MarsCast

In today’s episode, Dr. J. Mark Beach, Professor of Doctrinal and Ministerial Studies, begins to look carefully at the theological issue of free will by asking the simple question: Do Christians have free will?

In today’s episode, Dr. Alan Strange concludes his series on church offices by looking at the Office of Deacon and the ministry of mercy.

In today’s episode, Dr. Alan Strange, continuing his series on church offices, elaborates on the role of the Elder in the church. What does it mean to be a ruling Elder or teaching Elder? What are his obligations and duties in this ordained office? Here’s Dr. Strange to answer these questions.

In today’s episode, Dr. Alan Strange looks once again at the Office of Minister of the Word and Sacrament, tracing its history, especially in the eyes of the Reformers.

In today’s episode, we will look at a particular vocation where one is called to proclaim the Word of God, that of the Minister of the Word and Sacrament. Being in this vocation, they hold an office. Dr. Alan Strange takes us on a tour of this office, particularly in its distinction from the office of Ruling Elder, and in the weeks ahead, look more narrowly at the office of Elder and the office of...

In today’s episode, Dr. Cornelis Venema and Dr. Marcus Mininger continue their case for the cessation of revelatory gifts – speaking in tongues, prophecy, miraculous healings – by addressing an important question. If the revelatory gifts have ceased, how do we respond to fellow believers who claim to have them or have experienced speaking in tongues and miraculous signs? If Cessationism is true, h...

Today’s episode continues our series on Cessationism vs. Continuationism and the spiritual gifts with Dr. Cornelis Venema and Dr. Marcus Mininger. In our previous conversation, they laid out the context for this debate. You could probably guess that they’ve landed on a position: Today, we’ll hear the case for Cessationism and the ceasing of revelatory gifts.

Today’s episode kicks off a new series with Dr. Cornelis Venema (President of Mid-America) and Dr. Marcus Mininger (Professor of NT Studies). They are going to address spiritual gifts in the church. We can think of speaking in tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing, for example, gifts that were common in the age of the Apostles. The question before us is whether those gifts continue to this day...

In today's episode, Dr. Marcus Mininger concludes our series on resolving conflict with peers from the perspective of the Apostle Paul. Today he focuses on Philippians 1:12-18, where the apostle Paul mentions that his imprisonment has served to advance the gospel. In this harsh reality, Paul sets an example of a God-centered response to conflict, namely, quiet rejoicing for the sake of Christ. Her...

In today’s episode, Dr. Marcus Mininger continues our series on resolving conflict with peers from the perspective of the Apostle Paul. Today he focuses on Galatians 2:11-14, where the apostle Paul confronts Peter, whose hypocritical conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel. In other words, what Dr. Mininger will show us today is the importance of confronting one another out of reveren...

In today’s episode, we kick off a series with Dr. Marcus Mininger on resolving conflict with peers, particularly between those in ministry and who are office-bearers, from the perspective of the Apostle Paul. These episodes come from a recent talk at the Niagara Office-Bearers Conference at Immanuel United Reformed Church in Jordan, Ontario. In this first part, Dr. Mininger will reflect on Galatia...

Finishing our series on the sacraments this week, in reflecting upon the Lord’s Supper, Dr. Cornelis Venema addresses whether children may come to the Lord’s Table (a growing practice among some Reformed churches), a practice known as paedocommunion or infant communion. 

We continue our series on the sacraments this week by giving our attention to the Lord’s Supper, led by Dr. Venema, who’ll provide us with a general introduction of communion, giving a brief survey of varying views of the sacrament while highlighting the Reformed view.

In today's episode, one of the most debated questions in all of theology will be addressed by President of Mid-America and Professor of Doctrinal Studies, Dr. Cornelis Venema, and Professor of Church History, Dr. Alan Strange: Should Infants Be Baptized? If the baptism of children of believing parents is permissible, what is the biblical case for such?

Starting today, we’re going to take a look at the sacraments in Reformed theology. Dr. Cornelis Venema and Dr. Alan Strange begin with the sacrament of baptism by answering the simple question: What is it?

In today’s episode, Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies, concludes his series on being Christlike in Conflict. He’ll reflect upon one of the most devastating instances in the Old Testament: the split of the tribes of Israel.

Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies, continues his series on Christlike in Conflict and how that theme is presented in certain Old Testament accounts. Today, he takes us through the history of David and Absalom and where the Spirit of Christ was present in this tumultuous family conflict.

In today’s episode, Rev. Mark Vander Hart, Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies, introduces us to a three-part theme of being Christlike in Conflict. As Rev. Vander Hart has said before, Scripture is not silent about the conflicts that have attended the life of the church throughout her history. It can be a real benefit to us when we consider the tremendous impact that our Savior made thro...

In today’s episode, Dr. J. Mark Beach concludes the discussion on conditional forgiveness and repentance by describing forgiving as God forgives. 

Dr. J. Mark Beach, Professor of Ministerial and Doctrinal Studies, continues the conversation on forgiveness and repentance, this time looking more closely at the function of repentance. What is involved in repentance relative to forgiveness?

We are looking forward to this new year of podcasting! We have a great lineup of episodes in store for your listening pleasure. In this first episode of the new year, Dr. J. Mark Beach will be taking us through a series on the relationship between repentance and forgiveness, addressing the question, particularly, of whether forgiveness is conditional upon repentance. 

In our last episode of 2021, Dr. Strange continues to examine Christmas hymns, this time looking at “Once in Royal David’s City.”

In these last remaining days of 2021, and as we particularly look forward to celebrating Christmas with friends and family, some of us are, no doubt, also looking forward to singing carols and Christmas hymns. Joining the podcast is Dr. Alan Strange, Professor of Church History, who’ll be taking us through a couple of Christmas hymns and helping us explore their theological depth. 

In today’s episode, Dr. Venema wraps up our series on homosexuality by providing a crucial component in this matter: pastoral guidance. 

In today’s episode, Dr. Venema begins to look at Scripture, starting in Genesis as a basis for human sexuality. He then looks at various texts in the Old and New Testaments concerned with homosexuality with that framework in mind. As we move through Scripture, we're increasingly challenged to come to a proper understanding of these texts in light of the current cultural climate the Church finds it...