Reformed Forum

On this episode Jeff and Camden touch on John Selderhuis’ John Calvin: A Pilgrim’s Life and T. David Gordon’s Why Johnny Can’t Preach along with several other new and forthcoming titles.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington

In this episode of Christ the Center the panel interviews Dr. William Dennison, professor of interdisciplinary studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, GA, about his recent publication The Young Bultmann. Bultmann was at one time the most influential New Testament scholars of the western world. He is perhaps best known for his hermeneutic of demythologization. Questions of influences on Rudolf Bultmann come in for discussion (Neo-Kantian or Heidiggerian) as well as Bultmann’s relationship to Freiderich D. E. Schleiermacher and Karl Barth. Listeners interested in how presuppositional apologetics is brought to bear in understanding a major figure in NT studies will benefit from this discussion.

Dennison, William A., and William D. Dennison. Paul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2000.

Dennison, William D. A Christian Approach to Interdisciplinary Studies: in Search of a Method and Starting Point. Eugene Or.: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2007.

—. The Young Bultmann: Context for His Understanding of God,1884-1925. American university studies. New York: P. Lang, 2008.

Noll, Mark A. God and Race in American Politics: A Short History. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2008.

Tipton, Lane G., and Jeffrey C. Waddington. Resurrection and Eschatology : Theology in Service of the Church : Essays in Honor of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Participants: Bill Dennison, Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

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

The panel discusses Douglas Kelly’s Systematic Theology: Grounded in Holy Scripture and Understood in the Light of the Church , Soul searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist and several other books and movies.

Bailey, Kenneth. Jesus through Middle Eastern eyes : cultural studies in the Gospels . Downers Grove Ill.: IVP Academic, 2008.

Behe, Michael J. Darwin’s black box : the biochemical challenge to evolution . New York: Free Press, 1996.

Dyrness, William A. Reformed theology and visual culture : the Protestant imagination from Calvin to Edwards . Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Estelle, Bryan D., J. V. Fesko, and David VanDrunen. The law is not of faith : essays on works and grace in the mosaic covenant . Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., 2009.

“Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008).†http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091617/.

Gibson, David, Daniel. Strange, Henri. Blocher, and Carl R. Trueman. Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques . Nottingham, England: Apollos, 2008.

Graham, L. All my holy mountain . Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

—. Beyond the Summerland . Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2004.

—. Bringer of Storms . Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2005.

—. Father of Dragons . Phillipsburg N.J.: P & R Pub., 2007.

—. Shadow in the deep . Phillipsburg N.J.: P & R Pub. Co., 2006.

Guinness, Os. The case for civility : and why our future depends on it . New York: HarperOne, 2008.

Hankins, Barry. Francis Schaeffer and the shaping of Evangelical America . Grand Rapids Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2008.

Kelly, Douglas F. Systematic theology : grounded in holy scripture and understood in the light of the church . Fearn, Ross-shire: Mentor, 2008.

Kuhn, Thomas S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . 3rd ed. University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Mackay, John L. A study commentary on Isaiah . EP study commentary. Faverdale North, Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2008.

McComiskey, Thomas Edward. The Minor Prophets : an exegetical and expository commentary . Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1992.

Partee, Charles. The theology of John Calvin . Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008.

“Saved! (2004).†http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/.

Smith, Christian, and Melinda Lundquist. Denton. Soul searching : the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers . Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Wright, Christopher J. H. The God I don’t understand : reflections on tough questions of faith . Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2008.

Other Formats

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy

Science and faith are often pitted against each other. Many have felt they must make a choice between either being a person of science or a person of faith. Dr. Vern Poythress, Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary and the author of Redeeming Science, joins the panel on Christ the Center to discuss the relationship between Christianity and science. He argues that not only is science compatible with Christianity but that the Triune God of the Bible is required in order for the very possibility of science to exist. Listen to this broad-ranging discussion that touches upon science, mathematics, the creation days, and a Christian approach to education.

Nickel, James. Mathematics: Is God Silent? Vallecito, Calif.: Ross House Books, 2001.

Poythress, Vern S. God-Centered Biblical Interpretation. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 1999.

—. Redeeming Science: A God-Centered Approach. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2006.

—. The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses. Brentwood, Tenn.: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, 1991.

—. Understanding Dispensationalists. 2nd ed. P & R Publishing, 1993.

Van Til, Cornelius. Introduction to Systematic Theology. 2nd ed. P & R Publishing, 2007.

