Reformed Forum
Reformed ForumReformed 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
See more
theology that faithfully summarizes its teachings.
Older episodes
- 625Culture and the Kuyperian TraditionWe introduce two new books from InterVarsity Press: Created and Creating by William Edgar and Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition by Craig Barthlomew.
- 626Calvin and the SabbathDr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. speaks about Calvin’s views on the Sabbath. In this conversation, we look to Dr. Gaffin’s book Calvin and the Sabbath: The Controversy of Applying the Fourth Commandment (Mentor/Christian Focus), which is a revised version of his ThM thesis originally written under the supervision of John Murray at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1961–62. We also speak about Dr. Gaffin’s exegesis and theological development of Hebrews 3–4 in Pressing Toward the Mark: Essays Commemorating Fifty Years of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Richard B. Gaffin Jr.
- 627The Book of Revelation — Part 1Your hosts, Rob and Bob, begin a new series on the Book of Revelation with an introduction to the book as a whole using the opening chapter. As one of us said somewhere at sometime, “The Book of Revelation has often made people either obsess over the details of the book or else close their eyes, hide in a corner and pretend it doesn’t exist. Should we just shrug our shoulders and wait till we can ask Jesus about it in Heaven? Do we need to devise secret codes in order to break the cipher of the book or is it to be seen as a literal future historical journal?” We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 628Biblical Theology and RuthWe 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.
- 629Catechetical PreachingMany churches may be familiar with lectio continua preaching in the form of the weekly practice of preaching consecutive passages through a book of Scripture. Catechetical preaching uses a catechism to organize the weekly sermons rather than the book of Scripture. Does that make catechetical preaching unscriptural? By no means! While some catechetical sermons may derive their points directly from the catechism and others merely use the catechism to determine the topic and then select a pertinent Scripture passage to exposit. Catechetical preaching merely provides the skeleton for the subject and points of a sermon, but it need not make the sermon unscriptural. There are many benefits to catechetical preaching. It provides a wide range of Scriptural thought. It encourages familiarity with a system of doctrine. It also keeps before the congregation the basic fact that we have a catechism. We encourage people to work through it, reading it, and catechizing themselves and their children. Catechetical preaching fortifies this practice and helps people to embrace our secondary standards as a tool and help for us to understand what God has taught us about various doctrinal subjects. It aids in showing the unity and harmony of Scripture as a whole. Resources Wayne Brouwer, “Preaching the Heidelberg: A New Look at the Tradition of Catechetical Preaching.” R. E. Knodel, Jr. “Catechetical Preaching“ William Boekestein, “The Benefits of Catechetical Preaching: Catechism Preaching Is Another Kind of Bible Preaching“ Jeffrey C. Waddington catechetical series on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. James J. Cassidy sermons Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy
- 630The Book of Revelation – Part 2In Episode 42 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation. Your hosts, Rob and Bob, continue to discuss the Book of Revelation by beginning to walk through the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 (spoiler alert: we only make it through three). In Revelation chapter 1 Jesus is pictured as the very ruler of everything. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This should be great hope to all Christians because if we are focused on the kingdoms of this earth and how they act without remembering the reality of the current functioning Kingdom of Christ we will easily be lead into despair. What the Book of Revelation does is to pull back the holy curtain so we can have a vision of the very throne room of God, the sovereign rule of the resurrected, sacrificial Lamb. In the Book of Revelation, we are told that a time of great persecution is coming, the time is near but that the Lamb that is a Lion has already won and some day He will return. But what should we do till then? Should we hold up in a bunker with a stash of MRE’s? Should we sell everything we have and wait for His return on a hill in a white sheet, (as others have done)? We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound. Theology Simply Profound is a podcast of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, serving the western suburbs of Chicago, where God powerfully speaks through his means of grace. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 631Genesis 11:27–12:4 — Called OutIn this episode we discuss how God called Abram to leave behind his homeland and set out to a land that God would show him. We also consider how such a pilgrim motif informs the life of the Christian. Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Mark Jenkins, Robert Arendale
- 632Biblical Theology and JoshuaDan Ragusa speaks about the United Reformed Churches in North America, biblical theology, and the book of Joshua. Dan is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently studying at Westminster Theological Seminary. After a brief conversation, we share a lesson from Mr. Ragusa’s Sunday school series on Joshua taught at Oak Glen United Reformed Church of Lansing, Illinois. Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Ragusa
