Series

Reformed Forum

Reformed Forum supports the church in presenting every person mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28) by providing Reformed theological resources to pastors, scholars, and anyone who desires to grow in their understanding of Scripture and the

theology that faithfully summarizes its teachings.

Older episodes

409Being Reformed, and Staying Christian in SeminaryToday’s panel recently attended the 2014 Desiring God Pastors’ Conference titled, “The Pastor, the Vine, and the Branches: The Remarkable Reality of Union with Christ,” as representatives for Reformed Forum and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA. The group speaks about the opportunity to spread the ministry of Reformed Forum beyond the bounds of Presbyterianism and the relationship of confessional Reformed theology to the broader, more loosely Reformed community. This episode also features an interview with David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell of Desiring God Ministries about their recent book, How to Stay Christian in Seminary. David Mathis is executive editor at desiringGod.org and an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN. He has edited several books and is co-author of How to Stay Christian in Seminary. Jonathan Parnell is a writer and content strategist for Desiring God Minstries and co-author of How to Stay Christian in Seminary. The book was inspired by a series of blog posts at desiringGod.org. B.B. Warfield’s The Religious Life of Theological Students Participants: Camden Bucey, David Mathis, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Brack, Jonathan Parnell57 min
410Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian DisciplesJim Cassidy reviews Pilgrim Theology: Core Doctrines for Christian Disciples (Zondervan) by Michael Horton. The publisher writes: Pilgrim Theology is based—in part—on the much larger The Christian Faith, although it is no simple abridgment; rather, Michael Horton has sought to write for an entirely new and wider audience, intentionally making it more useful for both group and individual study. Horton reviews the biblical passages that have given rise to particular doctrines in addition to surveying past and present interpretations. Also included are sidebars showing the key distinctions readers need to grasp on a particular subject, helpful charts and tables illuminating exegetical and historical topics, and questions at the end of each chapter for individual, classroom, and small group reflection. Pilgrim Theology is especially appropriate for undergraduate students, educated laypersons, or anyone looking to gain a basic understanding of Reformed theology’s biblical and historical foundations. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy12 min
411What’s Your Worldview?Dr. James N. Anderson speaks about his recent book What’s Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions, published by Crossway. The book takes the reader through important theological and philosophical questions in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style, leading to a label and description of the reader’s own worldview. Dr. Anderson explains the setup of the book and a number of ways it might be used, and also discusses the idea of a worldview and what important elements constitute one. Dr. Anderson is associate professor of theology and philosophy at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh, writing about paradox in Christian theology. That study became his book, Paradox in Christian Theology: An Analysis of Its Presence, Nature, and Epistemic Status, which was the subject of a previous episode of Christ the Center. Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, James Anderson, Jared Oliphint43 min
412Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic IntroductionJim Cassidy reviews Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction (Zondervan) by Michael F. Bird. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy7 min
413The Final Days of JesusJustin Taylor joins us to speak about The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived, which he has coauthored with Dr. Andreas Köstenberger. Mr. Taylor speaks about the book not only as an author but also as a publisher and editor at Crossway Books. The conversation highlights the format of the book, the gap the book fills in the literature on Easter, and some of the authors’ conclusions about the biblical accounts of Jesus’ last week. Justin Taylor is vice president of book publishing and an associate publisher at Crossway, and a PhD candidate at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has edited and contributed to several books including A God-Entranced Vision of All Things and Reclaiming the Center, and he blogs at Between Two Worlds—hosted by the Gospel Coalition. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Justin Taylor44 min
414Christology, Ancient and Modern: Explorations in Constructive DogmaticsJim Cassidy reviews Christology, Ancient and Modern: Explorations in Constructive Dogmatics (Zondervan) edited by Oliver Crisp and Fred Sanders. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy10 min
