Theology On The Go

How Then Shall We Feel? In the house today is Dr. Keith Plummer. He’s a professor of a variety of topics related to pastoral ministry, apologetics, and spiritual formation at Cairn University. The topic of our conversation is the place that feelings or emotions have in the life of a Christian. How are our feelings to be shaped? Can emotional responses be right or wrong? If so, can they be directed? Keep listening for the answers.  

Grace Worth Fighting For To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Canons of Dort, Daniel Hyde has written Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God’s Grace in the Canons of Dort. Hyde’s work is a reminder for us to protect and proclaim the Gospel of grace. Danny is the pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in CA…adjunct instructor, prolific author…and the editor of Meet the Puritans, a ministry of the Alliance. Bonus material: In an impressive “Twitter-sized” version sprinkled with a Dutch accent, Hyde provides a synopsis of what Dort was all about, and how both sides were defining grace. Show Notes About Danny Hyde We are giving away a few copies of Grace Worth Fighting For. Register for an opportunity to win! The books are a generous gift from our friends at The Davenant Institute.

The Identity and Attributes of God Jonathan and James have the pleasure of speaking with Terry Johnson. Terry is the senior pastor of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA, and the author of several books including his latest, The Identity and Attributes of God by Banner of Truth. What was initially meant to be a small sermon series on the attributes of God, turned into 82 sermons, and eventually this helpful book. Why the need to know God and His attributes? Do we currently neglect the study of God? How does knowing God help us make daily decisions? Listen as Terry challenges us to delve into the study of God by feasting on spiritually rich books by Puritan Stephen Charnock and others. Show Notes Reformed Worship by Terry Johnson Worshipping With Calvin by Terry Johnson Stephen Charnock Thomas Boston Thomas Brooks The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall

Paul, Paton, and Missions Paul Schlehlein joins in today all the way from South Africa to talk about the life of one of the great Scottish missionaries of the 19th century, John G. Paton. Paul has written a biography of Paton, published by Banner of Truth, which features practical applications for the 21st century lay Christian. Schehlein tells us how the life of John G. Paton played a role in his decision to venture into the mission field, and how it shaped Paul’s approach to mission ministry. What were some of the challenges that John G. Paton faced in the mission field? Are the doctrines of grace a damper or booster to evangelism? Show Notes About Paul Schlehlein Between Two Cultures by Paul Schlehlein   John G. Paton’s Autobiography We’re pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of John G. Paton’s biography by Paul Schlehlein. The books are a generous gift from our friends at Banner of Truth.  

Christians Heresies 101 Today’s conversation might “trigger” you with some pretty big words…but there’s nothing to worry about. Jonathan and James are willing to break them down and carefully explain what they mean. What are “heresies?” The duo discusses the historical definition of the word, and gives us an introduction to some of the most famous heresies in church history.

Theoretical-Practical Theology One admirer has said that Petrus Van Mastricht’s works were the best thing ever written in any language, short of the Bible itself. That is indeed a high compliment! Jonathan and James have invited Dr. Joel Beeke to talk about the translation of Mastricht’s Theoretical-Practical Theology Vol. 1 that was published this past year. Is there a need for another translation of a 17th century reformed theology work? What is the four-pronged approach that Mastricht uses in his writings? Dr. Beeke tells us what distinguishes Mastricht’s work, and why it’s useful for pastors, students of theology, and the lay Christian. Show Notes About Joel Beeke The Dutch Reformed Translation Society Thanks to our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we can offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of Theoretical-Practical Theology. Register now!  

Some Influential Preachers Jonathan and James share today about the preachers who have the greatest influence on their personal lives and ministry, and the qualities that make these preachers so remarkable. Whether a Baptist, Presbyterian, or Anglican minister, there is much in common between Jonathan and James’ favorite picks. Listen in to identify what makes for faithful Biblical preaching. Show Notes ·  James Montgomery Boice ·  Richard Charles “Dick” Lucas ·  Martyn Lloyd Jones ·  John MacArthur ·  Sinclair Ferguson ·  Albert Martin We’re giving away a Discipleship Teaching Series with several outstanding teachers. Everyone can download using the coupon code 1903Disciple. Coupon expires May 31, 2019. Find thousands of resources from faithful biblical preachers at ReformedResources.org  

Obedience and Submission  The eternal submission of the Son to the Father in the Godhead has been a topic of discussion for quite some time now. After the internet debate of 2016, Glenn Butner was motivated to conduct a thorough investigation into the topic. Glenn has summarized his findings on the pages of The Son Who Learned Obedience, and he’s in today to talk about the importance of differentiating the person from the being of Christ. Learn of the implications for our salvation, justification, and sanctification if one affirms the eternal submission of the Son (ESS) to the Father.      Show Notes About Glenn Butner Trinity Debate Timeline Thanks to our friends at PickWick Publications, we are able to offer some free copies of The Son Who Learned Obedience. Register for the opportunity to win one!

