MarsCast

Our Manager of Marketing, Jared Luttjeboer, sat down with Rev. Andrew Compton to talk about the pros of the relationship between the church and technology and media. No doubt your church’s media presence has grown, or even begun, in the era of COVID-19, whether it’s your church's website, live-streaming capabilities, or video production. How do we handle that media presence in a stewardly and God-...

Dr. Beach and Rev. Compton have been talking about important books to read before Seminary. In this final episode, they round out this discussion on books by talking about various volumes of systematic theology and hermeneutics, or, biblical interpretation.

In this brief episode, Dr. Beach continues the discussion on important books to read before seminary, this time directing prospective theology students to books on philosophy, modern theology, and the history of doctrine

This week we begin a new trilogy of episodes about books. We’re a seminary ... you knew this was bound to happen. Dr. Beach and Rev. Compton sat down and traded their thoughts on books that prospective students - or students currently enrolled in seminary - should read.

In the last part of Warfield’s essay, he offers his thoughts on some remedies and solutions to counter the hidden dangers of theological studies, such as a communal life of worship and prayer in a seminary community. Dr. Beach and Dr. Venema take this up right here, on Round Table.   

Dr. J. Mark Beach and Dr. Cornelis Venema continue their discussion on B.B. Warfield’s essay on "The Religious Life of Theological Students," this time addressing the lurking dangers nearby that attend theological studies. 

Dr. Beach and Dr. Venema sit down to analyze B.B. Warfield's address on "The Religious Life of Theological Students," keeping this first question in mind: Is the academic study of the Bible or theology a spiritually enriching experience? Is it a spiritual wasteland, or a spiritual oasis, which requires hard traveling but offers wonderful refreshment?

In this Round Table episode, you'll get to hear a conversation between Jared Luttjeboer and Dr. Alan Strange on his book, "Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ in the Westminster Standards."  Dr. Strange discusses the process of writing the book, the importance of the doctrine for seminary students, and believe it or not, how the imputation of the active obedience of Christ has anythi...

One thing we find in the New Testament is that there is an appeal to understanding the work of Christ through the Old Testament. In this Round Table, our professors will speak to this question of Christ in the Old Testament and how it is that they as pastors, preachers, seek to preach Christ in all of Scripture.

In this episode of Round Table, our faculty discuss amongst each other the continuity of the gospel in the Old Testament, particularly thinking of the question: Is the God of the Old Testament truly the God of the New Testament?

Join Rev. Andrew Compton, Rev. Mark Vander Hart, and Dr. J. Mark Beach as they explore a new three-part series on the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. In this episode, right off the bat, they address that infamous sermon preached a couple of years ago by a prominent evangelical pastor who stated that Christians need to "unhitch" from the Old Testament. Do we though?

For this episode of Round Table, Dr. J. Mark Beach had the opportunity to interview one of our newest Instructors, Dr. Erick Watkins, on the subject of liturgics and preaching.

In our last episode, our faculty spent some time talking about Biblical Theology. What you’re going to hear from them today is how biblical studies are being practiced “out there,” in the academy, among non-Christians, among non-religious people.  There are many atheists who are engaged in doing biblical studies; they find it to be a fascinating corpus of literature as they study the Bible, a...

As we continue our discussion on biblical studies, we now move into biblical studies courses that are taken by our students.  What does instruction at Mid-America look like, particularly in the classes in the biblical division? Taking part once again, in speaking order, are Assistant Professor of Old Testament Rev. Andrew Compton, Associate Professor of New Testament Dr. Marcus Mininger, and...

We’re launching into a new three-part series on Biblical Studies here at Mid-America Reformed Seminary. We thought we’d take some time to discuss what it means to do biblical scholarship, and we thought we’d start with a discussion on the biblical languages. Mid-America is one of the seminaries which are getting fewer and fewer as time goes by that have a rigorous commitment to and requirement of...

We had the privilege of having Rev. Danny Patterson come to campus for a week, teaching a portion of the Introduction to Counselling course. He sat down with Rev. Andrew Compton, who teaches the Applied Counselling course here at Mid-America, and who also conducted this interview. Check it out.

The faculty of Mid-America have been talking about the work of the church and its efforts to be "outward" facing, to be looking out in mission, and specifically what it means to contextualize the message: to speak concretely and clearly to people in categories that they know.    But in doing this, do we risk setting ourselves up to dumb down the gospel, to dumb down corporate worship, to...

In our last episode our faculty spent time discussing the biblical backdrop to the question of being "outward-facing,", and they started talking about this idea of “contextualization” at the end. What a great thing to explore a little bit before looking more concretely at how pastors, elders, and church leaders can take concrete steps in helping churches to have this “outward” focus. First of all:...

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy chapter 4, "Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." Something that has been a strength in Reformed churches is this focus on teaching – this focus on th...

It is our pleasure to bring to you this special episode outside of our regular cycle of discussions with our Faculty. This past month we had 2nd and 3rd-year students arrive on campus before the second semester officially kicked off to take an intensive interim class. There's a new class offered each year, and this January happened to be one on Advanced Preaching, specifically on "Communicating Go...

We've been talking a lot about Natural Law in the past two episodes, and we've seen some of the limits of how some might appeal to Natural Law as though it would somehow be a silver bullet that would get everyone on the same page morally. Some of course would then respond and say "Well it's simple, we've got the Bible. Let's use the Bible to enact all of our laws here in North America or some othe...

Part 1 of Natural Law introduced the subject matter, but now we want to understand a little bit more about it, particularly how it functions in society. Once more at the Table in speaking order are Dr. Alan Strange, Dr. J. Mark Beach, and Rev. Andrew Compton.

Well, you've heard the Professors of Mid-America discuss justification, systematic theology, preaching, and the Puritans. Now they're here to talk about this topic of "Natural Law." What is natural law, what are people saying about it, how has the church talked about it, what is its value? A lot of people wonder, they hear this terminology used but apart from specialists and people who are engaged...

Addressing the Puritans once again in speaking order are Professor of Church History, Dr. Alan Strange, Professor of Doctrinal Studies, Dr. J. Mark Beach, Old Testament Professor, Rev. Andrew Compton, and President of Mid-America & Professor of Doctrinal Studies, Dr. Cornelis Venema.

There has been a “revival” of Puritans in the half-century. What should we know about Puritans so as to understand better their value for the church in the 21st century? Let's make room for Faculty of Mid-America to help us out here. You'll hear in speaking order Professor of Church History Dr. Alan Strange, Old Testament Professor Rev. Andrew Compton, President of the Seminary and Professor of Do...