Mortification of Spin

Listen in as Carl Trueman and Todd Pruitt take to the Bully Pulpit.  On this week’s Pulpit they discuss the means and goals of preaching.  What role does evangelism play in preaching?  How do Jesus and the Apostles teach men to preach?  Today, many preachers give their congregations gobbledygook instead of solid, biblical meat each week.  The Bible confronts us in our sinful state before God, and preachers need to bring that confrontation in through their sermons by turning their own pulpits into Bully Pulpits...  Click here for the free offer The Foolishness of Preaching by Dr. James boice.

Dr. Stephen Nichols, Research Professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, stops by the “studio” once again to talk with Carl and Todd.  After a rocky start they get to the point of discussion: the overwhelming cultural fascination with youth.  The gang explains how the fixation our culture places on the young and pretty is idolatrous.  And this idolatry has seeped into the church.  How are we to respond?  What is the Bible’s antidote for a youth-driven church?  What do 80s rock stars and blues music have to do with anything?  Listen to the Mortification of Spin to find out!        Enjoy this free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals!The Christian's Responsibility to His Culture by R.C. Sproul    Youth-Driven Culture by Stephen Nichols     Getting the Blues by Stephen Nichols

Carl from his pulpit and Todd from his heavily armed bunker kick off a new Mortification of Spin series, The Bully Pulpit. In this first episode, in light of a recent hypersexualized musical performance,  Todd asks if the church has any credibility on sexual ethics and decency? Or does an unabashed desire for self promotion lie behind such public sexual escapades? Are pastors guilty of the same behavior when they promote themselves or their latest book in the pulpit or on Facebook? We need to be careful not to erode the boundary of what is appropriate for the public sphere and what is a appropriate for the private sphere or we are just as guilty as the pornographers.

If you get heartburn over the mention of the word "liturgy," you may find some proverbial antacid in the thoughtful conversation between our hosts on this episode of The Mortification of Spin. In fact, Carl and Todd remind us that our churches are all liturgical in one way or another - the question is whether we are basing the order and structure of our worship on Scripture or whether we're simply, shall we say, flying by the seat of our pants. Can the seat of our pants sufficiently guide us in corporate worship that is Christ-centered? If you've never opened The Book of Common Prayer, buckle up and listen in...you're bound to learn quite a bit from this helpful podcast.   Free Resource from Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsHumble Suggestions for Reformed Worship by Richard PhillipsRev. Richard Phillips, speaking at the 2006 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, teaches on the practice of reformed worship. This discussion is helpful for pastors and church members who desire to see our worship reformed according to the Bible's standards. Mentioned on Calming Liturgical Heartburn  A Method for Prayer by Matthew HenryAnd check out the Alliance's Matthew Henry Project.   The Book of Common Prayer     The Valley of Vision by Arthur G. Bennet    Leading in Prayer by Hughes Oliphant Old    Christ-Centered Worship by Bryan Chapell   Thoughts on Public Prayer by Samuel Miller

Todd and Carl interview Aimee Byrd in an attempt to answer the question: can anything good really come out of West Virginia? Mrs. Byrd is the popular blogger, now published author and self-identified "Housewife Theologian." If you're picturing a woman - pregnant, barefoot and in the kitchen - pouring over commentaries and studying Greek while mixing up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, you're probably only slightly stereotyping. Aimee herself admits to being quite ordinary. In fact, she believes that everyone is a theologian and that doctrine is a very real part of everyday life. If you're as important as Carl, then you already have a copy of her pre-released book. But in case you aren't, you better listen in to this episode of The Mortification of Spin...  Housewife Theologan book winners!J. Lynn - Temple, GAA. Larson - Athens, GAE. Laczny - Appleton, WIB. Bishop - Nine Mile Falls, WAA. Murphy - Toledo, OHD. Narva - Rockford, MIL. Skillman - Vermilion, OHK. Gray - Jacksonville, FLR. Amador - Hamler, OHT. Helfers - Pekin, ILP. Williamson - Bellingham, WAK. Weeks - Savannah, MON. Larsen - Indianapolis, INM. Van Drunen - Hudson, OHC. Daniell - Douglasville, GAL. Huffman - Cresson, TXD. Carlson - Mariposa, CAB. Richardson - Philadelphia, PAD. Esh - Willow Street, PAK. Cozzi - Bow, NHWinners will be contacted by email. Click here to purchase Aimee Byrd's new book Housewife Theologan.

