Christ the Center

Join us for the Reformed Forum Christmas Extravaganza 2024, a four-hour special filled with lively theological discussion, reflections on the past year, and a look ahead to what's in store for 2025. Hosted by Camden Bucey, this festive livestream features contributions from regular panelists Lane Tipton, Bob Tarullo, Jim Cassidy, Carlton Wynne, and special guests like Ruth Huang, a Mid-America Ref...

In this episode of Christ the Center , Daniel Ragusa leads us in a consideration of nativity through the lens of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology . As this season prompts reflection on the incarnation of Christ, this conversation explores the eight aspects of the nativity highlighted by Vos, including its linguistic and redemptive-historical continuity, non-political and gracious character, esch...

In this episode, Chad Vegas, founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church and founding board chairman of Radius International , joins us to discuss the extraordinary life and ministry of John G. Paton, a nineteenth-century missionary to the New Hebrides. Drawing from his experience contributing to a docuseries on global missions, Chad reflects on Paton's unwavering faith, theological convictions, and...

In this episode, Camden Bucey connects with Dr. Ben Gladd, the inaugural executive director of the Carson Center for Theological Renewal at The Gospel Coalition. Dr. Gladd shares the vision behind the Carson Center, its commitment to biblical theology, and its efforts to provide accessible resources to the global church. The conversation touches on the center's flagship projects, including a compr...

Join Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy in this special live-streamed episode of Christ the Center . From discussing the "first annual" Reformed Forum Christmas Extravaganza to regional meetups and exciting book releases, this episode highlights the many ways Reformed Forum is connecting with its community. As Jim and Camden take questions from listeners in the live chat, the conversation also explores...

Danny Olinger, John Muether, Darryl Hart, and Camden Bucey explore the life and legacy of J. Gresham Machen, discussing Richard E. Burnett's provocative book, Machen's Hope: The Transformation of a Modernist in the New Princeton . Burnett seeks to reframe Machen as both modern and orthodox, portraying him as a "conservative modernist" who employed modern intellectual methods while remaining firmly...

Join Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha as they welcome Dr. Daniel Ragusa, pastor of Messiah’s Reformed Fellowship in New York, to discuss his new book, Fullness of Joy: A Biblical Theology of God With Us ( single copies , ten-pack ), published by Reformed Forum. In this engaging conversation, Dr. Ragusa dives into the biblical theme of Emmanuel, tracing the promise of “God with us” from Genesis to...

In this episode of Christ the Center , we continue our Vos Group series with an in-depth discussion on Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology , focusing on Jesus’ use of parables and allegories on pages 352–355. Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore the unique role of parables in Jesus’ teaching, emphasizing the contrast between parables and allegories and unpacking their function, purpose, and t...

In this episode of Christ the Center , Camden Bucey welcomes Dr. Craig Ott , professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, for an in-depth discussion on the intersection of global missions, cultural engagement, and theological education. Dr. Ott shares his experiences in church planting across Germany, his insights on missions in Eastern Europe, and the com...

In pp. 77–79 of The Defense of the Faith (first edition), Cornelius Van Til addresses the fundamental differences between Christian and non-Christian perspectives on ethics, particularly focusing on the role of the will of God as foundational to ethical systems. Van Til begins by asserting that God’s will is absolute and self-determinative. God is eternally good, not becoming good through a proces...

In this episode, we are joined by Jeffrey C. Tuomala , Professor of Law at Liberty University, to examine two landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions in light of two articles by Ned Stonehouse. Professor Tuomala, with his deep commitment to restoring the moral foundations of law, will offer his legal expertise to comment on Stonehouse’s reflections regarding McCollum v. Board of Education and...

In this episode, we open Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments (pp. 348–352), exploring insights on the development and method of Jesus’s teaching. We examine Vos’s distinction between subjective and objective development, discussing why Vos rejects the idea that Jesus’s understanding evolved over time. Instead, we explore the progression of Jesus’s tea...

