Christ the Center

In this episode, we welcome Michael Kruger to the program to speak about the theology and history of the canon. Dr. Kruger is one of the pastors at Uptown PCA in Charlotte, NC, as well as Professor of New Testament and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Kruger received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his M.Div. from Westminster Theol...

Today we welcome Owen Strachan to the program to speak about the new book,  The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life and Ministry . Dr. Strachan is Assistant Professor of Christian Theology and Church History at Boyce College in Louisville, Kentucky. He has published six books and written with The Atlantic , First Things , Christianity Today , and the Scottish Bulletin...

Dr. W. Andrew Hoffecker describes the life and influence of Charles Hodge, one of the giants of American Presbyterianism. Dr. Hoffecker has written a fantastic biography titled Charles Hodge: Pride of Princeton , which has been published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jim Cassidy , Mark Garcia , W. Andrew Hoffecker

William Boekestein speaks about the history of the Heidelberg Catechism. Rev. Boekestein is pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, PA and the author of The Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism published by Reformation Heritage Books. This wonderful book is written as a way for children to grasp the history behind the catechism, and its illustrations by Evan Hughes br...

Rick Phillips joins Nick Batzig and Kenneth Kang-Hui to speak about the historical Adam. The teaching that Adam was a historical figure, the federal head of all those who descend from him by ordinary generation, has become a much debated topic. Rev. Phillips and the panel navigate through the issues and underscore why this traditional doctrine is so significant. Rev. Phillips is pastor of Second P...

Today we welcome Dr. Michael S. Horton and Dr. Lane G. Tipton to the program to discuss justification and its relation to union with Christ. Dr. Horton is Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at  Westminster Seminary California . He is the author of many books on a variety of theological topics—two of which that are germane to our discussion today are  Covenant and Salvation: Union wit...

Rick Phillips and Kevin DeYoung join a panel to address the doctrine of sanctification. This is an important conversation that addresses the work of the Holy Spirit in applying the death and resurrection of Christ to believers. Join us for a fascinating conversation on this aspect of soteriology. Rev. Phillips is Senior Minister of  Second Presbyterian Church  in Greenville, SC and the author of s...

Jim Cassidy leads a discussion on church planting in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church with Brad Hertzog and Mark Winder. Rev. Hertzog is Pastor of Reformation Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Queens, NY and Rev. Winder is Church Planter of Wolf River Presbyterian Church in Collierville, TN near Memphis. post image by _sig_ . Participants: Brad Hertzog , Jim Cassidy , Mark A. Winder

We celebrate another year of Christ the Center by bringing to you a number of highlights from 2011. Episode 156 – Darryl Hart on Machen, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and the OPC Episode 160 – Carl Trueman on historiography Episode 161 – Winston Smith on marriage as a picture of Christ’s relation to the Church Episode 162 – Mark A. Garcia on the ju...

In this episode we speak with Dr. J. Ligon Duncan about suffering and the Christian life. Rev. Dr. Duncan is Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, MS and President of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. He’s also the author of several books including Fear Not: Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective and Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? . This interview was recor...

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Michael S. Horton to the program once again. Dr. Horton is Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California . He is also the president of White Horse Inn , a co-host of their national radio program, and the editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. He is also the author of many books on a variety of theological topics—two of wh...

Kevin DeYoung speaks about holiness and sanctification in this episode of Christ the Center . Given the recent discussions of the role of sanctification in soteriology and the age-old errors of antinomianism and neonomianism, we are delighted to focus our attention on this important issue. DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at  University Reformed Church (RCA)  in East Lansing, Michigan and the author o...

Dr. K. Scott Oliphint speaks about the doctrine of God and his book God with Us: Divine Condescension and the Attributes of God . Dr. Oliphint is Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, PA. In this episode, he entertains several general questions about the doctrine of God before moving to a more pointed discussion of how an infinite, eterna...

Dr. Carl Trueman, Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, describes the historical context leading up to the creation of the King James Bible. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the influential translation, and Dr. Trueman has appeared in a film detailing its birth. The movie, KJB: The Book that Changed the World   is wonderfully done. Join us...

Cornelius Van Til was an early and significant critic of Karl Barth, yet many contemporary Barthians reject his criticism. Several contributions in the recent book Karl Barth and American Evangelicalism   contain this sentiment. Today, we spend time discussing this topic with Jim Cassidy with the hope of promoting a better understanding of Van Til’s position. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jim...

Jim Cassidy speaks about the basic contours of Karl Barth’s theology.  Karl Barth and American Evangelicalism ,  edited by Bruce L. McCormack and Clifford B. Anderson, is a recent contribution to this growing body of scholarship. The volume is compiled from contributions to a 2007 conference sponsored by The Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and The Karl Barth Societ...

Today we welcome Dr. Bryan Chapell, President and Professor of Practical Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary , to speak about the greatness and love of God. Dr. Chapell is the author of several books, but many of our listeners may know him best for his book Christ-Centered Worship and of course his much celebrated Christ-Centered Preaching . He’ll be speaking at the upcoming Quakertown...

We celebrate the 200th episode of Christ the Center together with our guest (and studio host!), Dr. Lane G. Tipton. Dr. Tipton is the Charles Krahe Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary , and has done extensive work on Reformed soteriology. In this milestone episode, we treat several dimensions of the Reformed discussion of union with Christ including Lu...

Darryl G. Hart returns to explore Barthianism in America. Darryl Hart has contributed to  Karl Barth and American Evangelicalism ,  edited by Bruce L. McCormack and Clifford B. Anderson, is an interesting volume, compiled from contributions to a 2007 conference sponsored by The Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and The Karl Barth Society of North America. Interestingly, se...

In this episode, Darryl G. Hart speaks about his latest book  From Billy Graham to Sarah Palin: Evangelicals and the Betrayal of American Conservatism .  Hart argues that evangelicals ought to reclaim the conservatism of decades past as he delves into a number of historical and cultural trends in this engaging discussion. Participants: Camden Bucey , Darryl G. Hart

In this episode, we speak about the doctrine of God and its implications for other doctrines and all areas of life with Kevin DeYoung. DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, and he will be speaking at the Quakertown Regional Conference on Reformed Theology , which is titled Our Great God . Books What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of...

In this special episode, Christ the Center welcomes Kim Tran and Yannick Imbert from the Faculté Jean Calvin in Aix-en Provence to speak about the history and current state of Reformed theology in France. This is a fascinating global discussion that spans the Reformation to contemporary philosophers such as Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault. Participants: Barbara Edgar , Camden Bucey , Jeff Wadd...

Jared Oliphint and Camden Bucey speak about a number of topics in today’s open discussion, but the discussion gravitated toward theologizing in today’s connected culture. With the proliferation of social media, particularly Twitter, theology seems to be growing and spreading in new ways. Jared and Camden speak about these changing dynamics—particularly the role of polemics. Participant...

People often speak of the “cross” synecdochally, that is, referring to the entire work of redemption accomplished by Christ. While this is perfectly acceptable, repeated use of this construction can under-emphasize the significance of the resurrection. In this episode, the resurrection is displayed within the context of redemptive-history and its bearing upon the benefits of salvation...

Jeff Waddington and Camden Bucey discuss the evangelical involvement in American politics using Darryl G. Hart’s recent From Billly Graham to Sarah Palin: Evangelicals and the Betrayal of American Conservatism as a guide. Evangelicals are often considered politically conservative, yet this is not always the case. Hear how the worlds of theology and politics intersect in this friendly convers...