Reformed Forum

We had the pleasure to discuss the preaching ministry with noted Scottish minister Eric Alexander. Rev. Alexander has spent his adult life serving Jesus Christ, in His Church, as a minister of His Word having been ordained as a minister in the Church of Scotland for over fifty years. Rev. Alexander shares his wisdom regarding the preaching ministry.

This episode is brought to you in part by the Confessional Presbyterian Journal.

Rev. Alexander studied at the University of Glasgow, graduating Master of Arts in 1954 and Bachelor of Divinity in 1958. Thereafter he spent 4 years as an Assistant at St David’s Knightswood Chuch in the West end of Glasgow. In 1961 he was married to Greta Connell and they have a daughter and a son. It was in 1962 that he was called to the parish of Loudoun East Church, in the Covenanting district of Ayrshire, in the village of Newmilns. After 15 years there, in 1977, he was aware of God’s call to the city centre church of St George’s Tron, in Glasgow, where he served as senior minister for 20 years, until his retirement in 1997. During these 20 years, large congregations, of all ages, gathered, both morning and evening, to listen to expository sermons from both Old and New Testaments.

From the Eric Alexander website:

As the years have passed and the world has changed, he has grown ever more convinced of the urgent priority of summoning the church to the Apostolic priority expressed by the Apostles themselves in Acts 6v4; “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. “

Participants: Camden Bucey, Eric Alexander, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

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

Nick Batzig sat down with Jon Payne at the Twin Lakes Fellowship to talk about the subject of Reformed Worship. Jon deals with the various aspects of this topic in his newest release, In The Splendor of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century.

Dr. Jon D. Payne is minister of Grace Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, Ga. Dr. Payne has been serving as minister of Grace Presbyterian Church since June 2003 and is currently serving as Chair of the Northwest Georgia Presbytery’s Credentials Committee. In addition, Dr. Payne is a Visiting Lecturer at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Dr. Payne is the author of John Owen on the Lord’s Supper (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth, 2004), Systematic Expository Preaching: A Historical and Biblical Analysis Demonstrating its Benefits for Both Congregation and Pastor (Doctoral thesis, RTS Jackson, Spring 2004), and the subject of this episode, In The Splendor of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century (White Hall, WV; Tolle Lege Press, 2008).

Payne, Jon D. In The Splendor Of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century. First. Tolle Lege Press, 2008.

—. John Owen on the Lord’s Supper. Edinburgh; Carlisle Pa.: Banner of Truth Trust, 2004.

Participants: Jon Payne, Nick Batzig

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

We are pleased to welcome Iain D Campbell to speak about a covenantal approach to interpreting the Song of Solomon.  Dr. Campbell wrote a wonderful article in the Spring 2000 issue of the Westminster Theological Journal on the subject and he brings his insights to the panel.  In addition to his article, Iain D has written several books including Doctrine of Sin, The Gospel According to Ruth, Heroes and Heretics, On the First Day of the Week, Opening up Exodus, and The Seven Wonders of the World: The Gospel in the Storyline of the Bible.

Bird, Michael. Introducing Paul: The Man, His mission and His Message. Downers Grove Ill.: IVP Academic, 2008.

Clowney, Edmund P., and Dennis E. Johnson. Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Dever, Mark. Proclaiming a Cross-Centered Theology. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Edgar, William. Christian Apologetics Past and Present: a Primary Source Reader. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Ellis, Carl. S.O.S., Saving Our Sons: Confronting the Lure of Islam with Truth, Faith & Courage. 1st ed. NY [i.e. New York] NY: Imani Books, 2007.

Ferguson, Everett. Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries. Cambridge U.K.; Grand Rapids Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2009.

Gamble, Richard. The Whole Counsel of God. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2009.

George, Timothy. J. I. Packer and the Evangelical Future: The Impact of His Life and Thought. Baker Academic, 2009.

Hauerwas, Stanley. A Cross-Shattered Church: Reclaiming the Theological Heart of Preaching. Grand Rapids MI: Brazos, 2009.

Horton, Michael. The Gospel-Driven Life Being Good News People in a Bad News World. Baker Pub Group, 2009.

Keller, Timothy. Counterfeit Gods. E P Dutton, 2009.

Lloyd-Jones, David. The Gospel in Genesis: From Fig Leaves to Faith. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Marshall, Walter. Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ. Eugene Oregon: Wipf & Stock Pub., 2005.

Mohler, R. The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness. 1st ed. Colorado Springs Colo.: Multnomah Books, 2009.

Peterson, David. The Acts of the Apostles. Grand Rapids Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2009.

Plantinga, Alvin. Warranted Christian Belief. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Trueman, Carl. Histories and Fallacies Problems Faced in the Writing of History. Crossway Books, 2009.

VanDrunen, David. Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Wright, R. No Place for Sovereignty: What’s Wrong With Freewill Theism. Downers Grove Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Iain Campbell, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

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

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Douglas Kelly to speak about his Systematic Theology, Volume 1. Nick Batzig caught up with Dr. Kelly at the recent Twin Lakes Fellowship near Jackson, MS for this fascinating discussion. Dr. Kelly is the author of many written works including, If God Already Knows, Why Pray?, Preachers with Power: Four Stalwarts of the South, New Life in the Wasteland, Creation and Change, and The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World.

