Reformed Forum

Latest Episodes:

The Aseity of the Son Aug 23, 2013

Show notes

Scott Oliphint speaks about the aseity of the Son of God, following up on a review of Brannon Ellis’ book Calvin, Classical Trinitarianism, and the Aseity of the Son. The thesis of the book, which Dr. Oliphint takes up, is that Calvin’s teaching on the Son’s aseity was a way of maintaining orthodoxy but also of advancing and clarifying orthodoxy. The question was, if God the Son is “God of God,” as the Nicene Creed teaches, is he therefore not God of himself? Listen and hear how Calvin answered that question.

Dr. Oliphint’s full-length review of Ellis’ book is in the Spring 2013 issue of the Westminster Theological Journal. For more on the doctrine of God, see Dr. Oliphint’s book God with Us: Divine Condescension and the Attributes of God.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Deryck Barson, Jared Oliphint, K. Scott Oliphint

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Judges and Redemptive History Aug 16, 2013

Show notes

The Christ the Center panel discusses the book of Judges, considering its relationship to redemptive history and to the redeemer Jesus Christ. During the “no man’s land” of redemptive history, as Israel awaits the promised king, her people again and again do what is right in their own eyes under the rule of judges who appear morally ambiguous at best. The discussion illustrates how a book that narrates a downward spiral of failure points upward and forward to a great king.

Check out our previous redemptive-historical episode on Ruth and Redemptive History.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig

A Review of So Pastor, What’s Your Point? Aug 14, 2013

Show notes

Jim Cassidy reviews So Pastor, What’s Your Point? by Dennis Prutow, Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The book gives practical counsel on preaching combined with wholesome theology and is valuable both to the beginning preacher and the seasoned expositor. Pastor Cassidy explains the format of the book and how it is related to other volumes on preaching.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

When the Stars Disappear: Why Christians Suffer Aug 09, 2013

Show notes

Dr. Mark Talbot speaks about his forthcoming book tentatively entitled, When the Stars Disappear: Why Christians Suffer. Dr. Talbot’s research in philosophy, theology, and psychology serve to interpret his personal experiences of suffering and inform his counseling of those who suffer. The discussion covers the definition and purpose of Christian suffering, the human need to understand life as a story, the danger of a prosperity gospel, and the role of Scripture in the Christian life. Ultimately, the Christian’s hope in suffering is in the faithfulness of God, who cannot deny himself (2 Tim. 2:13).

Dr. Talbot is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College (IL) where he has taught since 1992. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of expertise include the intersection of philosophy and theology, philosophy and psychology, the epistemologies of the early modern philosophers, and the works of David Hume, St. Augustine, and Jonathan Edwards. The article mentioned in the interview can be found here. You can also see Dr. Talbot speak about chronic suffering at the 2012 Desiring God Works of God Conference.

Participants: Carlton Wynne, Jared Oliphint, Mark Talbot

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

Four Views on the Role of Works at the Final Judgment Aug 07, 2013

Show notes

Jim Cassidy reviews Four Views on the Role of Works at the Final Judgment. The book contains contributions from Robert Wilken, James Dunn, Thomas Schreiner, and Michael Barber.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home Aug 02, 2013

Show notes

Jason Helopoulos joins us to speak about his book A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home. The discussion covers what family worship is, its elements, and its relationship to private and corporate worship. Pastor Helopoulos also provides practical advice about how to practice family worship especially for those who have neglected it in the past.

Jason is the Assistant Pastor at University Reformed Church in Lansing, Michigan (RCA). He attended Dallas Theological Seminary and completed a Masters of Theology degree (ThM) with a concentration in Historical Theology and Christian Education in 2003. He served on the staff of Park Cities Presbyterian Church as a pastoral intern for one year and then accepted a call as an Assistant Pastor at Meadowview Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lexington, North Carolina. In the fall of 2007, Jason was called by Christ Church PCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan to plant a daughter church in Lansing, Michigan. He accepted the call and moved to the field (and snow) as church planter and pastored Providence PCA in East Lansing until 2012. In the summer of 2012, Jason accepted the call as Assistant Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan and is currently serving this congregation, for which he feels blessed.

