Defend and Confirm

Sean and Russell discuss Biblical theology, how it differs from systematic theology, and how having a good biblical theology lends ot the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  This episode's "books you should read":https://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Theology-Life-Church-Ministry/dp/1433515083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539280234&sr=8-1&keywords=Michael+Lawrence+biblical+theology

In this episode, we revisit the question of how christians can know what we claim we know. We discuss the self-authenticating model of scripture, and interact with some of the competing ways christians and non-christians attempt to understand the authority of God's word. We also deal with common criticisms of our view.  This episode’s “books you should read” is actually a series of lectures you should listen to: https://subsplash.com/reformtheosem/s/xjduvb5

In this episode, we tackle an assortment of questions submitted by listeners: Did the Holy Spirit indwell faithful believers in the Old Testament, or is the indwelling Spirit unique to the new covenant? Can God create a stone so heavy he cannot lift it? If he can't, doesn't this mean God isn't really omnipotent?  Finally, should elders within a church be willing to step down from their positions for reasons other than moral failure? Or should we thinkg 'once an elder, always an elder?'   This episode's "books you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Christ-Antinomianism-Assurance_Why-Controversy/dp/1433548003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537296661&sr=8-1&keywords=the+whole+christ   God's Indwelling Presence, James Hamilton: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Indwelling-Presence-Testaments-Theology-ebook/dp/B00R3U22CE/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537297782&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=jim+hamilton+indwelling

In this episode, we talk about love. Our defense of the gospel should be grounded in a love for the lost, but too often our speech becomes prideful, quarrelsome, and unloving. Sean walks us through scripture on this subject, and we talk about the healthy skepticism we should all have of our own heart and motive.  This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/How-Nations-Rage-Rethinking-Politics/dp/1400207649/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536937538&sr=8-1&keywords=how+the+nations+rage

In this three-part series, we answer the question "How can you know Christianity is true?" In part 3, we ask how Chrisitans can know that the bible is the word of God. Should we use some external, historical criteria as the way we authenticate scriptrue, or should we look to the bible itself? For more information on the self-authenticating model of scripture, go here: https://www.michaeljkruger.com/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-the-bible-is-self-authenticating/ This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Evangelicalism-Divided-Record-Crucial-Change/dp/0851517838/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536418157&sr=8-1&keywords=evangelicalism+divided  

In this three-part series, we answer the question "How can you know Christianity is true?"In part 2, we address the claim that building our knowledge on anything other than God and his word leads to absurdity. When the atheist claims to have moral, scientific, or logical knowledge, he is actually betraying his atheism and showing his innate knowledge of God's existence.  This episode's "book you should read":https://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Antithesis-Apologetic-Methodology-Bahnsen/dp/0915815605

In this three-part series, we answer the question "How can you know Christianity is true?" In part 1, we lay the foundation for this conversation (pun intended) by looking at competing epistemological foundations. We discuss how we as Christians, unlike the world, ground our knowledge in God’s revelation.      This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Why-God-Created-World-Adaptation/dp/1612915868

Does your church practice meaningful church membership and church discipline? It should. In this episode, we explain why. Also, a glitch with our digital recorder left us with camera-only audio for this episode, so enjoy listening to what sounds like two people talking inside of a tin can.

Building on our discussion of the divinity of Jesus Christ, we turn to what the bible says Christ did on the cross. What is penal substitutionary atonement? The bible teaches that Christ died as a substitute for sinners, and suffered the wrath of God they justly deserved. We point out the biblical foundation for this belief and its importance for understanding the gospel. We also interact with the arguments of Greg Boyd, who criticizes PSA, and deal with a number of misrepresentations of the doctrine.  This episode's "book you should read" isn't a book. But you should read it anyway: https://derekzrishmawy.com/2014/10/23/the-beauty-of-the-cross-19-objections-and-answers-on-penal-substitutionary-atonement-500th-post/

In this episode, we respond to the accusation that christians who call out false teachers by name are being arrogant, judgemental, or unbiblical.  This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Paul-Call-Spiritual-Reformation/dp/080109710X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534892968&sr=8-1&keywords=praying%20with%20paul

In this episode, we discuss the divinity of Jesus, and explain how scripture does more than offer us proof-texts for this fundamental truth. We also look at how the earliest heresy in the Chrisitan church serves as evidence that Jesus' first followers viewed him as God.  This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Reason-God-Belief-Age-Skepticism/dp/1594483493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1534971067&sr=1-1&keywords=the+reason+for+god

In this episode, we talk about the foundation of christian apologetics. Should we defend the gospel with evidential or presuppositional apologetics? Are the two at odds? What's the difference? We dig into each of these questions, and recommend another solid book on church membership.  This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/Church-Membership-Represents-Building-Churches/dp/1433532379

In this inaugural episode, we discuss the scriptural definition of the church, how this definition gives shape to the gospel, some of the ways that the local church can undermine the gospel by deviating from this definition.  This episode's "book you should read": https://www.amazon.com/What-Healthy-Church-IX-Marks/dp/1581349378/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534976811&sr=8-1&keywords=what+is+a+healthy+church