Participants: Douglas Kelly, Nick Batzig

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

Today we take calls on the subject of “What got you started in reformed theology?” We speak with several guests on the phone and in the chat room about the books and resources that influenced them in their interest and study of reformed theology.

Visit the wiki entry for this episode.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Nick Batzig

Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California and host of the White Horse Inn radio program joins Christ the Center to discuss his book Christless Christianity. The group covers several topics including the state of the American church, approaches to culture, and confessionalism. Listen in on a fascinating discussion.

Bibliography

Horton, Michael Scott. Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church. Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerBooks, 2008.

Smith, Christian. American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving. 1st ed. University Of Chicago Press, 1998.

Future Directions in the Sociology of Religion Social Forces 86, no. 4 (2008): 1561-1589.

Theorizing Religious Effects among American Adolescents Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 42, no. 1 (2003): 17-30.

Smith, Christian, and Melinda Lundquist. Denton. Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Tchividjian, Tullian. Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Multnomah Books, 2009.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Lane Keister, Michael Horton

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

Jeff, Nick and Camden discuss new books from Steve Nichols, Eric Brandt and J. Todd Billings and get into a discussion of natural law.

View the wiki entry for this episode.

Billings, J. Todd. Calvin, participation, and the gift : the activity of believers in union with Christ. Changing paradigms in historical and systematic theology. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Grabill, Stephen John. Rediscovering the natural law in Reformed theological ethics. Emory University studies in law and religion. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2006.

Nichols, Stephen J., and Eric T. Brandt. Ancient Word, changing worlds : the doctrine of Scripture in a modern age. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Phillips, Richard D. Saved by Grace: The Glory of Salvation in Ephesians 2. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2009.

VanDrunen, David. A Biblical Case for Natural Law. AI, 2006.

Other Formats

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Did you know that the last things come first? If that sounds confusing, then you are in for a treat as the Christ the Center panel interviews Dr. R. Fowler White and Dr. Keith Mathison, president, and dean respectively, of the brand new Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies. We learn about this new educational endeavor of Dr. R. C. Sproul’s Ligonier Ministries. Additionally, we discuss eschatological perspectives from Genesis to Revelation, focusing on Dr. Mathison’s new book From Age to Age. Dr. White is the editor or contributor to several books, including Whatever Happened to the Reformation? Dr. Mathison is a prolific author who has written, among many titles, When Shall These Things Be? and Given for You. Listeners will want to listen carefully to this episode in order to ascertain whether Dr. Mathison is an optimistic amillennialist or a pessimistic postmillennialist.

Hoekema, Anthony A. The Bible and the Future. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1979.

Johnson, Gary L. W., and R. Fowler White. Whatever Happened to the Reformation? Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R, 2001.

Mathison, Keith A. From Age to Age: The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., 2009.

—. Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 1999.

Riddlebarger, Kim. A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester, England: Baker Books; Inter-Varsity Press, 2003.

Venema, Cornelis P., and Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Promise of the Future. Edinburgh; Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000.

White, R. Fowler. Making Sense of Rev 20:1-10? Harold Hoehner Versus Recapitulation Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 37, no. 4 (1994): 539.

Participants: Camden Bucey, James Dolezal, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, Keith Mathison, Lane Keister, R. Fowler White

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

The Christ the Center panel had a fascinating conversation with Rev. Danny Olinger, general secretary for the Committee on Christian Education for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and editor of The Geerhardus Vos Anthology, about all things Vos. Rev. Olinger gives the listener a brief biographical sketch of the life and ministry of Vos and gets to the heart of Vos’ contribution to Reformed theology: Biblical theology of a Reformed and orthodox variety. Several key aspects of Vos’ work are explained, including the expression “eschatology precedes soteriology.” By the end of the discussion, listeners will understand the importance of Vos for a proper grasp of Reformed theology in general.

Bond, Douglas. The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin. Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co.

Clowney, Edmund P., and Dennis E. Johnson. Heralds of the King: Christ-Centered Sermons in the Tradition of Edmund P. Clowney. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

Duncan, J. Ligon. Does Grace Grow Best in Winter? Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co.

Fitzpatrick, Elyse, and Dennis E. Johnson. Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009.

McCartney, Dan G. James. Baker Academic, 2009.

Venema, Cornelis P., and Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Promise of the Future. Edinburgh; Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth Trust, 2000.

Vos, Geerhardus. Biblical Theology. New Ed. Banner of Truth, 1975.

—. Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached in the Chapel of Princeton Theological Seminary. Grand Rapids Mich.: The Reformed Press, 1922.

—. Pauline Eschatology. P & R Publishing, 1979.

—. The Eschatology of the Old Testament. P & R Publishing, 2001.

Vos, Geerhardus, and Richard B., Jr. Gaffin. Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos. P & R Publishing, 2001.

Vos, Geerhardus, and Danny E. Olinger. A Geerhardus Vos Anthology: Biblical and Theological Insights Alphabetically Arranged. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., 2005.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Danny Olinger, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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

Rev. James O’Brien, pastor of Reedy River PCA, joins with the Christ the Center panel for a discussion of all things Puritan. Rev. O’Brien shares his wisdom gained from years of reading and wrestling with various Puritan authors. He highlights how the Puritans should be read, who should be read, and why they should be read. This is an episode you will not want to miss.

Participants: Camden Bucey, James T. O'Brien, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

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