vos on the Relation and Distinction Between Heaven and Earth

10:32 Vos on Heaven as the Supreme Reality

14:21 Kline on the Endoxation of the Holy Spirit

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#heaven #hebrews #reformedtheology #biblestudy

William Whitaker and the Reformed Doctrine of Scripture

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Josiah Leinbach to discuss William Whitaker’s A Disputation on Holy Scripture—a monumental sixteenth-century defense of sola Scriptura, newly edited and republished by Prolego Press. Written in 1588 against leading Roman Catholic theologians such as Robert Bellarmine, Whitaker’s work offers a comprehensive treatment of Scripture’s authority, canon, clarity, and sufficiency. Leinbach explains how Whitaker combined Renaissance humanism with scholastic rigor, engaging Scripture, church history, and patristic sources to show that Protestant convictions about Scripture were neither novel nor reactionary, but deeply rooted in the catholic tradition of the church.

The conversation also explores the modern relevance of Whitaker’s work—especially amid contemporary debates over authority, tradition, and ecumenism. Leinbach reflects on how advances in historical and textual scholarship have confirmed many of the Reformers’ arguments, while Rome’s own positions have shifted over time. Whitaker’s insistence on the perspicuity of Scripture, the singular infallibility of God’s Word, and the Spirit’s inward testimony offers not only apologetic clarity but deep pastoral comfort. This episode invites listeners to recover confidence in Scripture as God’s clear and sufficient means of revealing Christ to his people.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
01:08 William Whitaker’s A Disputation on Holy Scripture
07:25 Leinbach’s Transition from History to Machine Learning
18:10 Whitaker’s Polemical Approach
22:03 The Canon of Scripture
25:50 The Perspicuity of Scripture
28:29 Biblical Authority
32:02 The Testimony of the Holy Spirit
35:27 Ecumenical Dialogue Yesterday and Today
48:10 Future Works
52:25 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Josiah Leinbach

The Structure of Church Government, Part 2 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 7)

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the seventh and final lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 On Gender and Church Office

08:50 The Connected Church

15:33 Areas of Jurisdiction: Governing Doctrine

25:04 Areas of Jurisdiction: Governing Worship

31:10 Areas of Jurisdiction: Government and Discipline

33:58 Conclusion

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Resurrection and Redemption

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Camden Bucey and Marcus Mininger reflect together on Resurrection and Redemption by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.—a work that has profoundly shaped Reformed biblical theology over the past half century. Rather than offering a technical review, the conversation unfolds as a guided meditation on the book’s central claim: Christ’s resurrection is not a theological afterthought but the controlling center of Paul’s soteriology and eschatology. Gaffin’s careful exegesis helps readers see how redemption is inseparable from resurrection life in union with the risen Christ.

This discussion is part of Reformed Forum’s broader effort to offer conversational commentaries on formative Reformed texts—books that have formed us as pastors and theologians. Bucey and Mininger highlight why Resurrection and Redemption remains so enduringly fruitful: It teaches the church to think biblically about salvation, not as a static transaction, but as participation in the resurrected life of Christ. The result is theology that serves the pulpit, strengthens assurance, and orients the Christian life toward the hope of glory already secured in the risen Lord.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:01:56 International Cohorts and Reading Guides
00:10:31 Encountering Resurrection and Redemption
00:16:15 The Title and Purpose of the Book
00:26:18 The Discipline of Biblical Theology
00:32:56 Paul as Theologian
00:51:23 Redemptive-Historical Epochs
00:59:44 The Occasional Nature of Paul’s Writings
01:08:27 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Marcus Mininger

The Structure of Church Government, Part 1 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 6)

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Structure of Church Government: Preliminary Considerations

11:32 The Elders: Preliminary Considerations

15:40 Presbuteroi

28:08 How Many Offices?

34:05 Overseers (Episkopos)

37:03 The Deacons

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Recovering John L. Girardeau: A Giant of Southern Presbyterianism

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Dr. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, speaks about the life, ministry, and enduring theological legacy of John Lafayette Girardeau—a figure often hidden in the shadow of Thornwell and Dabney, yet towering in pastoral warmth, covenant theology, and confessional clarity. Girardeau emerges as a remarkably gifted scholar, a pastor deeply loved by both enslaved and free Black congregants, and a theologian who married doctrinal precision with heartfelt pastoral care. Through stories of his early intellectual formation, his ministry at Zion Presbyterian Church, his courageous stand against segregation in 1874, and his role in shaping debates on adoption, the will, worship, and evolution controversies, listeners gain a moving portrait of a man captivated by Christ and devoted to the communion of the saints.

This episode invites us to look beyond caricatures of Southern Presbyterianism and see a pastor who was shaped by his Huguenot and Scottish heritage, attentive to the spiritual well-being of the marginalized, and unwavering in his conviction that the church must be governed by Scripture and formed by a robust federal theology. Girardeau’s story not only expands our understanding of American Presbyterian history—it encourages believers today to pursue ministry marked by doctrinal fidelity, Christ-centered preaching, and sacrificial love.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:16 Introduction
03:28 Introducing John L. Girardeau
24:49 French Huguenot Background
31:48 Academic Abilities
42:29 Girardeau’s Relation to the Church After the War
49:44 Significant Motions and Statements
56:05 Opposition to Segregation at the 1874 General Assembly
1:00:19 Influence upon Southern Presbyterianism
1:05:19 The Battle over Evolution
1:11:21 Works by Girardeau
1:21:59 Conclusion

Church Power and Authority, Part 2 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 5)

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Church Power is Suasive, not Coercive

15:21 Church Power is Service, not Domination

19:01 Church Power is Spiritual, not Carnal

23:00 Church Power is Ministerial, not Magisterial

26:17 Church Power is Declarative, not Legislative

28:18 Church Power is Derived, not Original

30:40 The Spirituality of the Church

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Highlights from 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0400

As Christ the Center closes out another year of weekly theological conversation, this special episode reflects on God’s faithfulness throughout 2025 by revisiting the most-watched and most-listened-to episodes of the year. Drawing from YouTube engagement, Camden Bucey highlights ten conversations that resonated deeply with listeners—spanning biblical exegesis, redemptive-historical interpretation, Trinitarian theology, apologetics, and pastoral formation. Together, these clips showcase the breadth of Reformed Forum’s work: rigorous scholarship, confessional clarity, and a steady commitment to Christ-centered interpretation of Scripture.

The episode also celebrates significant ministry milestones: thousands of students served through Reformed Academy, international reading cohorts across six continents, new books published, and the largest theology conference in Reformed Forum’s history. Framed by the theme “Growing Together into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15–16), this highlights episode not only looks back with gratitude but looks forward with confidence—inviting listeners to partner in the ongoing work of theological education for the church worldwide.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:00:57 Looking Forward to 2026
00:01:38 Growing Together into Christ
00:04:26 Top 10 Episodes of 2025
00:05:05 Greg Beale | The Use of the Old Testament in Colossians (YouTube)
00:08:59 Van Til Group #15 — A Critique of Mathison’s Toward a Reformed Apologetics (YouTube)
00:19:44 Robert Letham | The Holy Spirit (YouTube)
00:23:57 David Saxton | Biblical Meditation: God’s Battle Plan for the Mind (YouTube)
00:29:04 William Dennison | Van Til and the Problem of Evil (YouTube)
00:34:28 Danny Olinger | Meredith G. Kline’s Biblical-Theological Reading of the Book of Revelation (YouTube)
00:45:06 Marcus Mininger | Redemptive-Historical Interpretation (YouTube)
00:51:14 Vos Group #99 — Millennial Views and Modern Theories of the Kingdom (YouTube)
00:59:37 Marcus Mininger | Impossible to Be Restored? Temptation and Warning in the Epistle of Hebrews (YouTube)
01:14:02 J. Brandon Burks | The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials (YouTube)
01:19:38 Conclusion

Participants: Bill Dennison, Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Danny Olinger, David Saxton, Greg Beale, J. Brandon Burks, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton, Marcus Mininger, Robert Letham

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0400

For our Tenth Annual Christmas Special, Rob and Bob are here to bring you Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas special silliness with a splash of seriousness.

More seriously, friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thank you for listening to Theology Simply Profound. We very much appreciate your ongoing support.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Church Power and Authority, Part 1 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 4)

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Christ, the Only Head of the Church

10:16 The Keys of the Kingdom: Preliminary Considerations

17:24 The Keys of the Kingdom: The View of Rome

19:50 The Keys of the Kingdom: The Reformed View

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

The Shorter Catechism and Confessional Revision

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this conversation from Austin, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey reflect on the abiding value of the Westminster Shorter Catechism as a tool for cultivating a God-centered, covenantally rich, and confessionally rooted Christian life. The discussion highlights Jim’s new book, Introducing the Faith: A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which serves as a written complement to his two free Reformed Academy courses through which he teaches the Shorter Catechism (Questions 1–38 and Questions 39–106). Together, the hosts trace their own histories with the Standards, demonstrating how catechesis shapes believers in the chief end of man—to glorify and enjoy God forever. They also explore how the catechism’s covenant theology anchors the church in biblical teaching, safeguarding the glory of God amid contemporary pressures.

The discussion turns to the weighty task of confessional subscription—its history, responsibilities, and the risks of revision. With pastoral clarity and historical attentiveness, the hosts encourage churches and teachers to handle their confessions with both gratitude and vigilance. The episode concludes with a look at the ongoing mission of Reformed Academy and the resources being developed to strengthen the church in catechesis and confessional fidelity.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Setting the Scene in Austin
03:14 Why Catechesis Matters Today
09:12 Personal Histories with the Westminster Standards
16:47 Man’s Chief End and the God-Centered Life
20:44 Covenant Theology in the Catechism
26:22 Guarding the Glory of God in Reformed Theology
31:48 Confessional Revision: History, Risks, and Responsibilities
57:47 Looking Ahead: Resources and the Mission of Reformed Academy

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton

The Book of Daniel, Part 11

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:16:34 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 4, we read of another dream given to Nebuchadnezzar wherein a large protective tree bearing much fruit is chopped down, it’s branches lopped off, it’s leaves stripped, and it’s fruit scattered. What’s all this about?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

What Is the Church? Part 3 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 3)

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the third lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as Catholic

05:18 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as Apostolic

12:53 The Marks of the Church: The Faithful Proclamation of the Word

18:46 The Marks of the Church: The Correct Administration of the Sacraments

22:06 The Marks of the Church: The Exercise of Church Discipline

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Vos Group #104 — Divine Sovereignty and the Sphere of Righteousness

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this installment of Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore pages 392–395 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology and his rich, God-centered understanding of righteousness within the kingdom of God. They emphasize that true righteousness is never a human-centered moral construct but is rooted entirely in the character, will, and sovereign rule of the triune God. Vos contrasts biblical righteousness with pagan and modern distortions that treat ethics as merely horizontal or civic. Instead, righteousness is what agrees with, pleases, and exists for God—meaning believers live every moment coram Deo, before His face, in covenant fellowship.

The episode also unpacks how righteousness relates organically to the coming of God’s kingdom: it is concurrent with God’s reign, a gift worked by the Spirit, and graciously rewarded for Christ’s sake. Camden and Lane draw out the pastoral comfort that Christ—who possesses unlimited dominion—reigns not only from heaven but also within the hearts of His people. This kingdom reality transforms daily obedience into worship, participation in God’s redemptive purposes, and hopeful anticipation of our final inheritance in Him.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
08:49 Righteousness Is God-Centered
16:42 Living Before the Face of God
28:03 The Kingdom of God and Righteousness
32:45 Participating in the Kingdom
40:52 Righteousness and God’s Sovereign Rule
43:55 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

What Is the Church? Part 2 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 2)

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the second lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant

04:51 The Church as Organization and Organism

10:13 Ecumenicity

19:51 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as Holy

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Understanding the Doctrine of Repentance

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Dr. Harrison Perkins speaks about his new book A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance (Christian Focus). Perkins brings the warmth of pastoral ministry together with the clarity of confessional Reformed theology. He explains that repentance is often misunderstood—as if it were a dreary duty or an entrance requirement for grace. Instead, Scripture presents repentance as a saving grace, a divine gift through which Christ frees his people from sin’s enslaving power and draws them into renewed joy. Repentance is not the price we pay to come to Christ; it is the fruit of having already been brought to Him by the Spirit through faith.

Together they explore key biblical passages (Psalm 51, Psalm 38, 2 Corinthians 7, Luke 3), the Reformed confessions, unhealthy distortions of penance, and the pastoral challenge of helping people see repentance not as a terror but as a mercy. Repentance doesn’t merely involve feeling guilty—it involves embracing Christ, turning from sin, and tasting the joy that accompanies renewal. They also discuss what a repentant church culture looks like: a community marked by humility, honesty, grace, and a shared approach to the Lord’s Table as those who come on equal footing—sinners saved by a gracious Redeemer.

Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen’s University Belfast; MDiv, Westminster Seminary California) is the pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He is the author of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Press 2024), Catholicity and the Covenant of Works (Oxford University Press, 2020), Righteous by Design: Covenantal Merit and Adam’s Original Integrity (2024), Created for Communion with God: The Promise of Genesis 1–2 (Lexham Press, 2025), and a number of popular and academic articles. He regularly writes articles for Heidelblog and Modern Reformation.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

0:00:07 Introduction
0:10:03 Background to the Book
0:16:22 Reframing Our Understanding of Repentance
0:20:39 The Joy of Repentance
0:24:35 The Reformed Confessions on Repentance
0:37:17 Psalms 38 and 143
0:43:26 Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance
0:48:15 Distinguishing Fruits of Repentance from Acts of Penance
0:53:28 Illustrations of Repentance
1:00:41 Exodus 24, Covenant, and the Repentant Community
1:06:45 Hope for Readers of This Book
1:12:06 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Harrison Perkins

What Is the Church? Part 1 | The Doctrine of the Church (Lesson 1)

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0400

This is the first lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Church as the Covenant Assembly

07:18 The Church as the Dwelling Place of God

15:12 The Church as God's Chosen People

19:00 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as One

25:38 The Visible Church and the Invisible Church

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Redemptive-Historical Themes in Job and 2 Peter

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Reformed Forum is happy to introduce a major new publishing initiative: the Redemptive-Historical Bible Studies series. In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined by Ryan Noha, Jim Cassidy, and Dan Ragusa to discuss how these resources embody Reformed Forum’s vision for accessible, Christ-centered theological education.

This series begins with two volumes—Jim Cassidy’s The Book of Job: Suffering unto Glory and Dan Ragusa’s Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path—each drawn from Reformed Academy courses. Designed for adult Sunday schools and small groups, these studies help readers encounter Christ in every book of Scripture. Rooted in the conviction that all Scripture testifies to the sufferings and glories of Christ, these studies move beyond mere grammatical-historical observation to unfold the redemptive unity of God’s Word.

Together, these books and their free companion courses mark the beginning of Reformed Forum’s long-term plan: to produce faithful, Christ-centered studies for all sixty-six books of the Bible—so that the church may mature in Christ through the Word.

The Book of Job: Suffering unto Glory (Redemptive-Historical Bible Studies)

$12.99

Cassidy, James J. New paperback.

In stock

Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path (Redemptive-Historical Bible Studies)

$12.99

Ragusa, Daniel. New paperback.

In stock

Build your complete series and save big!

The Book of Job: Suffering unto Glory (Redemptive-Historical Bible Studies)

Cassidy, James J. New paperback.

Add for

Worship and Lawful Oaths and Vows | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 12)

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the twelfth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Introduction

3:25 Old Testament Laws on Oaths and Vows

13:08 Old Testament Literary Forms of Oaths and Vows

19:30 The Faithful Vows of Jacob, Israel, and Hannah

27:07 The Negative Examples of Jephthah and Absalom

33:45 Oaths as Covenant Commitments

41:16 The Nazirite Vow

47:46 Oaths and Vows in the New Testament Epoch

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Collaboration, Consensus, and Compromise: Lessons from the Westminster Assembly

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this rich conversation, Camden Bucey sits down with Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn—historian, pastor, and professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte—to explore the remarkable work and enduring wisdom of the Westminster Assembly. Together, they discuss how the divines pursued theological clarity through collaboration, not compromise, and how their humility and respect shaped confessional standards that have guided the Reformed church for centuries.

