Christ the Center

Podcast worlds collide! Jim and Camden welcome Brad Isbell, perhaps even better known as @ChortlesWeakly , to the program to discuss ruling elders and general assemblies within Presbyterianism. Along with @wresbyterian , Mr. Isbell hosts Presbycast , a delightful mix of high Presbyterian polity and low brow culture. Listen as we discuss the organization and operation of the PCA General Assembly, c...

In 1992, Charles G. Dennison published three articles in the Mid-America Journal of Theology . These were based upon a series he delivered at Mid-America Reformed Seminary . Dennison identifies three eras between 1936 and 1962—tragedy, hope, and ambivalence. The era of tragedy is focused on the figure of J. Gresham Machen. Cornelius Van Til and Ned B. Stonehouse represent the eras of hope and ambi...

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 269–286 of Geerhardus Vos’ book,  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments,  to consider social sin in the time of the prophets. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:41 Join Our Private Chat Server 10:07 The Corruption of Ritual Worship 11:53 Social Sin 20:34 The Problem of the City 25:54 Social Justice and Humanitarianism 33:48 Social Sin and Theono...

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey speak about Jim’s latest course, The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Questions 39–107) , which is available for free through Reformed Academy . Register for Free In speaking about the new series, Jim and Camden also share several encouraging updates about Reformed Forum as well as their thoughts about parachurch ministries, denominational seminaries, and the future of m...

Jeff Waddington and Camden Bucey discuss the value of reading and studying the works of B. B. Warfield. Jeff has written an article in our forthcoming newsletter wherein he identifies Warfield as a theological “renaissance man.” With significant works covering topics from New Testament textual criticism to apologetics and the doctrine of salvation, the “lion of Princeton” r...

Rodrigo Andrés Espinoza and Douglas Clawson speak about Reformed and Presbyterian ministry in the nation of Colombia and specifically, its capital, Bogotá. Rev. Clawson has been visiting and serving in Colombia for more than a decade through OPC foreign missions. Rev. Espinoza serves as pastor of Raah Iglesia Cristiana Biblical in Bogotá. The church is a member of the Iglesia Presbiteriana de la R...

Dr. R. Carlton Wynne leads us in a study of Jeremiah 31 and the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. In discussing typology and symbolism, Wynne describes the views of John Owen with a view toward understanding better several contemporary views. Dr. Wynne is Associate Pastor of Westminster PCA in Atlanta and Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (Atla...

Dr. David Barry joins us to speak about his book, The Exile of Adam in Romans: The Reversal of the Curse against Adam and Israel in the Substructure of Romans 5 and 8 (Fortress Academic, 2021) In this book, Barry investigates the “divine son” motif in Romans 5 and 8 through the lens of exile and restoration. Both Adam’s exclusion from Eden and Israel’s exile from Palestine are, for Paul, a divine...

We take the podcast on the road for three episodes to visit Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia . In our first episode of the road trip, we speak with Dr. Guy Richard about his book Persistent Prayer (P&R, 2021). This book is in P&R’s Blessings of the Faith series. This book will prove useful to pastors, elders, and study groups as it provides encouragement and instruct...

Danny Olinger, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey discuss Geerhardus Vos’s sermon, “The More Excellent Ministry” from 2 Corinthians 3:18. This sermon is included in Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached at Princeton Theological Seminary . In this sermon, Vos proclaims the good news of the consummate and unfading glory of Christ’s new covenant ministry and its implications for the church this side of Christ...

Dr. Eric Watkins joins us to speak about missions and evangelism from a Reformed perspective. Dr. Watkins is senior pastor of Harvest Presbyterian Church (OPC) in San Marcos, California as well as Director of the Center for Missions and Evangelism at Mid-America Reformed Seminary . The Center for Missions and Evangelism is a new initiative at Mid-America Reformed Seminary designed to enhance the c...

It’s that time of year again. Since 2008, we have been taking a beat around New Year’s Day to bring you some of the top moments from the preceding year. We have a bunch of great clips lined up for you today. Throughout 2021 we continued to develop Reformed Academy, our online learning platform. We doubled our student base from last year to more than 3,800 people in 73 countries. These br...