415[Review] What’s Best NextOn this episode Camden Bucey reviews What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done (Zondervan) by Matt Perman. This is an excellent book about Christian productivity that will help you become effective in your labors through a biblical perspective on loving God, loving others, and being a good steward of your opportunities, time, and resources. Publisher’s Description Productivity isn’t just about getting more things done. It’s about getting the right things done—the things that count, make difference, and move the world forward. In our current era of massive overload, this is harder than ever before. So how do you get more of the right things done without confusing mere activity for actual productivity? When we take God’s purposes into account, a revolutionary insight emerges. Surprisingly, we see that the way to be productive is to put others first—to make the welfare of other people our motive and criteria in determining what to do (what’s best next). As both the Scriptures and the best business thinkers show, generosity is the key to unlocking our productivity. It is also the key to finding meaning and fulfillment in our work. What’s Best Next offers a practical approach for improving your productivity in all areas of life. It will help you better understand: Why good works are not just rare and special things like going to Africa, but anything you do in faith—even tying your shoes. How to create a mission statement for your life that actually works. How to delegate to people in a way that actually empowers them. How to overcome time killers like procrastination, interruptions, and multitasking by turning them around and making them work for you. How to process workflow efficiently and get your email inbox to zero every day. How your work and life can transform the world socially, economically, and spiritually, and connect to God’s global purposes. By anchoring your understanding of productivity in God’s purposes and plan, What’s Best Next will give you a practical approach for increasing your effectiveness in everything you do. Includes a Foreword by John Piper Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy13 min
416Warfield on the Mode of InspirationJeffrey A. Stivason speaks about B.B. Warfield’s doctrine of inspiration. In his doctoral dissertation, From Inscrutability to Concursus: Benjamin B. Warfield’s Theological Construction of Inspiration’s Mode from 1880 to 1915., Pastor Stivason highlights the development over time of Warfield’s articulation of inspiration. While Warfield’s influence on the contemporary doctrine of inspiration was monumental, he didn’t arrive at his position all at once but developed it further during a time when the perfection of Scripture was under attack. Jeffrey A. Stivason is pastor of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCNA) in Gibsonia, PA. He completed his dissertation and earned his Ph.D. in 2013 at Westminster Theological Seminary (PA). Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Jeff Stivason, Jeff Waddington57 min
417[Review] The Gospel at Work: How Working for King Jesus Gives Purpose and Meaning to Our JobsIn this episode, Camden Bucey reviews The Gospel at Work: How Working for King Jesus Gives Purpose and Meaning to Our Jobs (Zondervan) by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert. Traeger and Gilbert note that many Christians fall victim to one of two main problems when it comes to work: either they are idle in their work, or they have made an idol of it. Both of these mind-sets are deadly misunderstandings of how God intends for us to think about our employment. The authors unpack the powerful ways in which the gospel can transform how we do what we do, releasing us from the cultural pressures of both an all-consuming devotion and a punch-in, punch-out mentality—in order to find the freedom of a work ethic rooted in serving Christ. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy10 min
418[Review] The Bonhoeffer ReaderJim Cassidy reviews The Bonhoeffer Reader (Fortress Press) edited by Clifford Green and Michael DeJonge. From the Publisher: For the first time, a representative collection of all Bonhoeffer’s theological works is available in a single volume, edited by Bonhoeffer scholars Clifford J. Green and Michael P. DeJonge. The Bonhoeffer Reader follows on the heels of the newly completed 16-volume Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works English Edition (DBWE), a major 25-year translation project supported by the International Bonhoeffer Society and published by Fortress Press. From this massive collection of books, lectures, articles, letters and sermons, about 800 pages of all Bonhoeffer’s key theological writing have been chosen to reveal his central theological ideas and their development. The Reader is formatted so that students can easily go back to the original DBWE volumes and all the additional resources included in them, making it easier than ever to pursue a more comprehensive study of Bonhoeffer’s brilliant theological career. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy14 min
419The Old and New CalvinismsReformed Forum founders Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, and Jeff Waddington speak about the Old and New Calvinisms. As the speaker for the annual Gaffin lecture, John Piper recently spoke at Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) on the topic, “The New Calvinism and the New Community.” The New Calvinism, a cross-denominational movement, recaptures many elements of the Old, but the two differ in some respects. Today’s panel reflects on the similarities and differences between the two, following up on several recent Reformed Forum blog posts. Links John Piper’s lecture. Collin Hansen’s book, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists Jared Oliphint’s synopsis, John Piper’s Twelve Features of the New Calvinism Jim Cassidy, 5 Reasons Why I Am Not a New Calvinist Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy51 min