Van Dixhoorn explains why the Westminster Confession should be seen as “a document with compromises, not a compromise document,” how its chapters differ in tone and theological armor, and what this teaches us about confessional fidelity today. The conversation also explores doctrinal preaching—how to preach theology without losing the text—and why confessions must unite rather than constantly be rewritten.

With warmth and clarity, Dr. Van Dixhoorn reminds us that Reformed unity is not built on uniformity, but on the shared pursuit of truth before the face of God.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Word & Deed Ministry
01:18 At the Reformation and Worship Conference
04:10 Introducing Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn and the Westminster Assembly
06:00 Consensus, Collaboration, and Compromise in the Assembly
09:30 The Process of Drafting the Westminster Standards
12:00 Respectful Debate and the Spirit of the Divines
19:30 Comparing the Westminster and Heidelberg Traditions
25:30 Confessional Revision, Study Committees, and Doctrinal Reports
33:00 Doctrinal Preaching: From Text to Theology
40:50 The Joy of Teaching and Ongoing Research on the Divines

Participants: Camden Bucey, Chad Van Dixhoorn

The Book of Daniel, Part 10

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:08:45 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. Having discussed the faithfulness of God’s people in the midst of fiery trials in Daniel 3, we take a look at Nebuchadnezzar’s response to that ordeal, he praises God or is it the gods?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Worship and Tithing | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 11)

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This is the eleventh lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Introduction

3:58 Tithing in the Patriarchal Narratives

13:59 Tithing in the Mosaic Era

26:40 Tithing in Malachi

33:26 Giving in the New Testament

40:15 Giving as a Continuing Act of Worship

53:08 Concluding Observations

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Vos Group #103 — Faith in the Gospel of John

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore Geerhardus Vos’s profound treatment of faith in the Gospel of John (pp. 390–392 of Biblical Theology). Vos unfolds faith not as an abstract belief but as a living, continuous union with the incarnate and ascended Truth—Jesus Christ Himself. John’s theology binds faith and truth together: the Son comes down from heaven as the true light, true bread, true vine, and the Truth (John 1:9; 6:32; 15:1; 14:6). Faith, therefore, is a Spirit-wrought communion with the heavenly reality revealed in Him.

Tipton and Bucey trace how this Johannine vision lifts believers from the shadowy worship of the old covenant to true, eschatological worship “in spirit and in truth.” Faith beholds Christ even now, anticipating the beatific vision. In contrast to philosophical or impersonal notions of truth, Vos insists that truth is personal, Trinitarian, and heavenly—rooted in the self-revealing God. Thus, saving faith is not blind trust but an intimate, knowing participation in the life of the risen Christ, a foretaste of the age to come.

New Book by Lane Tipton: Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Van Til

We are pleased to announce the release of an important new book, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Van Til by Lane Tipton. This is the first in a scheduled eight-part series of books on Van Til that correspond to our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.

Dr. Tipton has taught eight video courses that work through the entire range of Van Til’s theology and apologetics. Each of the courses is available for free through Reformed Academy and on YouTube. And now you can get the first book in the series.

If you order by November 30, 2025 and you can get the second book in the series, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til for only $4.99!

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
01:44 New Book: Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til
11:11 Faith in the Gospel of John
16:19 Defining Truth According to the Son
26:49 Heaven and the Truth
29:44 The Typological Dimension of Truth
34:32 Faith as the Human Relation to Truth
37:35 Faith Anticipates the Glorified Christ
40:56 Faith, Unbelief, and Knowledge
44:25 Faith and Beholding the Lord
46:48 Scripture and the Truth
52:00 The Need for More Redemptive-Historical Study in John
57:40 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Communion with God in Prayer | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Less. 10)

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0400

This is the tenth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 What is Prayer?

10:02 Old Testament Prayer Narratives

24:20 The Role of Prayer in Liturgical Ascent

33:36 New Covenant Prayer and Christ's Heavenly Intercession

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

The Shape of Faithful Ministry: Doctrine and Confessional Integrity

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this conversation from the Reformation and Worship Conference, Camden Bucey speaks with Dr. Jonathan Master, president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, about the unshakable relationship between doctrine and life. Drawing on J. Gresham Machen’s insight that Christianity for Paul was not only a life but also a doctrine—and logically, the doctrine came first, Master reminds us that Christianity is irreducibly doctrinal. Without doctrine, there is no gospel.

They discuss Greenville’s pastoral training mission, the seminary’s remarkable 92% long-term ministry retention rate, and why theological integrity in vows, confessional subscription, and seminary education is essential for the health of Christ’s church. Master insists that doctrine is not a straitjacket—it’s the lifeblood of the church’s joy, sincerity, and freedom in Christ.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Conference Setting
02:00 Introducing Dr. Jonathan Master and Greenville Seminary
04:10 Doctrine Before Life: Machen’s Insight
08:30 Theological Integrity and Confessional Fidelity
12:40 Training Pastors for a Lifetime of Ministry
17:00 Why Christianity Is Irreducibly Doctrinal
21:15 Confessions as Gifts, Not Straitjackets
25:00 Doctrine That Shapes Life and Love
29:30 Seminary Education and Church Health
33:45 Closing Reflections on Faithful Ministry

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master

Worship and Psalms | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 9)

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the ninth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Heavenly Worship through Song

8:05 Songs in Redemptive History from Adam to Moses

22:04 David, The Psalter, and Temple Worship

46:23 Singing in the New Testament Era

1:00:37 The Regulative Principle and Exclusive Psalmody

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Meredith G. Kline’s Biblical-Theological Reading of the Book of Revelation

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Camden Bucey speaks with Danny Olinger, General Secretary of the OPC Committee on Christian Education, about his new book Christ and His Church-Bride: Meredith G. Kline’s Biblical-Theological Reading of Revelation (Reformed Forum).

Olinger traces how Kline’s covenantal and redemptive-historical reading of Revelation portrays the church’s transformation into the radiant Bride of Christ, moving from imperfection and suffering in the present age to consummate glory in the new creation. The discussion unfolds key themes of recapitulation, the conflict between Babylon and the Bride, and the covenantal drama of creation to consummation.

Through rich historical and exegetical reflection, Olinger shows how Kline weaves together Genesis, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation to present a unified vision of redemptive history centered on Christ’s victory and the Spirit’s work in the church. The conversation is both theologically rigorous and pastorally hopeful—reminding listeners that Christ reigns now, the church’s pilgrim identity is secure, and the gospel’s progress continues unthwarted by the powers of this world.

Christ and His Church-Bride: Meredith G. Kline’s Biblical-Theological Reading of The Book of Revelation

$49.99

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Book Announcement
06:27 Origins of the Book and Rediscovery of Kline’s Revelation Paper
11:19 Kline’s Covenant Drama: Creation to Consummation
20:55 Understanding Recapitulation in Revelation
26:24 The Deeper Conflict: The Woman, the Dragon, and the Church
31:18 The Church Imperfect and Perfected in Glory
34:25 The Armageddon Paradigm and Covenant Mount
37:51 Christ and His Church-Bride: Theological and Pastoral Heart
48:13 The New Jerusalem and the Covenant of Grace
53:09 Suffering, Sanctification, and the Bride’s Purification
57:07 Babylon vs. the Bride: The Church’s Pilgrim Calling
01:01:02 Christ Reigns Now: Hope for the Pilgrim Church
01:04:29 Closing, Resources, and Final Reflections

Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger

Worship and the Sabbath Rest | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 8)

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the eighth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Sabbath as Creation Ordinance

14:28 The When of Worship in the Patriarchal Period

17:09 Mosaic Legislation about the When of Worship

28:58 The Lord's Day as Christian Sabbath

37:08 Answering Objections

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Why Fixed Truth and Faithful Worship Matter

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Camden Bucey sits down with Carlton Wynne and Marc Harrington at the Reformation and Worship Conference hosted by Midway PCA in Powder Springs, Georgia. Together they reflect on the beauty and theological significance of Reformed worship—where form and content work together to glorify God. The conversation explores how music shapes the soul, why pastors must think theologically about song selection, and how the unity and maturity of the church depend on maintaining the fixed truth of Scripture.

From discussions of Scott Aniol’s lecture on music that accords with sound doctrine to Wynne’s reflections on doctrinal immutability, the episode reminds us that worship is not mere performance—it’s the embodied response of the redeemed to the unchanging God. The conversation concludes with reflections on confessional fidelity, the training of pastors, and the importance of cultivating a love for Reformed unity grounded in truth.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
02:47 Introduction to the Reformation and Worship Conference
03:58 The Conference’s Heritage, Accessibility, and Scholarship
05:09 The Worship at the Conference (Hymns and Psalms)
06:32 A Variety of Conference Sessions and Speakers
07:21 Discussion of Scott Aniol’s Session on Music and Worship
08:14 Music that Accords with Sound Doctrine (Titus 2)
11:39 The Importance of Tune and Singability in Hymns
14:46 The Pastor’s Role in Music and the Worship Service as a Cohesive Unit
20:13 Carlton Wynne’s Breakout: Why the Church Must Maintain Fixed Truth
22:31 Why Truth Must Be Maintained (Confessionalism)
24:06 The Connection Between Fixed Truth and Faithful Worship
27:01 The Fixed Self in Christ and Eternal Life
30:00 Counsel from Dr. Godfrey: Be Reformed Unashamedly
31:07 Teaching the Westminster Standards to New Members
33:55 Using Confessions to Filter Music for Worship
37:34 Organizing Theology around the Westminster Confession of Faith
41:00 Teaching Redemption Accomplished vs. Redemption Applied
43:40 The Importance of the Regulative Principle of Worship
47:22 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Marc Harrington

Worship and the Visible Word | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 7)

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the seventh lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Old Testament Baptisms as Water Ordeals

24:36 New Covenant Baptism as a Water Ordeal

31:34 The Lord's Supper and Feasting on the Mountain of God

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Christ of the Consummation: Acts and Paul

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Dr. O. Palmer Robertson joins Camden Bucey to discuss his newest book, Christ of the Consummation, Volume 2: The Testimony of Acts and Paul. Building on the legacy of Geerhardus Vos, Robertson shows how the testimony of the early church—empowered by the Spirit—proclaimed Christ to Jew and Gentile alike.

From Pentecost to Paul’s missionary journeys, from household baptisms to soaring prison epistles, this episode traces the redemptive-historical unfolding of God’s Word. Robertson explains why biblical theology is the vital “nerve system” connecting exegesis and doctrine, how Paul’s letters fall into three key phases, and why every New Testament book points us to the hope of Christ’s return.

Whether you’re a pastor, student, or simply longing to see Christ in all of Scripture, this conversation will encourage you to persevere in faith, proclaim the Gospel with confidence, and live with expectant hope of His coming.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
07:02 Describing Biblical Theology
10:37 The Book of Acts
12:25 The Inclusion of the Gentiles
21:02 The Historical Progression of Paul’s Letters
26:14 Paul’s Eschatology
32:51 Deep Theology and Practical Application
35:47 The Expectation of Christ’s Return
41:35 The Original Apostolic Witnesses
52:27 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, O. Palmer Robertson

The Book of Daniel, Part 9

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss the faithfulness of God’s people in the midst of fiery trials. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar is furious with Shdrach, Meshach, and Abednego for not bowing down to the giant golden statue of the king. Their punishment is to be thrown into a furnace heated 7 times greater than normal. In the face of this death sentence, the three friends of Daniel trust their God no matter what may come. In the midst of it all, the Lord proves faithful even as he is with them in the midst of the fire in the person of the pre-incarnate Son of God.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Worship and the Word | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 6)

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Pre-Fall Worship

14:07 Satan's Idolatrous Attack

30:40 God's Gracious Word Governs Post-Fall Worship

33:16 The Prophets' Role in Redemptive History

43:48 The New Covenant Requirement of Word-Based Worship

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Vos Group #102 — Faith as Related to the Kingdom’s Power

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

In this installment of Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore Geerhardus Vos’s treatment of “faith as the correlate of kingdom power” from pages 387–390 of Biblical Theology. Moving beyond vague spiritualism or self-generated “manifestation,” they unpack Vos’s insight that faith is not a creative force but a receptive grace. Faith does not actualize the kingdom—it receives it.

Christ’s miracles reveal the omnipotent power of God in redemptive form—beneficent and gracious acts for the good of sinners. These miracles elicit trust not because of any magical quality in faith itself, but because they manifest the glory and compassion of the Redeemer who speaks them into being. Faith, then, is the Spirit-given response of the regenerate heart—a resting and receiving upon the miracle-working Christ who is both the author and perfecter of our faith.

In contrast to modern distortions that treat faith as self-empowerment, Vos directs us to the true object of faith—Christ alone. Faith is entirely dependent on divine omnipotence and grace. It is the instrument by which we are united to Christ and brought to maturity in him, sustained by the same omnipotent power that once stilled the storm and raised the dead.

Watch on YouTube

00:07 Introduction
06:32 Faith and the Kingdom
10:13 Faith Is the Corresponding Response to God’s Power
12:26 Miracles Are Beneficent and Elicit Trust
16:57 The Power of the Word
22:59 The Elements of Saving Faith
29:12 Unbelief
34:24 Preaching Christ without Doctrine
37:01 The Offense of Unbelief
41:36 The Vocabulary of Faith
50:30 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

The Book of Daniel, Part 8

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:15:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue found in chapter 3:1–8.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Worship on the Holy Mountain | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 5)

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Archetypal Heavenly Temple in Genesis 1:1–2

12:29 Creation in General as Protological Temple in Genesis 1

20:18 Eden in Particular as Protological Temple in Genesis 2

27:47 Postlapsarian Worshipful Ascent up God's Holy Mountain

39:19 Revelation Concerning the Tabernacle and Temple

52:23 Christ's Ascent into Heaven through Sacrifice

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

From Doctrine to Doxology: Worship According to God’s Word

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 01:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to worship God “with reverence and awe” (Heb. 12:28)? In this episode of Christ the Center, Dr. Camden Bucey speaks with Dr. David Hall and Dr. Carlton Wynne about the upcoming Reformation Worship Conference at Midway PCA (October 16–19, 2025). Together, they reflect on the regulative principle of worship, the unchanging truth of Scripture, and the ways God uses ordinary means of grace to sanctify his people.

Dr. Hall shares his journey into Reformed worship, highlighting how worship flows from every doctrinal locus—Christology, pneumatology, anthropology, and beyond. The discussion encourages believers to treasure reverence, resist shallow entertainment-driven services, and see worship as the very heart of discipleship.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
06:49 Confessing Unchanging Truth
13:55 Dr. Hall’s Background
20:46 Dr. Wynne’s Background
25:41 The Regulative Principle of Worship
33:56 Worship Offering a Sanctifying Influence
42:09 Trends in Worship Practices
46:44 The Directory for Public Worship
52:25 The Influence of the Wider Culture on the Church
59:19 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, David W. Hall

Ruth 2:14–23 — God’s Kindness to the Dead

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Sinners don’t deserve God’s kindness, but he raises those dead in sins and trespasses to life in Christ (Eph. 2). Hope rises from the dead in Naomi through Boaz’s kindness to her and Ruth. Join Mark and Andrew as they discuss how to preach or teach Ruth 2:14-23.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder

The Object and Subject of Worship | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 4)

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 God's Incommunicable Attributes

9:25 God's Communicable Attributes

17:51 Theology Proper and the Regulative Principle of Worship

23:34 The Image of God and Worship

41:58 Worship in Light of the Fall and Redemption

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Reformed Confessionalism

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What role do historic confessions play in the life of the Church today—and why should we care?

In this episode we welcome Dr. D. Blair Smith, President and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC and author of Reformed Confessionalism (P&R Publishing). We explore the theological, pastoral, and spiritual value of the Reformed confessions—not as artifacts of a bygone era, but as living instruments for the Church’s health and faithfulness.

From the Church Fathers to the Westminster Assembly, Dr. Smith draws out the continuity and vitality of confessional Christianity, highlighting how confessions serve as tools for Christian formation, doctrinal clarity, and ecclesial identity.

