Theology On The Go

R.C. Sproul, A Life  Reformation Bible College President Stephen Nichols joins Jonathan and James. Their old friend stops by to discuss the biography he’s written about pastor, teacher, and theologian R.C. Sproul. Nichols talks about his working and personal relationship with Sproul, and the wonderful experience it was to finally compile his memories and “napkin notes” into this lively book. Who was R.C. Sproul? Nichols points out some of the doctrines that were dear to Sproul’s heart, and a few of the most important stands he took through the years. Hear about R.C.’s fascinating life, including the wide range of relationships he enjoyed with everyday believers, famous golf players, even rock stars!  We’re pleased to give away copies of this great title, R.C. Sproul, A Life. Register for the opportunity to win one! The books are a generous gift from our friends at Crossway.

Why Should You Be Acquainted with John Owen? Jonathan and James are pleased to be talking with Crawford Gribben today. He’s the professor of Early Modern British History at Queen’s University in Belfast. Gribben has written An Introduction to John Owen: A Christian Vision for Every Stage of Life, and today he shares with us why it is worth getting to know Owen.  In his book, Gribben strives to reclaim John Owen for the ordinary Christian. For many, Owen is perceived as a non-relatable, high-level Puritan intellectual concerned about the minutia of theology. Gribben is committed to revealing the pastoral side of Owen and his manner of preaching and teaching…how he dealt with the ordinary daily affairs of his congregants…and the struggles in his own personal life, including the loss of his first wife and all his ten children. What was Owen’s distinctive contribution, and how can we apply it to our lives today?  Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of An Introduction to John Owen. The books are a gene

“I Have Learned to be Content…”  The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals sponsors the Quakertown Women’s Conference in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. This year’s conference will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube May 14th and 15th, and the theme is “Contentment in Christ.” Among some very special speakers is Megan Hill. She’s a pastor’s wife, mom of four, editor and writer of numerous articles and some very helpful books including A Place to Belong and her latest, Partners in the Gospel.  Discontentment is a real heart issue and no one is immune to it. Why does it seem that the more we have, the more we desire? Can we affirm that discontentment is at the heart of every other sin? Megan has a few suggestions of practices and meditations to orient our desires and to help us cultivate thankfulness and contentment.  Resources Partners in the Gospel by Megan Hill The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs The Secret of Contentment by William Barclay The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger

PCRT and Praying to the Triune God   The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is renowned for its long-standing yearly conference: PCRT, the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. Once again, the event has been compelled to move online due to COVID restrictions. This year’s PCRT theme is Delighting in Our Triune God, the conference will be live-streamed April 28th to May 5th.   Jonathan Cruse is one of the conference speakers. He’s the pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, MI, and author of numerous articles and several very helpful books. Reverend Cruse will address the topic “Praying to the Triune God” at PCRT, and today we’ll enjoy a preview of that talk. Later this month, use the links below to access the conference livestream free of charge.    Show Notes    ·  Delighting in Our Triune God Conference Information   ·  Free Live Streaming on Facebook and Youtube  ·  What Happens When We Worship by Jonathan Cruse ·  The Christian’s True Identity by Jonathan Cruse    

No Creed But the Bible?   Jonathan and James welcome a very special guest today. J. V. Fesko is the Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. The Need for Creeds Today is one of Fesko’s most recent works and the topic of today’s conversation.    Fesko defines four different ways Christians view creeds, as he argues that creeds are not only a wise and helpful practice for the wellbeing of the church, but a necessity for the being of the church! What does it mean to “give the sense,” and what does it have to do with catechizing the next generations?     We are pleased to give away a few copies of Fesko’s The Need for Creeds Today. Register for the opportunity to win a free one! The books are a generous gift from our friends at Baker Academic.  

Pastoral Visitation Chad Vegas, founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, CA, visits with Jonathan and James to talk about his journey from pragmatism to conviction. Chad gives us his background, and tells us who the Lord has used to change his ministry, and how God did so! Chad discusses his relationship with his congregation through pastoral visitations, and how those encounters impact his own preaching.  The pastor describes his “out of body” experience as he was convicted to obey the biblical mandate to perform this duty, and details the benefits he’s been reaping since he started the practice. Today’s program was originally broadcast 7/29/19.  

