Small Town Theologian

Christians do good works by God's grace and Spirit, but do good works count toward their righteous standing before God? Is Christ our righteousness or are Christ and our good works our righteousness? Tune in for comfort for the soul.

CLARIFICATION: When I say at the end of the podcast, "will reward us with grace when our race is finished" I am not talking about us meriting the grace of God in any way. What I mean is that the reward we receive for our good works will be all grace and no merit. Our reward is pure grace (HC 64).  

Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What difference would it make if we believed that Christ was 99.9% of our righteousness and our good works were only 0.1% of our righteousness? (2) Do you believe God demands 100% purity and perfection to be considered righteous under the law? Discuss. (3) If we obey 99.9% of the law, but fail in only 0.1%, are we considered obedient or righteous (James 2:10)? (4) Considering HC 64 and the associated Scriptures, why is it a straw man to say that justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone encourages people to sin?  

In this episode, Rev. Michael Brown unpacks Christ's Great Commission to his church from Matthew 28. This message comes out of California, however, Michael is now serving Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Milan. He preaches in Italian. One more faithful pastor doing faithful ministry in a "small town" (or massive city) of the world.

Here is a link to Rev. Brown's EXCELLENT book on Covenant Theology - a must-read - Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored.

Check out Rev. Brown and Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia at missionmilan.org.

Check out United Reformed Churches in North America to find other Reformed churches doing Word and sacraments ministry.

ALL SERMONS FROM OTHER PREACHERS AIRED ON SMALL TOWN THEOLOGIAN ARE USED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE PREACHERS.  

Is it important for you and me to believe the Apostles' Creed, indeed everything in it? If we believe the Apostles' Creed, how does that help or benefit us? Believing the gospel is critical to having comfort in life and death, especially considering how much we sin in thought, word, and deed. Take comfort in the gospel by believing the doctrine of double imputation. 

Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Why do so many people think that God accepts them because they do enough good works? (2) Why does a performance mentality in life lead to self-righteousness or despair? (3) Do your good works contribute at all to your right standing before God? (4) How does self-righteousness connect to a works-righteousness mentality? 

When believers die do they immediately receive a new body as they enter the presence of Jesus? Some Christians seem confused about the resurrection of the body on the last day. Tune in to finetune your beliefs about the resurrection of your body. 

Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Should we be ashamed as Christians that we don't know everything about God or the Bible and that we must continue to grow in knowledge? (2) What happens to your body when you die? Your soul? (3) Do you think your soul will be in perfect blessedness and joy in the presence of Jesus when considering your body will still be dead? (4) What does the resurrection of the body say about heaven (think new heaven and new earth)? 

What does it mean to confess "I believe in . . . the holy catholic church"? Protestants may not like confessing that, but they should, and the line should bring them great comfort. Tune in to learn why. 

Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What does the word catholic mean? (2) Why is the title "Roman Catholic" a misnomer? (3) Is there any comfort in knowing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are our brothers in Christ? (4) Is there any comfort in knowing you have brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe and throughout history? (5) How does Hebrews 11-12 comfort you?  

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Robert M. Godfrey tackles the important topic of Christ's two natures. This message comes out of New Holland, PA. Another faithful pastor doing faithful ministry in a small town of America.

Here is a link to read the Athanasian Creed, and you can purchase the Heidelberg Catechism which has a copy of the Athanasian Creed in the back. 

Check out Rev. Godfrey and Zeltenreich Reformed Church at zeltenreich.org.

Here's the link to New Holland Coffee Co. and Coffee Co. 

Resources for the history of New Holland: https://newhollandborough.org/history/; https://newhollandbusiness.org/about-new-holland/

The Holy Spirit is a tremendous gift to the church. Believers would not survive in their battle against their flesh, the world, and the devil without the Holy Spirit. And yet, many professing Christians don't actually know the Holy Spirit. They have idolatrous conceptions of him. Do you know the Holy Spirit? 

Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Why is it important to think about the Holy Spirit as a person and not an "it"? (2) The Holy Spirit is omnipotent, but why is it important not to think of the Holy Spirit as a force like in Star Wars? (3) When it comes to the Holy Spirit, why are the ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions helpful, and how are many professing Christians struggling because they don't know the creeds and confessions? (4) Should we worship the Holy Spirit and pray to Him?  

Jesus Christ physically left the earth to return to his Father in heaven. How is this good? How is this good for us? We want him with us. Tune in to learn a bit about how the ascension of Jesus benefits us his beloved people.

Please go to "Small Town Theologian" on your podcast listening platform and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

Books: Head to my Amazon authors page HERE to support Small Town Theologian.

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Is Jesus literally sitting down until he returns? (2) Does God the Father have a physical right hand? (3) Is Jesus currently reigning and ruling as King of kings and Lord of lords? (4) How does it benefit you that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty? (5) How do you sense Jesus defending and protecting you? 

In this episode, Rev. Adam Wells tackles Luke 7:11-17. This message comes out of Middletown, PA. Another faithful pastor doing faithful ministry in a small town of America.

Check out Rev. Adam and Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church at www.calvaryopc.com.

Here's the link to Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works on S. Union Street if you're ever in the area.

Resources for the history of Middletown: https://middletownborough.com/about/; https://middletownpubliclib.org/story-of-middletown/; https://middletownpubliclib.org/middletowns-liberty-band-and-band-hall/

Jesus Christ physically left the earth to return to his Father in heaven. How is this good? How is this good for us? We want him with us. Tune in to learn a bit about how the ascension of Jesus benefits us his beloved people.

Please go to "Small Town Theologian" on your podcast listening platform and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Do we have to understand everything about a certain truth for it to benefit us? (2) How does deepening our knowledge of a certain truth benefit us? (3) What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Advocate in heaven? (4) What are some benefits of having the Holy Spirit of Jesus with us and in us? (5) How does the ascension of Jesus give us hope and comfort for the future?  

Blog: smalltowntheologian.org.

Books: The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death & Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine

Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community.