420[Review] Logos Reformed Base PackageK. Scott Oliphint, Jared Oliphint, and Camden Bucey review the Logos Reformed Base Package. List of resources in Platinum package. Previous post on the package from Jared Oliphint. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, K. Scott Oliphint25 min
421The Practical Theology of Productivity and StewardshipMatt Perman is the author of What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way We Work, a book about productivity and the stewardship of time and work. Matt highlights all the good that can be gained from the literature on business and productivity, showing how the best principles observed by secular thinkers conform to the pattern of biblical teaching. Of course, the gospel the world did not know by its wisdom, so Matt’s gospel-informed advice goes beyond other literature in a particularly Christian way. Matthew Perman formerly served as the senior director of strategy at Desiring God Ministries in Minneapolis, MN, and is a frequent speaker on the topics of leadership and productivity from a God-centered perspective. He has an MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute. Matt regularly blogs and contributes to a number of other online publications as well. He lives in Minneapolis. Participants: Camden Bucey, Matt Perman54 min
422[Review] The Lord’s Supper as a Means of GraceOn this episode, Jim Cassidy reviews The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace: More than a Memory (Mentor, 2013) by Richard C. Barcellos. Barcellos seeks to demonstrate that the Lord’s Supper is more than a mere remembrance or memorial to Christ’s death; it is a means of grace. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy21 min
423Vos Group #4: The Mapping Out of the Field of RevelationThis fourth episode of Vos Group, Dr. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey tackle chapter 2 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology (pp. 19-26). Topics of discussion include the relationship of general/natural and special/supernatural revelation, sin and revelation, and divine covenants. Roughly each month, Lane and Camden will work through the pages of Vos’ Biblical Theology. While Vos’ book is foundational, it’s tough for the “uninitiated” to access. This will be a great opportunity for study groups to listen to our discussions and work things out together. We hope everyone who participates will learn more about Reformed biblical theology. Pick up a copy of Biblical Theology and get on the BT wagon! Lane G. Tipton is Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has appeared numerous times on our programs. Please visit our archives to listen to Dr. Tipton speak about a range of theological topics. All the episodes in this series will be available at http://reformedforum.org/vos/ If you’d like to subscribe only to these episodes (rather than all episodes of Christ the Center), just use the following feed: http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/feed Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton42 min
424[Review] One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of SalvationCamden Bucey reviews One with Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation by Marcus Peter Johnson. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy16 min
425Who Raised Up Jesus?Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, and Jim Cassidy discuss John Murray’s article, “Who Raised Up Jesus?” from The Westminster Theological Journal 3.2 (May 1941): 113–123. An answer to Murray’s question requires a search of the biblical text, an analysis of Greek grammar, a discussion of the doctrine of the Trinity—in short, the use of all the resources that Christian students of the Bible have at their disposal. Listen to this informative discussion. Links John Murray’s Collected Writings OPC Church Plant in Austin, TX. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy52 min
426The Puritan Family ResemblanceDr. Randall J. Pederson offers a helpful method for resolving the perennial challenge of defining Puritanism. Pederson suggests that Wittgenstein’s concept of familienähnlichkeit (family resemblance) provides a perspective “that within seventeenth-century English Puritanism there is a unitas and a diversitas that, when considered together, suggest a unitas in diversitate that warrants the use of the term ‘Puritanism,’ in the singular, and is preferable to more deconstructionist notions of Puritanisms, which would seem to undermine confessional sensibilities of most Puritans.” Dr. Pederson’s dissertation, Unity in Diversity: English Puritans and the Puritan Reformation, 1603–1689, will soon be published by Brill. A summary and title page are currently available from the University of Leiden, who will release the dissertation from embargo in May 2015. Dr. Pederson is managing editor of The Westminster Theological Journal, the co-editor of Meet the Puritans, and the editor of Daily Readings: The Puritans. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, Randall Pederson1 hr
427The Ancient Church Observance of the Lord’s SupperToday we speak with Glen Clary about his DMin dissertation titled, “Celebrating Holy Communion According to the Customs of the Ancient Church: A Reformed Communion Liturgy Based on the Eucharistic Liturgy of the Didache.” The Didache is a very early document that teaches about several important topics, including the early church’s observance of the Lord’s Supper. Listen to learn more about the Didache itself, how it relates to the reformation, and what instruction it can offer to churches today. Rev. Clary is the Associate Pastor of Providence OPC, Austin (Pflugerville), Texas. Glen holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwestern Christian University, Bethany, Oklahoma, and a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Erskine Theological Seminary, studying Reformed worship under Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old at the Institute for Reformed Worship. Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Jim Cassidy55 min