Topics include:

Why every church is a “confessing church”—whether it admits it or not
The relationship between Scripture and subordinate standards
How confessions function pastorally and devotionally
The dangers of doctrinal minimalism in the modern church
How Reformed confessions express catholicity, not sectarianism
Encouragement for pastors and churches seeking to recover confessional depth

Whether you’re a church leader, seminarian, or thoughtful layperson, this episode offers a compelling case for embracing confessionalism as a rich, living tradition that grounds the Church in biblical truth and historic continuity.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
05:21 Writing This Book
08:06 The Confessing Church
13:32 Promoting Unity
19:59 The Relationship between Confessions and Systematic Theologies
26:19 Challenges Facing Confessional Churches Today
31:50 For the Entire Church
36:02 Examples of How the Confessions Guide the Church
42:40 The Usefulness of Confessions for Church Planting and Revitalization
49:26 Conclusion

Participants: Blair Smith, Camden Bucey

The Regulative Principle of Worship and Redemptive History | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 3)

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the third lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 The Importance of Biblical Theology for Worship

2:56 What is Biblical Theology?

15:23 Errors of Continuity

26:08 Errors of Discontinuity

32:17 The Significance of Redemptive History for Understanding Worship

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to be truly blessed in the kingdom of God? In this episode, Camden Bucey welcomes back pastor and author Jonathan Cruse, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to discuss his latest book, Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes (P&R Publishing). Together they explore how Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:3–12 turns worldly expectations upside down—and how the Beatitudes offer not a checklist for salvation, but a portrait of Christ and those united to him by faith.

Drawing from pastoral experience and theological insight, Cruse explains how the Beatitudes call Christians to a counterintuitive life: one of meekness, mourning, mercy, and spiritual hunger. Yet far from being burdensome, this vision of kingdom living flows from the grace already secured in Christ. The conversation also touches on inaugurated eschatology, Christian distinctiveness in the culture, and how the Beatitudes equip believers to live faithfully as pilgrims between two ages.

Listeners will be encouraged to see the Beatitudes not just as commands, but as Christ-centered comfort—anchoring our present obedience in a certain future hope.

Don’t forget to register for the Reformed Forum Theology Conference on September 27, 2025: reformedforum.org/conference

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

0:00 Word & Deed
2:19 Introduction
9:35 The Heart of the Beatitudes
15:08 The Present Needs and the Applicability of the Beatitudes
18:24 It Begins with Blessings Not Commands
21:52 Christ Has Lived the Beatitudes
26:58 The Future Orientation of the Beatitudes
31:32 Pursuing Holiness
34:32 Struggling with the Beatitudes
41:02 Driving in the UK
44:15 Being Salt and Light
50:04 Resources on the Sermon on the Mount
54:15 Upcoming Projects
59:11 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Landry Cruse

What Is the Regulative Principle of Worship? | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 2)

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the second lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 The Regulative Principle of Worship

6:41 The Ten Commandments and the Regulative Principle of Worship

19:36 Exodus 32 and Leviticus 10

30:10 Elements, Forms, and Circumstances of Worship

41:59 Answering an Objection to the Regulative Principle of Worship

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Vos Group #101 — The Essence of the Kingdom

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:42 -0400

In this installment of the Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton continue their deep dive into Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Together they explore Vos’s treatment of the essence of the kingdom of God (pp. 385–387), drawing connections to his “Doctrine of the Covenant in Reformed Theology.”

This conversation highlights Vos’s thoroughly theocentric vision—where creation, redemption, and faith all center upon the glory of God. Dr. Tipton unpacks how this framework distinguishes Reformed theology from other traditions, and how the kingdom manifests historically through the power of the Holy Spirit. The discussion further shows how Vos integrates covenant, kingdom, and eschatology, pointing us to our inheritance in Christ and the glory of God as our ultimate portion.

Whether you are a pastor, student, or thoughtful layperson, this episode will help you see more clearly how Vos unites themes of covenant and kingdom in a way that sharpens our understanding of Christ and strengthens our hope in his coming reign.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

0:00 Word and Deed
2:19 Introduction
7:29 Vos on the Doctrine of the Covenant
20:10 Jesus’ Use of the Term “the Kingdom of God”
30:15 Power Is Central to the Kingdom of God
33:36 The Role of the Spirit in the Kingdom
48:36 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Genesis 35:19–29 — The Weeping of Rachel

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Triple tragedies strike Jacob in chapter 35. The death of his beloved Rachel, his firstborn son’s violation reprehensible sin disqualifying him from leadership, and his father Esau’s death. Yet in the middle of this passage is a genealogy signifying the fact that God’s plan of redemption will continue. We learn how important it is to trace important events throughout Scripture, and see how the weeping of Rachel becomes a signpost pointing to God’s work of redemption through Christ.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder

What Is Worship? | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 1)

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the first lesson in Dr. William Wood's Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Introduction

10:26 Review of the Literature on Worship

14:43 Broad and Narrow Concepts of Worship

23:41 Definition and Features of Worship

30:28 The Importance of Humility

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Impossible to Be Restored? Temptation and Warning in the Epistle of Hebrews

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The warning passages of Hebrews, especially Hebrews 6:1–6, have long puzzled interpreters and unsettled readers. Is it a threat to assurance? A theological anomaly? In this episode, Dr. Marcus Mininger, Professor of New Testament Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, joins us to explore the redemptive-historical framework behind one of the New Testament’s most debated passages. Drawing on the insights from his new book, Impossible to Be Restored?: Temptation and Warning in the Epistle of Hebrews (B&H Academic), Dr. Mininger explains how the warning in Hebrews 6 fits not only within the argument of Hebrews but also within the broader flow of covenantal history.

We discuss what the original audience was tempted to do, why returning to the old covenant to be right with God is impossible, and how this passage should shape pastoral ministry today. Along the way, Dr. Mininger helps listeners see how the “impossibility” language of Hebrews 6 is not a spiritual dead-end but a serious exhortation rooted in the once-for-all nature of Christ’s redemptive work.

If you’ve ever struggled with how to understand or teach Hebrews 6, this conversation offers clarity, theological depth, and pastoral wisdom.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:22 Impossible to Be Restored?
00:06:52 What Drew Dr. Mininger to this Subject
00:11:49 Starting in a New Field
00:17:28 Placing These Difficult Passages in Context
00:23:54 The Nature of the Temptation of the Original Audience
00:56:06 Relating the Warning Passages to the Application of Redemption
01:05:06 The Pastoral Application of These Passages
01:13:13 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Marcus Mininger

Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to see work not as a curse but as part of God’s original design? In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined by board member Mark Van Drunen to welcome David L. Bahnsen for a rich conversation about his new book, Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life.

Bahnsen is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a private wealth management firm managing more than $4.5 billion in client assets. David is the author of Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It, The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World, and There’s No Free Lunch, 250 Economic Truths.

Mark Van Drunen works in finance and is a ruling elder at Redeemer PCA in Hudson, Ohio. He serves on the Reformed Forum Board of Directors.

Together, they explore how a robustly Reformed view of vocation challenges the sacred–secular divide, recovers the dignity of labor, and reorients our understanding of productivity and flourishing. Drawing from Genesis 1, Reformed anthropology, and the legacy of Kuyper, Bahnsen argues that work is not a mere means to consumption or status, but an essential expression of our identity as image-bearers of God.

The discussion also addresses pressing contemporary questions—from the pitfalls of “work–life balance” and “follow your passion” mantras, to the theological problems with universal basic income and the cultural obsession with consumption. Listeners will be encouraged to see their daily labor as an act of worship, anticipating the greater work of the new creation secured in Christ.

This is a conversation at the intersection of theology, economics, and discipleship—aimed at helping Christians recover a biblically grounded vision for work that fosters maturity in Christ and glorifies God in every sphere of life.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Reformed Forum Conference Early Bird Rate
01:53 Introduction
08:18 Work Is Not a Curse
11:22 Working in Heaven?
17:10 The Meaning of the Title, Full-Time
21:57 Making Money and Gaining
24:49 Glorifying God at Work
28:10 The Bible and Economics
36:55 Universal Basic Income
41:11 Following Your Passion
47:39 Work and the Pulpit
51:03 Don’t Waste Your Life
55:12 If You Don’t Find Joy at Work
58:34 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Bahnsen, Mark Van Drunen

The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church – Chapters 10 & 11

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:07:35 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church. Chapters 10 & 11, “The Entrance Into the Kingdom: Repentance and Faith” and “Recapitulation”

Participants: Robert Tarullo

Providing Testimony: The Role of Proof and Evidence | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 11)

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the eleventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Does proof have a place in a Reformed apologetic? In this lesson, we explore the proper use of evidence in defending the faith—not as a neutral tool but as a witness to divine truth when interpreted within the framework of Scripture. You will learn how logical arguments and historical evidences can support the gospel without compromising the authority of God's word. By examining biblical examples and distinguishing between uses of proofs that submit to God's revelation and those that presume autonomy, this lesson equips you to present compelling, faithful testimony to the truth of the risen Christ.

02:36 The Role of Evidence in a Reformed Apologetic
05:58 Logical Proofs and Their Limitations
11:46 The Use of Evidence
19:14 Heeding the Biblical Example
23:25 Summary and Conclusion

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/defending-our-hope

Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study. Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

Vos Group #100 — The Two-Sided Conception of the Kingdom

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this milestone 100th installment of Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton turn to page 381 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to explore the “two-sided conception of the kingdom.” Together they unpack Vos’s insights into the already/not yet dynamic of the kingdom of God—its present spiritual reality and its future consummate glory.

Along the way, they engage with historical-critical objections, consider the role of John the Baptist, reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ parables, and highlight the religious nature of the kingdom as forgiveness, communion with God, and eternal life in Christ. This discussion not only brings clarity to Vos’s redemptive-historical vision but also deepens our understanding of Christ’s reign now and in the age to come.

As the Vos Group nears completion of Biblical Theology, Camden and Lane also share exciting news about what’s next: a new series through Vos’s The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
10:26 The Two-Sided Conception of the Kingdom
26:43 The Kingdom of God within You
31:18 The Arrival of the Present Kingdom
37:44 The Parables of the Kingdom
47:37 The Gradual Progression of the Kingdom
54:47 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Standing Firm: Engaging in Spiritual Conflict | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 10)

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the tenth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Apologetics is not merely intellectual—it's spiritual warfare. In this lesson, we consider how to stand firm in the face of opposition, clinging to the truth of God's word and the hope we have in Christ. You will learn how to engage others with boldness and Christlike character, especially in moments of suffering or ridicule. We explore the role of the heart, the importance of gentleness and respect, and the need for readiness to follow conversations wherever they lead. Grounded in 1 Peter 3:15, this lesson prepares you to endure with faith and to speak the truth in love amid a hostile world.

01:53 Encountering Opposition
05:43 Engaging with Christ-like Character
09:04 Finding Confidence in the Word
12:43 The Apologetic Context of Suffering
16:21 Ready to Go Wherever the Conversation Leads
18:47 Seeking Apologetic Encounters
22:22 Summary and Conclusion

Christ in All of Scripture — Previewing the 2025 Theology Conference

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy engage in a lively and theologically rich conversation. Fresh from attending Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s summer seminar with David Hall and Carl Trueman, Camden shares highlights from the event before turning to the main topic: a preview of the 2025 Reformed Forum Theology Conference.

This year’s theme—The Things Concerning Himself: Christ in All the Scriptures—will explore how the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals Christ as the sum and substance of God’s covenantal plan. Camden and Jim walk through each of the planned addresses, reflecting on why Christ is not an “added-on” figure to the Old Testament, but its very heart from the beginning. Along the way, they share personal ministry stories, insights on biblical theology, and a taste of the fellowship that makes these gatherings so special.

Join us September 27, 2025 at Lakeland Church in Gurnee, Illinois, for an edifying day of teaching, conversation, and fellowship. Come early for the Friday night pre-conference at Primo’s Italian Steakhouse. Registration is now open, with early-bird rates through September 1, 2025. Learn more and reserve your spot at reformedforum.org/conference.

Whether you are a pastor, student, or serious layperson, this conference will help you see more clearly how all of Scripture points to Christ—and how that transforms our understanding, devotion, and service to him.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:45 Basic Info on RF25
00:11:07 Greenville Summer Seminar
00:23:54 The Seed of Abraham
00:38:44 The Lamb of God
00:53:10 More Discussion of the Conference
00:56:21 Scholars Fellowship
01:03:44 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

The Implementation Plan: Developing an Apologetic Method | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 9)

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the ninth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. How do we put all the pieces together to faithfully defend our hope? In this lesson, we turn from theological foundations to practical methodology. You will learn how to construct a biblical and Reformed approach to apologetics—one that maintains the antithesis without compromise and resists conforming to unbelieving patterns of thought. We examine the two-step method, emphasizing internal critique and gospel proclamation, and contrast it with evidentialist, classical, and cumulative case approaches. Whether you are in a coffee shop or a classroom, this lesson equips you to defend the faith with theological integrity and practical confidence.

01:54 The Two-Step Method
04:19 Apologetics Is for Everyone
06:00 Apologetic Method Is Not Arbitrary
08:21 Building a Defense
11:28 Other Apologetic Methods
19:08 Summary and Conclusion

Van Til and the Problem of Evil

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. William D. Dennison, pastor of Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Kent, Washington, to reflect on Cornelius Van Til’s student paper “Evil and Theodicy” and the enduring challenges of explaining evil in a world governed by a sovereign, good God. Dennison has edited The Problem of Evil, a new volume that includes an edition of this paper and a helpful introductory essay that brings Van Til’s paper in dialogue with contemporary thinkers.

Dr. Dennison offers a deeply personal and theological meditation on Van Til’s conviction that God himself is the only sufficient theodicy. We explore how the mystery of evil cannot be unraveled by philosophical speculation or evidentialist reasoning, but only understood through the revelation of the triune God in Scripture. The conversation moves from Van Til’s early insights as a seminary student to the contemporary relevance of his critique of autonomy, his rejection of theistic rationalism, and his insistence on beginning all thinking with the self-attesting Christ of Scripture.

Along the way, Dr. Dennison shares biographical reflections on Van Til, his own pedagogical experiences in teaching apologetics, and the pastoral importance of grounding theological inquiry in the redemptive narrative of Scripture rather than speculative philosophy. This episode is a must for those who desire to think confessionally and presuppositionally about one of the most difficult questions in theology.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

[0:00:07] Introduction
[0:05:04] Background to the Project
[0:16:55] The Historical and Biographical Context of Van Til’s Student Paper
[0:22:55] Van Til’s Main Point
[0:28:21] God Is His Own Defense
[0:35:26] Van Til and Plantinga’s Free Will Defense
[0:41:59] The Fourfold Estate of Man
[0:54:42] Van Til’s Critique of Kant
[0:58:40] Treating Theodicy as a Fundamentally Religious Matter
[1:08:45] Conclusion

Participants: Bill Dennison, Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger, Lane G. Tipton

Starting Points: The Role of Presuppositions | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 8)

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the eighth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. What fundamental commitments lie beneath every argument—ours and others'? In this lesson, we explore the essential concept of presuppositions: the foundational beliefs that shape how people interpret reality. We begin by surveying a range of influential thinkers who challenge the notion of objective, neutral knowledge. Though differing in emphasis, each demonstrate that human understanding is always shaped by deeper frameworks: whether through paradigms that govern scientific inquiry, social structures that define reality, or systems of power that shape what is accepted as truth. Building on this recognition, we turn to Cornelius Van Til, who shows that beneath all such frameworks lie ultimate commitments—religious in nature—that govern how people interpret every aspect of life. This lesson equips you to uncover the presuppositions behind objections to the faith and to expose the necessity of the Christian worldview as the only foundation for truth, meaning, and rationality.

01:06 Understanding Presuppositions
04:02 Key Thinkers and Concepts
10:28 The Theological Foundations of Presuppositions
14:10 The Danger of Autonomy
16:51 The Demand for Consistency
21:56 Compassionate Engagement with Unbelievers
23:58 Summary and Conclusion

Biblical Meditation: God’s Battle Plan for the Mind

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

David W. Saxton’s God’s Battle Plan for the Mind (Reformation Heritage Books, 2015) presents a compelling argument for recovering the lost art of biblical meditation, a discipline once central to Puritan piety and spiritual formation. Saxton argues that the modern church, though rich in theological resources and preaching, suffers from a superficial spirituality precisely because it has neglected meditation—a practice essential for transforming doctrinal knowledge into heartfelt godliness.

