In this episode, Camden Bucey and Marcus Mininger reflect together on Resurrection and Redemption by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.—a work that has profoundly shaped Reformed biblical theology over the past half century. Rather than offering a technical review, the conversation unfolds as a guided meditation on the book's central claim: that Christ's resurrection is not a theological afterthought but the controlling center of Paul's soteriology and eschatology. Gaffin's careful exegesis helps readers see how redemption is inseparable from resurrection life in union with the risen Christ.

This discussion is part of Reformed Forum's broader effort to offer conversational commentaries on formative Reformed texts—books that have formed us as pastors and theologians. Bucey and Mininger highlight why Resurrection and Redemption remains so enduringly fruitful: it teaches the church to think biblically about salvation, not as a static transaction, but as participation in the resurrected life of Christ. The result is theology that serves the pulpit, strengthens assurance, and orients the Christian life toward the hope of glory already secured in the risen Lord.

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Chapters

• 00:00:07 Introduction
• 00:01:56 International Cohorts and Reading Guides
• 00:10:31 Encountering Resurrection and Redemption
• 00:16:15 The Title and Purpose of the Book
• 00:26:18 The Discipline of Biblical Theology
• 00:32:56 Paul as Theologian
• 00:51:23 Redemptive-Historical Epochs
• 00:59:44 The Occasional Nature of Paul's Writings
• 01:08:27 Conclusion

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Structure of Church Government: Preliminary Considerations

11:32 The Elders: Preliminary Considerations

15:40 Presbuteroi

28:08 How Many Offices?

34:05 Overseers (Episkopos)

37:03 The Deacons

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/do...

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#church #reformed #presbyterian #ecclesiology #reformedtheology

Dr. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, speaks about the life, ministry, and enduring theological legacy of John Lafayette Girardeau—a figure often hidden in the shadow of Thornwell and Dabney, yet towering in pastoral warmth, covenant theology, and confessional clarity. Girardeau emerges as a remarkably gifted scholar, a pastor deeply loved by both enslaved and free Black congregants, and a theologian who married doctrinal precision with heartfelt pastoral care. Through stories of his early intellectual formation, his ministry at Zion Presbyterian Church, his courageous stand against segregation in 1874, and his role in shaping debates on adoption, the will, worship, and evolution controversies, listeners gain a moving portrait of a man captivated by Christ and devoted to the communion of the saints.

This episode invites us to look beyond caricatures of Southern Presbyterianism and see a pastor who was shaped by his Huguenot and Scottish heritage, attentive to the spiritual well-being of the marginalized, and unwavering in his conviction that the church must be governed by Scripture and formed by a robust federal theology. Girardeau's story not only expands our understanding of American Presbyterian history—it encourages believers today to pursue ministry marked by doctrinal fidelity, Christ-centered preaching, and sacrificial love.

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Chapters

• 00:00:16 Introduction
• 00:03:28 Introducing John L. Girardeau
• 00:24:49 French Huguenot Background
• 00:31:48 Academic Abilities
• 00:42:29 Girardeau's Relation to the Church After the War
• 00:49:44 Significant Motions and Statements
• 00:56:05 Opposition to Segregation at the 1874 General Assembly
• 01:00:19 Influence upon Southern Presbyterianism
• 01:05:19 The Battle over Evolution
• 01:11:21 Works by Girardeau
• 01:21:59 Conclusion

Links

• Biographical sketch on Girardeau

This is Christ the Center episode 940 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc940)

This is the fifth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Church Power is Suasive, not Coercive

15:21 Church Power is Service, not Domination

19:01 Church Power is Spiritual, not Carnal

23:00 Church Power is Ministerial, not Magisterial

26:17 Church Power is Declarative, not Legislative

28:18 Church Power is Derived, not Original

30:40 The Spirituality of the Church

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/do...

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/ #church #reformed #presbyterian #ecclesiology #reformedtheology

As Christ the Center closes out another year of weekly theological conversation, this special episode reflects on God's faithfulness throughout 2025 by revisiting the most-watched and most-listened-to episodes of the year. Drawing from YouTube engagement, Camden Bucey highlights ten conversations that resonated deeply with listeners—spanning biblical exegesis, redemptive-historical interpretation, Trinitarian theology, apologetics, and pastoral formation. Together, these clips showcase the breadth of Reformed Forum's work: rigorous scholarship, confessional clarity, and a steady commitment to Christ-centered interpretation of Scripture.

