Reformed Forum

Latest Episodes:

Catechetical Preaching Sep 23, 2016

Show notes

Many churches may be familiar with lectio continua preaching in the form of the weekly practice of preaching consecutive passages through a book of Scripture. Catechetical preaching uses a catechism to organize the weekly sermons rather than the book of Scripture. Does that make catechetical preaching unscriptural? By no means!

While some catechetical sermons may derive their points directly from the catechism and others merely use the catechism to determine the topic and then select a pertinent Scripture passage to exposit. Catechetical preaching merely provides the skeleton for the subject and points of a sermon, but it need not make the sermon unscriptural.

There are many benefits to catechetical preaching. It provides a wide range of Scriptural thought. It encourages familiarity with a system of doctrine. It also keeps before the congregation the basic fact that we have a catechism. We encourage people to work through it, reading it, and catechizing themselves and their children. Catechetical preaching fortifies this practice and helps people to embrace our secondary standards as a tool and help for us to understand what God has taught us about various doctrinal subjects. It aids in showing the unity and harmony of Scripture as a whole.

Resources

Wayne Brouwer, “Preaching the Heidelberg: A New Look at the Tradition of Catechetical Preaching.”
R. E. Knodel, Jr. “Catechetical Preaching“
William Boekestein, “The Benefits of Catechetical Preaching: Catechism Preaching Is Another Kind of Bible Preaching“
Jeffrey C. Waddington catechetical series on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.
James J. Cassidy sermons

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

Biblical Theology and Ruth Sep 19, 2016

Show notes

We speak about two biblical theological titles from Intervarsity Press including John Goldingay's Biblical Theology and Unceasing Kindness, a biblical theology of Ruth by Peter Lau and Gregory Goswell.

The Book of Revelation — Part 1 Sep 17, 2016

Show notes

Your hosts, Rob and Bob, begin a new series on the Book of Revelation with an introduction to the book as a whole using the opening chapter.

As one of us said somewhere at sometime, “The Book of Revelation has often made people either obsess over the details of the book or else close their eyes, hide in a corner and pretend it doesn’t exist. Should we just shrug our shoulders and wait till we can ask Jesus about it in Heaven? Do we need to devise secret codes in order to break the cipher of the book or is it to be seen as a literal future historical journal?”

We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Calvin and the Sabbath Sep 16, 2016

Show notes

Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. speaks about Calvin’s views on the Sabbath. In this conversation, we look to Dr. Gaffin’s book Calvin and the Sabbath: The Controversy of Applying the Fourth Commandment (Mentor/Christian Focus), which is a revised version of his ThM thesis originally written under the supervision of John Murray at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1961–62. We also speak about Dr. Gaffin’s exegesis and theological development of Hebrews 3–4 in Pressing Toward the Mark: Essays Commemorating Fifty Years of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Glen Clary, Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

Culture and the Kuyperian Tradition Sep 14, 2016

Show notes

We introduce two new books from InterVarsity Press: Created and Creating by William Edgar and Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition by Craig Barthlomew.

Genesis 11 — City of Man, City of God Sep 13, 2016

Show notes

In this episode we discuss the gathering in Genesis 11 to build a city and tower for the name of man. This chapter provides many themes that will be explored throughout the rest of Scripture as the historical enmity develops between the city of man and the city of God.

Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Mark Jenkins, Robert Arendale

When Did Christianity Begin? Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

In Episode 40 we discuss whether or not Christianity had a beginning.

Your hosts, Rob and Bob, discuss Christianity and the those who think it had a beginning, had a start, and that Jesus did not exist. How will we handle certain questions about where Christianity came from and how we know this? We also consider a variety of different biblical figures within the context of wondering how these ancient people knew about God and to what extent they knew God. Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Abraham, and what about Job and his friends? How did they know God so well and yet miss the point so much?

We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound.

Theology Simply Profound is a podcast of Westminster Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church, serving the western suburbs of Chicago, where God powerfully speaks through his means of grace

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Vos Group #29 — The Prologue and First Commandment of the Decalogue Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 131–135 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the world-wide application of the Decalogue, its prologue, and the first commandment. God has a special relationship with his covenant people. The prologue of to the Decalogue underscores this fact. God’s word delivered to Moses on Mt. Sinai is not an abstract list of technical laws. It is a word given to the recipients of God’s covenantal love to remind them of their communion bond and to move them toward greater fidelity. While the Decalogue was given specifically to Israel, it applies to the entire world. Listen as we unpack these rich themes and be sure to interact in the comments section.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Righteous Lot Sep 02, 2016

Show notes

In Episode 39 we discuss Righteous Lot, the nephew of Abraham.

Your hosts, Rob and Bob, consider another portion of Genesis. This one dealing with the biblical character of Lot. Is Lot meant to be used as an example of how not to live your life He lived in the wrong place, he didn’t raise his children right, and his wife leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. But, listening ears want to know, was Lot really such a bad guy? How many people today live like Lot? Can Lot in some way be used as an example to inspire us?

We will discuss these and other questions today on Theology Simply Profound.

Music credit: pamelayork.com. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Walking with Jesus through His Word Sep 02, 2016

Show notes

We welcome Dr. Dennis E. Johnson to speak about Christ as the substance and goal of all of Scripture. Dr. Johnson serves as Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California and Associate Pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Escondido. In this conversation, he leads us through his book Walking with Jesus through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures (P&R, 2015), which shares Christ’s own lesson that he is the key to interpreting the Old as well as the New Testament.