Drawing extensively from the Puritans and Scripture, Saxton defines biblical meditation as the intentional, sustained, and spiritual reflection on God’s Word. Unlike Eastern or mystical forms of meditation that promote mental emptying, biblical meditation involves filling the mind with divine truth, leading to spiritual transformation and godly living. The book is structured thematically, beginning with the importance of meditation, contrasting it with unbiblical forms, and moving through practical guidance on how to meditate—whether occasional or deliberate. It outlines occasions for meditation, offers advice on selecting subjects, and highlights both the benefits and the spiritual enemies of the practice. Saxton concludes with pastoral encouragement to begin and persist in this vital spiritual discipline.

Rev. Saxton is pastor of Cambridge Bible Church in Cambridge, Ohio.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Mid-America Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference
01:41 Introduction
06:06 The Background to This Book
10:08 Distinguishing Meditation from Prayer
14:58 Why the Practice of Meditation Has Been Lost
18:12 Retraining Our Minds to Delight in the Right Things
21:44 God’s Battle Plan for the Mind
25:22 Meditation as Essential to Spiritual Vitality
29:08 Practical Expectations
33:47 Steps to Beginning Effective Meditation
36:52 Occasional and Deliberate Meditation
42:37 Satan Especially Opposes Meditation
48:44 The Powerful Benefit of Meditation
53:15 The Spiritual Benefits of Meditation
59:10 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Saxton

The Bridge: Finding a Connection through Common Grace | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 7)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the seventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Is there any shared ground between believers and unbelievers? In this lesson, we explore the doctrine of common grace—the means by which God, in his goodness, temporarily restrains judgment and bestows non-saving blessings even on those who remain in rebellion against him. You will discover how this temporary, non-saving grace provides space for meaningful interaction, cultural engagement, and the proclamation of the gospel. Drawing from biblical and theological insights, including historical reflections from Calvin, Warfield, Kuyper, and Van Til, we examine how common grace enables communication without compromising the antithesis. Learn how to faithfully build bridges without erasing the gospel's call to repentance and faith.

01:53 The Nature and Scope of Common Grace
07:20 Common Grace in Redemptive History
09:51 Biblical Foundations of Common Grace
20:24 Common Grace and Apologetics
27:21 Historical Perspectives on Common Grace
35:57 Withstanding Rejection
39:11 Summary and Conclusion

Faith in Exile (Psalm 119)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. David VanDrunen to discuss his new book, Faith in Exile: Psalm 119 and the Christian Life (Christian Focus). VanDrunen shares the backstory behind this unique project—his first published collection of sermons—and reflects on how Psalm 119, the Bible’s longest chapter, unfolds a deep theology of suffering, obedience, and the pilgrim experience.

Drawing from the structure and literary artistry of the Psalm, VanDrunen explores its unifying themes and situates it within the broader redemptive narrative. He highlights how the psalmist’s experience of exile and longing resonates with believers today who sojourn in a world that is not their home. The conversation weaves together biblical theology, practical piety, and reflections on theological pedagogy—particularly the enduring influence of Dr. Robert Strimple.

This episode offers rich insight into the Christian life shaped by the Word of God amid affliction, anticipation, and hope.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Mid-America Reformed Seminary CME Conference
01:41 Introduction
02:50 Westminster Seminary California Update
06:40 Remembering Dr. Robert Strimple
15:39 The Story Behind the Book
24:30 The Literary Features of Psalm 119
29:16 The Historical Context of the Psalm
36:24 The Theme of Obedience
57:05 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, David VanDrunen

The Great Divide: Life in and outside of Christ | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 6)

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Why is there such a stark contrast between the worldview of the believer and that of the unbeliever? This lesson addresses the theological concept of the antithesis—the fundamental spiritual divide between those in Christ and those outside of him. You will learn how this distinction, rooted in covenant representation and union with Christ, shapes every aspect of life and apologetic engagement. By understanding the nature of regeneration, resurrection life, and our new identity in Christ, we are better prepared to witness to the truth with clarity and conviction, while holding fast to the hope of God's redemptive purpose for his people.

01:13 The Fundamental Distinction between Believers and Unbelievers
04:31 Covenantal Representation
09:25 The Resurrection
20:18 The New Identity in Christ
29:23 Living Out Our Union with Christ
32:10 Summary and Conclusion

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Guy Waters is the Professor of New Testament at the Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi and a teaching elder in the Mississippi presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. Today, he joins us to speak about his book, One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church (Lexham Academic), in which he sets out a full-scale Reformed doctrine of the church. The title echoes the four classical “marks” confessed in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. This study is an extended exploration of how Scripture, read through a Reformed lens, fills out each of those creedal descriptors and binds them together into a single, coherent doctrine of the church.

Dr. Waters organizes the book in three movements:

Biblical Revelation (Part I). Seven chapters trace “the people of God” from creation and Eden through Abraham, Moses, the prophets, Christ and the apostles, showing that God has always had one covenant people that reaches its eschatological maturity in the new-covenant church.
Doctrinal Construction (Part II). Waters treats the classic loci of ecclesiology: the church’s four attributes (one, holy, catholic, apostolic); its marks (pure preaching, right sacraments, biblical discipline); its government (Christ the king, officers and courts); its worship (word, sacraments, prayer, Lord’s Day); its life (gifts and discipline); and its mission (“gathering and perfecting the saints” until Christ returns) .
Truth for Life and Mission (Part III). A final chapter applies the doctrine to church-state relations, defending a robust spirituality of the church and principled religious liberty.

The conclusion distills the argument into seven theses that function as a theological checksum. Throughout, Waters interlaces biblical exegesis, historical theology and confessional sources (especially the Westminster Standards). The result is both an academic survey and a pastoral manifesto aimed at equipping the church for faithful witness today.

The conversation explores the essential identity and mission of the church, the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, and what is distinctly new through Christ’s redemptive work. Waters outlines the seven theses of his book, offering clarity on ecclesiology for today’s church, particularly in light of confusion over polity, worship, and the church’s relation to the state.

This episode is an invitation to recover a robust, Reformed understanding of the church’s nature and calling, rooted in Scripture and developed in the tradition of historic confessions.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Mid-America Reformed Seminary CME Conference
01:30 Introduction
03:20 The Story Behind the Book
06:54 The Emphasis of this Book
10:43 The Need for Ecclesiology Today
15:33 The Seven Theses of the Book
18:54 The Continuity of God’s People in the Old and New Testaments
22:02 What Is New in the NT through Christ
28:02 The Mission of the Church
33:56 The Relation of Scripture to Polity
38:00 Worship
43:32 Ministering in Word and Deed
47:28 The Church and the State
52:26 The Spirituality of the Church
56:27 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Guy Prentiss Waters

The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church – Chapter 9

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:11:22 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church. Chapter 9, “The Kingdom and the Church.”

Participants: Robert Tarullo

Bearers of His Image: The Doctrine of Man | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 5)

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. What does it mean to be human? This lesson explores the doctrine of man, centered on the profound reality of being created in God's image. We discover how this divine image manifests in official, formal, and ethical dimensions, shaping our knowledge, dignity, and purpose. Through the lens of covenant theology and Reformed thought, we investigate humanity's original condition, the impact of sin, and the enduring significance of bearing God's image. This foundational understanding strengthens apologetics by illuminating the connection between believers and nonbelievers, affirming that all people exist coram Deo—in the presence of God.

02:24 The Point of Contact: The Image of God
08:47 The Image of God and Sin
19:11 Narrow and Broad Senses of the Image of God
27:20 The Image of God and Human Knowledge
35:51 Summary and Conclusion

Vos Group #99 — Millennial Views and Modern Theories of the Kingdom

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this installment of the Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton turn to pages 378–381 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments, focusing on Jesus’ teaching and the eschatology of the kingdom. They explore the vital biblical distinction between the “already” and “not yet” aspects of the kingdom of God, examining how this two-age structure stands in contrast to various eschatological systems, including premillennialism, postmillennialism, and what Vos labels “ultra-eschatology.”

Tipton and Bucey analyze Vos’s critique of these systems, highlighting the theological implications of denying either the inaugurated or consummated dimensions of the kingdom. They also discuss the resurrection, the second coming of Christ, and the theological coherence of amillennialism within the Reformed tradition. In the course of the discussion, they reflect on the life and teaching of Dr. Robert B. Strimple, affirming his Christ-centered theological pedagogy and lasting influence.

Listeners will find this episode a robust and thought-provoking engagement with biblical theology, eschatology, and Reformed orthodoxy.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

[00:00] Mid-America Reformed Seminary Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference
[01:30] Introduction
[02:45] Remembering Dr. Robert Strimple
[09:03] The Two-Stage Kingdom
[20:32] Albert Schweitzer and Ultra-Eschatology
[25:30] Postmillennialism and Gradualism
[33:42] Measuring the Kingdom’s Advance
[38:58] Vos on Premillennialism
[48:32] Premillennialism and the Westminster Standards
[58:45] Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Understanding Matthew 24

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob takes us on a walk through Matthew 24, the Olivet Discourse.

Participants: Rob McKenzie

God Speaks: The Doctrine of Revelation | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 4)

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. How can we know the God we seek to defend? In this lesson, we explore the doctrine of revelation—God's gracious self-disclosure to humanity. You will learn the crucial distinction between general revelation, seen in creation and providence, and special revelation, given through Scripture and ultimately in Jesus Christ. This lesson lays a foundation for understanding why divine revelation is necessary for knowledge, faith, and apologetics. By examining how revelation reveals God's character, will, and redemptive purposes, you will be equipped to uphold the authority of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ in the face of skepticism and competing truth claims.

01:52 General Revelation
08:50 Special Revelation
21:51 Attributes of Revelation
29:16 The Relationship between General and Special Revelation
31:14 Jesus Christ
33:26 Summary and Conclusion

Van Til Group #16 — A Response to Keith Mathison, Part 2

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined once again by Lane Tipton and Carlton Wynne for a substantive follow-up to their earlier discussion of Keith Mathison’s Toward a Reformed Apologetic: A Critique of the Thought of Cornelius Van Til. In the months since their first review, Dr. Mathison published a blog response, prompting deeper analysis and clarification.

Together, Drs. Bucey, Tipton and Wynne explore key critiques Mathison levels against Van Til, especially the claims of epistemological idealism and the so-called “omniscience requirement” for true knowledge. The panel addresses these concerns with thoughtful care, highlighting Van Til’s emphasis on covenantal epistemology, the distinction between psychological and ethical knowledge, and the non-neutrality of unbelieving thought.

The episode also tackles Mathison’s treatment of common grace and the antithesis—core concepts in Van Til’s apologetic system. Does Van Til teach that unbelievers attain true knowledge by way of common grace? What is the actual function of common grace in a fallen world? And how does Van Til preserve the absolute ethical antithesis between belief and unbelief without denying shared external reality or meaningful engagement?

This is a clarifying and edifying conversation for anyone interested in Reformed theology, presuppositional apologetics, or the legacy of Cornelius Van Til.

Mentioned Resources

Keith Mathison, Toward a Reformed Apologetics
Cornelius Van Til, The Defense of the Faith
Cornelius Van Til, Common Grace and the Gospel
Follow-up blog post by Dr. Mathison

Topics Covered

Epistemological holism and the “omniscience thesis”
Idealist influence and Van Til’s use of borrowed terminology
The meaning of “true knowledge” in covenantal context
The image of God, suppression of truth, and natural revelation
Common grace and its relationship to knowledge and antithesis
The continuing relevance of Van Til’s apologetic method

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
02:56 – Upcoming General Assembly
03:45 – Overview of Keith Mathison’s Book and Blog Response
05:06 – Main Concerns: Common Grace, Antithesis, and Epistemology
07:12 – Van Til’s Doctrine of Knowledge and Ethical Implications
09:13 – Response to Mathison’s Critique and Blog Post
12:34 – The ‘Omniscience Thesis’ in Dr. Mathison’s Reading
17:18 – Clarifying True Knowledge in Van Til’s View
23:04 – Idealism, Epistemological Holism, and Formal Influence
28:36 – Borrowed Capital vs. Replanting from Idealism
33:13 – Ethical Antithesis and Knowledge Suppression
42:12 – Common Grace: Misunderstanding and Clarification
47:13 – Van Til’s View: Knowledge Precedes Common Grace
54:11 – True Knowledge and the Ethical Rebellion of Man
59:28 – Common Grace and Inconsistent Suppression
66:10 – Antithesis in Every Sphere of Life
69:55 – Common Grace Doesn’t Suspend Total Depravity
71:48 – Looking Ahead to Reconstructed Theistic Proofs

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Lane G. Tipton

The One We Defend: The Doctrine of God | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 3)

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the third lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Before we can defend the Christian faith, we must know the God we are defending. This lesson explores the heart of Christian apologetics: the doctrine of God. We explore the nature and attributes of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as revealed in Scripture and expressed in the Reformed tradition. From God's simplicity and independence to his communicable and incommunicable attributes, we see how every aspect of his character undergirds our hope. Learn how the Trinity shapes our understanding of reality, strengthens our confidence in the gospel, and compels us to a bold yet humble defense of the faith in a world longing for ultimate truth.

03:10 Theology Proper: A Study of the Triune God
15:15 The Attributes of God
21:46 God's Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes
24:14 Relative Attributes
27:31 Divine Transcendence
31:46 Summary and Conclusion

The Lord Bless You and Keep You: Exploring the Heart of Numbers

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode we welcome Dr. Michael Morales—professor of biblical studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary—for a conversation exploring the profound theological vision of the book of Numbers. Drawing from his newly released two-volume commentary in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary series, Dr. Morales unveils Numbers as more than ancient census lists and wilderness wanderings. Instead, it emerges as a richly textured narrative of covenant community, leadership, and the Lord’s presence among his people.

Listeners will discover how the structure of Israel’s camp reflects Edenic hope and eschatological promise, how Numbers addresses the roles of prophet, priest, and king, and why the priestly blessing and Balaam’s oracles form theological bookends to this journey toward the Promised Land. Dr. Morales also shares personal reflections from his ten-year labor on the commentary, emphasizing the pastoral power and redemptive-historical depth of this often-overlooked book.

Whether you’re a pastor, seminary student, or serious Bible reader, this conversation will reinvigorate your love for the Pentateuch and deepen your grasp of how all Scripture points us to Christ.

Resources Mentioned

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

01:10 Introduction
03:22 Update About Current Projects
05:55 The Experience of Working on This Project for 10 Years
12:39 The Camp Metaphor
19:02 God Dwelling in the Midst of His People
23:53 Grumbling and Rebellion
28:47 The Orientation of God’s People
34:40 The New Generation
43:19 The Close of the Book
45:12 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Michael Morales

The Book of Daniel, Part 7

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation by Daniel found in chapter 2:31-45.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Seeing Clearly: Shaping a Biblical Worldview | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 2)

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the second lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics.

How do we perceive reality accurately amidst competing perspectives? This lesson examines worldviews and explores how everyone—whether consciously or not—interprets life through fundamental beliefs. You will learn how Scripture, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, serves as a lens bringing spiritual clarity to metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. Based on Colossians and the Reformed tradition, we compare the Christ-centered worldview with philosophical approaches grounded solely in human reasoning. This lesson enhances your understanding of worldviews, strengthens your ability to identify inconsistencies in contrary perspectives, and empowers you to articulate a gospel-centered understanding of reality with confidence.

01:30 Viewing the World through the Lens of Faith
03:04 Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics
11:01 Worldviews in Contrast
21:25 The Pre-Eminence of Christ in Colossians
34:04 Seeing Clearly with Biblical Spectacles
37:12 Examples of Worldly Vision
39:48 Summary and Conclusion.