428Vos Group #5: The Content of Pre-Redemptive Special Revelation, Part 1For the fifth episode of Vos Group, Dr. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey examine the first portion of chapter three of Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology (pp. 27-33). Vos has established the presence of special revelation in the garden of Eden, God’s words to Adam and Eve concerning the probationary covenant of works. In this chapter, he highlights four principles made known in this special revelation, the first two of which are “the principle of life in its highest potency sacramentally symbolized by the tree of life,” and “the principle of probation symbolized in the same manner by the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Roughly each month, Lane and Camden will work through the pages of Vos’ Biblical Theology. While Vos’ book is foundational, it’s tough for the “uninitiated” to access. This will be a great opportunity for study groups to listen to our discussions and work things out together. We hope everyone who participates will learn more about Reformed biblical theology. Pick up a copy of Biblical Theology and get on the BT wagon! Lane G. Tipton is Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has appeared numerous times on our programs. Please visit our archives to listen to Dr. Tipton speak about a range of theological topics. All the episodes in this series will be available at http://reformedforum.org/vos/ If you’d like to subscribe only to these episodes (rather than all episodes of Christ the Center), just use the following feed: http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/feed Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton45 min
429Chance and the Sovereignty of GodDr. Vern S. Poythress, Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, speaks about his new book, Chance and the Sovereignty of God: A God-Centered Approach to Probability and Random Events (Crossway). The fifth in a series of “God-Centered Approaches,” Chance and the Sovereignty of God explores the mathematics of probability as well as the relationship of God’s sovereignty to chance events. Today, Dr. Poythress explains how Christians can approach chance in practical events as well as in academic study, whether scientific or mathematical. Dr. Poythress is the author of a number of books, including Redeeming Science, In the Beginning Was the Word, Redeeming Sociology, and Logic. He has also spoken on Christ the Center episodes 52, 98, 188, and 235, and on Philosophy for Theologians episode 20. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Jeff Waddington, Vern Poythress1 hr 2 min
430How Can I Know For Sure?Dr. David Garner comes to the program to speak about the topic of his new booklet, “How Can I Know For Sure?” from the Christian Answers to Hard Questions Series, published by P&R Publishing. Church members and especially college students are breathing in the air of popular postmodernism, and the question of certainty requires an answer. Dr. Garner argues that to find answers we must look to the Bible as God’s authoritative word for mankind. Dr. Garner is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Participants: A. Craig Troxel, Camden Bucey, David Garner, Jared Oliphint56 min
431How Did Evil Come Into the World?Dr. William Edgar discusses the question, How Did Evil Come Into the World?, which is also the title of his recent addition to the Christian Answers to Hard Questions series. Today’s conversation covers the same territory as the booklet, how a good God can be the creator and sovereign of a world now filled with evil, and how scientific developments related to Darwinism and evolution challenge or harmonize with the Biblical account of suffering and sin. Dr. Edgar guides listeners and readers to a view of God and evil that recognizes both the terrible reality of evil and the supreme reality of God’s good plan. Dr. Edgar is Professor of Apologetics and John Boyer Chair of Evangelism and Culture at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelpia, PA. Dr. Edgar serves as part of the Christian Renaissance Foundation, the European Leadership Forum, and the Huguenot Fellowship, among other responsibilities. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, William Edgar47 min
432Lyrical Theology: DoxologyToday we welcome to the program hip-hop recording artist Shai Linne to speak about his brand new album Lyrical Theology: Doxology, part two of a three-part hip-hop album series. Shai’s album is based on the conviction that all thinking about God should lead to worship of him. Our discussion covers cultural engagement and contextualization, with Shai’s music as a prime example, as well as the theology that underlies this album and Shai’s other albums. Shai Linne is a hip-hop artist with Lamp Mode Recordings and a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church. His album Lyrical Theology: Doxology can be found on iTunes and Amazon, and on Youtube, a music video of his track “Be Glorified (Psalm 55).” Timothy Brindle is a student at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, and his record label is Lamp Mode Recordings. We interviewed Timothy about his music in episode 300. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Shai Linne, Timothy Brindle58 min

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