Theology On The Go

Dr. Gary Schnittjer returns for further conversation about the streamlined yet expanded second edition of his popular book on the Pentateuch. In part 2 of their interview, Jonathan and James dig deeper into what’s new in Professor Schnittjer’s book and how Gary’s experience in writing Old Testament Use of Old Testament may have offered new perspective to the updated content of Torah Story. Thanks again to Zondervan Academic for graciously providing two more copies of Torah Story: Second Edition for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners, Yev C. from Jacksonville, FL and Elizabeth H. from West Jefferson, NC. 

Gary Schnittjer’s The Torah Story: An Apprenticeship on the Pentateuch became an instant classic upon its release in 2006. Sophisticated yet highly accessible, The Torah Story approaches the first five books of the Old Testament as both internally intrinsic and interconnected, unfolding a metanarrative that ultimately culminates in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Torah Story, Second Edition streamlines and simplifies the content of the original, offering new sidebars and fresh insights to help students, scholars, and laypersons alike appreciate the very beginnings of the greatest story ever told.  Thank you Zondervan Academic for providing two copies of Dr. Schnittjer’s book for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners: Jonathan R. from Dubuque, IA and Lee N. from Hellam, PA.

The Sum of Saving Knowledge In 1650, a brilliant young theologian joined with a legendary pastor to write The Sum of Saving Knowledge, designed to summarize the Westminster Standards for the layperson.  David Dickson and James Durham’s book was so popular that it was bound with almost every edition of the Standards for the next three centuries. Crown and Covenant Publications has released a new gift edition of the book edited by our guest, professor/author David Whitla, who adds a study guide to further help readers navigate and understand this literary classic. Crown & Covenant generously provided a number of giveaway copies of The Sum of Saving Knowledge, and the winners are Michael L. from Katy, TX, John B. from Amarillo, TX, and Gregory B. from Northumberland, PA. Congratulations! Show Notes *David Whitla’s free study guide download  

Our guest—pastor, professor, lecturer, and author Nick Needham—continues his highly collectible series, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power. In volume 5—The Enlightenment and Awakening—Needham explores the many significant 18th-century developments in Church history, including the growing American church. Understanding how Christians responded to the quickly shifting events in the world around them will help pastors and laypersons alike put the 1700s into proper perspective.    Christian Focus Publications graciously provided three copies of Dr. Needham's latest volume for a giveaway. The winners were Kaspars O. from Louisville, KY, Paul R. from McKinney, TX, and Mark A. from Grand Rapids, MI.

The Shadow of Christ in the Book of Lamentations How many sermons have you heard from the Old Testament book of Lamentations? Clearly, it’s not a “fan favorite,” but—as author and professor C.J. Williams explains—the prophet Jeremiah’s poetic laments offer us practical insights into grieving with faith, finding hope in suffering, and experiencing grace in life’s trials. As his title suggests, Dr. Williams makes a compelling case for reading Lamentations in the light of Christ’s suffering and the healing it brings.  Thanks to Crown and Covenant's generosity, we were able to select three winners for a giveaway of Dr. Williams' book. Congratulations to Vincent R. from Newtown Square, PA, Doug B. from Medford, OR, and Ben M. from Anaheim Hills, CA.

Many define “worship” as the music Christians employ in Sunday services. Others hold to a certain “style” of worship. What kind of worship does God demand? In his new book, Trembling Joy: A Biblical Defense of Traditional Worship, Pastor Ryan Speck defines terms and points his readers to what Scripture has to say about how Christians corporately approach the throne of God. Our guest discusses the balance of music, the preached Word, the sacraments, and more—even suggesting an order of elements that follows what the Lord expects from our worship. The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals provided three copies of Trembling Joy for a giveaway. The winners were Brian Z. from Manhattan, KS, Charlotte N. from Santa Clara, CA, and Joe K. from Williams, AZ. 

How do you envision a triune God carrying out the divine missions? Do you picture the Son and Spirit departing the throne room—lunchboxes in hand—only to return to Heaven in the evening and report to the Father? If so, how might we understand our communion with God or the presence of Jesus in the heart of a believer? To approach this level of contemplation, Jonathan and James welcome Dr. Adonis Vidu. The author and associate professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Seminary builds on the content of his recent book on inseparable operations to help readers comprehend the divine missions as the presence of God united with a created being, which provides a foretaste of the banquet that is one day to come.  Wipf and Stock Publishers generously provided two copies of The Divine Missions: An Introduction for a giveaway. Congratulations to Skyler M. from Vancouver, WA and James R. from Winona Lake, IN.