Reformed Preaching: Biblical, Doctrinal, and Practical Joel Beeke is a prolific author, professor, and president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He’s also the pastor of Heritage Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, MI. Beeke recently published Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People, which is the topic of today’s conversation. Joel tells us why—for a long time—he wanted to write this book. He shares the distinctives of Reformed preaching, and explains what he means by “experiential preaching” by citing a few examples from the past. How can one preach experientially, and speak to the hearts of both believers and unbelievers in one single sermon? Dr. Beeke offers a satisfying answer! Register for the opportunity to win a copy of Joel Beeke’s book, Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People. The copies are a complimentary gift from our friends at Crossway.  

Union with Christ While James enjoys a vacation, Jonathan has the pleasure of speaking with Ian Hamilton about Union with Christ, one of the topics Ian will be addressing at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology in Grand Rapids, MI, March 15th - 17th. Speaking passionately, and quoting a few of his favorite theologians, Ian talks about the benefits that flow from our union with Christ. He connects the relationship between being in Christ, and a life of obedience—offering an antidote for Christians who are struggling with the high calling to be holy. Whet your spiritual appetite with this episode, then head out to the conference in Grand Rapids next month! Show Notes ·  About Ian Hamilton ·  Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray ·  The Glory of Christ by John Owen ·  Knowing God by J. I. Packer ·  Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards ·  Several readings by John Calvin   Sign up for the opportunity to win one of the free conference registrations! But, if you don’t want to take your

Incomprehensible but Knowable Words are important, and some of them carry meanings that can be crucial for our understanding of God; words that will eventually affect the way we live the Christian life. Incomprehensibility is one of these words. But what exactly does it mean? Jonathan and James make use of some grammatical definitions and traditional Reformed theology to help us understand why God is incomprehensible. Is there really anything about God that we can comprehend? Tune in for the difference between true knowledge and comprehensive knowledge. Show Notes ·  1 Kings 8:12-13; 27 ·  Psalm 145:3 Please visit Reformed Resources for more on this topic.  

Commentary Connoisseur Do you know anyone who loves the book of Romans to the point of owning more than 120 commentaries on the epistle? Jonathan and James know one such fan! Rob Ventura is the pastor of Grace Community Baptist Church in North Providence, an author, and blogger for Reformation21. Rob is crafting a commentary on the book of Romans, and promises it’ll be a concise and very practical tool for pastors and teachers. He describes it as “quick”, “accessible”, and full of “expository nuggets.” Our hosts discuss the forthcoming opus with its enthusiastic author! Reformation21 - More about Rob Romans Commentaries Mentioned in this Episode Richard Longenecker Leon Morris Matthew Henry Colin Kruze Frank Thielman We are pleased to give away to all of our listeners a free MP3 download of Introduction to Romans by Dr. Barnhouse. Just register and download!   Congratulations to the winners of Hitting the Marks from our past episode Word, Sacrament, and Discipline. Scott H. - Harrisonburg, VA Ed S. - Mar

Hell Podcast We managed to catch Jonathan and James in their offices having a conversation about hell. The topic might not be a very popular one, but—if Scripture addresses it—we should pay attention to it. The Bible uses a few different words referring to hell, describing it as a place of punishment. But, is the word punishment used in the sense of "retribution," or as meaning "corrective and rehabilitating?" What does scripture describe as being the real purpose of hell, and how does that purpose glorify God? Don’t miss this fascinating conversation. Show Notes Matthew 25 Hebrews 9:27 2 Thessalonians 1 Daniel 12 Congratulations to the winners of The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation from our past episode For Instruction, Doctrine, and Morals. Follow the link to read more on the topic. Deborah C. - Wheeling, IL Trevor M. - Syracuse, NY Johnnymae B. - Ambler, PA

Word, Sacrament, and Discipline You’ve moved to a new area, and are looking for a church. What are the main things you should consider in your search? As a visitor, what are the visible signs that indicate you’re in a true church? Barry York is a pastor…president of Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a co-host of 3GT podcast…and, the author of Hitting the Marks: Restoring the Essential Identity of the Church. In today’s conversation, Barry clearly distinguishes the biblical standards of church membership from those of the consumer mentality, and things of central importance from peripheral preferences. Have you considered that every member of the church is responsible for the health and growth of the local body? Tune in, and find out why and how. Show Notes About Barry Congratulations to the winners of Some Pastors and Teachers by Sinclair Ferguson from our past episode The Preacher and Teacher. Michael M. - Casa Grande, AZ Nathan M. - Beaver Falls, PA Joshua L. - Chesapeake Beach, MD