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics/

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/ #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

The Nicene Creed and the Nature of Christian Unity

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Leonardo De Chirico and Mark Gilbert join the program to discuss the enduring significance of the Nicene Creed as it marks its 1700th anniversary. Drawing from their recent edited volume, The Nicene Creed: The Nature of Christian Unity and the Meaning of Gospel Words (Matthias Media), the guests explore how shared creedal language can mask deep theological differences, particularly between evangelical and Roman Catholic traditions.

Leonardo De Chirico is a pastor of a Reformed evangelical church in Rome, a scholar of Roman Catholic theology, and a leader in the Reformanda Initiative, which seeks to equip evangelical engagement with Roman Catholicism. Mark Gilbert serves as a chaplain in Sydney, Australia, and leads the ministry Certainty for Eternity, which focuses on evangelism among those from Roman Catholic backgrounds. Both men bring rich theological and pastoral insight to bear on the question of unity in Christ.

The conversation traces the origins of the creed, its Trinitarian framework, and the implications of confessing shared historical truths while diverging in doctrinal substance—especially concerning Christology, the church, and salvation. Leonardo and Mark also share personal insights from their ministries engaging Roman Catholics, underscoring the need for unity rooted in biblical truth rather than institutional alignment or superficial consensus.

This episode invites thoughtful reflection on what true Christian unity looks like in light of Scripture, and how the creeds function as faithful, yet insufficient, summaries apart from a Reformed understanding of the gospel.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

01:11 Introduction
04:03 Background to the Book
11:27 Can We Have Meaningful Unity with Roman Catholics?
17:31 Unity in Truth
25:32 The Trinitarian Theology of the Creed
29:31 The Christology of the Creed
38:16 The Scope and Usefulness of the Nicene Creed
44:31 The Work of Christ
51:50 Pursuing Christian Unity
57:55 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Leonardo De Chirico, Mark Gilbert

The Book of Daniel, Part 6

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss Nebuchadnezzar’s dream found in Daniel 2:31-49.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Foundations of Hope: Understanding Apologetics | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 1)

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

This is the first lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey's Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics.

What does it mean to defend our hope in a world filled with doubt and competing worldviews? In this opening lesson, you will be introduced to the discipline of apologetics—not as an academic abstraction but as a deeply personal, biblically grounded calling for every believer. Drawing from 1 Peter 3:15, we explore how the hope of Christ's resurrection transforms the way we engage with others, and why a distinctly Reformed approach—centered on Scripture, the sovereignty of God, and covenant theology—offers a robust framework for defending the faith with gentleness and respect. This lesson sets the foundation for a life of confident and compassionate witness.

00:09 Introduction
03:20 Foundations of Hope: Understanding Apologetics
08:13 The Benefit of Apologetics
15:14 A Distinctly Reformed Apologetic

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics/

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/ #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

Samuel Miller’s Thoughts on Public Prayer

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:57:47 -0400

In this episode Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. Jonathan Master, president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and host of the new podcast Dead Presbyterians Society. Together, they reflect on the theology and practice of public prayer, drawing upon the insights of 19th-century Presbyterian theologian Samuel Miller and his underappreciated classic, Thoughts on Public Prayer.

The conversation addresses the enduring importance of prayer in the public ministry of the church. Dr. Master discusses why pastors must be both God’s mouthpiece to the people through preaching and the people’s mouthpiece to God through prayer. The episode includes a full episode of Dead Presbyterian Society, in which Master offers a deep and moving treatment of Miller’s work—highlighting frequent faults in public prayer, the characteristics of excellent prayer, and the secret devotional habits that sustain it.

Whether you’re a pastor, elder, seminarian, or thoughtful church member, this episode is a call to recover the dignity, order, and spiritual power of public prayer in Reformed worship.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:04:53 Introducing Dead Presbyterians Society
00:21:22 Dead Presbyterians Society, Episode 5
00:47:28 The Relative Lack of Attention Given to Public Prayer
01:01:44 How to Grow in Public Prayer
01:06:05 Reading Books to Help Think More Biblically
01:08:30 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Master

Ruth 2:1–13 — Why Me?

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

God begins to turn around Naomi’s life in Ruth 2:1-13, a picture of what he does for his church. Ruth ventures into the fields in faith and just “happens” to meet Boaz, who shows her unexpected kindness. Her response, “Why have I found favor?” is something Christians today have even more reason to echo.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Vos Group #98 — The Kingdom in the Gospels

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What did Jesus mean when he spoke of “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven?” In this episode, we turn to Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, pages 375–378, where he unpacks the theological and biblical contours of the kingdom in the Gospels. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey explore the critical distinction Vos draws between the abstract and concrete senses of the kingdom, the Old Testament background, and how the kingdom becomes incarnate in the person and work of Christ.

Together, we discuss

the kingdom as God’s sovereign reign vs. a redemptive realm,
how the Reformed categories regnum essentiale, regnum personale, and regnum spirituale frame our understanding,
the significance of Matthew’s phrase “kingdom of heaven,”
the kingdom’s embodiment in the incarnate Christ and its expression in the church,
the dangers of under- or over-realized eschatologies.

This episode offers rich theological insight and practical clarity for pastors, students, and anyone seeking to understand the kingdom according to Scripture and sound Reformed theology.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

01:11 Introduction
01:44 Theological Topics in Romans
06:03 The Kingdom of God in the Gospels
12:59 Important Distinctions
24:58 Jesus’ Sense of the Kingdom in the Gospels
31:51 The Kingdom and the Church
36:25 Avoiding Under- and Over-Realized Eschatologies
40:34 Matthew and the Kingdom of Heaven
53:10 The Kingdom and Worship on the Lord’s Day
58:25 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

The Book of Daniel, Part 5

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We discuss Nebuchadnezzar’s dream found in Daniel 2:17-24.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Loving the Law

Fri, 30 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Carlton Wynne are joined by Rev. Stephen Spinnenweber, author of Loving the Law: The Law of God in the Life of the Believer (Christian Focus), to explore the enduring significance of God’s moral law in the Christian life. They discuss the book’s development, its theological foundations, and its practical applications for pastors, congregants, and Christian parents.

The conversation clarifies the Reformed understanding of the threefold use of the law and addresses common misconceptions surrounding legalism and antinomianism. Stephen offers a pastoral and theologically rich vision for delighting in the law as a gracious guide for believers—one rooted in God’s character and purpose for humanity. The trio also touches on civil use of the law, the Sabbath, and the broader cultural and political implications of God’s moral order.

This episode is a refreshing call to recover a joyful obedience to God’s commandments—not as a means of earning salvation, but as the grateful response of those saved by grace and empowered by the Spirit.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:10:32 Coming to this Project
00:18:40 The Choice of the Subtitle
00:20:39 The Law/Gospel Distinction
00:33:11 The Ceremonial, Civil, and Moral Law
00:39:29 God’s Law and the State
00:47:08 The Fourth Commandment and the State
00:51:44 The Spirit’s Working in Providing The Will and Ability to Obey
01:07:31 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Stephen Spinnenweber

Ephesians 3:1–13 — Paul’s Gospel Ministry

Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What does ‘mystery’ have to do with Paul’s ministry? Does it mean that Paul’s ministry is somehow mysterious? Does it mean that Paul’s ministry is difficult to understand? Not at all! Rather, Paul had the privilege of proclaiming the glorious ‘mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? Join us for this episode of Proclaiming Christ as we consider Paul’s ministry, the mystery of the gospel, the unsearchable riches of Christ, and what this means for the church today.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Righteous by Design and Created for Communion

Fri, 23 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this rich theological conversation, Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. Harrison Perkins—pastor, scholar, and author—to discuss his two latest books: Righteous by Design: Covenantal Merit and Adam’s Original Integrity (Christian Focus) and Created for Communion with God: The Promise of Genesis 1–2 (Lexham Press). Together, they explore foundational Reformed doctrines related to covenant theology, the image of God, and the eschatological purpose embedded in creation itself.

Dr. Perkins offers historical and systematic clarity on the oft-debated notion of merit in the covenant of works, contrasting Reformed and Roman Catholic anthropologies. He also unpacks the pastoral dimensions of humanity’s creation for communion with God, showing how Genesis 1–2 serves not merely as a record of origins, but as a divine love letter calling God’s people into eternal fellowship.

Whether you’re a pastor, scholar, or thoughtful layperson, this episode provides deep insight into how theology—rooted in Scripture and the Reformed tradition—shapes our understanding of God, humanity, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:09:06 The Origin of Each Book
00:18:03 Genesis 1–2 Draws Us into Communion with God
00:20:58 The Theme of Beauty
00:24:39 Original Righteousness
00:32:34 Natural Man’s Ability
00:47:00 Concupiscence
00:56:01 Concepts of Merit
01:07:18 Communion with Other Image Bearers
01:15:22 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Harrison Perkins

The Book of Daniel, Part 4

Tue, 20 May 2025 12:01:43 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We see the great challenge Nebuchadnezzar places upon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans of the land by insisting that they reveal his dream to him before the interpretation. What are Daniel and his friends to do? Trust the Lord; he will provide.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials

Fri, 16 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. J. Brandon Burks, pastor of Christ Reformed Church (URCNA) in Florence, Kentucky, to discuss his recent article published in The Confessional Presbyterian Journal (Vol. 20, 2024): “The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials: Living According to God’s Revealed Will.”

Together, they explore the theological context of the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692, uncovering how speculative theology and reliance on so-called “spectral evidence” reflected a deeper deviation from Scripture’s clarity and sufficiency. Dr. Burks outlines the influence of figures such as William Perkins, Cotton Mather, and Richard Baxter, while also shedding light on how the distinction between God’s secret and revealed will was tragically misunderstood.

The conversation goes beyond history, offering timely insights into contemporary fascination with mysticism, the spiritual dangers of neglecting the ordinary means of grace, and the need for biblically grounded theology in facing spiritual warfare today. They conclude by considering the value of a redemptive-historical and confessional framework in pastoral ministry and theological education.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
02:11 Academic Background and Church Planting in Kentucky
07:36 Van Til’s Theology of Christian Education
09:39 The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials
15:04 Speculative Theology
18:03 Williams Perkins’ Theology as a Basis
24:00 Covenants with the Devil
26:14 Devil’s Marks and Their Significance
29:52 Exploring the Explosion of Accusations in 1692
33:39 Debunking the Moldy Bread Theory
35:29 The Influence of Samuel Parris
39:21 The Dangers of Speculative Theology
44:26 Balancing Awareness of the Spiritual Realm
50:33 Misunderstandings of the Salem Witch Trials
53:35 Further Reading and Resources on the Trials
58:07 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, J. Brandon Burks

The Book of Daniel, Part 3

Tue, 13 May 2025 12:29:37 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We see God’s faithfulness to his people in the midst of living in a foreign land under a foreign power as an exiled people.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The Swiss Reformation: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Fri, 09 May 2025 05:00:25 -0400

In this episode of Christ the Center, we’re joined by Kurt Vetterli, pastor of an ERKWB congregation in Basel, and Florian Weicken, pastor of an EPCEW congregation in Zürich, for a rich conversation on the legacy and ongoing work of the Swiss Reformation.

We begin with a guided historical survey of the Reformation in Zürich and Basel, highlighting key figures such as Huldrych Zwingli, Johannes Oecolampadius, and Heinrich Bullinger. From the Affair of the Sausages to the formation of the Second Helvetic Confession, we explore how these cities shaped the theology, worship, and church life of the broader Reformed tradition.

Turning to the present, Kurt and Florian share about their ministries in Switzerland today—what gospel ministry looks like in a post-Christian context, the challenges and encouragements they experience, and how the Reformation heritage still speaks into their work.

We conclude with a call to pray for the Reformed churches in Switzerland and to consider how listeners might support or participate in this important kingdom work.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
06:50 The Historical Context of the Swiss Reformation
21:01 Challenges Facing Confessional Swiss Churches Today
24:21 The Legacy of Zwingli in Zürich
30:33 The Reformation in Basel
39:25 Heinrich Bullinger in Zürich
44:25 The Second Helvetic Confession
47:45 The Loss of the Reformation in Switzerland
52:52 The Swiss Church’s Present Needs
57:16 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Florian Weicken, Kurt Vetterli

Ruth 1:6–22 — Turning the Bitter Sweet

Wed, 07 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In Ruth 1, God brings back a wandering sheep in Naomi, showing us his grace and power. But Naomi still thinks God has dealt bitterly with her and defines herself as “Mara.” Join us as we discuss important preaching points in Ruth 1:6-22 and see how God turns sweet what sin has made bitter.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Vos Group #97 — The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament

Fri, 02 May 2025 05:00:23 -0400

In this installment of our Vos Group series, Camden Bucey welcomes Lane Tipton back to the studio for an in-depth discussion on Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology (pp. 372–374), focusing on the Kingdom of God. Together, they explore how the concept of the kingdom is foundational to Jesus’ public ministry and central to redemptive history.

Drawing from Vos’s text and the broader Reformed tradition, Lane and Camden unpack the eschatological character of the kingdom, its redemptive nature, and its Old Testament foundations. They trace how this theme unfolds from the prophets to the teachings of Christ, addressing modern misconceptions—ranging from liberal moralism to dispensational literalism—and emphasizing the kingdom’s spiritual and heavenly dimensions.

Listeners will gain fresh insight into key theological categories such as inaugurated eschatology, the continuity of redemptive history, and the contrast between earthly and heavenly expectations of the Messiah. Whether you’re new to Vos or a long-time student of Reformed theology, this episode offers deep encouragement and clarity on a subject that lies at the very heart of Scripture.

Watch on YouTube

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
04:35 The Kingdom of God in the Ministry of Jesus
07:12 The Eschatological and Redemptive Nature of the Kingdom
19:08 Kingdom Language in John vs. Synoptics
28:01 Salvation, Discipleship, and the Call to Radical Obedience
34:19 Kingdom in the Old Testament: Present and Future Dimensions
40:59 Future Kingdom in the OT: Abstract, Historical, Messianic
45:57 Jewish Expectations vs. Jesus’ Teaching on the Kingdom
52:13 Christ’s Kingdom: Heavenly, Spiritual, and Redemptive
57:08 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

The Book of Daniel, Part 2

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:05:42 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. We God’s faithfulness to his people in the midst of challenging circumstances for God’s people.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The Special Commission of 1925

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 05:00:52 -0400

In this episode, Danny Olinger and Camden Bucey explore a pivotal moment in the history of American Presbyterianism: the Special Commission of 1925 and its investigation into the doctrinal unrest within the Presbyterian Church (USA). Appointed to address the growing tension between modernists and conservatives, the Commission aimed to preserve the church’s “purity, peace, unity, and progress.” However, for J. Gresham Machen, the Commission’s recommendations represented a profound failure to uphold biblical orthodoxy.

We explore how the Special Commission, composed of fifteen prominent ministers and ruling elders with deep ties to denominational institutions, prioritized unity over doctrinal clarity. Its influential members—such as Robert Speer, Mark Matthews, and Stated Clerk Lewis Mudge—were largely institutional loyalists who sought to preserve the church’s structural integrity and foster reconciliation rather than enforcing confessional standards. Despite Machen’s compelling plea for doctrinal faithfulness, the Commission framed the controversy as a misunderstanding of tolerance and authority rather than a fundamental theological crisis.

We’ll examine how Machen’s uncompromising opposition to modernism ultimately led to his suspension from the PCUSA and the formation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936. Along the way, we’ll discuss the broader implications of this controversy for American Presbyterianism, and how the decisions made during this period continue to influence Reformed denominations today.

Join us as we unpack the significance of the Special Commission of 1925 and consider what lessons it holds for maintaining orthodoxy in the midst of institutional pressure and theological compromise.

Links

Watch on YouTube.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:06:36 Setting the Stage: Presbyterian History and Tensions
00:16:32 The Five Fundamentals and the Auburn Affirmation
00:35:40 Erdman’s Motion at the 1925 General Assembly
00:40:02 The Makeup of the Commission of 1925
00:51:49 The Work of the Commission
01:00:58 The Sine Qua Non of Presbyterianism
01:07:38 The Aftermath
01:20:52 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger

The Book of Daniel, Part 1

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:51:12 -0400

On today’s episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin to walk through the Book of Daniel with some background and introductory thoughts.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Engaging with Thomas Aquinas

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 05:00:22 -0400

In this thought-provoking episode, we welcome back Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, a leading Reformed evangelical theologian and pastor in Rome, for a consideration of the legacy and ongoing influence of Thomas Aquinas. Drawing from his recent book, Engaging with Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach (Apollos), Dr. De Chirico offers a critical yet charitable appraisal of Aquinas’s theological architecture and enduring impact on Roman Catholicism.