In this episode of Christ the Center , we welcome Rev. Hank Bowen, pastor of First Reformed Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for an insightful conversation on the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS) . Together with Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha, Rev. Bowen traces the rich historical roots of the RCUS, from its German Palatinate origins through its development in America. The discussion cover...

In preparation of our upcoming annual theology conference , Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy reflect on the global mission of the church through the lens of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). They discuss how Reformed Forum supports the church’s work of making disciples by providing theological resources and education, focusing on the key elements of going, baptizing, and teaching. Jim share...

In this episode, we sit down with Rev. Ryan Swale, pastor of Immanuel URC in Jordan, Ontario, to discuss his dissertation, The Imprecatory Pastor: A Practical Theology of the Imprecatory Psalms . Swale challenges the church today to reconsider the often-overlooked imprecatory psalms, which call for divine justice upon enemies. He argues that these psalms are not only permissible for Christians to...

In this episode of Christ the Center , Camden Bucey leads a discussion with Lane Tipton and Danny Olinger on Geerhardus Vos’s sermon, “The Christian’s Hope,” from his book Grace and Glory . The group explores the profound eschatological themes of 1 Peter 1:3-5, examining the nature of Christian hope as rooted in the resurrection of Christ and the believer’s heavenly inheritance. They u...

In Reclaiming the ‘Dark Ages’: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500–1500 (Christian Focus), authors Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert challenge the popular Protestant perception of the Middle Ages as a period of spiritual darkness and theological decay. They argue that this millennium was not devoid of Christian influence and that it produced many significant and influential Christian thin...

In this episode of Christ the Center , Camden Bucey is joined by a panel of experienced pastors and church planters to discuss the vital role of the ordinary means of grace in church planting. The conversation explores how God’s Word, sacraments, and prayer serve as the primary instruments for planting and growing churches, contrasting these biblical methods with modern consumer-driven and franchi...

Rev. Dr. Daniel Ragusa, pastor of Messiah’s Reformed Fellowship in New York City joins Camden Bucey for this thoughtful episode of Christ the Center . Together, they explore the profound impact of Dutch Reformed theology on American Presbyterianism, focusing on key historical moments and figures, including Cornelius Van Til and Gerhardus Vos. Ragusa shares insights from his recent work translating...

Join us for an engaging episode of Christ the Center as we sit down with Douglas Sean O’Donnell , pastor, theologian, and author of Expository Reflections on the Gospels: Mark . In this episode, we delve into O’Donnell’s profound insights on the Gospel of Mark, exploring the unique theological and literary contours of this pivotal book of the New Testament. O’Donnell shares the inspiration behind...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. David Noe, the translator, and Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, the editor, behind the newly released English edition of John Arrowsmith’s remarkable work, Plans for Holy War: How the Spiritual Soldier Fights, Conquers, and Triumphs . Originally published in 1657 as Tactica Sacra , this treatise considers the intricacies of spiritual warfare, offering timeless insights and...

In this episode, we are honored to welcome Dr. Greg K. Beale, a renowned biblical scholar and author, to discuss his latest book, Union with the Resurrected Christ (Baker Academic). Join us as Dr. Beale examines the profound theological concept of the believer’s union with the resurrected Christ, exploring its biblical foundations, theological implications, and practical applications. Throughout o...

In this episode of Christ the Center , Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy discuss the profound theme of the Great Commission and God’s overarching plan for the nations. This conversation serves as a follow-up to a pre-conference event held at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in March as well as a prelude to Reformed Forum’s upcoming annual theology conference , set for September...

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey speaks with Dr. David Noe , pastor of Reformation Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids and former faculty member at Calvin University. They discuss Dr. Noe’s work at the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies , focusing on his recent workshop and the enduring significance of classical studies for understanding the Reformed theological t...

In this engaging episode, we explore the intricate and profound world of Trinitarian theology with theologian Adonis Vidu . Join us as we explore the key themes and arguments from his latest book, The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology (Eerdmans). Vidu passionately defends the doctrine of inseparable operations, which asserts that all actions of the Trini...