Reformed Forum

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Highlights from 2023 Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

Since 2008, we have been taking time around New Year’s Day to bring you some of the top moments from the preceding year. We have several great clips lined up for you today.

The Top Episodes of 2023 (by YouTube views)

Dan Ragusa — Preterism and 2 Peter 3 (YouTube)
Gray Sutanto and Cory Brock — A Theological Introduction to Neo-Calvinism (YouTube)
Greg Beale — The New Testament Use of the Old Testament (YouTube)
Carlton Wynne — Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (YouTube)
Camden Bucey — The Importance of Cornelius Van Til for Today (YouTube)
Jim Cassidy — Introducing and Interpreting Karl Barth (YouTube)
Danny Olinger — Christianity and Liberalism: Introduction (YouTube)
Lane Tipton — Exitus and Reditus in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas (YouTube)
Jonathan Master — Reformed Theology (YouTube)
Michael Beck — Covenant Theology and Cultural Engagement in the Thought of Meredith G. Kline (YouTube)

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:03:26 The Top 10 Episodes of 2023
00:15:13 [Dan Ragusa] Preterism and 2 Peter 3
00:24:22 [Gray Sutanto and Cory Brock] A Theological Introduction to Neo-Calvinism
00:30:14 [Greg Beale] The New Testament Use of the Old Testament
00:39:28 [Carlton Wynne] Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion
00:46:58 [Camden Bucey] The Importance of Cornelius Van Til for Today
01:00:24 [Jim Cassidy] Introducing and Interpreting Karl Barth
01:12:16 [Danny Olinger] Christianity and Liberalism: Introduction
01:16:59 [Lane Tipton] Exitus and Reditus in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas
01:25:09 [Jonathan Master] Reformed Theology
01:34:52 [Michael Beck] Covenant Theology and Cultural Engagement in the Thought of Meredith G. Kline
01:40:52 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Cory Brock, Dan Ragusa, Danny Olinger, Greg Beale, Jim Cassidy, Jonathan Master, Lane G. Tipton, Michael Beck, Nathaniel Gray Sutanto

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

Because It’s Christmas Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

For our Eighth Annual Christmas Special, Rob and Bob are here to bring you Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas silliness. This year we laugh about Christmas delicacies and the weird things we do at this season of the year “. . . because it’s Christmas.”

More seriously, friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thank you for listening to Theology Simply Profound. We very much appreciate your ongoing support.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Natural Revelation, Religious Liberty, and the First Amendment Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

Join us in this episode of Christ the Center, where host Camden Bucey engages in a free-flowing yet thoughtful discussion with Dr. Owen Anderson, philosopher and professor of religious studies at Arizona State University and pastor of Historic Christian Church in Phoenix. The conversation centers around the nuanced relationship between philosophy, religion, and the concept of free speech within academia and broader American culture.

The episode explores the current state of freedom of speech in higher education, highlighting its importance and the obstacles it faces today. Dr. Anderson shares his views on the roles of natural and revealed religion in American philosophical and legal traditions, and how these ideas have influenced the country’s development. Listeners will also appreciate the exploration of Common Sense Realism and its impact on the ideological framework of the American Founding Fathers. This episode provides a reflective look into the challenges of articulating and understanding truth in an increasingly complex age.

Listen in for a conversation that offers insightful perspectives on the intersections of philosophy, religion, and free speech in the modern era.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:19 Freedom of Speech in Academia and Current Events
00:07:07 Philosophical and Theological Considerations in Modern Culture
00:15:23 Natural Religion and Revealed Religion
00:22:35 The Role and Challenges of Free Speech in Universities
00:35:45 Interplay of Philosophy, Religion, and American Constitutional Principles
00:38:52 The Evolution of the Concept of God in American Thought and Law
00:44:19 Common Sense Realism and Its Impact on American Founding Fathers
00:52:29 Challenges of Communicating Truth in the Contemporary World
01:00:44 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Owen Anderson

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

Introduction to the Pentateuch / Year-End Update Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we’re excited to unveil the inaugural lesson of our new series, exploring the profound depths of the Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible. Under the able guidance of Dr. Mark Winder, we’re providing a new course of study through six comprehensive, yet accessible, biblical-theological lessons, offering fresh insights into this foundational portion of Scripture.

Watch the course on YouTube

As we introduce this captivating course, join Ryan Noha and Camden Bucey for a reflective update on our year-end projects. We also extend a heartfelt invitation to support our mission through the Planting for the Future campaign. Your generous contributions are pivotal in helping Reformed Forum continue to offer an array of free, high-quality Reformed theological resources to a global audience. Discover more and contribute today.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:31 Reformed Forum at 2023 Year End
00:29:46 Introducing a Course on the Pentateuch
00:34:01 Mark Winder’s introductory lesson on the Pentateuch
01:24:06 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Mark A. Winder, Ryan Noha

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

Summary of Christian Doctrine: Conversion: Repentance & Faith, Part 2 Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XX, “Conversion: Repentance & Faith.” This week we continue our discussion how Berkhof addresses the doctrine of conversion focusing on faith.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Vos Group #85 — The Temptation in the Wilderness Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Vos Group, Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pp. 330–333 of Geerhardus Vos’ book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. In this section, Vos focuses on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, a pivotal event in the Gospels. Vos examines various interpretations and challenges to the historicity and objectivity of this event, discussing theories that view it as mythological or parabolic. He argues for its historical and objective reality, using scriptural references such as Matthew 12:29 to support his view. Vos emphasizes the dual nature of the event as both a temptation by Satan and a probation by God, underscoring its importance in the Messianic mission of Jesus. He contrasts this with the temptation of Adam in Genesis, noting differences in their respective contexts and purposes. Vos also explores the implications of the event on the understanding of Jesus’ sinlessness and His role in atonement. Throughout, he maintains a theological perspective that situates the temptation within the broader narrative of redemption and Christ’s mission.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:06:31 Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness
00:10:46 Myth and the Liberal Interpretation of Scripture
00:19:08 Matthew 12 and the Binding of the Strong Man
00:27:16 Eschatology and the Kingdom of God
00:30:28 The Impeccability of Jesus
00:51:34 Jesus Historically Casts Out Demons
00:53:28 The Holy Spirit, Messianic Sonship, and the Kingdom of God
00:59:00 Practical Applications of Jesus’ Temptation
01:05:34 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

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 Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church – Chapter 8 Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church. Chapter 8, “The Essence of the Kingdom continued: The Kingdom as a State of Blessedness.”

Participants: Robert Tarullo

Discussing Jesus’ Mediation, the Lord’s Supper, and Flags in Worship Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy dive into a variety of topics answering questions submitted by listeners and viewers of the program. Topics covered range from theological discussions, such as the role of Jesus’ intercession for the elect and non-elect within the visible church, to historical and exegetical considerations, like the understanding of the Old Covenant as the Mosaic administration of the covenant of grace.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:05:12 What We’re Reading
00:14:42 Merit and the Covenant of Works
00:20:38 Jesus’ Intercession
00:29:38 Street Preaching and the Local Church
00:37:12 Old Testament Saints and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
00:47:20 Is the Old Covenant the Same as the Mosaic Covenant?
00:50:12 Flags in the Worship Service
00:58:13 Grape Juice in the Lord’s Supper
01:13:08 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy

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

Covenant Theology and Cultural Engagement in the Thought of Meredith G. Kline Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Michael Beck joins us to speak about his book, Covenant Lord and Cultic Boundary: A Dialectic Inquiry Concerning Meredith Kline and the Reformed Two-Kingdom Project (Wipf and Stock), which is a theological exploration of the ideas of Meredith Kline and their impact on the Reformed Two-Kingdom Project.

The book provides a literature review of relevant works on the topic and highlights the broader universe of discourse in which this study exists. In the book and in this conversation, Dr. Beck offers a unique analysis of Kline’s theology and its practical implications for contemporary Christian life and practice.

Michael Beck is a pastor at Gracenet Community Church as well as a lecturer of Old Testament and biblical theology at Grace Theological College (New Zealand). Dr. Beck earned his PhD from the South African Theological Seminary Michael also co-hosts the Two-Age Sojourner podcast.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:56 Dr. Beck’s Ministry in New Zealand
00:10:48 Introduction to Kline
00:17:24 The Point of the Book: Kline and Cultural Engagement
00:30:21 Theonomy, Perspectivalism, and Neo-Calvinism
00:36:31 The Noahic Covenant
00:47:09 The Cultural Mandate
00:54:39 Considering Theological Differences
01:01:50 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Michael Beck

Vos Group #84 — John the Baptist’s Testimony of Jesus Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

In this installment of Vos Group, Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey discuss pp. 322–329 of Geerhardus Vos’ book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. In this section, Vos discusses John’s testimony of Jesus after his baptism.

The testimony of John the Baptist as depicted in the Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus’ unique divine nature and eternal preexistence, distinguishing him from all others in redemptive history. This underlines John’s role as the one preparing the way for Jesus, who fulfills Old Testament prophecies as the sacrificial Lamb of God. It also highlights the immutable deity of Christ, who, despite his incarnation, remains unchanged in his divine person and essence. The narrative showcases Jesus’ baptism as an act of vicarious repentance and affirms his authority to bestow the Spirit, underscoring the theological depth of his identity and mission as witnessed by John the Baptist.