Together, Camden and Leonardo explore key themes such as the Catholic Church’s dual nature—Roman and Catholic—the evolving role of Thomism across church history, and the tensions within Roman Catholic thought on Vatican II and modernity. Listeners will also hear how Protestants have historically interacted with Aquinas and why an eclectic, biblically grounded engagement remains vital today.

This episode offers not only theological clarity but pastoral wisdom for evangelicals navigating the complexities of tradition, authority, and theological retrieval in a post-Reformation world.

Links

Watch on YouTube.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
11:09 Engaging with Thomas Aquinas
17:53 Thomas Aquinas’s Lasting Influence
29:07 Approaching Thomas Critically
37:00 Thomas as an Architectural Thinker
41:46 A Protestant Perspective
53:54 Five Guidelines for Evangelicals Engaging with Aquinas
58:53 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Leonardo De Chirico

Ephesians 2:20–22 — A Firm Foundation

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If you lived in the ancient city of Ephesus, the most majestic structure that you would see on a daily basis would be the temple to the pagan goddess, Artemis. By all earthly standards, this temple was a magnificent structure. But if you were to ask your Christian neighbor, “What is the greatest structure in Ephesus?” He would no doubt answer, “Why of course, it’s the church, the temple of the one, true, and living God. Let’s go to worship and you can see for yourself!” In Ephesians 2:20-22 the Apostle Paul describes the church as a holy temple in the Lord. In this episode of Proclaiming Christ, we consider the foundation, the materials, the builder, and the purpose of the grandest of all institutions, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

The Biblical Theme of Exile and Return

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 05:00:18 -0400

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Nicholas G. Piotrowski to discuss his book, Return from Exile and the Renewal of God’s People (Crossway). Throughout our conversation, Dr. Piotrowski unpacks the biblical theme of exile and return, demonstrating how it forms the central drama of Scripture—from Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden to the final restoration of God’s people in the new creation.

We explore how this theme echoes through the Psalms, the prophetic literature, and, most importantly, in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Dr. Piotrowski explains how Christ embodies the ultimate return from exile, fulfilling Israel’s hopes and opening the way for the church to experience renewal in the presence of God. We also discuss the implications of this theme for the mission of the church today, culminating in the final hope of God’s people dwelling with Him forever.

Join us as we trace this rich biblical-theological theme and consider how understanding exile and return shapes our reading of Scripture and our Christian walk.

Nicholas G. Piotrowski (PhD, Wheaton College) is the president of Indianapolis Theological Seminary where he also teaches hermeneutics and New Testament courses. His other books include In All the Scriptures and Matthew’s New David at the End of Exile.

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
07:28 The Theme of Exile and Return
11:23 Why Is Exile and Return a Central Theme in Scripture
14:20 Exile and Return as the Bible’s Principal Theme
24:44 The Theme in the Psalms
29:29 Jesus’s Ministry as the Foreshocks of Return from Exile
35:02 Exilic Themes in the Ministry of Christ
44:19 The Mission of the Church and the Theme of Exile and Return
52:30 Coming Home
57:00 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Nicholas Piotrowski

Genesis 35:1–15 — The Return to Bethel

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In Genesis 35 we have the “and back again” portion of Jacob’s journey. He comes back to where he started. Jacob’s journey back to Bethel marks the end of a larger story that had begun two decades ago. Everything that happened in between is now culminating in this place as God speaks to Jacob. At long last Jacob keeps his promise and God reaffirmed his covenant to him, changing his name from Jacob to Israel. This signifies the initial stages of a kingdom over which God will rule.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder

Vos Group #96 — The Divine Majesty, Greatness, and Righteousness

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey continue their discussion of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology, focusing on pages 369–371. This section addresses Jesus’ teaching on the divine majesty and greatness, the retributive righteousness of God, and the implications for true religion.

Lane Tipton explains how Vos maintains the biblical tension between God’s transcendent majesty and his loving condescension. They discuss how Vos’s doctrine of God stands against the errors of theological liberalism, which often reduces the divine character to a single attribute of love divorced from holiness and righteousness. The conversation highlights how Jesus’ teaching does not abandon the concept of divine retribution but presents it as an essential and irreducible aspect of God’s nature.

Drawing connections to the contemporary theological landscape, Camden and Lane address modern tendencies to elevate divine love to the exclusion of justice. They also explore the ways in which Reformed theology provides a robust foundation for understanding God’s attributes in their fullness, without compromising his immutability or impassibility.

Listen in as they unpack Vos’s profound insights and demonstrate how they continue to speak to modern theological debates.

Watch on YouTube.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
07:41 Vos’s Critique of Liberalism
11:32 The Attributes of God
17:02 The Impassibility of God and Its Importance
28:19 True Religion and God’s Transcendence
33:04 The Retributive Righteousness of God
44:51 Practical Application
49:53 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

300 Years of the Reformed Church in the United States

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 05:00:30 -0400

In this special episode of Christ the Center, we commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) with special guests Dr. Maynard Koerner and Wayne Johnson.

Dr. Koerner and Mr. Johnson take us on a historical journey through the origins, theological developments, and challenges that have shaped the RCUS over the past three centuries. From the church’s humble beginnings in colonial Pennsylvania, through the Mercersburg controversy, to the influx of Volga German immigrants, we explore how the RCUS has maintained a steadfast commitment to confessional Reformed theology.

We also discuss the upcoming tricentennial celebration in Rapid City, South Dakota, and reflect on the church’s present and future, its global mission work, and its deep connections with other Reformed bodies, including the OPC and Westminster Seminary.

Wayne Johnson is the Provost of City Seminary of Sacramento. He served as the editor of Leben Magazine from 2008–2018 and retired as CEO of Gateway Media in 2019. He has a BA in European History from Purdue University.

Dr. Maynard Koerner is President of Heidelberg Theological Seminary and Associate Pastor of Trinity RCUS in Sioux Falls.

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

0:07 Introduction
3:32 The Tricentennial Celebration
4:50 The Colonial Era
11:06 Ecclesiastical Ties and Ministerial Training
20:07 Organization in 1747
28:23 The Mercersburg Controversy
38:46 The Volga/Black Sea German Immigration
42:31 The 1934 Merger
52:25 The RCUS Today
1:02:16 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Maynard Koerner, Wayne Johnson

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Final State

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:23:49 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we a conclude our discussion of chapter XXX, the last chapter “The Resurrection, the Last Judgement, and the Final State.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The Three-Office View

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 05:00:35 -0400

In this episode, we explore the biblical and historical foundations of Presbyterian church government through the lens of the three-office view—minister, ruling elder, and deacon. Joining us are two distinguished guests: Mark R. Brown, editor of and contributor to Order in the Offices, and Greg Reynolds, contributor to the volume.

Together, we discuss the scriptural and theological arguments for distinguishing the minister of the Word from the ruling elder, why this distinction matters for the health of the church, and the modern challenges facing Presbyterian polity. Brown shares insights from his decades-long defense of the three-office view, while Reynolds unpacks his essay, “Democracy and the Denigration of Office,” explaining how cultural influences have shaped and distorted church governance.

Whether you’re a church officer, seminarian, or simply interested in Reformed ecclesiology, this conversation offers a compelling case for recovering the historic Presbyterian model of church leadership.

Mark R. Brown is a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is a graduate of Geneva College and Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. After completing his seminary education in 1977, he planted Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, where he faithfully served as pastor for forty years until his retirement in 2017.

Greg Reynolds is a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church who has served as a church planter and pastor in both New York and New Hampshire. Before entering the ministry, he worked in the field of architecture. In addition to his pastoral work, he is the editor of Ordained Servant: A Journal for Church Officers, where he has contributed numerous essays on ecclesiology and pastoral ministry. Reynolds is the author of The Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures: Preaching in the Electronic Age, which explores the impact of media on preaching and worship. His academic background includes studies at the Boston Architectural College, the L’Abri Fellowship, Covenant College (BA, 1975), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv, 1979), and Westminster Seminary in California (DMin, 2001).

Use coupon code order25 to save 25% on the book at our website. The coupon is good for one week, from March 21–28, 2025. You may also purchase the book from our partner booksellers:

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:04:28 The Story of the First Edition of Order in the Offices
00:14:24 Influential Theologians on the Topic
00:22:44 Misunderstandings about the Offices
00:29:31 The New Testament Terms for Ministers and Elders
00:32:57 Cultural Influences against Presbyterian Government
00:42:58 The Forgotten Thomas Smyth
00:52:31 Teaching and Implementing a Three-Office View
00:58:52 Final Comments
01:01:44 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Greg Reynolds, Mark R. Brown

The Genevan Réveil

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode we welcome Dr. Jean Decorvet and Dr. Kenneth Stewart to explore The Geneva Réveil, a significant yet often overlooked nineteenth-century evangelical revival that reshaped French-speaking Protestantism and left a lasting global impact. We discuss the origins, theological dynamics, and international reach of this movement, featured in the new volume, The Geneva Réveil in International Perspective.

Dr. Decorvet shares personal insights, including his family’s connection to Adolphe Monod—known as “the voice of the revival”—while Dr. Stewart highlights the fascinating transatlantic ties between the Réveil and American Presbyterianism. The conversation considers the blend of warm piety and Reformed orthodoxy that fueled the movement, its influence on hymnody, social reform (including the founding of the Red Cross), and the broader currents of nineteenth-century evangelicalism.

Kennneth J. Stewart is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Until 2019, he was professor of theological studies in Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Jean Decorvet is president and professor of theological studies at the Haute école de théologie, St-Légier, Switzerland. He is also a visiting professor in historical studies at the Faculté Jean Calvin.

Listen to discover how the Geneva Réveil not only revitalized Francophone Protestantism but also shaped the course of global missions, theological education, and the enduring legacy of Reformed thought.

Links

Watch on YouTube and Vimeo.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:05:32 Familiarity with the Genevan Reveil
00:11:31 European Roots of the Evangelical Free Church
00:12:50 Historical Background and Context
00:17:52 Unique Aspects of the Genevan Reveil
00:22:02 Pietism and Calvinist Orthodoxy
00:28:53 The Reveil and Theological Liberalism
00:31:33 The Far-Reaching Effects of the Reveil
00:38:12 Roman Catholicism and the Reveil
00:44:17 American Presbyterian Influence on the Reveil
00:50:41 Louis Gaussen’s Influence
00:58:49 Looking to the Future
01:01:59 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jean Decorvet, Kenneth J. Stewart, Ryan Noha

Ruth 1:1–5 — Going to a Far Country

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

What happens when you leave the people of God and venture to a far country? And when tragedy strikes there, is there any hope that God’s grace can restore what sin has devastated? Welcome to the book of Ruth, where we find curse and death but also God’s amazing grace. Ruth reveals the power of God’s grace in Christ to bring fullness where there was emptiness.

Participants: Andrew Miller, Mark A. Winder

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Resurrection

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:40:53 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we a discussion of chapter XXX, the last chapter “The Resurrection, the Last Judgement, and the Final State.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Second Coming of Christ, Part 3

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:50:00 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we continue our discussion of chapter XXIX, “The Second Coming of Christ.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Second Coming of Christ, Part 2

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:52:42 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we continue our discussion of chapter XXIX, “The Second Coming of Christ.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Second Coming of Christ

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we begin to discuss chapter XXIX, “The Second Coming of Christ.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

A Very Merry Christmas

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0400

For our Ninth Annual Christmas Special, Rob and Bob are here to bring you Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas silliness. This year we talk about the historical Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, otherwise known as St. Nicholas, and how the faithful defender of the faith has been transformed into Santa Claus. Of course, we do this with our traditional laughter and hysterics.

More seriously, friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thank you for listening to Theology Simply Profound. We very much appreciate your ongoing support.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Introduction to Living in the Last Days

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:00:53 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, before moving forward in this chapter entitled, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we engage with what it means to live in these last days. What are the last days anyway?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Physical Death and the Intermediate State, Part 1

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:11:03 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, we come to the last section of the Summary, “The Doctrine of the Last Things.” Rob and Bob begin to a discuss chapter XXVIII, “Physical Death and the Intermediate State.” What is physical death? Why is there death? What is death for believers?

Participants: Rob McKenzie

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper, Part 2

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:28:34 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, we continue our discussion of chapter XXVII, “The Lord’s Supper.” We talk about a variety of different matters, including where the body of Christ is currently and where Jesus is during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Lord’s Supper, Part 1

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, we begin to discuss chapter XXVII, “The Lord’s Supper.” We consider the Lord’s institution of the Supper, the background of the Passover meal, as well as what is meant by the Lord’s Supper being a sign and seal.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Christian Baptism, Part 2

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:29:42 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXVI, “Christian Baptism.” In this episode, we continue our discussion of Christian baptism.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mark 1:14–45 — What Is the Gospel

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

There is a transition that occurs between the ministry of John the Baptist and the Ministry of Jesus. John begins to decrease, and Jesus begins to increase. The Lord Jesus teaches and shows what the gospel is by his words and actions. We see how Jesus himself is the subject matter of the good news—the gospel, and his words and actions reveal the nature of the kingdom.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Christian Baptism, Part 1

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:06:40 -0400

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Word of God and the Sacraments in General

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:30:57 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXV, “The Word of God and the Sacraments in General.” In this episode, we mostly talk about the nature of a sacrament as a means of grace.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Genesis 34 — Rape and Retribution

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Something significant is missing in Genesis 34 as we read one of the most shocking stories of Scripture. How do you preach Christ in a text where a violent act is met with severe retribution? Are Jacob’s sons exercising just judgment or personal revenge? Does this episode parallel the later conquest of Canaan? We seek to answer these questions and show how the ravages of sin can be undone; how the unclean can be made clean. There is good news for the Christian in this dreadful story.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 2:11–19 — Brought Near in Christ

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Paul calls upon his readers to remember five realities of their former life: separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants, having no hope, and without God. But the glorious good news is “BUT NOW in Christ Jesus” those who were far off have been brought near. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, has reconciled the repentant sinner to God, so that he is no longer a stranger, but a member of God’s household.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Word of God and the Sacraments in General

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:06:00 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We begin a discussion of chapter XXV, “The Word of God and the Sacraments in General.” In this episode, we start to talk about the means of grace.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Government and Power of the Church, Part 3

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:24:05 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXIV, “The Government and Power of the Church.” In this episode, we talk about church power. What kind of church power or authority does the church of Jesus Christ have?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Ephesians 2:4–10 — The Good News

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Although humanity is dead and lost in sin, with no way to merit favor with God, God is rich in mercy and loves his people with a great love. Those whom God loves are then saved only through the death, resurrection, ascension, and session of Jesus Christ. Believers then, through their union with Christ, are privileged to have died with him, been resurrected with him, and ascended with him to the heavenly places. This glorious news should humble us and lead us to worship and walk in holiness.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Mark 1:1–15 — The Beginning of the Gospel

Wed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we introduce the Gospel of Mark. We also explore how Mark introduces us to the person of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Of special interest is the redemptive nature of the Gospel. This is shown by Mark’s high Christology (Jesus is God), John’s baptism, and Jesus’ successful resistance of Satan’s temptation.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Government and Power of the Church, Part 2

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:03:22 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXIV, “The Government and Power of the Church.” In this episode, we talk about denominations, church as an organization and its structure, and plenty of other odds and ends related to the church.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Government and Power of the Church, Part 1

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:45:30 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXIV, “The Government and Power of the Church.” In this episode, we begin a discussion of church government of Christ’s church beginning with Christ as head of the church and the church officers.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:47:49 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We continue our discussion of chapter XXIII, “The Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace.” In this episode, we get into various aspects of the church: the visible and invisible distinction, church discipline, and others.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:17:12 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We begin a discussion of chapter XXIII, “The Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace.” We’ll spend a few episodes discussing this chapter to dig a little deeper into the nature of the church.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Sanctification and Perseverance

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:50:52 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XXII, “Sanctification and Perseverance.” After too long of a break from recording, Rob and Bob were able to sit down together to discuss God’s work of sanctifying his people, the nature of good works, and how God’s people persevere to the end.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Genesis 33 — Reconciled with God and Man

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Moses brings us to the height of the conflict between Jacob and Esau. We look at the need to preserve the tension in the story while connecting it to the larger narrative. Here we learn how Jacob’s humility leads to a resolution of conflict. We see also the high point of the story — the building of the altar, as Jacob has reconciled with God and man.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 2:1–10 — The Bad News (Part One)

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we consider the reality that mankind, apart from God’s glorious grace, is completely and totally lost in sin. Before Paul moves to extol the riches of God’s grace in Eph 2:4–10, he first digs down deep to expose the reality of sinful man’s helpless estate. The more we understand the depth of our sin, the more we will fall to our knees in wonder of God’s mercy in Christ. We must first reckon with the bad news before we bathe in the good news.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Justification, Part 2

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:53:20 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XXI, “Justification.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Psalm 18 — David’s Profession of Righteousness

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we explain the meaning of David’s profession of righteousness. How can David speak about himself as being without guilt, relative to God’s law, when we know he was a sinner? If our salvation is by grace alone, then how can David say that God rewarded him for his righteousness by saving him from his enemies?