The Word Became Fresh   Dale Ralph Davis has been a minister at a few traditional Reformed churches in the US. For some time, he was Old Testament professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. Dale lives a much quieter life now, and is happy to chat with Jonathan and James about one of his remarkable books, entitled The Word Became Fresh - How to Preach from the Old Testament Narrative Texts.   What is it about some OT narrative texts that intimidates many from preaching through them? What would be the possible negative effects on a church that does not receive the full revelation of God’s Word, including what Davis calls these “nasty narratives?”     We’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of The Word Became Fresh. Register! The books are a generous gift from Christian Focus Publications.  

Hypo What?   Our hosts Jonathan and James sit down together to discuss what to some may be a daunting topic—nevertheless, one that is important to get right.   Hypostatic union refers to the union of the two natures of Christ in His person. The questions then are raised: How do these two natures interact? Do they share 50/50 of the whole? Do the natures blend together, or do they exist simultaneously side by side? How can we reconcile the reality of Christ’s divinity with the reality of His humanity? Does Jesus have His humanity at the present moment?    Jonathan and James explain why this doctrine should not be ignored, and how a better understanding of Christ’s hypostatic union can help believers in their suffering.     

Avoiding Chronological Snobbery    Nick Needham joins us from across the Atlantic. He’s the minister of Inverness Reformed Baptist Church and a lecturer at Highland Theological College. Nick’s also the writer of an outstanding four volume set entitled 2000 Years of Christ’s Power: The Age of the Early Church Fathers.   What can we gain from learning church history beyond the inspiring example of those who have gone before us? Will understanding the past keep us from error today, and just how far back should one look for doctrinal help and spiritual guidance? Needham deftly and thoughtfully provides the answers we seek.   Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of The Early Church Fathers: Daily Readings by Nick Needham.  

Original Sin: Born This Way James and Jonathan tackle a foundational theological topic this week. The doctrine of original sin is integral to our grasp of many other biblical doctrines. How should we define original sin, and how is it different from the sins we commit daily? Guilt, corruption, imputation, and federal headship are but a few of the terms worthy of discussion… but don’t be intimidated. Our hosts deftly describe how these concepts help define our status through our relationship with Adam.    We’re offering you the opportunity to win a copy of Imputation of Adam’s Sin, a classic on this topic. Register here! The books are a complimentary gift from our friends at P&R Publishing.   Imputation of Adam’s Sin is available for purchase at Reformed Resources. Show Notes Charles Hodge on original sin: Systematic Theology Vol. II Louis Berkhof on total depravity: Manual of Christian Doctrine, see Sin in the Life of the Human Race Westminster Larger Cathecism, in particular starting at question 22

No Creed but the Bible?   James Renihan joins us. He’s president and professor of Historic Theology at IRBS Theological Seminary in Mansfield, TX. At issue: Is it accurate to say that Baptists have no confessions, and “no creed but the Bible”? Our guest quickly and politely debunks these myths!   What motivated the 17th century Baptists to produce confessions, as they were already part of a broad Protestant movement that believed in the fundamental doctrines of Scripture? Hear what Renihan has to say about the interesting, uniting aspect of those confessions and about his upcoming project on the first London Confession.    

By Good and Necessary Consequence James and Jonathan welcome special guest Ryan McGraw. Ryan is academic dean and professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His book, By Good and Necessary Consequence, is the topic of today’s conversation. It is part of the series Explorations in Reformed and Confessional Theology by Reformation Heritage Books.   The phrase “by good and necessary consequence” appears in the Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter 1, paragraph 6. What does this phrase mean, and why has Ryan written a book about it? How do we guard against abusing the principle by taking it too far and deriving whatever we want from any text of Scripture?   Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of “By Good and Necessary Consequence.” The books are a generous gift from our friends at RHB.  

The Case for Biblical Archaeology    Jonathan and James meet to share a conversation with John Currid. He’s the Chancellor’s Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, a trained archaeologist, and an ordained minister in the PCA. Dr. Currid is in to chat about his fascinating book, The Case for Biblical Archaeology.   In what ways does such research serve Christians and the Church? How does archaeological knowledge help the lay Christian understand the Bible, and assist pastors in expositing Scripture? The book is accessible and edifying for all who will read it.   Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of The Case for Biblical Archaeology. The books are a complimentary gift from our friends at P&R Publishing.

