Reformed Forum

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Van Til Group #10 — Man’s Knowledge of the World May 05, 2023

Show notes

Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey turn to pp. 58–63 of Cornelius Van Til’s The Defense of the Faith to discuss the Christian theory of knowledge. In this section, Van Til speaks of man’s knowledge of the world.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
08:29 Review Up to This Point
12:59 Man’s Knowledge of God and of His Environment
19:29 Human Knowledge Is Entirely Dependent upon God
22:29 Theology Proper and the Image of God
33:27 Types of Knowledge of God
41:29 Human Knowledge Can Be True though Never Comprehensive
43:39 Realism and Anti-Realism
52:39 The Mysterious Depth Dimension to All Human Knowledge
56:09 The Full Bucket
58:52 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, 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

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Names and Natures of Christ May 03, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Chapter 14 brings us to a new section called, “The Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ.” Berkhof first deals with a discussion of “The Names and Natures of Christ.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Hermeneutics and Homiletics Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Mark Winder, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey discuss the relationship between hermeneutics and homiletics, focusing specifically on the preaching of Geerhardus Vos.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:02:05 Hermeneutics and Homiletics
00:18:27 Sermon Forms and Contemporary Expectations
00:27:47 Preaching Occurs in Context
00:37:15 Sermons Are Not Theological Lectures
00:46:23 Directing toward Application
00:49:27 What Is Not Said Is Important
00:52:59 The Dominating Theme of a Sermon
00:56:16 Word Pictures and Illustrations
01:05:11 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

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: Man in the Covenant of Grace Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Chapter 13 brings us to a discussion of the second part of “Man in in the Covenant of Grace, ” moves us beyond the Covenant of Redemption to the Covenant of Grace.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christianity and Liberalism: The Bible Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

This is the 100th anniversary of the publication of J. Gresham Machen’s book, Christianity and Liberalism. Danny Olinger and Camden Bucey speak with Alan Strange about the fourth chapter of Machen’s classic, which addresses the Bible.

In this chapter, Machen addresses those who would seek to maintain that what we hold in our hearts about Christ can remain true no matter what the facts of history actually show. These people subjectivize Christianity—making it a function of personal experience. Machen, however, emphasizes the importance of the historical fact of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and the Bible’s inspired, inerrant, and infallible testimony to this work.

In the course of conversation, the panelists discuss several liberal theologians and the events in American Presbyterianism that led up to 1923, when Christianity and Liberalism was published. These include Friedrich Schleiermacher, Albrecht Ritschl, Wilhelm Herrmann, and the case of Charles Augustus Briggs.

Dr. Alan Strange is Professor of Church History and Theological Librarian at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana and an associate pastor at First Church (OPC) in South Holland, Illinois.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
02:12 Machen on the Bible
05:56 Liberalism and the Bible in 19th and 20th Century Presbyterianism
14:05 The Supernatural in History
17:41 Hodge and Liberalism’s Approach to the Bible
31:13 Machen, Hodge, and the Spirituality of the Church
33:52 Experience, Tradition, and Scripture
38:42 What Jesus Believes about Scripture
41:51 Addressing Liberals within the Church
50:22 Machen Thought the Liberalism Might Leave
52:42 Without the Bible, We are Left with Chaotic Anthropology
57:06 Conclusion

Participants: Alan Strange, Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger

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

Evangelism and Apologetics on the Boardwalk Apr 14, 2023

Show notes

Join us on this episode of the podcast as we speak with Jim Zozzaro and Chris Byrd about the evangelism efforts of the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, New Jersey. Established in the 1940s, the Boardwalk Chapel was founded with a vision to present the Gospel to the thousands of tourists that visit the Atlantic Ocean coastal resort town during the summer season.

The Boardwalk Chapel provides an excellent opportunity for evangelism training for those who seek to share the Gospel with others. During the summer months, the Boardwalk Chapel offers evangelism training to college-aged young people and paid summer interns. The training provides practical tools and strategies for sharing the Gospel with others effectively.

There are numerous opportunities to serve, attend, and be involved at the Boardwalk Chapel. From attending weekly services to participating in evangelism efforts, there is something for everyone to be involved in. The Boardwalk Chapel is a welcoming and supportive community that is committed to sharing the Gospel with others.

Pray for the leaders, staff, and evangelism efforts of the Boardwalk Chapel. The Boardwalk Chapel has several needs, including more staff for the summer and more people coming to the training weeks, specifically for the School of Evangelism.

Rev. James Zozzaro is pastor of Christ the King OPC in Cape May, NJ and director of the Boardwalk Chapel in Wildwood, NJ. Rev. Christopher Byrd is evangelist of Grace OPC in Westfield, NJ.

Chapters

00:07 Introduction
02:34 Becoming Acquainted with the Boardwalk Chapel
09:14 Painting a Picture of Ministry on the Boardwalk
17:21 Les Dunn and the Beginning of the Boardwalk Chapel
27:22 Recent Changes to the Ministry at Boardwalk Chapel
33:30 Evangelism and Apologetics Training that Extends to Other Fields
46:10 Confirming a Sense of Call
49:39 Current Needs at the Boardwalk Chapel
52:57 How to Get Involved
57:17 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Chris Byrd, Jim Zozzaro

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

A Response to John MacArthur’s Criticism of Amillennialism, Part 3 Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob bring to an end their discussion of a recent address by John MacArthur delivered at the 2023 Shepherd’s Conference. In his address, “Hope for the Remnant,” based on Zechariah 14, MacArthur says that this passage is the “amillennialist’s worst nightmare.”

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

[2 Peter] Until the Day Break (3:14–18) Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

Daniel Ragusa is the pastor of Messiah's Reformed Fellowship (URCNA) in New York City. He received his M.Div. from Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Westminster Theological Seminary.

In this course, Rev. Ragusa explores 2 Peter with special attention to Peter's use of redemptive history in his depiction and defense of the Christian life as oriented toward Christ and the future. By the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we have embarked on an eschatological pilgrimage down a path out of this world (1:4) and into his eternal kingdom (1:11).

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Alert to this danger, Peter mounts a defense that will endure these "last days" (3:3) in which we find ourselves by reminding the church of Christ's promise to come again in power with new heavens and a new earth—a promise given long ago through the prophet Isaiah (1:4; 3:13) but now more fully confirmed by the corroborating witness of the apostles (1:19; 3:1–2).

Peter exhorts the church not to overlook the Holy Spirit-inspired history of special revelation as it foreshadows this coming reality (1:21), including Noah and the flood (2:5), Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6–8), the restraint of Balaam (2:15–16), the approaching Day of the Lord (3:11), and even the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain as a witness to his royal sonship (1:17–18).

This course will demonstrate what Geerhardus Vos meant when he said, "The Bible is not a dogmatic handbook but a historical book full of dramatic interest." It will also explain the typological use of the Old Testament. Finally, it will shape and transform us as our minds are set on the eternal kingdom—where Jesus is and so our hearts too.

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Ecumenism and Church Discipline Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey discuss ecclesiology and R. B. Kuiper’s classic book, The Glorious Body of Christ. They focus primarily on ecumenism and how different church bodies relate to one another. But the two also discuss the nature of church power and authority and the challenges involved in administering church discipline across denominational lines.

Chapters

00:00:07 Introduction
00:06:27 R. B. Kuiper’s The Glorious Body of Christ
00:19:23 The Spirituality of the Church
00:23:50 Church Power and Authority
00:27:28 Ecumenical Relations
00:38:34 Barriers to Ecumenical Relations between the CRC and OPC
00:49:18 Church Discipline across Denominations
00:59:14 When General Assemblies Err
01:03:05 Final Comments
01:05:32 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

[2 Peter] The Day of the Lord (2): New Heavens and a New Earth (3:8–13) Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa.

But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4).

Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000