Training Our Minds

What roles does Christ perform? Why does Jesus sometimes say He doesn't know the day or the hour of the end times? Why does He refer to God as His Father? Is Jesus not God? All this and more in this episode!

The Trinity is a complex and difficult concept to understand. Ben defines what it is and offers different ways to defend the doctrine of the Trinity from the many worldviews trying to attack it.

This is one of the greatest proofs we have on the authenticity of Scripture that talks about one of the prophecies of Scripture being fulfilled. We also talk about one of the controversies regarding the difference between the time of the crucifixion in Mark's gospel and the time of Jesus' trial in John's gospel.

"My sister has spinal meningitis. They do not think she will live past Easter. What kind of a God is this?" Let's say that you were given this statement by a friend. Do you pound them with theological principles right away? Give them scripture? Or just listen to them? How should a reformed Christian evangelize a person in grief? Find out on this episode of Training Our Minds.

"Persuasion happens not in the abstract but in the particular. Our social imaginary shapes the way we experience the world, interpret events, reason, and make decisions. Yet many apologists still give only a polite nod, if that, to the social imagination of the late moderns." ~ The Augustine Way by Chatraw and Allen

Christians claim the Bible is God's Word, but how can we justify that? What is necessary in order for the Bible to be God's Word?

How do you read a history book? Philosophy book? Does you interpretation of the book match my interpretation of the book? Let's say someone said this to you one day; that we can't know for sure what we did to Japan in World War II was right or wrong. Refute them... Go.

How is God going to work with a rebellious people that break His commandments? A harsh near-East culture that endorses slavery, divorce, and misogyny?

The New Atheist Sam Harris says that it's just an inconvenient fact that slavery is endorsed in the Bible. How would you respond to such a statement?

Philosophy must be in service of theology. When this happens, man does not determine reality, but discovers it as the Holy Spirit reveals it to him through Scripture.

The Christians are losing to the New Atheists who don't even have a solid foundation or grip on justifying their truth. This is the history of the subtle descent from Christianity to Atheism via Theological Liberalism.

What makes it easy for people to win debates? Perhaps if they're begging the question. But that's not how we are supposed to rationalize our arguments. What is begging the question? What are some examples of begging the question?

What makes it easy for people to win debates? Perhaps if they're begging the question. But that's not how we are supposed to rationalize our arguments. What is begging the question? What are some examples of begging the question?

How should we evangelize? Join Ben Bessett as he teaches Worldviews Evangelism Counseling (WEC) class at Seventh Reformed Church.

How would you articulate the difference between natural revelation and special revelation? Is there a difference between natural law, natural revelation, and the sensus divinitatis? How would you use natural law in answering the question about what happens to people who die who have never heard the Gospel?

1 Corinthians Sermon Series 3:1–4 Stagnant is defined as a body of water having no current or flow, often giving an unpleasant smell. As Christians, we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, we have been forgiven of all our sins. This is a wonderful blessing, but we also must be aware that we can still act and think as the world does. No, there is never a point where a true believer can b...

1 Corinthians Sermon Series: 2:1–16 Ever since the fall in Genesis 3, we have seen the battle between the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of this world. Humanity naturally opposes God. It naturally places itself at the center and interprets all things from this perspective. It wants to be the source of all wisdom. The apostle Paul is telling the Corinthian church that they have a special wisdom, a su...

1 Corinthians Sermon Series: 1:17–31 The wisdom of this world has been at odds with its own Creator since the fall of mankind in Genesis 3. Human beings, because of their own pride and enmity, think they are the centerpiece of the universe. Belief in Jesus Christ is utter nonsense to them. Humanity looks for wisdom, but not God's wisdom. They desire to learn about the creation, but not the Creator...

1 Corinthians Sermon Series: 1:10–17 It should come as no surprise that pride and division exist within the Christian community. Why is this? Because we all bring our sin nature with us when we walk through the door. Churches have divisions because churches are made up of sinful people. It's that simple. The key is to recognize this, to be aware of our own sins that we bring to the table, and to b...

"One of the most dramatic moments in my life for the shaping of my theology took place in a seminary classroom. One of my professors went to the blackboard and wrote these words in bold letters: Regeneration Precedes Faith." —R.C. Sproul Study Notes

"The blood of Christ hath such a divine power to save, that nothing but it can ever save the soul." —Charles Spurgeon Study Notes

What is meant by "Unconditional" Election? Study Notes

As the salt flavors every drop in the Atlantic, so does sin affect every atom of our nature. —Charles Spurgeon Study Notes

Circular reasoning is often considered a fallacy because it is usually random and not specific; such as: "the Bible is true because the Bible says so." But, it can be reasonable if it goes beyond a simple circle: "since God inspired Scripture, the Bible is true." Study Notes

If we don't understand that there is no one who is righteous, there is no one who does good, there is no one who seeks God, then we don't understand our need for grace. Study Notes