In this week's episode we take a step back to ask the question, What is ministry like in Ripon, California, USA? Part of the goal of every Christian is to understand the mission field in which God has placed them, and so as pastors called to serve Almond Valley CRC in Ripon, CA, we often find ourselves thinking how ministry in Ripon both excites us and is a challenge to us. We hope that even those who live across the world will find this discussion encouraging, informative, and helpful as you seek to serve the Kingdom of God where God has put you.

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Over the past few decades it has become increasingly common throughout the church to relegate the congregational prayer to being merely a segue between other more favored elements of the modern worship service. So in this week's episode, we call for a recovery of the congregational prayer, or as some people have called it, "the long prayer" in the church's gathered worship. We also give some reflections on why this kind of prayer is so vital in the church today, and how pastors can labor in this area as means to deepening the prayer life and ministries of their congregations.

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Given recent headlines about the crackdown on illegal gambling in the NBA, we're betting some of you will be interested in this week's topic of discussion: is gambling permissible for the Christian? To answer this question we turn to Scripture and our Catechism for help, as we consider how Christians ought to approach gambling, betting, the lottery, and even stock market investing. 

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Prompted by the recent peace agreement between Israel and Gaza—and the wide range of reactions it has sparked—this week we ask: how should Christians respond when their political “opponents” accomplish something that’s objectively good? In our polarized age, it can feel almost disloyal to celebrate the other side’s victories. But followers of Jesus serve a King whose kingdom transcends every earthly party and platform. In this episode, we explore the role of nuance, the challenges of “third way-ism,” and how to live faithfully in politically fractured times. We hope this conversation offers clarity—and a little encouragement—along the way.

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

As we grow and mature in our faith we can often find ourselves becoming more and more cynical of everything around us, even beginning to think of cynicism as a sign of maturity. And for those of us who have grown in our theological understanding and awareness, this can be especially true in how we begin to look down on expressions of Christianity we think are less evolved, less enlightened, and less robust. But is this really how things should be? In this week's episode, we explore how cynicism is actually a false kind of spiritual maturity and how real growth and real progress in the Christian life actually manifests itself in a spirit of gracious gratitude. This will be an especially helpful episode for those struggling with a temptation to either leave Protestantism for Catholicism or Orthodoxy, or to leave Christianity altogether.

The episode mentioned by Pastor Zac with historian Molly Worthen can be found here.

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

One of the perennially challenging questions we face in the Christian life is what we are supposed to do when our heroes in the faith fail theologically or ethically. As Reformed Christians, it's not uncommon to hear accusations against John Calvin for his involvement in the execution of the anti-Trinitarian Michael Servetus or of Jonathan Edwards' defense of slavery on theological grounds. So how are we to think through these things? Should we write them off? Should we ignore their failings or downplay them? Or is there another way? In this episode, we seek, as always, to offer a more constructive path forward. We hope this is a help to you!

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

This week's episode comes from a listener question regarding whether or not doubt is allowed in the Christian walk. As we get into the particulars and try to make helpful distinctions for consideration, we hope this is a thought-provoking and pastoral conversation about the very real struggles many Christians face as they to honor and glorify the Lord, even in their intellectual lives. 

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

In the Reformed tradition, the Psalms have always played a central role in our worship, piety, and formation. And the reason for this is simple: the Psalms are the hymnbook of Jesus Himself. Joining us week to discuss how this is the case and why this matters is Rev. Peter Holtvluwer, pastor at Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church and editor of a recent 4-volume pastoral commentary on the Psalms entitled Christ's Psalms, Our Psalms. 

For more on Peter's work, check out the following:

In the US: www.reformedfellowship.net

In Canada: www.providencebookspress.com

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

In a spirit of semper reformanda and self-examination, this week we take some time to consider the modern church practice of thinking in terms of the "ministry year", where a congregation's programs and ministries follow the general schedule of the school year. Is this a wise or even a biblically defensible practice? What are the strengths and weaknesses of such an approach? Does ministry ever stop for the Christian or for the church? Join us for this week's episode as we think through these questions from a theological and pastoral perspective.

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

As Reformed Christians, salvation is at the very heart of our tradition. But how does salvation work, and how do all the concepts (e.g., election, regeneration, justification, adoption, etc.) fit together in a coherent whole? In Reformed theology, the answer has always been the framework of "union with Christ" whereby believers individually and the Church corporately are understood to be "one" with Christ. It is through this union that all that is Christ's becomes ours, and thus, how all the benefits of Christ become ours. And so in this week's episode we aim to explore this doctrine and its profound implications for the Christian life. 

Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.

Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.