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Part 1   Jonathan and James receive the visit of a close friend who has written one of the most significant books of 2020. Carl Trueman is the co-host of Mortification of Spin—another podcast from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals—and professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Carl’s new book is The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution.    Why do we believe that Carl’s topic is so relevant? Short answer: Because the sentence “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body” is not just a passing statement; it’s a declaration loaded with philosophical underpinnings that have developed in the past several hundred years carrying implications in the educational, socio-economic, political, and religious spheres, among others.    We’ll be happy to give away copies of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self to some of our listeners. Register for the opportunity to

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self - Part 1   Jonathan and James receive the visit of a close friend who has written one of the most significant books of 2020. Carl Trueman is the co-host of Mortification of Spin—another podcast from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals—and professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Carl’s new book is The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution.    Why do we believe that Carl’s topic is so relevant? Short answer: Because the sentence “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body” is not just a passing statement; it’s a declaration loaded with philosophical underpinnings that have developed in the past several hundred years carrying implications in the educational, socio-economic, political, and religious spheres, among others.    We’ll be happy to give away copies of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self to some of our listeners. Register for the opportunity to

Exodus Old and New   Michael Morales is professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and his most recent book is getting some well-deserved attention. It’s titled Exodus Old and New, and Michael tells us how the book—which is not a commentary—traces the Exodus motif, which becomes the paradigm for redemption throughout God’s Word. What does the exodus from exile represent in the whole of Scripture? Listen as Michael chooses a few particular portions of Scripture to explain. We are giving away a few copies of Exodus Old and New. Register for an opportunity to win one. The books are a generous gift from IVP Press.   

The Exclusivity of the Gospel   Jonathan and James have a one-on-one conversation to sort through three views surrounding the way of salvation. Is Jesus Christ really the only way? If so, what is required? Can one be saved without any knowledge of Christ’s person and work? Romans chapter one offers clarity in sorting through each of the three views.   We are giving away copies of Only One Way, a collection of essays on the subject from the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. Register for the opportunity to win one.  

Green Pastures Ryan Davidson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Chapel in Hampton, VA, and the author of Green Pastures, A Primer on the Ordinary Means of Grace. Ryan starts the discussion by defining means of grace, then drills down to explain the ordinary means of grace.  What does the word ordinary really mean in this context? Ryan identifies the fruit and the effects of the ordinary means of grace as they are biblically applied in the life of a congregation.   We have a few copies of Green Pastures that we are giving away. Register for the opportunity to win a free one!  

The Cure for Unjust Anger  Jonathan and James welcome Brian Hedges to the podcast. Brian is the lead pastor at Redeemer Church in Niles, MI and is responsible for breathing new life into one of the works of John Downame, a 16th century Puritan who was known as a “physician of souls.”  In The Cure for Unjust Anger, Downame defines differing types of anger, distinguishing righteous anger from unjust anger…diagnosing the root causes of anger…and the motivations of the heart that give rise to sinful anger. Downame also suggests how to remove the causes for unjust anger. Is there really a just cause for anger? Editor Brian guides us through this latest gem from the Puritan Treasures for Today series. We’re happy to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of The Cure for Unjust Anger. It’s a generous gift from our friends at Reformation Heritage Books. Register!    Show Notes  ·  Puritan Treasures for Today Series  

Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God   Jonathan and James invite Joel Beeke to the podcast to discuss the outstanding documentary Puritan: All of Life to the Glory of God, tracing Puritanism from its birth to its modern influence.      Dr. Beeke—president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and mastermind of this joint-project with Media Gratiae—explains the motivation behind producing such a thorough and costly project.   The Puritans have a bad reputation—to what extent is that reputation deserved? Joel shares some of the riches of puritan living and teaching, and shows how they influenced every area of life. Listen, and get to know more about the puritans.   The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and Reformation Heritage Books are pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of the book Meet the Puritans. Register!