“I’m a Christian, but I don’t need a church. Nature is where I find God.” Whatever the stated reasoning, those who avoid church attendance and membership often do so without understanding why believers need the Church and the Church needs them.   Guest Terry Johnson has written many books and has served in church ministry for over 40 years. In his latest work, Johnson uses key New Testament passages to explain why local church attendance is essential in the life of every believer and how that mutual accountability cannot be replaced by parachurch activity or informal spirituality.     Christian Focus Publications provided three copies of Who Needs the Church: Why We Need the Church (and Why the Church Needs Us) for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners: Tony T. from Alderson, WV, Skyler M. from Vancouver, WA, and Kandice T. from Enterprise, AL.

Theology for Ministry Since assuming his first pastorate in 1971, Sinclair Ferguson’s life and Bible teaching have left an indelible mark on the lives and ministries of his parishioners, students, colleagues, and friends. Our guest today edited and contributed to a Festschrift published in Ferguson’s honor—Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice. Like Ferguson, Chad VanDixhoorn is a pastor, professor, and author. Along with an impressive list of co-contributors, VanDixhoorn outlines a rich scriptural framework for ministry grounded in key Christian doctrines and the application of the benefits and blessings that come to us through the Spirit in our union with Christ. Thanks to P&R Publishing, we were able to offer three copies of Theology for Ministry for a giveaway. The winners were David R. from Williamsburg, VA, Cullen B. from Marietta, GA, and Brandt K. from Trevose, PA.

Growing in Grace   As both of our hosts are respected authors and enjoy discussing a great book, it would only follow that sometimes the interviewers would become interviewees. Such is the case today as James Dolezal grills (even fillets!) Jonathan Master, concerning his book Growing in Grace: Becoming More Like Jesus.   It’s an accessible work that deals with the scriptural command for Christians to work diligently at growing in the grace and personal knowledge of the Lord. That includes walking worthy of our calling and enjoying the blessings of our salvation through the gathering together with others in the Church. Dr. Master explains how we’re called to die to sin and be enslaved to righteousness and discusses the roles humility and suffering play in the growth of every believer.   Banner of Truth graciously provided three copies of Jonathan's book for a giveaway. Congratulations to our winners: Marianne M. from Sterling Heights, MI, Dwayne S. from Cedarburg, WI, and Joe K. from Williams, AZ. 

Face to Face with God We celebrate Christ’s work as our high priest and mediator.  Is Jesus active in those roles today? And how is Jesus “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek?” Guest Desmond Alexander provides satisfying answers to these questions and others through the course of today’s conversation and with his new book, Face to Face with God: A Biblical Theology of Christ as Priest and Mediator. Courtesy of IVP Academic, we have a few copies of Desmond’s book to give away. To get in the running, sign up here.  

Zwingli: God’s Armed Prophet In his time, Huldrych Zwingli was a deeply polarizing figure. Though clearly a leader of the Swiss Reformation, contemporaries Martin Luther and John Calvin denied Zwingli's influence,  due in large part to his position on the Lord's Supper. Unlike his more famous critics, Zwingli would die on a battlefield in Zurich engaged in an armed defense of the Reformation in his homeland. Today’s guest Bruce Gordon is the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School and the author of many books on the Reformation. Dr. Gordon joins Jonathan and James to provide a fresh biography of the warrior prophet and a deeper appreciation of Zwingli's contribution to Reformation thought. Thanks to Yale Books, we were able to offer a copy of Gordon's book Zwingli: God's Armed Prophet. The winner was Kurt V. from Yuba City, CA.

The Fall of Satan and the Demons Today’s discussion began years ago when our hosts collaborated to create a college course on angels and demons. Today, Jonathan and James reconvene in our digital classroom and focus their discussion more specifically on the fall of the demons and their ringleader Satan. You’ll learn about the origins and specific sins of that rebellion, and how their fate differs from man’s corporate fall from grace. It’s a conversation rich with biblical truth about this unseen realm. Courtesy of Banner of Truth books, we have a few copies of Satan Cast Out by Frederick Leahy to give away. Here’s where you register.     