- 633The Book of Revelation – Part 3In Episode 43 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation. Your hosts, Rob and Bob, continue to discuss the Book of Revelation by walking through the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3. This episode concludes the seven churches with a discussion of the final four churches. Each Sunday we get out of bed, put the family in the car and take them to Church. Do we think that by doing this we are triumphant overcomers breaking down the gates of Hell? We should. Gathering as the people of God to corporately worship each week is more than being faithful to the commands of Scripture it is more than just routine preparation for the week. In some sense it is the very battleground of our spiritual life. Each week our faith is strengthened as we worship together through prayer, singing, alms giving, and sitting under the preaching and reading of the Word of God. The seven churches in the beginning of the Book of Revelation are not being judged based on their individual efforts throughout the week. They are being judged based upon their cooperate experience of church life. And the reality is so are we. We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound. Theology Simply Profound is a podcast of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, serving the western suburbs of Chicago, where God powerfully speaks through his means of grace. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 634The Book of Revelation – Part 4In Episode 44 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation. Your hosts, Rob and Bob, continue to discuss the Book of Revelation chapter 4. The opening chapters teach us that Jesus is still very much involved in ruling over His church. Most churches are a mixture of both good and bad, wheat and tares and nothing will go unnoticed by the One who holds them in His hands. Having looked at the seven churches in the first vision John now receives his second vision. What is the throne room of God like? Will this be where we will be when we die and what is up with all these strange creatures? We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound. Theology Simply Profound is a podcast of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, serving the western suburbs of Chicago, where God powerfully speaks through his means of grace. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 635The Second Commandment and Images in WorshipSeveral traditions within the Christian church have understood the second commandment differently. Some have understood it is a prohibition against statues. Others understand the commandment to prohibit images of God in worship. Still others argue it is a prohibition against all images as representations of God. We discuss the duties required and reasons annexed to the second commandment as well as the liturgical theology inherent to the issue. Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day 1. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is good, and doth good unto all, and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture. Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 107. Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Q. 108. What are the duties required in the second commandment? A. The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath instituted in his word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him: as also the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship; and, according to each one’s place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry. Q. 109. What sins are forbidden in the second commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of them, or service belonging to them; all superstitious devices, corrupting the worship of God, adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretense whatsoever; simony; sacrilege; all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed. Q. 110. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it? A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it, contained in these words, For I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments; are, besides God’s sovereignty over us, and propriety in us, his fervent zeal for his own worship, and his revengeful indignation against all false worship, as being a spiritual whoredom; accounting the breakers of this commandment such as hate him, and threatening to punish them unto divers generations; and esteeming the observers of it such as love him and keep his commandments, and promising mercy to them unto many generations. Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 49. Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment? A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his word. Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshiping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his word. Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship. Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Jim Cassidy
- 636Genesis 12:4–9 — The PromiseIn this episode we discuss God’s promise to Abram—particularly his pledge to grant him a seed, a land, and to give Abram his own divine presence. Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Mark Jenkins, Robert Arendale