The episode also celebrates significant ministry milestones: thousands of students served through Reformed Academy, international reading cohorts across six continents, new books published, and the largest theology conference in Reformed Forum's history. Framed by the theme "Growing Together into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15–16), this highlights episode not only looks back with gratitude but looks forward with confidence—inviting listeners to partner in the ongoing work of theological education for the church worldwide.

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Chapters

• 00:00:07 Introduction
• 00:00:57 Looking Forward to 2026
• 00:01:38 Growing Together into Christ
• 00:04:26 Top 10 Episodes of 2025
• 00:05:05 Greg Beale | The Use of the Old Testament in Colossians (YouTube)
• 00:08:59 Van Til Group #15 — A Critique of Mathison's Toward a Reformed Apologetics (YouTube)
• 00:19:44 Robert Letham | The Holy Spirit (YouTube)
• 00:23:57 David Saxton | Biblical Meditation: God's Battle Plan for the Mind (YouTube)
• 00:29:04 William Dennison | Van Til and the Problem of Evil (YouTube)
• 00:34:28 Danny Olinger | Meredith G. Kline's Biblical-Theological Reading of the Book of Revelation (YouTube)
• 00:45:06 Marcus Mininger | Redemptive-Historical Interpretation (YouTube)
• 00:51:14 Vos Group #99 — Millennial Views and Modern Theories of the Kingdom (YouTube)
• 00:59:37 Marcus Mininger | Impossible to Be Restored? Temptation and Warning in the Epistle of Hebrews (YouTube)
• 01:14:02 J. Brandon Burks | The Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials (YouTube)
• 01:19:38 Conclusion

Participants: Bill Dennison, Camden Bucey, Carlton Wynne, Danny Olinger, David Saxton, Greg Beale, J. Brandon Burks, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton, Marcus Mininger, Robert Letham

This is Christ the Center episode 939 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc939)

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 Christ, the Only Head of the Church

10:16 The Keys of the Kingdom: Preliminary Considerations

17:24 The Keys of the Kingdom: The View of Rome

19:50 The Keys of the Kingdom: The Reformed View

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/do...

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#church #reformed #presbyterian #ecclesiology #reformedtheology

In this conversation from Austin, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey reflect on the abiding value of the Westminster Shorter Catechism as a tool for cultivating a God-centered, covenantally rich, and confessionally rooted Christian life. The discussion highlights Jim's new book, Introducing the Faith: A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which serves as a written complement to his two free Reformed Academy courses through which he teaches the Shorter Catechism (Questions 1–38 and Questions 39–106). Together, the hosts trace their own histories with the Standards, demonstrating how catechesis shapes believers in the chief end of man—to glorify and enjoy God forever. They also explore how the catechism's covenant theology anchors the church in biblical teaching, safeguarding the glory of God amid contemporary pressures.

The discussion turns to the weighty task of confessional subscription—its history, responsibilities, and the risks of revision. With pastoral clarity and historical attentiveness, the hosts encourage churches and teachers to handle their confessions with both gratitude and vigilance. The episode concludes with a look at the ongoing mission of Reformed Academy and the resources being developed to strengthen the church in catechesis and confessional fidelity.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Setting the Scene in Austin
• 03:14 Why Catechesis Matters Today
• 09:12 Personal Histories with the Westminster Standards
• 16:47 Man's Chief End and the God-Centered Life
• 20:44 Covenant Theology in the Catechism
• 26:22 Guarding the Glory of God in Reformed Theology
• 31:48 Confessional Revision: History, Risks, and Responsibilities
• 57:47 Looking Ahead: Resources and the Mission of Reformed Academy

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton

On today's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue to walk through the Book of Daniel. In chapter 4, we read of another dream given to Nebuchadnezzar wherein a large protective tree bearing much fruit is chopped down, it's branches lopped off, it's leaves stripped, and it's fruit scattered. What's all this about?

This is the third lesson in Dr. James Cassidy's Reformed Academy course, The Doctrine of the Church. This lesson covers the following topics:

00:00 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as Catholic

05:18 The Attributes of the Church: The Church as Apostolic

12:53 The Marks of the Church: The Faithful Proclamation of the Word

18:46 The Marks of the Church: The Correct Administration of the Sacraments

22:06 The Marks of the Church: The Exercise of Church Discipline

Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/do...

Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/

#church #reformed #presbyterian #ecclesiology #reformedtheology