Jason is married to his beautiful bride, Leah. They are blessed with two wonderful children, Gracen and Ethan.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jason Helopoulos, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Jul 26, 2013

Show notes

Dr. Michael Emlet discusses the recent fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM is the official diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals and published by the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Emlet explains the origin and purpose of the DSM and the questions this new edition raises for Christian believers. He outlines the way Christian counselors and pastors can benefit from the DSM and clarifies the relationship between psychiatric diagnoses and spiritual problems. Click here for the blog post mentioned in the episode.

Michael R. Emlet, M.Div., M.D., practiced as a family physician for twelve years before becoming a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He is a Lecturer in Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia). He has written numerous published articles and is the author of several CCEF booklets including Asperger Syndrome, Angry Children: Understanding and Helping Your Child Regain Control, Help for the Caregiver: Facing the Challenges with Understanding and Strength, and OCD: Freedom for the Obsessive Compulsive; as well as a book, Crosstalk: Where Life and Scripture Meet published by New Growth Press.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Michael Emlet, Nick Batzig

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

Ruth and Redemptive History Jul 19, 2013

Show notes

Today we discuss the story and message of the book of Ruth in light of the book’s place in redemptive history. This brief story of an unassuming young Gentile woman develops the important biblical themes of the promised land, the inclusion of Gentiles in redemption, and the line of the seed of the woman. In these ways and others, the book of Ruth is a story of redemption, redemption which culminates in Ruth’s descendant, Jesus Christ.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig

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

Covenantal Apologetics Jul 12, 2013

Show notes

Dr. Scott Oliphint returns to Christ the Center to discuss his recent book, Covenantal Apologetics. Oliphint’s forthcoming book is an accessible treatment of Van Tilian presuppositional apologetics, the fruit of years of teaching apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. We discuss with Dr. Oliphint the significance of the book’s title, namely, that the covenantal theology of the Reformed confessions underlies a covenantal apologetic approach. Oliphint explains the “quicksand quotient,” the role of common grace in apologetics, and discusses the motivation behind the example apologetic conversations found in the book.

Other Books on Apologetics

This selection is taken from our suggested reading list. For more information on how to use this list as well as books in other disciplines, please look at our list.
Level 1

Machen, J. Gresham. Christianity and Liberalism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Oliphint, K. Scott. The Battle Belongs to the Lord. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2003.
Pratt, Richard. Every Thought Captive: A Study Manual for the Defense of Christian Truth. Phillipsburg N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co., 1979.
Bahnsen, Greg L. Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith. Covenant Media Press, 1996.

Level 2

Van Til, Cornelius and Greg L. Bahnsen, ed. Van Til’s Apologetic: Readings and Analysis. P&R Publishing, 1998.
Van Til, Cornelius with annotations by K. Scott Oliphint. The Defense of the Faith. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 2008.
Oliphint, K. Scott, and Lane G. Tipton, (eds.) Revelation and Reason. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2007.
Bahnsen, Greg. Presuppositional Apologetics: Stated and Defended. Powder Springs Ga.; Nacogdoches Tex.: American Vision Inc.; Covenant Media Press, 2008.

Level 3

Oliphint, K. Scott. Reasons for Faith: Philosophy in the Service of Theology. Phillipsburg, N. J.: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 2006.

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, K. Scott Oliphint

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

Calvin, Classical Trinitarianism, and the Aseity of the Son Jul 09, 2013

Show notes

Dr. K. Scott Oliphint reviews Calvin, Classical Trinitarianism, and the Aseity of the Son by Brannon Ellis and published by Oxford University Press. In this excellent volume, Ellis investigates the various Reformation and post-Reformation responses to Calvin’s affirmation of the Son’s aseity (or essential self-existence). Listen as Dr. Oliphint, who wrote a more detailed review of the book for the Spring 2013 issue of The Westminster Theological Journal, describes the book’s salient features and provides his assessment of its worth.

Participants: Camden Bucey, K. Scott Oliphint