In the Fullness of Time   Many Christians believe that eschatology is simply a matter of understanding a future event—what will happen when Christ returns. Over the years, students of today’s guest have observed that eschatology is defined by two points—past and future—Christ’s death, resurrection, and Pentecost in the past; and continuing through the ongoing fulfillment of Christ’s promises to the end of the age.    Richard Gaffin is professor emeritus of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. His seminal courses on Paul and the book of Acts have deeply influenced many, including Jonathan and James. Dr. Gaffin offers a clear perspective on Paul’s ministry and redemptive history in his book, In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical History of Acts and Paul.   Crossway Books has provided a limited number of copies of In the Fullness of Time for giveaway. For an opportunity to receive one, enter here.  

Trinitarian Dogmatics It’s a question few Christians will typically entertain: how do you enjoy communion with all three persons of the Godhead in worship? Dr. Glenn Butner offers satisfying, biblical answers to many such queries in his outstanding book, Trinitarian Dogmatics: Exploring the Grammar of the Christian Doctrine of God. It’s his topic of discussion today with Jonathan and James.  Indeed, the word “Trinity” is not mentioned in Scripture. Still, the evidence for the eternal coexistence, inseparable operations, and unmistakable unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is found throughout its pages. Today’s conversation and Butner’s book help us clarify—or even “correct our grammar”—when considering this essential doctrine of God. Baker Academic has provided a few copies of the book for giveaway. Get in the running here.   

God to Us   Jonathan and James welcome Stephen Myers to the podcast. He’s associate professor of Historical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.  Stephen explains that Covenant Theology is a wonderful, essential study. It reveals God’s character and how He binds Himself to us. It’s a helpful means of understanding how God’s other covenants are irreplaceable in the progressive unfolding of the Covenant of Grace. Myers’ book—God to Us: Covenant Theology in Scripture—explains the purpose and work of the covenant in detail so that our relationship with Him may become richer as we grow into living as His people.    We have a few copies of Stephen’s book to give away, courtesy Reformation Heritage Books. Click here to enter.  

The title of the most recent Blue Ridge Bible Conference seems an appropriate descriptor for today's episode of Theology on the Go. Jonathan and James discuss the biblical, familial, and social implications of the latest manifestation of gender dysphoria: transgenderism. Why is a decision to reject one's "sexual assignment" at birth an example of covetousness? And if, as a recent Supreme Court candidate asserted, we can't describe what a woman is because we're "not biologists," then how can anyone make such a determination about his own "perceived gender identity?"   

Jesus and the God of Classical Theism In Jonathan’s absence, James is flying solo as host, welcoming author and seminary professor Steven Duby to the podcast. Steven’s new book, Jesus and the God of Classical Theism: Biblical Christology in Light of the Doctrine of God, provides the foundation for today’s conversation and the discourse is as weighty as the book’s title suggests.  The issue is clear: do modern treatments of the person of Jesus Christ align with earlier teachings of God’s attributes such as immutability, impassibility, eternality, and the like? Duby’s excellent treatise carefully and convincingly makes the case that biblical Christology clearly affirms the divine distinctions of our Lord.  To possibly win a copy of Duby’s book, enter here. The books are provided by Baker Academic.  

Is your prayer life merely a lengthy list of requests that so often seem to go unanswered? Sarah Ivill never tires of considering the Christian’s privilege to pray directly to the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit. Equally amazing is the fact that God initiates that relationship with us, made possible by Jesus’ finished work on the cross.  You’ll hear the wonder in her voice as Sarah ponders how our prayers in eternity will consist of unceasing praise to our God. Jonathan is out and about the work of the church, so James remains to chat with Ivill about her new book, The God Who Hears: How the Story of the Bible Shapes Our Prayers. Sarah contends that, as we study prayer through the unfolding narrative of Scripture, the Covenant God to whom we pray is revealed to us. Be encouraged by today’s hopeful discussion! Register here for an opportunity to win a copy of The God Who Hears courtesy of Reformation Heritage Books.    

In the Shadow of the Rock Geoff Thomas is our guest for the 200th episode of Theology on the Go. He’s a seminary professor and conference speaker who served over 50 years behind a pulpit in Aberystwyth, Wales. Geoff’s outstanding autobiography recalls the friendships gained and lessons learned over decades of ministry.   Thomas recalls (and recommends) some of his favorite Bible teachers, recounts his formative years in the pastorate, and reflects on the sheer joy of meditating on the word of God.    Wherever and whenever God has called you in ministry, learning from Geoff’s outstanding example and advice is time well spent.   For an opportunity to win a copy of In the Shadow of the Rock: An Autobiography, click here. The books are a gift from Reformation Heritage Books.