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 1:18–23 — Paul’s Prayer (Part Two)

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In part two of Paul’s Prayer we return to consider Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers. Yes, Paul’s burden is that the Ephesian believers would know the Lord. But what specifically does he pray for them? What specifically, in this passage, does he want them to know? Join us as we reflect on Paul’s — and the Lord’s — burden for his people.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Justification, Part 1

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:35:21 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XXI, “Justification.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Ephesians 1:15–18 — Paul’s Prayer (Part One)

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In part one of Paul’s Prayer, we will examine how the apostle Paul prays for the Spirit to be at work so that Christians can know God more. Paul’s thankfulness for the believers at Ephesus moves him to constant prayer that God would soften their hearts and open their eyes to hear and believe the gospel. This should be our burden in prayer: that we would know God more.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Genesis 32:13–32 — Wrestling with God

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Jacob expects a conflict with Esau but instead ends up wrestling with an unknown assailant, who can clearly best him at any moment. But when that moment comes, Jacob will not release his hold until he receives a blessing. The content of that blessing points to the God who will not forsake Jacob and will fulfill his covenant promises.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Because It’s Christmas

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 14:42:32 -0400

For our Eighth Annual Christmas Special, Rob and Bob are here to bring you Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas silliness. This year we laugh about Christmas delicacies and the weird things we do at this season of the year “. . . because it’s Christmas.”

More seriously, friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thank you for listening to Theology Simply Profound. We very much appreciate your ongoing support.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Conversion: Repentance & Faith, Part 2

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 20:55:20 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XX, “Conversion: Repentance & Faith.” This week we continue our discussion how Berkhof addresses the doctrine of conversion focusing on faith.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church – Chapter 8

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:24:54 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church. Chapter 8, “The Essence of the Kingdom continued: The Kingdom as a State of Blessedness.”

Participants: Robert Tarullo

Psalm 5 — Christian Hatred

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0400

What is a Christian to do with the imprecatory Psalms? Are they to be read and sung today, and if so, with what understanding? Jim Cassidy talks about how to situate the Psalms within their redemptive-historical context, instead of reading them in the abstract.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

What is the Future of Israel? Part 2

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:03:05 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their discussion of the future of Israel? With geopolitical affairs in the Middle East as they are currently and the end times speculations that arise and questions as to how Christians should think of the nation-state of Israel, we discuss the promises regarding the land of Israel, Israel as a nation, the promises to Abraham and his seed, that is Christ, and Romans 11.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

What is the Future of Israel? Part 1

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:19:09 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the future of Israel? With geopolitical affairs in the Middle East as they are currently and the end times speculations that arise and questions as to how Christians should think of the nation-state of Israel, we consider some history, some dispensational views, and some Reformed views.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Conversion: Repentance & Faith, Part 1

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:18:42 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XX, “Conversion: Repentance & Faith.” This week we discuss how Berkhof addresses the doctrine of conversion.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Calling and Regeneration, Part 2

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:31:37 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XIX, Calling and Regeneration. This week we discuss the doctrine of regeneration.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Calling and Regeneration, Part 1

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 22:59:27 -0400

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Genesis 32:1–12 — Preparing for Conflict

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

As Jacob continues toward Canaan in obedience to God’s call, he comes up against another significant obstacle: Esau is coming to meet him Genesis 32:1–12—preparing for conflict with a small army. Jacob’s reliance upon God’s covenant promises, and his humble prayer, are models for today’s Christians. We may pray with confidence as did Jacob, for the reality of those promises are even greater for us through Jesus Christ.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Common Operation of the Holy Spirit: Common Grace

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 21:16:38 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We begin a new section entitled, “The Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption.” However, before getting to the work of the Spirit in applying salvation to believers, Berkhof discusses the common operation of the Holy Spirit.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Atonement Through Christ, Part 2

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:33:40 -0400

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We conclude our discussion of chapter 17, “The Atonement Through Christ.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Matthew 4:1-11 — The Testing and Temptation of the Son of God — Part One

Wed, 24 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This episode looks at the testing of Jesus that comes on the heels of his baptism. At his baptism, the Father declares “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Satan comes to test that claim. But God has his own purposes as Jesus is led into the wilderness to demonstrate that he is indeed who the father declared him to be.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Psalm 2 — A Biblical Conspiracy Theory

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Psalm 2 speaks of rebellious kings conspiring together against the Lord and his anointed. But the outcome of such conspiracies is clear. The Son will have the earth as his possession.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 1:11–14 — The Believer’s Inheritance

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In Eph 1:11–14 the Apostle Paul describes the glorious heavenly inheritance of the Christian. He seeks to encourage the Ephesian Christians—many of whom had given up earthly glory—by reminding them of an even greater glory in Christ. May Paul’s words be a wonderful encouragement to the church today!

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Genesis 31:22–55 — Jacob’s Covenant with Laban

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0400

The narrative portions of Scripture serve to highlight the paradigm established by Genesis 3:15. In the story of Jacob and Laban we see primarily not a conflict between two human beings but a conflict between the one true God and the gods of Laban. Laban’s gods are helpless and put to shame. Jacob’s God fulfills his covenant and provides a redeemer to cleanse Jacob—and us—from sin.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

[2 Peter] The End of the Path: The Entrance (1:11–15)

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

Daniel Ragusa is the pastor of Messiah's Reformed Fellowship (URCNA) in New York City. He received his M.Div. from Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Westminster Theological Seminary.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Peter exhorts the church not to overlook the Holy Spirit-inspired history of special revelation as it foreshadows this coming reality (1:21), including Noah and the flood (2:5), Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6–8), the restraint of Balaam (2:15–16), the approaching Day of the Lord (3:11), and even the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain as a witness to his royal sonship (1:17–18).

This course will demonstrate what Geerhardus Vos meant when he said, “The Bible is not a dogmatic handbook but a historical book full of dramatic interest.” It will also explain the typological use of the Old Testament. Finally, it will shape and transform us as our minds are set on the eternal kingdom—where Jesus is and so our hearts too.

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

[2 Peter] The Middle of the Path: The Endeavor (1:5–10)

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

[2 Peter] The Beginning of the Path: The Escape (1:3–4)

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

[2 Peter] Introduction and Overview (1:1–2)

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

In this course, Rev. Ragusa explores 2 Peter with special attention to Peter’s use of redemptive history in his depiction and defense of the Christian life as oriented toward Christ and the future. By the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we have embarked on an eschatological pilgrimage down a path out of this world (1:4) and into his eternal kingdom (1:11). But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Alert to this danger, Peter mounts a defense that will endure these “last days” (3:3) in which we find ourselves by reminding the church of Christ’s promise to come again in power with new heavens and a new earth—a promise given long ago through the prophet Isaiah (1:4; 3:13) but now more fully confirmed by the corroborating witness of the apostles (1:19; 3:1–2). Peter exhorts the church not to overlook the Holy Spirit-inspired history of special revelation as it foreshadows this coming reality (1:21), including Noah and the flood (2:5), Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6–8), the restraint of Balaam (2:15–16), the approaching Day of the Lord (3:11), and even the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain as a witness to his royal sonship (1:17–18). This course will demonstrate what Geerhardus Vos meant when he said, “The Bible is not a dogmatic handbook but a historical book full of dramatic interest.” It will also explain the typological use of the Old Testament. Finally, it will shape and transform us as our minds are set on the eternal kingdom—where Jesus is and so our hearts too.

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

The Basis upon which Machen Fought: The Bible

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0400

This Reformed Academy course is a production of Reformed Forum, online at reformedforum.org. This is an audio podcast of "Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy," taught by Darryl G. Hart. Videos of each lesson included Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org.

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

The Fight against Sentimentality

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

The Fight against Liberalism, Round Two: Foreign Missions

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Psalm 1 — The Blessed Man

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0400

We embark on a study through a new book—Psalms. Jim Cassidy provides some important interpretive principles which he illustrates through a consideration of Psalm 1. Written for Israel, a nation under a theocracy, how do the Psalms manifest Christ, and how are they applicable to us today? How may it be said that the Christian today will prosper?

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

The Fight against Tyranny

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

The Fight against False Optimism

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Matthew 3:13–17 — To Fulfill All Righteousness

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0400

The baptism of Jesus is a pivotal event in the life of Christ and in all of redemptive history. In this episode, we explore its significance, seek to answer the question of why Jesus would need to undergo a baptism of repentance, and examine some of the thematic elements of his baptism.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Liberalism: The Different Religion

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 17:59:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Genesis 31:1–21 — Jacob Makes His Escape

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Jacob exhibits his faith as he responds in obedience to the Lord’s command to return to the land of his fathers. He had made a vow before the Lord, and the Lord now calls upon him to keep his vows. In this episode we see an appearance of “the angel of God,” who points Jacob — and us — to a greater inheritance than land or riches, but the inheritance of “the God of Bethel” — redemption from sin and reconciliation with God.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Ecumenism and Intolerance

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Hosea 14 — Turn Around

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Repentance today is a byword. It conjures up images of a religious fanatic standing on a street corner with a cheap megaphone that more obscures the sound than amplifies it. But the call to repentance is divine grace. In this final chapter of Hosea, the Lord calls Israel to return to him. What a gift this is! God’s arms remain wide open. He will take away their iniquity, he will accept a sacrifice for their sins, he will heal their apostasy, he will love them freely, and make his people to reside under his shadow and to flourish. All this he does in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son. So we return to God through Christ, for he has made a way for us to be accepted by the Father.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

J. Gresham Machen: Fighter of the Good Fight

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

What Prepared Machen to Fight?

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

J. Gresham Machen: Fighter of the Good Fight

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400

https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Matthew 3:1–12 — A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode we see how John, the last prophet of the Old Covenant, transitions us to the New Covenant era by announcing the arrival of the LORD in the person of Jesus Christ. The focus of the passage is not on the uniqueness of John the Baptist, but the uniqueness of the one toward whom he points.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Hosea 13 — The Dead Son Lives

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Hosea 13 contains mostly words of rebuke and condemnation. But there is good news there as well. The Lord rebukes his son, Israel, whom he called out of Egypt, for the sin of covenantal faithlessness. They have gone after other gods. So thorough will God’s coming judgment be that it is likened to death. But he also offers a word of hope which contains the promise of life, as death itself will be defeated.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Matthew 2:13–23 — The Exodus of the Son of God

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We look at the significance of a trio of prophecies: the flight to Egypt, Jeremiah’s prophecy of the weeping of Rachel, and that “he would be called a Nazarene.” Matthew identifies Jesus with us, so that we might identify with him. The glorious king is not what many expected, and his kingdom does not look the way many expect.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Idealism

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:08 -0400

In this episode, we continue with Lane Tipton’s course, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til. This is part of an eight-course series we have developed on Van Til for our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.

This lesson covers idealism.

Reformed Academy seeks to provide educational guidance through a structured learning environment. Students may enroll in courses, watch videos, study suggested books and articles, complete assessments, interact with other students, and engage our faculty online and in-person.

Join more than 3,800 students in 75 countries who are growing in their knowledge and love for Jesus Christ revealed in all of Scripture. Take responsibility for your theological education! Redeem your time! Theological study isn’t just for pastors and scholars. Our mission is to present _every person_ mature in Christ.

Method, Worldview, and Evidence

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:07 -0400

This lesson covers method, worldview, and evidence.

The Fall and the Antithesis

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:06 -0400

This lesson covers the fall and the antithesis.

Common Grace

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:05 -0400

This lesson covers common grace.

Nature, Special Revelation, and Covenant

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:04 -0400

This lesson covers nature, special revelation, and covenant.

The Creator/Creature Distinction and Relation

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:03 -0400

This lesson covers the Creator/creature distinction and relation.

The Trinity and History

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:02 -0400

This lesson covers the Trinity and history.

Biography and Major Works

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 00:00:01 -0400

In this episode, we continue with Lane Tipton's course, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til. This is part of an eight-course series we have developed on Van Til for our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.

This lesson covers Cornelius Van Til’s biography and major works.

Ephesians 1:9, 10 — The Uniting of Heaven and Earth

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400

What does Paul mean when he says that all things in heaven and earth will be united in Christ? The apostle moves from what Christ did on the cross for his people — to look at the place of the cross in all of history. Robert Arendale and Mark Winder look at the concept of mystery, the language of “things in heaven and things on earth,” and the culmination of this text — the uniting of these things.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 1:7–8 — Redeemed by the Blood

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Redemption is the work of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Pauline trinitarian emphasis is something that may be somewhat lacking in modern preaching, but is essential in understanding the unique work of each of the three persons. With this trinitarian emphasis Robert Arendale takes a look at the need, the cost, and the blessing of redemption.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Hosea 12 — The Lord’s Indictment

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0400

The Lord pronounces an indictment upon Israel and convicts her of her sins. He also calls her to repentance and to return to him. The coming judgment in exile reminds of Christ who was exile in death for us, that in him we might have life and restoration in the heavenly promised land.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Genesis 30:25–43 — God Gives the Increase

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

How do you preach a passage as speckled and mottled as this one? We look at a text that at first glance has nothing to say about Christ and see how through the continuity of God’s covenant promises we are presented with a foreshadowing of Christ plundering Satan’s house, and through death destroying the one who had the power of death.

Participants: Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder

Hosea 11 — Out of Egypt

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Hosea prophesied that God would call his son out of Egypt. Of course, that was long after the Exodus. But here in Chapter 11 the Exodus serves as a motif for God’s redeeming grace. It recalled the Exodus as a foreshadow of Israel’s restoration from exile. Unfortunately, the restoration fell short of the great expectation Israel had for the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs. The day when God called his Son out of Egypt would ultimately arrive in Christ, the true Son and faithful Israel of God. He was called out of Egypt after he fled there to escape Herod’s deadly grasp. And so we, in our union with Christ, are sons of the living God who have been redeemed and called out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of his Son.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

1 Corinthians 3:10–17 — The Church as God’s Temple

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

The apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a building to describe the people of God. What is the significance of this metaphor, and what are the implications of that, particularly for ministers of the word? We also discuss how to choose a pericope and how much exegetical detail is appropriate in a sermon.

Participants: Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder

Ephesians 1:4–6 — Chosen in Christ

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to be predestined, and to what end does God predestine his people? Robert Arendale joins us again in an exposition of this important passage, including a discussion exploring what part polemics play in a sermon.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Genesis 29:19-30:24 – Human Deception; Divine Operation

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This section of Genesis showcases an alarming lack of dependence upon God, which results in deception and contention in Jacob’s family. Here we see the foundation laid for much of the conflict of the following chapters, as well as the introduction of Joseph whose story will be the subject of the last third of Genesis. In spite of Jacob’s foolishness, God will take this dysfunctional family in forming people for himself.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Ephesians 1:1–3 — Welcome to Ephesus

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus to remind them of the “unsearchable riches” of Christ (3:8). That is, he writes to remind the Christians living in that metropolitan port city, awash in paganism, of the heavenly blessings that belong to them in Christ (1:3). A few years prior to his writing the letter to the Ephesians, Paul had labored in the city for almost three years. God in his grace blessed Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, and many sinners repented and turned to Christ (Acts 19:1-20). Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a rich treasure of Christ-exalting truth. In Christ the age to come has exploded into this present evil age; and by means of the Holy Spirit, the exalted Christ is building his church composed of both Jew and Gentile who have been reconciled unto God and unto one another. As we, like the Ephesians, revel in the blessings of our union with Christ, we are called to ‘live a life worthy of the calling we have received’ (4:1). We are called to walk by faith in a manner befitting our status as saints in Christ (1:1). Join us as we introduce the glorious letter of the Apostle Paul.