For Instruction, Doctrine, and Morals James and Jonathan have a few questions about biblical interpretation, and Keith Stanglin is the right man to answer them. He’s the associate professor of historical theology at Austin Graduate School of Theology, and has written The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation, an overview from the early church to our day. How helpful, really, is the history of interpretation for Bible reading? Is there a considerable difference between how the Bible was interpreted and applied in the pre-modern era, compared to today? If so, what are the differences, and why do they matter? Dr. Stanglin deals with the historical-critical method, authorial intent, and the kind of student the Scriptural interpreter must be—and he’s not talking about the level of one’s education! Show Notes 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1:14 Song of Solomon 1:2   If you want the opportunity to win a free copy of Keith Stanglin’s book, register here. The copies are a complimentary gift from our fr

Sinclair Ferguson is associate minister at Saint Peter’s Church in Dundee, Scotland. He’s a long-time professor of theology, a former member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals council, and author of numerous works, including Some Pastors and Teachers, which is the subject of today’s conversation. You have probably heard the question or asked it yourself: What’s the difference between preaching and teaching? Dr. Ferguson provides a clear answer, adding to it a few practices that have enriched his thinking, and improved his sermon preparations and writing. As a minister of the gospel, have you ever considered the benefits of being pressured to do things out of your comfort zone? As Paul inquired of Timothy: Is anyone seeing the progress you’re making in handling Scripture? Enjoy the warmth and wisdom of our honored guest. Show Notes Dr. Ferguson recommends readings by: ·  B.B. Warfield ·  John Murray ·  Several sources of the experiential preaching of the Puritan tradition  

James and Jonathan welcome Pierce Taylor Hibbs. He’s the associate director of the Center for Theological Writing at Westminster Theological Seminary.   Through the years, Pierce felt that writing was not only a profession--one, in which, he was trained—but also a vocation and calling, especially when combined with theology. Pierce relates his personal experience of discerning that calling on his life and shares some encouragement for others who wish to become better writers as well. What is the purpose of writing? What are some of the dangers and temptations that may come with the task? Show Notes About Pierce T. Hibbs and his writing Pierce’s recent publication, Finding God in the Ordinary Called to the Ministry by Edmund P. Clowney Pierce’s list of writers that help him to write better: ·  John Henry Newman ·  E. B. White (One Man’s Meat, Elements of Style) ·  George Orwell ·  Karl Ove Knausgaard We’re pleased to give away a free MP3 download entitled C. S. Lewis the Evangelist by Philip Ryken to all of o

Dr. Carlton Wynne is the assistant professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary, and one of the speakers at the Quakertown Conference on Reformed Theology, entitled The Glory of the Cross. How does the historical Adam magnify the cross of Christ? Carlton gives us a little glimpse into the glorious topic he’ll be addressing at the conference November 9 and 10. Redemptive history is God’s theme for our faith, and Carlton comprehensively walks us through the imputation of Adam’s sin to all men, and how God deals with this catastrophic event through the person and work of Christ.   Show Notes The Glory of the Cross Romans 6 No Adam, No Gospel: Adam and the History of Redemption by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. 1 Corinthians 15 Genesis 3, 4, and 5   We are giving away a few free registrations for The Glory of the Cross Conference. Register here for the opportunity to attend free of cost!

What do we think when we think about heaven? Is heaven our eternal home? Derek Thomas joins us for conversation about the delightful topic of heaven and the new earth. He’s currently the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, SC. In this encouraging conversation, Derek tells us about his book, Heaven on Earth: What the Bible Teaches about Life to Come. Drawing from Scripture, he outlines what happens immediately after death, and further: how our view of the life to come shapes our present hope. Find out how Derek answers the age-old question, “Will there be dogs in heaven?” Show Notes Isaiah 65 and 66 2 Peter 3 Revelation 21 and 22 Romans 8 Westminster Confession of Faith chapter XXXII 1689 Baptist Confession chapter XXXI The Savoy Declaration of Faith chapter XXXI   We have few copies of Heaven on Earth: What the Bible Teaches About Life to Come. If you would like the opportunity to win one, register here. The copies are a generous gift from Christian Focus Publications.      

Natural Revelation God has revealed himself in nature, as Romans 1 affirms, but should natural revelation be the starting point of conversation in an apologetic or evangelistic encounter? James and Jonathan consider the text of Acts 14, with Paul’s apologetic approach to Jews and Greeks. Is seeing God’s hand clearly at work in creation sufficient to turn rebellious hearts to the Creator in repentance? Enjoy what this engaging conversation reveals about the deity of God, and the beneficial application of natural revelation. Show Notes Francis Turretin’s Institutes of Elenctic Theology (1st Topic, Question 3)