Wolterstorff, Nicholas. On Universals: An Essay in Ontology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1970.

Participants: James Dolezal, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig, Vern Poythress

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

In this episode of the Reformed Media Review, Jim reviews Orthodox and Modern: Studies in the Theology of Karl Barth by Bruce McCormack. We also look at the Oxford handbooks of Systematic Theology and Early Christian Studies.

Harvey, Susan Ashbrook., and David G. Hunter. The Oxford handbook of early Christian studies. Oxford handbooks in religion and theology. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.

McCormack, Bruce. Karl Barth’s critically realistic dialectical theology its genesis and development, 1909-1936. Oxford: Clarendon, 1997.

—. Orthodox and modern : studies in the theology of Karl Barth. Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2008.

Webster, J. B., Kathryn Tanner, and Iain R. Torrance. The Oxford handbook of systematic theology. Oxford handbooks. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Other Formats

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig

The Christ the Center panel tackled the importance of an ordinary means of grace ministry and the place of catechism within that overall approach. First, it was determined that God has ordained that the church in this age proclaim the gospel and advance in the faith through his ordained means and not some man-made program such as revivalism (to be clearly distinguished from true revival).

The biblical foundations for this were developed in the distinction between the foundation and superstructure of the church and the extraordinary and ordinary ministries in the church. The extraordinary ministry of apostleship and miracles laid the foundation with Christ as the cornerstone (Eph), but in this age of the ordinary ministry of the superstructure of the church, the stress falls on the ordinary means of grace (Acts 2:42): the Word, sacraments, and prayer. It is in this setting that the panel discussed the necessity and benefits of catechism for both children and adults. God has said he would bless these means and the church strays from them to her own peril.

Beale, G. K. The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism : Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008.

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.

Clark, R. Scott. Recovering the Reformed confession : our theology, piety, and practice. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Derrida, Jacques. Writing and difference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978.

Edwards, Jonathan, and Peter Johannes Thuesen. Catalogues of books. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008.

Gaffin, Richard B., Jr. Resurrection and Redemption: A Study in Paul’s Soteriology. 2nd ed. P & R Publishing, 1987.

Garcia, Mark A. Life in Christ : Union with Christ and Twofold Grace in Calvin’s Theology. Studies in Christian history and thought. Milton Keynes; Colorado Spring, CO: Paternoster, 2008.

Gibson, David, Daniel Strange, Henri. Blocher, and Carl R. Trueman. Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques. T&t Clark Ltd, 2009.

—. Engaging with Barth: Contemporary Evangelical Critiques. Nottingham, England: Apollos, 2008.

Hart, D. G. The lost soul of American Protestantism. American intellectual culture. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2002.

Horton, Michael. Christless Christianity : the alternative gospel of the American church. Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerBooks, 2008.

—. Covenant and salvation : union with Christ. 1st ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007.

Jeffery, S. Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2007.

Meade, Starr. Training hearts, teaching minds : family devotions based on the shorter catechism. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R, 2000.

Olson, Roger E. How to be evangelical without being conservative. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2008.

Participants: Camden Bucey, 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

On this episode of the Reformed Media Review, Nick talks about T. Desmond Alexander’s From Eden to the New Jerusalem: Exploring God’s Plan for Life on Earth and we discuss the best books of 2008.

Alexander, T. Desmond. From Eden to the new Jerusalem : exploring God’s plan for life on earth. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2008.

Bavinck, Herman. Essays on religion, science, and society. Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academic, 2008.

—. Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 4: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation. Baker Academic, 2008.

Bavinck, Herman, and J. Mark Beach. Saved by Grace : The Holy Spirit’s Work in Calling and Regeneration. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Reformation Heritage Books, 2008.

Beale, G. K. The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism : Responding to New Challenges to Biblical Authority. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008.

Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Baker Academic, 2007.

Bristley, Eric D., and John. Bolt. Guide to the writings of Herman Bavinck (1854-1921). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Reformation Heritage Books, 2008.

Clark, R. Scott. Recovering the Reformed confession : our theology, piety, and practice. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Dennison, James T. Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation: Volume I, 1523-1552. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Reformation Heritage Books, 2008.

Doriani, Daniel M. Matthew. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., 2008.