Dr. Christiane Tietz speaks about her tremendous biography, Karl Barth: A Life in Conflict (Oxford University Press, 2021). Dr. Tietz is Professor for Systematic Theology at the Institute of Hermeneutics and Philosophy of Religion at the University of Zurich. From 2008 until 2013 she was Professor for Systematic Theology and Social Ethics at the University of Mainz. She was visiting lecturer or re...

Lane Tipton delivers a plenary address from the annual Reformed Forum Theology Conference , which was hosted October 8–9 at Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas. Dr. Tipton’s address is titled, “ Perichoresis, Endoxation, and the Glory-Spirit: Foundations for Image-Endowment and Covenant Theology in the Work of Meredith G. Kline “ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:36 Perichor...

Sandy Finlayson speaks about the life and ministry of Thomas Chalmers. Finlayson is the author of Chief Scottish Man: The Life and Ministry of Thomas Chalmers (Evangelical Press). Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) was a significant figure in nineteenth-century Scotland. Without his vision, organizational skills, and his ability to mobilize opinion, it is unlikely that the Free Church would have come int...

Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey open Cornelius Van Til’s book,  The Defense of the Faith  to pages 40–43, in which Van Til describes the Christian philosophy of reality. While to some degree it is necessary to use categories of God, man, and universe common to unbelievers in order to engage them apologetically and to evangelize, Christians must clearly set forth the distinctly Christi...

Patrick O’Banion joins us to speak about Girolamo Zanchi and his book, The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and His Church and Every One of the Faithful . O’Banion translated and introduced a new edition of the book published by Reformation Heritage Books. Zanchi was an Italian Reformer, with close ties to Peter Martyr Vermigli. Developing from Girolamo Zanchi’s exegetical labors through Ep...

Jim Cassidy delivers a plenary address from the annual Reformed Forum Theology Conference , which was hosted October 8–9 at Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas. Cassidy investigates the ontological assumptions which led Karl Barth to reject the doctrine of the covenant of works. He considers how Barth’s doctrine of God, with its actualistic ontology, is the ground for his rejection of the...

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 267–269 of Geerhardus Vos’ book,  Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to consider the collective sin of the nation during the time of the prophets. Vos addresses several passages in this section, including Amos 5:25, Isaiah 1:10–17, and Hosea 6:6. Links OPC Report of the Committee to Study Republication Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:13 Critics, t...

Roman Catholicism entered the mainstream of American national life the morning following the November 8, 1960 election when John F. Kennedy won and became the president. While it may seem strange to people who did not grow up in the era, Protestant voters were wary of a Roman Catholic potentially serving as president of the United States. Yet the Vatican may have been even more wary of “Americanis...

Danny Olinger delivers an address at the 2021 Reformed Forum Theology Conference . The event was held October 8–9, 2021 at Providence OPC in Pflugerville, Texas. The conference theme was, “The Promise of Life: God’s Plan for His People in the Covenant of Works.” In contrast to Roman Catholic, modernist, and evangelical approaches, we explored a thoroughly Reformed understanding of God’s relationsh...

The beatific vision (1 John 3:2) is the consummation of God’s relationship with his people. While Christians of all traditions acknowledge this blessed future to some degree, there are significant differences as to how it all works out. The Reformed tradition has understood this future and its genesis in terms of a covenantal relationship between God and Adam. If you have listened much to our podc...

In this episode, several OPC missionaries discuss theological education in foreign mission fields. Douglas Clawson is associate general secretary for the OPC’s Committee on Foreign Missions . Charles Jackson serves as a missionary in Uganda, and Mike serves in East Asia. Each of these ministers speaks about their experience in training officers for the building up of indigenous churches, sharing t...

Dr. Benjamin L. Gladd , Associate Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, speaks about his new Handbook on the Gospels . This book is part of a series edited by Dr. Gladd and published by Baker Academic, which covers the entirety of the New Testament in three volumes. Neither becoming preoccupied with the minutiae of the text nor losing sight of the big...

Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey turn to pages 264–266 of Geerhardus Vos’ book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to consider the collective sin of the nation during the time of the prophets. Vos speaks particularly of the prophet Amos, and his indictment of false worship practices among the people. Links OPC Report of the Committee to Study Republication Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:09...