Reformed Forum

Latest Episodes:

Sermon Delivery Mar 04, 2013

Show notes

In this episode of Proclaiming Christ the panel considers sermon delivery. We discuss things like: whether to use a manuscript or not, sermon application, resources, and things not to do while preaching. Please join us by listening along. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and comments.

Participants: Adam York, Chad Bond, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta

Calvin’s Company of Pastors Mar 01, 2013

Show notes

Christ the Center is pleased to welcome Dr. Scott Manetsch to the program to speak about Reformed pastoral ministry and his book Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609, which is published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Manetsch is Professor of Church History at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his scholarly expertise is in the area of late medieval and Reformation history, with particular interest in Calvin and French Protestantism, Theodore Beza, sixteenth-century Geneva, church discipline, and pastoral ministry in the Reformation era. Listen to this fascinating discussion of pastoral life in late 16th and early 17th century Geneva.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Jim Cassidy, Scott Manetsch

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

Preparing to Preach Feb 25, 2013

Show notes

In this week’s episode we discuss sermon preparation. As the panel considers the kind of work that must go on before a preacher is ready to preach, we discuss things like: the importance of prayer; the reading, re-reading and meditation on Scripture, the importance of the original languages. We also briefly discuss whether all preaching should be consecutive expository (lectio continua) or whether there is a place for timely, topical-textual sermons. Please join us by listening along and we invite you to share your thoughts, questions, and comments.

Participants: Adam York, Chad Bond, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta

Johannes Oecolampadius Feb 22, 2013

Show notes

Dr. Diane Poythress joins us to speak about the important reformer of Basel, Johannes Oecolampadius. Though Oecolampadius’ influence was extraordinary, many English-speaking historians and theologians are not familiar with his life and work. Dr. Poythress introduces us to Oecolampadius and his great significance for the present day. Dr. Poythress’ dissertation, “Johannes Oecolampadius’ Exposition of Isaiah, Chapters 36-37,” is one of the only lengthy treatments of Oecolampadius in English. She has also written an excellent book on him titled, Reformer of Basel: The Life, Thought, and Influence of Johannes Oecolampadius, published by Reformation Heritage Books.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Diane Poythress, Jason Pickard

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

Presuppositions for Preaching Feb 18, 2013

Show notes

On this episode of Proclaiming Christ we talk about presuppositions that underlie the sermon preparation process. In particular, we deal with presuppositions which govern the proper reading and interpretation of Scripture while preparing to preach. We welcome your feedback!

Participants: Adam York, Chad Bond, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta

Regeneration and Redemptive-History Feb 15, 2013

Show notes

In this episode of Christ the Center, Rev. Dr. Scott R. Wright develops a redemptive-historical understanding of the doctrine of regeneration. Rev. Wright is senior pastor of Redeemer Church (PCA) in Hudson, Ohio. His dissertation, “Regeneration and Redemptive History,” is a thoroughgoing treatment of regeneration in the tradition of Geerhardus Vos. Often, regeneration is treated statically, without reference to biblical eschatology and the categories of historia and ordo salutis. This can lead to serious problems in systematic theology, such as positing essentially different modes of salvation between the testaments. Wright reorients the discussion along biblical categories and brings a fresh approach to the study of this important Reformed doctrine.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Jim Cassidy, Scott R. Wright

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

Kingdoms Apart: Engaging the Two Kingdoms Perspective Feb 13, 2013

Show notes

Jim Cassidy speaks about Kingdoms Apart: Engaging the Two Kingdoms Perspective, edited by Ryan C. McIlhenny. In this collection of essays, Neo-Calvinist scholars address issues on which they differ with R2K advocates, such as the nature and extent of Christ’s kingdom, the idea of Christian culture, cosmic redemption, the cultural mandate, natural law, and common grace.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

The Reorganization of Princeton Seminary Feb 08, 2013

Show notes

The reorganization of Princeton Theological Seminary was a key event in the American Presbyterian modernist-fundamentalist controversy of the early 20th century. The seminary was governed by a board of directors, who oversaw the academic aspects of the seminary, and a separate board of trustees who oversaw the remaining aspects of the organization. Seeking to resolve the growing tension between factions within the seminary, the General Assembly moved to reorganize the seminary in a fashion that was understood as shifting the majority of governing power in favor of the modernist agenda. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Darryl G. Hart back to the program to speak about this event and its significance for American Presbyterianism. Dr. Hart’s article on the subject, “The Reorganization of Princeton Theological Seminary and the Exhaustion of American Presbyterianism” is published in The Confessional Presbyterian Journal Vol. 8, 2012. Hart has also authored, co-authored, or edited several books on this era of church history including Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism, Defending the Faith: J. Gresham Machen and the Crisis of Conservative Protestantism in Modern America, and The Selected Shorter Writings of J. Gresham Machen. Dr. Hart is Visiting Assistant Professor of History at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Darryl G. Hart, Jason Pickard

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

Notable Books (February 2013) Feb 05, 2013

Show notes

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey introduce several recent titles worth mentioning.

Stephen R. Holmes, Quest for the Trinity: The Doctrine of God in Scripture, History and Modernity
G. R. Evans, Roots of the Reformation: Tradition, Emergence and Rupture, 2nd edition
Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson, eds., The Kingdom of God (Theology in Community)
Wayne Grudem, Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth: An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions
Derek Cooper, Christianity & World Religions: An Introduction to the World’s Major Faiths
Scott M. Manetsch, Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609 (Oxford Studies in Historical Theology)

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

Old Princeton and Right Reason Feb 01, 2013

Show notes

Dr. Paul Kjoss Helseth, Professor of Christian Thought at Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota, joins the panel at Christ the Center to speak about Old Princeton and right reason. Many in the Reformed tradition have criticized Old Princeton theologians such as Charles Hodge and B. B. Warfield for explicating a view of human reason that is not in accord with traditional Reformed doctrines, such as a Reformed understanding of the noetic effects of sin. Dr. Helseth seeks to remedy this common assessment by situating Old Princeton’s treatment of human reason within their doctrine of regeneration.

Related Publications by Dr. Helseth

Right Reason and the Princeton Mind: An Unorthodox Proposal. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2010.
“‘Right Reason’ & the Science of Theology at Old Princeton Seminary,” in The Confessional Presbyterian, Volume 8, 2012.

Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, Jared Oliphint, Paul K. Helseth

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