Reformed Forum

What does it mean to be predestined, and to what end does God predestine his people? Robert Arendale joins us again in an exposition of this important passage, including a discussion exploring what part polemics play in a sermon. Participants: Mark A. Winder , Robert Arendale

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss the Pilgrims’ journey through the Valley of Humiliation, into and past the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Participants: Rob McKenzie , Robert Tarullo Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Christ the Center 1000

Danny Olinger and John Muether join Camden Bucey to speak about the early history of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the forces within the young ecclesiastical body desiring broader influence throughout the culture. J. Gresham Machen gathered a broad coalition of “fundamentalists” in leading a charge against modernism at Princeton Theological Seminary and then throughout the Presbyterian Chur...

This section of Genesis showcases an alarming lack of dependence upon God, which results in deception and contention in Jacob’s family. Here we see the foundation laid for much of the conflict of the following chapters, as well as the introduction of Joseph whose story will be the subject of the last third of Genesis. In spite of Jacob’s foolishness, God will take this dysfunctional family in form...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss Christiana’s crew journey into the Valley of Humiliation. With Great-heart leading the pilgrims once again, we revisit the valley as Christian went through it, and learn how the valley of humiliation is really a way of lif...

Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey open Cornelius Van Til’s book,  The Defense of the Faith  to pages 33–39 wherein Van Til discusses the doctrine of salvation. Van Til is insistent to maintain the incommunicable attributes of God in all aspects of theology, even here in soteriology. Throughout this section, Van Til refuses to admit any form of mutualism or correlativism in the God-man r...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we see Matthew, Christiana’s eldest son, become so sick that he needed to be purged. Why was Matthew sick? What is Bunyan teaching us in this portion of his story? Are all green plums the fruit of the devil? Participants: Rob McKenzie , Robert Taru...

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss their experiences with catechisms among Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism , and evangelicalism and then their introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jim Cassidy Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX Christ the Center 1000

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we discuss the importance of parents catechizing their children, as well as the church’s part in that instruction. We see that Christiana has been catechizing her four boys when Prudence quizzes them. Participants: Rob McKenzie , Robert Tarullo Men...

We turn to pages 256–263 of Geerhardus Vos’ book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments , to discuss the bond between the Lord and Israel. In this chapter, Vos considers revelation during the period of the prophets, but in this section, he specifically considers the unique perspective on covenant ( berith ) offered by Isaiah and Hosea. Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton Mentioned in t...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, as Christiana, Mercy, and the children, come to the House Beautiful, Great-Heart leaves them to the blessings and growth that comes with Prudence, Piety, and Charity. Here we focus on Mercy, her dream as well as her response to the Mr. Brisk. What’...

Ryan Noha poses several questions submitted by our listeners and views. Along with Jeff Waddington and Camden Bucey, the panel discusses Thomas and Van Til on the doctrine of God, how the eternal decree relates to the well-meant offer of eschatological life in the covenant of works, aspects of our union with Christ, and several matters of eschatology. Participants: Camden Bucey , Jeff Waddington ,...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, Christiana, with Mercy and her children, face more trials as they continue past Hill Difficulty and their respite. Now they are confronted by Giant Grim and two lions. How will they face this new challenge? What are we meant to learn and understand about...

Glen Clary discusses the worship setting of Revelation 4–5 and its significance for the church’s present and future worship. While on the isle of Patmos, John was given a vision of the highest heavens. While we may consider these visions as symbols conveying cryptic messages for the church, they are a picture of the worship that occurs among the heavenly host in the highest heavens. Our worship on...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, we find Christiana, her boys, and Mercy, along with Great Heart at the foot of Hill Difficulty. What will the journey up the Hill be like? How much of the Christian life is challenging? Participants: Rob McKenzie , Robert Tarullo Mentioned in this episod...

We preview a forthcoming course on Union with Christ and the Doctrine of Salvation, taught by Lane Tipton. Participants: Camden Bucey , Lane G. Tipton Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss the 48th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, which recently adjourned in St. Louis, Missouri, and look forward to the 87th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church to be held in Sioux Center, Iowa. They then turn their attention to the covenant of works, which is the subject of our 2021 Fall Theology Conference in Pflugerville, T...

This week’s episode is an exhortation from John 13:1-13 given by Rob McKenzie on June 13, 2021 at Westminster Presbyterian Church (OPC). Participants: Rob McKenzie Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Christ the Center 1000

Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey open Cornelius Van Til’s book, The Defense of the Faith to pages 32–33 wherein Van Til discusses the doctrine of Christ. These are the fundamental building blocks of the consistent Christian apologetic. Participants: Camden Bucey , Carlton Wynne , Lane G. Tipton Mentioned in this episode: Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX Christ the Center 1000

Jim Cassidy discusses Therefore the Truth I Speak: Scottish Theology, 1500–1700 by Donald Macleod. The Scottish church was forever altered by the arrival of the Reformation in the sixteenth century. Its legacy endured, and provoked a flurry of theological re–examinations which form the foundation for much of our modern understanding of Reformed Theology. In this informed and accessible historical...

The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus to remind them of the “unsearchable riches” of Christ (3:8).  That is, he writes to remind the Christians living in that metropolitan port city, awash in paganism, of the heavenly blessings that belong to them in Christ (1:3).  A few years prior to his writing the letter to the Ephesians, Paul had labored in the city for almo...

This week on  Theology Simply Profound , Rob and Bob continue a discussion of John Bunyan’s,  The Pilgrim’s Progress ,  Book 2 . In this episode, after the usual banter between friends, we discuss how Christiana, Mercy, and the boys turn a corner to find Simple, Sloth, and Presumption hanging dead in iron cages. Why are these whom Christian saw sleeping along the road now hanging dead? Participant...

Rev. John Fikkert speaks about providing specialized care for ministers. Rev. Fikkert is the director of the OPC’s Committee on Ministerial Care , which provides a range services for ministers such as counseling and diaconal aid, financial planning assistance, webinars on a range of topics, and funds for sabbaticals. Participants: Camden Bucey , John Fikkert

Lane Tipton speaks about his new book, Foundations of Covenant Theology , available now through Reformed Forum. Drawing from Genesis 1:1 and subsequent biblical revelation, Lane Tipton argues that before creating the visible world, the immutable triune God created a heavenly temple dwelling, filled that heavenly dwelling with the unchanging glory of his Spirit, and sanctified that heavenly dwellin...

Jacob’s search for a bride parallels two other searches, all of which point us to Christ who offers the water of life and becomes a servant to secure his bride. We therefore must become servants of Christ that as his bride we might receive the water of life. Participants: Mark A. Winder