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In 1553, Michael Servetus was executed in Geneva, and John Calvin approved. It's the charge that haunts every defense of Calvinism, and also the story that gets reduced to a tweet and weaponized in every online argument about it. But what actually happened? In this episode of MarsCast, host Jared Luttjeboer and Dr. Cornelis Venema resist the easy verdicts, neither whitewashing nor weaponizing, and work through the historical, theological, and political complexity of one of the Reformation's most contested moments.

Teaching to Change Lives is Howard Hendricks' distilled masterwork on the craft and calling of Christian education. Drawing on more than three decades of teaching at Dallas Theological Seminary—and a lifetime of watching God transform lives through ordinary communicators—Hendricks presents seven foundational principles he calls "The Seven Laws of the Teacher." The book is structured around a memorable acrostic, TEACHER, with each letter representing one law. Written with the storytelling warmth, practical directness, and spiritual urgency that defined his celebrated teaching ministry, this book has shaped the philosophy of Christian educators across generations. Hendricks's personal journey frames the entire work. Born into a broken home in north Philadelphia, he was reached by a sixth-grade-educated Sunday school teacher named Walt, who invested in him when no one else did. That experience—a humble, growing man pouring his life into a single child—became the template for everything Hendricks would teach about effective education. The book insists that teaching is never about technique alone; it is about transformation, and transformation begins in the teacher before it can ever reach the student.

Two Views on Women in Ministry brings together four respected evangelical scholars to address one of the most contested questions in the modern church: What roles may women legitimately fill in Christian ministry? The volume follows Zondervan's Counterpoints format — each contributor writes a primary essay defending a position, then responds to each of the other three essays, with editor James R. Beck offering a concluding assessment. Two positions are represented: the egalitarian view, which holds that Scripture places no gender-based restrictions on ministry leadership, and the complementarian view, which maintains that Scripture reserves certain authoritative teaching and pastoral roles for men. Linda L. Belleville (North Park Theological Seminary) and Craig S. Keener (Eastern Seminary) argue for the egalitarian position. Craig L. Blomberg (Denver Seminary) and Thomas R. Schreiner (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) argue for the complementarian position, though with notable differences in emphasis and application between them. Beck, who identifies as an egalitarian, is careful to present all four voices fairly and without bias. The result is a model of respectful evangelical dialogue, demonstrating that faithful, scholarly believers can hold deeply different conclusions on a consequential question while maintaining genuine Christian unity.

What did Jesus really mean in the Olivet Discourse? Was He predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. or describing His Second Coming? … Or both? In this study of Mark 13:1–4, we examine one of the most debated passages in Scripture. You'll learn why faithful Bible-believing Christians have disagreed over this chapter for centuries, compare preterism, futurism, and the dual-fulfillment view, and discover how the rest of the New Testament helps interpret Jesus' words. Rather than defending a theological system, this message follows the biblical text wherever it leads, showing how prophecy is meant not to divide believers, but to encourage one another as we await Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 4:18). If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson