Reformed Forum

Latest Episodes:

The Person of Christ and the Deeper Protestant Conception Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

Lane Tipton speaks about his chapter, “The Person of Christ: The Deeper Protestant Conception and the Church’s Heavenly-Mindedness” in Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects Pastoral Life and Practice (P&R Publishing), a festschrift for Sinclair Ferguson.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Update on Reformed Academy
13:56 Writing in a Festschrift for Sinclair Ferguson
20:49 The Person of Christ
28:32 Basic Lessons in Christology
34:35 Immutability and the Hypostatic Union
40:56 Theological and Christological Errors
50:12 The Deeper Modernist, Catholic, and Protestant Conceptions
55:54 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

Hosea 13 — The Dead Son Lives Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Hosea 13 contains mostly words of rebuke and condemnation. But there is good news there as well. The Lord rebukes his son, Israel, whom he called out of Egypt, for the sin of covenantal faithlessness. They have gone after other gods. So thorough will God’s coming judgment be that it is likened to death. But he also offers a word of hope which contains the promise of life, as death itself will be defeated.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder

The Trinity and History Sep 03, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we continue with Lane Tipton’s course, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til. This is part of an eight-course series we have developed on Van Til for our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.

This lesson covers the Trinity and history.

Reformed Academy seeks to provide educational guidance through a structured learning environment. Students may enroll in courses, watch videos, study suggested books and articles, complete assessments, interact with other students, and engage our faculty online and in-person.

Join more than 3,800 students in 75 countries who are growing in their knowledge and love for Jesus Christ revealed in all of Scripture. Take responsibility for your theological education! Redeem your time! Theological study isn’t just for pastors and scholars. Our mission is to present _every person_ mature in Christ.

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Catechetical Preaching Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

Drs. Alan Strange and Cornelis Venema speak about the practice of catechetical preaching from a practical as well as historical perspective. While the practice is more common within the Dutch Reformed tradition, Dr. Strange also provides a case for Presbyterians to engage in preaching using the Westminster Standards as aids. Regardless of where you may land on the particular role of secondary standards in organizing the preaching of the Word, this conversation is useful and instructive for considering how the church may best instruct her members.

Dr. Cornelis Venema is Professor of Doctrinal Studies and President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana. Dr. Alan Strange is Professor of Church History, Registrar, and Theological Librarian of Mid-America Reformed Seminary.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:02 Homiletics and Catechetical Instruction
00:15:34 Preaching from the Catechism
00:22:30 Preaching through the Westminster Larger Catechism
00:42:19 Reading the Catechisms during the Worship Service
00:51:09 Keeping Catechetical Preaching Fresh
01:05:09 Conclusion

Participants: Alan Strange, Camden Bucey, Cornelis Venema

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

Matthew 2:13–23 — The Exodus of the Son of God Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

We look at the significance of a trio of prophecies: the flight to Egypt, Jeremiah’s prophecy of the weeping of Rachel, and that “he would be called a Nazarene.” Matthew identifies Jesus with us, so that we might identify with him. The glorious king is not what many expected, and his kingdom does not look the way many expect.

Participants: Joel Fick, Mark A. Winder

Biography and Major Works Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we continue with Lane Tipton's course, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til. This is part of an eight-course series we have developed on Van Til for our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.

This lesson covers Cornelius Van Til’s biography and major works.

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Bavinck and a Christian View of Science Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

In 1904, the same year Herman Bavinck published Christian Worldview, Bavinck published a book titled Christelijke wetenschap (Christian Science) in which he commented on a movement to “build science . . . on the foundation of the Christian faith.” Cory Brock joins us to speak about this book and Bavinck’s views on the subject.

Dr. Cory C. Brock is assistant minister of St. Columba’s Free Church and part-time lecturer in theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. He is the author of Orthodox yet Modern: Herman Bavinck’s Use of Friedrich Schleiermacher and co-author of Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
06:22 A Different Type of “Christian Science”
15:38 The Antithesis and Scientific Presuppositions
19:42 The Trinity and Creation
23:58 The Image of God and the Hope of Christian Science
31:12 Theology as Queen and Servant of Science
38:40 Science in the New Heavens and New Earth
43:14 Sin, Knowledge, and the Christian University
49:01 Non-Christians and Science
59:03 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Cory Brock, 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

A God-Centered Approach to History Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Vern Poythress speaks about the study of history and historiography from a Christian perspective. In his book, Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach (Crossway), Dr. Poythress emphasizes God’s own command to remember his works and share them with the next generation. He explores providentialism, divine purpose, and the four basic phases of biblical history: creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.

Dr. Vern Poythress, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:44 Focusing on History
00:14:01 Presuppositions of Historical Methodology
00:17:06 Defining and Experiencing History
00:22:07 Three Important Aspects of History
00:32:29 Divine Inscrutability and Divine Revelation
00:34:36 Common Grace and History
00:40:12 Reductionistic Approaches to History
00:48:14 The Academic Pursuit of History
00:59:59 Conclusion

Participants: Camden Bucey, Vern Poythress

Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Attributes of God, Part 1 Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. Within the second section, The Doctrine of God and Creation, the sixth chapter on “The Attributes of God,” sets before us the Incommunicable and Communicable attributes of God. In this episode, we discuss God’s incommunicable attributes.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Vos Group #76 — The Structure of New Testament Revelation Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

We turn to pp. 299–301 of Geerhardus Vos’s book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Vos discusses three ways in which the structure of New Testament Revelation can be determined from within Scripture itself.

1. From indications in the Old Testament
2. From the teachings of Jesus
3. From the teachings of Paul and the other apostles