In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey speaks with Brian DeVries, a theologian and pastor in South Africa, about his new book, You Will Be My Witnesses, which explores the biblical and theological foundations of Christian witness, emphasizing the church’s role in participating in God’s redemptive mission. They discuss the complexities of the Christian and Reformed landscape in South Africa, the importance of witness in missions, and the connection between worship and witness. DeVries emphasizes the need for a solid theology of mission and the role of every believer as a witness to Christ.

In this conversation, we explore the multifaceted nature of Christian witness, emphasizing its historical significance, the interplay of suffering and evangelism, and the importance of both word and deed in the church’s mission. They discuss the need for boldness in witness, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the impact of personal experiences on understanding witness. Additionally, they highlight the work of Mukhanyo Theological College in training leaders for ministry in Southern Africa.

Dr. Brian A. DeVries is a theologian, educator, and pastor with extensive experience in theological education and church planting. He earned his PhD from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently serves as the president of Mukhanyo Theological College in South Africa. In addition to his administrative role, Dr. DeVries is an adjunct professor of missiology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. DeVries has led three multiethnic church-planting teams in South Africa and currently serves as the pastor of Grace Reformed Church in Pretoria. He and his wife, Lanae, are blessed with five children.

This is the third lesson in Dr. Daniel Ragusa’s Reformed Academy course, Fullness of Joy: A Biblical Theology of God with Us.

This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Banished with a Promise

3:13 Covenant with Noah

5:26 Pilgrim Days of Abraham

9:35 Altar at Mount Moriah

14:45 Altar at Bethel

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental materials, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-five additional five-hour video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/ful... Your donations enable us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you all across the world: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#biblicaltheology #Immanuel #reformedtheology

Camden Bucey is joined by Bo Collins and Joe Cristman to discuss various topics related to their churches, upcoming events, and personal library management. They also touch on exciting developments in the PCA, including church planting efforts in North Carolina, and introduce Joe’s new YouTube channel, Take Up and Read, which focuses on literature and theology.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 04:11 News and Updates
• 08:50 Personal Library Management and Book Recommendations
• 17:04 Loaning Books
• 25:55 Office Knick-Knacks
• 40:41 PCA Updates
• 52:22 New Podcast: Take Up and Read
• 55:54 Conclusion

In this episode, we open pp. 360–365 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology to discuss his profound insights into Jesus’s relationship with the Old Testament. How did Christ use the Scriptures in his teaching? What did he mean when he said he came to “fulfill” the law? And how does his doctrine of God affirm the continuity of divine revelation from the Old to the New Testament?

Join us as we discuss:

• Jesus’s unwavering affirmation of the Old Testament’s authority
• His unique role in fulfilling and interpreting the law
• The significance of his divine self-awareness in shaping redemptive history
• How Vos defends the integrity of biblical revelation against modern critiques
• The depth of Jesus’s teaching on the Fatherhood of God

Whether you’re a student of Reformed theology, a pastor, or simply curious about the biblical foundations of Christ’s teaching, this episode offers a rich and insightful exploration of key theological themes. Tune in now and be equipped to see Scripture through the lens of redemptive history.

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we continue our discussion of chapter XXIX, “The Second Coming of Christ.”

This is the second lesson in Dr. Daniel Ragusa’s Reformed Academy course, Fullness of Joy: A Biblical Theology of God with Us.

This lesson covers the following topics:

0:00 Creation

3:44 Covenant of Works

 7:13 Fall

10:35 Covenant of Grace

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental materials, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-five additional five-hour video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/ful... Your donations enable us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you all across the world: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#biblicaltheology #Immanuel #reformedtheology

In this conversation, Camden Bucey, Ryan Noha, Lane Tipton, and Scott Cook discuss various themes surrounding Reformed apologetics, particularly focusing on the critique of Cornelius Van Til’s thought as presented in Keith Mathion’s book.

After highlighting Lane Tipton’s new book Union with Christ: The Benefits of His Suffering and Glory, they explore the challenges of understanding Van Til’s work, especially given his use of language and the philosophical context of his time. The discussion also touches on the relevance of Van Til’s thought in contemporary apologetics and the importance of engaging with the limitations of human language in theology.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction
• 00:06:53 Lane’s New Book, Union with Christ
• 00:09:49 Van Til and Idealism
• 00:24:43 Critics of Van Til
• 00:38:28 Cunningham on Idealism
• 00:42:30 A Sale on Our Van Til Books
• 00:44:32 Van Til’s Critique of Adam’s False Ideal of Knowledge
• 00:47:46 Applying Van Til Today
• 00:57:01 Understanding Idealism
• 01:03:41 Conclusion

In this episode of Christ the Center, we engage in a thoughtful and rigorous discussion of Keith Mathison’s book, Toward a Reformed Apologetics: A Critique of the Thought of Cornelius Van Til. Carlton Wynne, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey critically examine Mathison’s interpretation of Van Til, particularly in relation to idealism, epistemology, and the noetic effects of sin.

Throughout this episode, we explore key themes, including:

• The Alleged Influence of Idealism: Did Van Til borrow philosophical categories from absolute idealism, or did he consistently maintain a Reformed, biblically grounded epistemology?
• The Nature of Human Knowledge: Did Van Til argue that humans must know everything in order to know anything? Or is this a misreading of his critique of unbelieving thought?
• The Ethical Antithesis in Epistemology: How does covenant theology shape Van Til’s apologetic system, and why is the ethical nature of knowledge crucial for understanding his method?
• The Role of Coherence and Correspondence in Van Til’s Thought: Did Van Til adopt an idealist coherence theory of truth, or did he reject both coherence and correspondence theories as traditionally conceived?

We also discuss broader implications for Reformed apologetics, the challenges of properly interpreting Van Til, and why these theological debates matter for defending the Christian faith today. While critiquing Mathison’s arguments, we affirm the importance of engaging in these discussions with charity and precision.

Join us as we work through these foundational issues and lay the groundwork for future conversations on Mathison’s book and Van Til’s apologetic legacy.

Checking in from Scottsdale, Arizona, Camden Bucey discusses the Faith and Life Conference on worship and the themes of his upcoming talks. He reflects on recent podcast episodes, including discussions on ancient Near Eastern hero culture and the significance of animal imagery in biblical texts. The stream also touches on ethical considerations surrounding pet euthanasia, distinctions between the Reformed and Presbyterian family trees. We even daydream about a hunting excursion for people into Reformed theology.

This is the first lesson in Dr. Daniel Ragusa’s Reformed Academy course, Fullness of Joy: A Biblical Theology of God with Us. This lesson covers the following topics: 

0:00 Theme of Immanuel

2:16 What is God's Covenant?

5:31 Heidelberg Catechism 19

7:11 Good News Revealed by God Himself

10:23 Good News Revealed Concerning the Son

13:43 Good News Revealed in History

16:34 Good News Revealed Progressively

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental materials, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-five additional five-hour video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/ful...

Your donations enable us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you all across the world: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#biblicaltheology #Immanuel #reformedtheology