Your favorite comedian/theologians, Todd Pruitt and Carl Trueman, team up yet again - this time to answer some important questions about how the church should be run and who should be running it. We'll learn that faithful teaching, a willingness to contend for truth and godly maturity are all important characteristics of a good pastor or elder. But women listeners won't be surprised to learn what Todd and Carl eventually conclude...that the way an elder treats his wife may be the best indicator of his ability to lead well.    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals The Westminster Assembly on Marriage and Divorce a free MP3 by Richard Gamble.

This episode of The Mortification of Spin takes on a more serious tone as Todd and Carl offer a pastoral approach to the sensitive topic of spousal abuse. In tragic cases of abuse within the church, where does the dividing line between church discipline and civil law exist? Does abuse stand as justifiable, biblical grounds for divorce? During their thoughtful discussion, the hosts answer these questions and more, offer helpful book recommendations on this challenging topic, and (surprisingly) reveal what's right about feminism.       Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsGod's Design for Marriage and Sex by Richard Phillips   Mentioned on What is the Church To Do?The Stain That Stays by Armstrong John     Marriage: Sex in the Service of God by Christopher Ash    Married for God: Making Your Marriage the Best it Can be by Christopher Ash

Todd and Carl interview Steve Nichols, author and professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College, and they respectfully dub their guest the "Peter Pan of reformed theology." While Steve may look young, he is certainly insightful when it comes to this episode's topics of discussion: the doctrine of Scripture and the current relevancy of church history. If you can put up with the hosts' frequent wise cracks, listen in to hear Steve raise what he calls the compelling question of the modern age.

Mentioned on Can I Trust the Bible?

Ancient Word, Changing World by Stephen Nichols

Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World by Stephen Nichols

Martin Luther: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen Nichols

J. Gresham Machen: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen Nichols

The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World by Stephen Nichols

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Is there such a thing as a tan Englishman? Todd and Carl debate the issue momentarily before focusing their attention on the recent news surrounded Pope Francis' universalist comments. If you're not familiar with the term "anonymous Christian" (don't worry...we weren't either), listen in and learn how the Pope's flawed theology has been plaguing the church from Justin Martyr in the 2nd century to misguided modern day teachers like Rob Bell. Is there a difference between universalism and inclusivism? What's the real problem with the Roman Catholic Church? Our hosts will answer these questions and more in this "no guest needed" edition of your favorite reformed podcast!    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals We Are Beggars: Luther's Famous Last Words by Carl TruemanThis is one of the Seminar Messages from the 2012 Quakertown Regional Conference on Reformed Theology, Alone: The Solas of the Reformation. This message is brought by Carl Trueman.    Mentioned on Anonymous Christians Anyone? Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Carl Trueman

As Todd and Carl report from "The Batcave" to offer a solemn critique of Andy Stanley's book, Deep and Wide, the hosts discuss the biblical role of the church, Jesus' example and the definition of happiness. While both the topic and their critique are serious, the musical interludes certainly are not. If you've ever wondered how the church should relate to the culture around it and what the song "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" could possibly have to do with it, you'll love this episode of The Mortification of Spin!    Free resource from the Alliance of Confessing EvangelicalsHappy, Though Poor by Dr. BarnhouseJoy is the blessing of being at peace with God, and this is by believing in Jesus Christ as one's Savior and having Him remove the burden of sin and guilt from one's life. One may be poor by the world's standards, but belonging to Jesus now and for eternity is true wealth.  Mentioned on Happiness Questing Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend by Andy Stanley      Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel [IX Marks] by Mark Dever