Participants: Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

Genesis 29:1–18 — Seeking His Bride

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 22:30:37 -0400

Jacob’s search for a bride parallels two other searches, all of which point us to Christ who offers the water of life and becomes a servant to secure his bride. We therefore must become servants of Christ that as his bride we might receive the water of life.

Participants: Mark A. Winder

Hosea 10 – The Fruitful Vine

Wed, 26 May 2021 04:00:00 -0400

In Hosea 10 the prophet likens Israel to a vineyard and and garden – but not a very fruitful one. In fact, her covenants with the nations has given rise to terrible idolatry, which is spiritual adultery. She is faithless and therefore fruitless. But the judgment and curse God pronounced upon her would not finally fall upon her, but on him who is the true vine. And now as branches in that vine, we have redemption and the grace to bear good fruit.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Genesis 28:10–22 — God’s Ladder

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Occasionally the New Testament provides a direct connection to the words of the Old, pointing like a bright beacon to the person of Christ. We find that is the case as we look at the story of God’s ladder from Genesis 28. Angels ascend the ladder with a message for God from Jacob and descend from heaven with a message from God for Jacob.

Participants: Mark A. Winder

Edmund Clowney, CM: Christian Meditation

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Genesis 27:41–28:9 — The Departure of Jacob

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Although Jacob and Esau both show themselves unworthy to inherit the covenant promises, we see, through two theological paradigms—the offspring and the land—that God Almighty will lead his people to the land of promise.

Participants: Glen Clary, Mark A. Winder

Sönke Ahrens, How to Take Smart Notes

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0400

A Book on Notetaking? It’s Not What You Might Expect Amazon showed me Sönke Ahrens’s How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers about twenty times in sponsored posts before I finally broke down to see what it was all about. I decided to retrieve a sample chapter on my Kindle. I couldn’t put the book down and read it well into the night. My wife even asked me what in the world I was reading, to which I sheepishly confessed it was a book on taking notes. This book is not about Reformed theology, church history, or even philosophy, but I’m confident many of you will be intrigued. I loved this book so much that I ordered several copies to give as gifts to friends. This book isn’t what you might expect. It’s not a self-help book with tips for becoming a better student, for listening better, and capturing your thoughts for better processing and recall later on. I believe that following the model suggested in this book may in fact make you a better student and researcher. It will certainly help you to process your thoughts. But this book goes much deeper than a series of tips and tricks. It’s a proposition for a more disciplined—yet much more liberating—process of contemplation and writing. The Heart of the Book At the heart of Ahren’s How to Take Smart Notes is a somewhat idiosyncratic notetaking system developed by German sociologist Niklaus Luhmann. He used a system that is known as a Zettelkasten, or notes box. Ahrens categorizes notes into three types. • Ephemeral notes (these get thrown out) • Literature notes (write these as you read a book, but keep them separate) • Zettelkasten (process your literature notes and write permanent notes—one per idea)

Link your note to the other notes in your existing network or note-ideas.

In my conceptualization, Luhmann’s method is a form of atomic writing. You must force yourself to formulate your thoughts and write them as if writing them for someone else. This can be difficult, and you may find much personal inertia to this approach. That’s because you think you know the subject matter better than you do. Writing is the thinking process. By using this method, Luhmann was able to write more than 70 books and 400 scholarly articles before he died at the age of 70. That is impressive. But perhaps even more impressive than his scholarly output is the nature of his scholarship. He was able to approach subjects in fresh ways, finding surprising connections among disparate disciplines. This was due in part to the unexpected connections made by his Zettelkasten.

Luhmann wrote his notes on cards and filed them in a physical catalogue. There is much to be said about the benefits of handwriting and the tactile qualities of this form of note-taking, yet there are also many limitations—particularly with linking and searchability. For those who are interested in a digital approach to Zettelkasten, an entire ecosystem is developing around what generally is called Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). People not only use the Zettelkasten method and its variants for academic research and writing, but also for all types of creative work, personal journaling, and even for CRM (customer/constituent relationship management).

I am currently exploring how to link my thoughts as I read and contemplate Scripture. Intelligently linking all the Scripture references in my notes and sermons may prove to be immensely useful when approaching related texts in the future.

Matthew 2:1–12 — The Visit of the Magi

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi is not exactly the story as we know it from our cultural Christmas traditions. The response of these wisemen to the birth of Jesus is what the response of Herod should have been, and what our response should be, namely, worship.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Pandemics in Church History

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:25:56 -0400

Michael A. G. Haykin, “‘The Best Friend in the Worst Time’: Pandemics in Church History” The Banner of Truth Magazine, No. 689, February 2021, pp. 4–8. We are prone to think we are the only people ever to experience something like our present pandemic. This last year and last, we have heard the phrase “in these unprecedented times” so often that it has become a cliché. In five brief pages, Michael Haykin surveys the church’s experience with pandemics throughout history. Our times are not so unprecedented as we might think. Still, it is important to consider what is unique about our circumstances even while we contemplate what lessons we might learn from church history.

# On Our Radar

Crowe, Brandon D. The Path of Faith: A Biblical Theology of Covenant and Law (Essential Studies in Biblical Theology) (IVP Academic, March 2, 2021). 208 Pages. Paperback

Harmon, Matthew S. The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People: Tracing a Biblical Theme through the Canon (New Studies in Biblical Theology series, edited by D. A. Carson) (IVP Academic, January 2021). 272 pages. Paperback

Maag, Karin. Worshiping with the Reformers (IVP Academic, February 2021). 248 pages. Paperback.

Carrick, John. Jonathan Edwards and the Immediacy of God (Wipf and Stock, December 2020). 174 pages. Hardcover or paperback.

Reeves, Michael. Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord (Union Series) (Crossway, January 2021). 192 pages. Hardcover with dust jacket.

Bullinger, Henry. The Decades of Henry Bullinger, 2 Volumes (Reformation Heritage Books, January 2021). 2055 pages. Hardcovers with dust jacket.

Davies, Samuel. Sermons of the Rev. Samuel Davies, 3 Volumes (Reformation Heritage Books, February 2021). 2016 pages. Hardcover with dust jacket.

Carr, Simeonetta. Phillis Wheatley (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) (Reformation Heritage Books, January 2021). 64 pages. Hardcover. Illustrated.

Matthew 1:18–25 — The Birth of Jesus

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode we look at Matthew’s account of the genesis of Jesus. In this account of his birth story Matthew draws our attention to the particular perspective of Joseph, the comforting message of the angel, the wonder of the virgin birth, the glory of the Immanuel promise, and the significance of the name of Jesus as the one who saves his people from their sins.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Camden Bucey reviews Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters (IVP Academic, 2020) by Dr. Sandra L. Richter, the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. In this book, Dr. Richter addresses humanity's role as stewards of creation—those entrusted to care for that which God has placed in their charge. In exploring this theme, Richter addresses issues such as the ethics of sustainable agriculture, the consumer's role within the supply chain, and even mining practices and pollution in light of Scriptural examples and biblical-theological themes.

Hosea 9 — Elect Exiles

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Hosea ministers in Israel between the time of the conquest of Canaan and the exile. In chapter nine of his prophecy, he tells of the coming judgment-exile of Israel into the land of the uncircumcised. But there is hope! God will preserve a remnant—elect exiles—for his own glory and as his chosen portion. For Christ was exiled in his death because of our sins, so that we who were once far off may be brought near by the blood. And now, in Christ, we are elect exiles called to conduct ourselves honorably in the midst of wicked and perverse generation.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Danny Olinger and Camden Bucey discuss Graham Greene’s novel, The Power and the Glory, which raises many questions about the nature of faith, ordination, and the sacraments through the lens of Roman Catholic theology. Greene said, “The aim of the book was to oppose the power of the sacraments and the indestructibility of the Church on the one hand with, on the other, the merely temporal of an essentially Communist state” (Goodman, 88). John Updike called this novel, “Graham Greene’s masterpiece.”

Danny Olinger is General Secretary for the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Kuyper's Collected Works in Public Theology and Challenging the Spirit of Modernity: A Study of Groen van Prinsterer’s Unbelief and Revolution

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:00:54 -0400

Jim Cassidy discusses two recent publications from Lexham Press. In Challenging the Spirit of Modernity: A Study of Groen van Prinsterer’s Unbelief and Revolution, Harry Van Dyke places Groen van Prinsterer's foundational work into historical context. Van Prinsterer addressed the inherent tension between the church and secular society, and Van Dyke demonstrates how this work still speaks into the fractured relationship between religion and society. Abraham Kuyper's Collected Works in Public Theology was created in partnership with the Abraham Kuyper Translation Society and the Acton Institute. It marks a historic moment in Kuyper studies.

https://youtu.be/k1eel36uDew

September 2018 Book Update

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 04:00:04 -0400

Ryan Noha speaks about several rare books that have been added to our online store.

Reformation Heritage Books

Thu, 31 May 2018 01:15:45 -0400

In this episode, we speak to David Woollin of Reformation Heritage Books about several new and exciting projects from the publisher.

RMR120 with Crossway

Wed, 23 May 2018 16:00:00 -0400

Banner of Truth

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:12:10 -0400

While at the Shepherds Conference Rob was able to talk with John Rawlinson from Banner of Truth. John talks about how Banner was an influence on his life from childhood. He introduces some great new books with authors such as Calvin, Ian Hamilton, Puritan paperbacks and Sinclair Ferguson’s new book, Some Pastors and Teachers.

Media Gratiae

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:09:51 -0400

While at the Shepherds Conference Rob was able to talk with Matthew Robinson from Media Gratiae. They were able to discuss how Media Gratiae was started as well as a wonderful project centered on Martin Lloyd Jones, and an upcoming project concerning the Puritans.

March 2018 Book Update

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0400

Ryan Noha shares several rare books just added to the Reformed Forum online store.

Books for Women and Parents

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 03:28:42 -0400

Camden and Erica Bucey discuss several helpful books for parents as they disciple their children and women in a variety of study group settings.

Martin Bucer and Friends

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:00:00 -0400

Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha speak about a biography of Martin Bucer and several new books from P&R Publishing.

January/February 2018 Book Update

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:52:48 -0400

Ryan Noha speaks about several rare books to be added to the Reformed Forum online store.

December 2017 Book Update

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:11:19 -0400

Ryan Noha speaks about several rare books to be added to the Reformed Forum online store.

Rare Book Update with Ryan Noha

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:58:45 -0400

Ryan Noha, the Indiana Jones of Reformed books, speaks about several rare books to be added to the Reformed Forum online store.

The Meaning of Tradition

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 16:00:00 -0400

Camden Bucey reviews Yves Congar's The Meaning of Tradition.

ESV Reader's Bible, Six-Volume Set

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 17:33:14 -0400

Jared Oliphint and Camden Bucey speak about a newly published set of the Bible designed to enhance readability.

Biblical Theology and Ruth

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 16:00:00 -0400

We speak about two biblical theological titles from Intervarsity Press including John Goldingay's Biblical Theology and Unceasing Kindness, a biblical theology of Ruth by Peter Lau and Gregory Goswell.

Culture and the Kuyperian Tradition

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:58:06 -0400

We introduce two new books from InterVarsity Press: Created and Creating by William Edgar and Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition by Craig Barthlomew.

Zeal without Burnout

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 17:04:37 -0400

Ministry in the body of Christ is trying. We face many challenges as we battle the enemy and the flesh. While some shrink before the battle, others dive in irresponsibly and flameout quickly. Camden Bucey reviews Zeal without Burnout: Seven Keys to a Life

The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods by A. G. Sertillanges

Fri, 27 May 2016 19:16:06 -0400

A. G. Sertillanges' The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods is a brilliant work on the life of the mind. Balancing definition, practical tips, and warnings against pitfalls, Sertillanges sets a course for the Christian scholar. This book is

On the Holy Spirit, Exploring Christology, et al

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 22:34:06 -0400

Jim Cassidy provides notices of several significant recent books.

ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:18:44 -0400

Jared Oliphint speaks about Crossway's new ESV Journaling Bible, Interleaved Edition, which includes entire blank pages in between the pages of Scripture. This is a perfect edition for writing notes, reflections, and prayers in conjunction with your Bible reading.

The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New

Tue, 16 Feb 2016 03:26:41 -0400

Camden Bucey and Erica Bucey discuss The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New, an illustrated systematic theology for children. Written by experienced children's author Marty Machowski, The Ology is an excellent resource for families. The book is targeted toward 6–12 year olds and includes scripture memory passages and study questions. The examples and analogies, along with thoughtful illustrations, make complex theological concepts accessible to even very young children. This book will help children understand more about God and how they relate to God, while always pointing them to scripture.

Awakening of the Evangelical Mind

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:12:36 -0400

Darryl Hart reviews Awakening the Evangelical Mind: An Intellectual History of the Neo-Evangelical Movement by Owen Strachan.

Writers to Read: Nine Names That Belong on Your Bookshelf

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 01:26:27 -0400

Camden Bucey reviews Writers to Read: Nine Names That Belong on Your Bookshelf by Douglas Wilson.

Podcast Recommendations

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 21:27:21 -0400

Reformed Media Review turn their attention beyond our typical subject matter to speak about podcasts. Reformed Forum has been producing podcasts since 2008. But we're not merely producers, we love to listen to podcasts ourselves. We look at our podcasts clients and speak about some of our favorite programs.

God Made All of Me

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:07:41 -0400

Erica Bucey reviews God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies, written by Justin Holcomb, Lindsey Holcomb, and illustrated by Trish Mahoney.

The Biggest Story

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 21:06:18 -0400

Erica Bucey reviews The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden, which is a biblical theology for children written by Kevin DeYoung and illustrated by Don Clark.

God and Necessity

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 23:40:14 -0400

Jared Oliphint and Nathan Shannon discuss Brian Leftow's God and Necessity (Oxford University Press). In this volume, Leftow seeks to offer a metaphysic of modality. This leads him into a discussion of necessity and possibility, truth making, God's nature, and divine simplicity. It's a wide-ranging title, but one that offers many important themes for consideration. Dr. Shannon has written a review of the book that will appear soon in the Westminster Theological Journal.

Vos's Reformed Dogmatics, Junius on True Theology, Edwards and more

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:31:28 -0400

Jeff Waddington introduces several new and recent books includes titles on Junius, Jonathan Edwards, and Cornelius Van Til.

Beyond the Control of God? Six Views on the Problem of God and Abstract Objects

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:30:51 -0400

Jared Oliphint reviews Beyond the Control of God? Six Views on the Problem of God and Abstract Objects edited by Paul Gould.

Two Views on the Doctrine of the Trinity

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:43:27 -0400

Jim Cassidy reviews Two Views on the Doctrine of the Trinity (Zondervan) Stephen Holmes, Paul Molnar, Thomas McCall, and Paul Fiddes.

Biblical Theology: The Common Grace Covenants

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:42:48 -0400

Jim Cassidy reviews Biblical Theology: The Common Grace Covenants by Jeffrey Niehaus (Weaver Book Company).

Grounded in the Gospel

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:41:51 -0400

Jim Cassidy reviews Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett published by Baker Books.

Christification, Roman Catholic Theology & Practice, et al

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 01:41:16 -0400

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey introduce books by Jordan Cooper, Gregg Allison, and several other authors and editors.

Logos Bible Software 6

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 05:00:00 -0400

Jared Oliphint and Camden Bucey explore the latest version of Logos Bible Software discussing new features and personal use cases.