- 637The Image of God: Historical and Contemporary ChallengesThe panel discusses the image of God live from the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference. The event was held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois beginning on October 7, 2016. In this conversation, we address historical views of the image of God, the historicity of Adam, woman’s relationship to man, gender, and the implications of the image of God doctrine for racial equality. Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton
- 638The Book of Revelation – Part 5In Episode 45 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation. Your hosts, Rob and Bob, continue to discuss the Book of Revelation chapter 5. The second vision of the Book of Revelation brings us into the throne room of God where all the realms of creation both in heaven and on earth do nothing but give glory to God day and night. John sees a continual and repetitious act of all of creation demonstrating its reverence for their Creator. They cry out glory, glory, glory to Him who was and is and is to come. And as the elders fall off of their thrones prostrate before the throne they cast their crown before the throne demonstrating that though the church reigns with Christ we are humble before the slain Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. As we work our way through the vision questions remain. What does the scroll and the seals mean? Why does John weep and what role is Christ taking upon Himself? We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound. Theology Simply Profound is a podcast of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, serving the western suburbs of Chicago, where God powerfully speaks through his means of grace. Music credit: pamelayork.com. Thank you, Pamela York, for the use of your beautiful jazzy rendition of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” We encourage our listeners to check out her website and consider purchasing some of her music. Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 639Ulrich Zwingli: Third Man of the ReformationWe speak with William Boekestein about the Swiss reformer, Ulrich Zwingli. Ulrich Zwingli was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. His efforts in reforming doctrine and practice serve as examples and lessons for us today. Rev. Boekestein has written two biographies of Zwingli, each capturing the significance of the man for different audiences. He serves as Pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church (URCNA) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He joined us on a previous episode of Christ the Center to discuss the history of the Heidelberg Catechism. Books by William Boekestein Ulrich Zwingli (Bitesize Biographies) Ulrich Zwingli: Shepherd Warrior (Trailblazers) The Glory of Grace: The Story of the Canons of Dort Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism Faithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido DeBrees Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, William Boekestein
- 640The Book of Revelation – Part 6In Episode 46 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation. Your hosts, Rob and Bob, discuss the Book of Revelation chapter 6. The second vision of the Book of Revelation show us that Jesus is King and reigns supreme over all. The Lord wants his people to know his love in Christ. That, even though there our troubles in varying degrees through the course of human history, he upholds his people in life and in death. In chapter 6, the second vision continues, the seal are opened and the four horsemen. What do these horsemen mean? What is it that they bring to the earth? How do all of these things bless Christ’s church? Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 641The Unfinished ReformationWe speak with Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo about their excellent book The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants after 500 Years (Zondervan, 2016). Rev. Dr. Allison is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Rev. Dr. Castaldo serves as Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. We are driven to ask, Why are we accepted by God? In the final analysis, it must be Christ’s person and work and his imputed righteousness to sinners. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. It depends solely on Christ and not anything we do. Episodes of Christ the Center Roman Catholic Theology and Practice with Gregg Allison Speaking with Catholics about the Gospel with Chris Castaldo Books by Allison and Castaldo Allison, Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment Allison, Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine Castaldo, Talking with Catholics about the Gospel Castaldo, Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Chris Castaldo, Gregg Allison, Jeff Waddington
- 642Vos Group #30 — The Decalogue: The Second WordWe continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 135–137 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the Decalogue and the second commandment. 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1–6, ESV) Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton
- 643The Book of Revelation – Part 7In episode 47, your hosts, Rob and Bob, discuss chapter 7 of the Book of Revelation. If like most people you are listening to the radio when you drive you know that usually at the top and bottom of the hour there will be a news update. Usually this will bring tension just to hear that familiar opening music. It doesn’t help that the news media know that if they present everything as potentially life threatening they will get your attention, which is why according to the news media everything from your toothpaste to tomatoes is going to kill you. But we are also reminded everyday of every natural and manmade disaster that is taking place around the world. Floods, fires, wars, rumors of wars, provide the negatively fueled news media an ample supply of stories to terrify us with. When Jesus used the example of a tower that had fallen over and killed people He used an example that everyone knew. The fall of this tower was the talk of the town and seems to have been used to teach unrighteous people that unless they repent they will suffer a similar fate. But Jesus redirected the thinking. Instead of seeing this as sinners getting what they deserved, Jesus made it clear that the people who died were just as guilty as the people that He was talking with. Jesus is highlighting to those listening, and to us that we will all die. We all will suffer the same fate. Jesus was pointing to the repentance through Faith that leads to life that is the only way to escape everlasting death. When a volcano explodes or there is a large flood or earthquake not to mention wars where lots of people die, some will be Christians and some will be unbelievers. So how should we look at these tragedies? Were they God’s judgments? Were they persecutions? Was it something that is outside the control of God? Are there only 144,000 people that will be safe from these kinds of events? Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 644By His Spirit and Word: How Christ Builds His ChurchCornelis P. Venema joins us to speak about his book By His Spirit and Word: How Christ Builds His Church (Reformed Fellowship, Inc.). Venema engages in an extended exposition on the doctrine of the church and its ministry as described in the historic confessions and catechisms of the Reformation churches. These confessions emphasize the church’s indispensability to the salvation of believers, for the triune God’s redemptive mission is principally effected through the ministry of the church. Dr. Venema is President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana. Participants: Camden Bucey, Cornelis Venema
- 645The Book of Revelation – Part 8In episode 48, Rob and Bob discuss chapter 8 of the Book of Revelation. There is something that I love about submarines. It amazes me that a metal tube filled with people can dive to depths that try their best to crush them. It amazes me. The captain of a submarine is charged with piloting this machine blind. He has maps, sonar, computers but he still must decide how far, at what degree, when to turn and at what depth he needs to maneuver at. In order to perform these maneuvers, he must tell those who steer the ship at what degree and what angle the sub needs to be at. He will talk with the engine room to change speeds. The sailors that are making these changes never know why they are making them. They can’t see out the window so they don’t know what they are trying to avoid. In the end it is the faith in the ability of the captain that keeps them calm. In Revelation chapter 8 we are given vivid descriptions regarding the judgment of God that He is unleashing on the earth. John must have been terrified. If we go through life and take our eyes off of the fact that the Kingdom of God is being built by King Jesus we will react to disasters with greater fear. We don’t see what God is doing and why He is doing it, but one of the great comforts of the book of Revelation is that we do not need to know why God is doing what He is doing, we just need to be obedient to His word and trust Him. But this passage can still be very troubling. Where did these trumpets come from? Why is blood mixed with incense and do Eagles usually talk? Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
- 646The Reformed Church in LatviaMark Vander Hart and Cornelis P. Venema join us to speak about the Reformed church in Latvia. Mark Vander Hart is Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Cornelis Venema is President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies. Both men have taught at Baltic Reformed Seminary in Riga, Latvia. Links Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary ITEM MTW Team Participants: Camden Bucey, Cornelis Venema, Mark Vander Hart
- 647Christ and Culture: Marriage as a Biblical Test-CaseMarcus Mininger is Associate Professor in New Testament Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana. Today he joins us to speak about his article, “Eschatology and Protology, Christ and Culture: Marriage as a Biblical Test-Case” MAJT 25 (2014): 117–140. The substance of this article was first delivered as a lecture at Mid-America’s Alumni Conference on April 9, 2014. The relationship between Christ and culture has elicited many different responses within the Reformed tradition. Mininger offers an insightful way to consider the matter through typology and a redemptive-historical consideration of creation. Participants: Camden Bucey, Marcus Mininger
- 648The Book of Revelation – Part 9In episode 49, Rob and Bob discuss chapter 9 of the Book of Revelation. There are many religions in this world and they all claim to offer truth. The Pharisees claimed to be the children of God subjects of His Kingdom but the reality was they rejected both God Himself and His Kingdom. What does this have to do with us today, most of the people that we talk with are not Jewish religious leaders? Why are there locusts being sent out into the world and what are angels doing in a river? Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo
Get the Pray app
Keep listening to Reformed Forum on your phone, and pick up where you left off.