Doriani, Daniel M., Philip Graham Ryken, and Richard D. Phillips. The incarnation in the Gospels. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Fesko, J. Justification: Understanding the Classic Reformed Doctrine. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Genderen, J. van., and W. H. Velema. Concise Reformed Dogmatics. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Hall, David W. A Theological Guide to Calvin’s Institutes: Essays and Analysis. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

—. The Legacy of John Calvin: His Influence on the Modern World. Calvin 500 series. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Horton, Michael Scott. Christless Christianity : the alternative gospel of the American church. Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerBooks, 2008.

Johnson, Gary L. W., and Ronald N. Gleason. Reforming or Conforming? : Post-Conservative Evangelicals and the Emerging Church. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008.

Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Dutton Adult, 2008.

—. The prodigal God : recovering the heart of the Christian faith. New York: Dutton, 2008.

Muether, John. Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2007.

Nichols, Stephen. Jesus Made in America: Cultural History from the Puritans to the Passion of the Christ. Downers Grove Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2008.

Tipton, Lane G., and Jeffrey C. Waddington. Resurrection and Eschatology : Theology in Service of the Church : Essays in Honor of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Van Til, Cornelius. The Defense of the Faith. 4th ed. Phillipsburg N.J.: P & R Pub., 2008.

Other Formats

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

On this episode of Christ the Center we brought together a collection of highlights from 2008. We started Christ the Center in January of 2008 and haven’t missed a week yet. We want to thank all of our listeners for putting up with our growing pains. Thanks for listening. This year we had the privilege of speaking with many of today’s leading reformed scholars. We learned much and had quite a bit of fun in the process. We hope you enjoy this brief collection of clips from our first year.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Derek Thomas, James Dolezal, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, K. Scott Oliphint, Martin Downes, Nick Batzig, Ron Gleason

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

Lane G. Tipton joins the panel again to discuss Cornelius Van Til’s particular formulation of Trinitarian theology. Dr. Tipton is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) and has written a dissertation on the topic. Join us as we talk about Dr. Van Til’s theology and the importance of his Trinitarian theology not only for understanding his apologetic system but for holding all things together.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton, Nick Batzig

The Christ the Center panel once again had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Stephen Nichols, Research Professor of Christianity and Culture at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School, this time discussing his book Jesus: Made in America. Dr. Nichols gave us a summary of the book and the panelists interacted with him about the prevalent American Evangelical temptation to make Jesus over in our own image or into the image of some ideal far removed from his Biblical context. The group looked at how Jesus was understood by the Puritans in New England as well as the manly Jesus of Jacksonian America and the gentle Jesus meek and mild of the Victorian era. Closer to the present time the panelists discussed Fosdick and Van Dyke and their views of Jesus in contradistinction to the orthodoxy of J. Gresham Machen. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the American-made Jesus was the consideration of the roots of contemporary Christian music (CCM). The group enjoyed the discussion and you will too.

Clark, R. Scott. Recovering the Reformed confession : our theology, piety, and practice. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Duncan, J. Ligon. The Westminster Confession into the 21st Century: essays in remembrance of the 350th anniversary of the Westminster Assembly. Fearn: Mentor, 2003.

Fosdick, Harry Emerson. Shall the Fundamentalists Win? : A Sermon Preached at the First Presbyterian Church, New York, May 21, 1922. New York, 1922.

—. The Man from Nazareth as his contemporaries saw Him. 1st ed. New York: Harper, 1949.

Genderen, J. van., and W. H. Velema. Concise Reformed dogmatics. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P&R Pub., 2008.

Hansen, Collin. Young, Restless, Reformed : A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008.

Horton, Michael Scott. Christless Christianity : the alternative gospel of the American church. Grand Rapids, Mich.: BakerBooks, 2008.

Nichols, Stephen J. An Absolute Sort of Certainty: The Holy Spirit and the Apologetics of Jonathan Edwards. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P.&R Pub., 2003.

—. For us and for our salvation : the doctrine of Christ in the early church. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2007.

—. Getting the blues : what blues music teaches us about suffering and salvation. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Brazos Press, 2008.

—. Jesus Made in America: Cultural History from the Puritans to the Passion of the Christ. Downers Grove Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2008.

—. Pages from church history : guided tour of Christian classics. Phillipsburg N.J.: P&R Pub., 2006.

—. The Reformation : how a monk and a mallet changed the world. Wheaton Ill.: Crossway Books, 2007.

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

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The illustrated Jesus through the centuries. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997.

Participants: Camden Bucey, James Dolezal, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, Stephen J. Nichols

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