Small Town Theologian

This episode is about finding comfort in the death of Christ. Jesus actually died on the cross and his burial confirmed his physical death. This is central to the Christian faith and the Christian's comfort.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST IN WHATEVER APP YOU LISTEN. Please subscribe to the Society of Reformed Podcasters podcast, but I ask that you also subscribe to the Small Town Theologian...

In this episode, Rev. George Gregory tackles the topic of the keys of the kingdom, preaching and church discipline. This message comes out of Beaver Falls, PA. Another faithful pastor doing faithful ministry in a small town of America.  Check out Rev. George and Hope Community Reformed Presbyterian Church at www.hopecommunityrpc.com . Here's the link to Oram's Donut Shop on 7th Ave. if you're...

This episode is about finding comfort and hope in the suffering of Christ for us. As we suffer, we need to draw comfort and strength from Christ's suffering for us and how suffering leads to everlasting life with God.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST IN WHATEVER APP YOU LISTEN. Please subscribe to the Society of Reformed Podcasters podcast, but I ask that you also subscribe to the Small Town...

This episode is about how necessary and comforting the incarnation and two natures of Jesus Christ are for us Christians. Once again, theology matters and is inseparable from our comfort and joy.   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST IN WHATEVER APP YOU LISTEN. Subscribe and be altered when new episodes are available.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What advantages are there t...

Today's episode is about the beautiful and comforting doctrine of adoption; Jesus Christ is the sole natural Son of God, believers are children by adoption. Support the show by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts . High ratings help people find the show. I could really use your help to move from 24 ratings to 50 . . . I'm almost halfway! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What does it m...

Today's episode is about how Jesus serves you as the Christ, how he serves you as your chief Prophet, only High Priest, and eternal King.  Support the show by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts . High ratings help people find the show. I could really use your help to move from 23 ratings to 50! FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (1) What comfort do you draw from knowing Jesus is serving you as Pr...

Today's episode is about the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ as our Savior. We are saved by Christ alone, not Christ and anything else.  Support the show by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts . High ratings help people find the show. I could really use your help to move from 22 ratings to 50! Please help me get there. FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (1) In what ways do people add things...

Support the show by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts . High ratings help people find the show. I could really use your help to move from 21 ratings to 50! Please help me get there. I'm going to provide a new resource for the show. I want to encourage families to listen to the show and then discuss it together. Perhaps listen to the show during family worship, read some Scriptures, and discuss....

Support the show by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts . High ratings help people find the show. I could really use your help to move from 18 ratings to 50! Please help me get there. You may have had a wonderfully loving and supportive father. Maybe you had an abusive father. Whatever the case, our heavenly Father is so much different from our earthly fathers. All earthly fathers sin against the...

There is comfort and assurance for you in rich and deep theology. The doctrines of God are not intended to fill your minds with impractical facts; they are meant to comfort you and fill you with joy in a true knowledge of God and His works. Do you go to a good church that unpacks the rich doctrine of Scripture to help you thrive in your relationship with God? Do you invest yourself in knowing the...

Have you ever been to a funeral or memorial service where you got the impression that the pastor and congregation believe everyone goes to heaven? Christian Universalism may be more prevalent than we think. Perhaps it's in our churches? The Scripture is clear that not everyone goes to heaven; only those who are grafted into Christ by true faith go to heaven. People need to hear the clear message o...

There are many threatening things in the world today, and you may be somewhat scared and anxious. What are you fearing? Are you fearing your circumstances? Are you fearing God? There is an indivisible link between fearing God and finding comfort, peace, and joy in circumstances. When we fear God and our circumstances, it is ever comforting to know that we have a mediator and deliverer who is our r...

When we sin, maybe sin big, we feel like we need to make it up to God and others. We carry the weight of needing to pay off a debt we can't pay. The message of the gospel is that Jesus paid our sin debt in full to free us from the weight of the curse of God's law. Being debt-free allows us to truly love God and others. We should try to make it right with others when we wrong them, but we cannot pa...

Today's STT SPECIAL is a sermon titled "The Tenth (Part 1): Overcoming Sinful Thoughts & Desires by Grace." It was preached by Rev. Jonathan Shirk at Jerusalem Church in Manheim, PA. Are you discouraged about the sinful desires and cravings deep within your heart? Are you wondering how you will ever overcome them? Today's message is for you. Listen to get a strong dose of the gospel to comfort...

"I would never do that!" Have you ever said or thought this when people hurt you in some way? The thought that we are above certain sins seems to suggest a certain self-righteousness and naivete. Apart from God's grace, we are all capable of unspeakable evil. The doctrine of original sin is humbling and pushes us to ask for and depend upon God's amazing grace. Jesus would never do that, and he is...

Some Christians who hate wearing masks make a popular argument against masks. The argument is that wearing masks conceals the image of God in the face of man. Is this argument legitimate? What is the image of God in man? This is an important theological question with important implications.  STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcaste rs . STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Comm...

Besetting sins. They are shameful. They are unsettling. Why haven't we gotten beyond certain sins? The gospel is our confidence and hope in the face of our besetting sins. Sometimes certain theological truths, like our ongoing struggle against our sinful nature, may seem quite discouraging, but when thought about the right way, when thought about in light of the gospel, can give us hope and expect...

Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you in 2022. If we desire to live holy lives for the glory of God, we must understand how holiness is inseparable from sound doctrine. Many Christians do not seem to have a clear doctrinal statement for their lives. Here is where catechisms and confessions are really helpful. Tune in to learn how sound doctrine and holiness are connected.  STT is a member of...

Merry Christmas! How do you see yourself? You could answer numerous things, but would one of the ways you see yourself be a spiritual infant? We'd like to think of ourselves as strong, independent, capable, but one of the images Scripture gives us of believers is spiritual infants, weak, dependent, and needy. How does this imagery connect with our prayer life? Self-sufficient people don't pray. We...

Why would Jesus teach his disciples to remember their sin and need of grace and to continually ask God for forgiveness? Might it have been for their comfort? Perhaps we feel condemned when we more deeply recognize our sin and need for God's grace. Maybe we'd rather avoid thinking about our sin than confess it. But Jesus taught us that confession and asking for forgiveness is important, in fact, es...

Christmas is coming. A great stocking stuffer for under $5 is a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism (5" x 8"). Pick up a copy on Amazon, The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death . Why would we ever ask God for things we already have? Praying "Give us this day our daily bread" may feel a little forced when our pantries and refrigerators are stocked with food. But this little line is...

Christmas is coming. A great gift idea for under $5 is to buy a friend a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism. Pick up my NEW RELEASE on Amazon, The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death . It is amazing how appealing our will can be. We want to do what we want to do, and we're often skeptical about the goodness of God's will. Why would Jesus teach us to pray, "Thy will be done"? Ther...

Christmas is coming. A great gift idea for under $5 is to buy a friend a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism. Pick up my NEW RELEASE on Amazon, The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death .  Much church growth material focuses on marketing strategies and practical advice about how to appeal to culture. But what about the Lord's Prayer? Christ said he will build his church, and Ch...

Do you know what you're praying when you pray the Lord's Prayer? It's a popular prayer. It should be because Jesus taught it to his disciples. What is it that you want from God when you pray to Him? Do you want what He wants for you?  Check out my book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine . Leave a review on Amazon. Follow me on Facebook . STT is a member of the So...

Follow me on Facebook . Check out my book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine . Leave a review on Amazon. STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcaste rs . How we think about God influences our prayer life. In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. We can learn a lot of substantial theology from the Lord's Prayer. How does...