Small Town Theologian

Small Town Theologian

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Small Town Theologian episodes

  • STT 063 - The Comfort of Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification (HC LD 8, QA 24-25)

    There is comfort and assurance for you in rich and deep theology. The doctrines of God are not intended to fill your minds with impractical facts; they are meant to comfort you and fill you with joy in a true knowledge of God and His works. Do you go to a good church that unpacks the rich doctrine of Scripture to help you thrive in your relationship with God? Do you invest yourself in knowing the language of Scripture so that you can draw comfort and assurance from God's truth?  

    For more information about Small Town Theologian, head to smalltowntheologian.org.

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Do you have a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death? Does your friend? Does your sister? Pick up a copy today.

    Do you struggle with the Biblical doctrine of predestination? My book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine can help you think through this important and comforting truth.

    10 min
  • STT 062 - Is Christian Universalism Alive in Your Church (HC LD 7, QA 20-23)

    Have you ever been to a funeral or memorial service where you got the impression that the pastor and congregation believe everyone goes to heaven? Christian Universalism may be more prevalent than we think. Perhaps it's in our churches? The Scripture is clear that not everyone goes to heaven; only those who are grafted into Christ by true faith go to heaven. People need to hear the clear message of God's law and gospel to understand how to get to God.

    For more information about Small Town Theologian, head to smalltowntheologian.org.   

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Do you have a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death? Does your friend? Does your sister? Pick up a copy today.

    Do you struggle with the Biblical doctrine of predestination? My book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine can help you think through this important and comforting truth.

    10 min
  • STT 061 - Who Jesus Is for You in Your Fear & Anxiety (HC LD 6, QA 16-19)

    There are many threatening things in the world today, and you may be somewhat scared and anxious. What are you fearing? Are you fearing your circumstances? Are you fearing God? There is an indivisible link between fearing God and finding comfort, peace, and joy in circumstances. When we fear God and our circumstances, it is ever comforting to know that we have a mediator and deliverer who is our redemption. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Do you have a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death? Does your friend? Does your sister? Pick up a copy today.

    Do you struggle with the Biblical doctrine of predestination? I think my book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine can help you think through this important and comforting truth.

    10 min
  • STT 060 - Jesus Paid It All Because You Couldn't Pay (HC LD 5, QA 12-15)

    When we sin, maybe sin big, we feel like we need to make it up to God and others. We carry the weight of needing to pay off a debt we can't pay. The message of the gospel is that Jesus paid our sin debt in full to free us from the weight of the curse of God's law. Being debt-free allows us to truly love God and others. We should try to make it right with others when we wrong them, but we cannot pay God for our sins, we can only receive Christ by grace alone through faith alone for he is the only sufficient payment.  

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Do you have a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death? Does your friend? Does your sister? Pick up a copy today. 

    Do you struggle with the Biblical doctrine of predestination? I think my book Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine can help you think through this important and comforting truth.

    10 min
  • SPECIAL (001): Overcoming Sinful Thoughts & Desires by Grace (Rev. Jonathan Shirk - Manheim, PA)

    Today's STT SPECIAL is a sermon titled "The Tenth (Part 1): Overcoming Sinful Thoughts & Desires by Grace." It was preached by Rev. Jonathan Shirk at Jerusalem Church in Manheim, PA. Are you discouraged about the sinful desires and cravings deep within your heart? Are you wondering how you will ever overcome them? Today's message is for you. Listen to get a strong dose of the gospel to comfort and assure you that God's marvelous grace is yours in Christ. Look to Christ for the strength to fight the fight of faith. 

    Want to listen to the rest of the Ten Commandments series? Head to Jerusalem Church's website and access the sermon page.

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community. 

    43 min
  • STT 059 - Do You Understand Your Original Sin (HC LD 4, QA 9-11)

    "I would never do that!" Have you ever said or thought this when people hurt you in some way? The thought that we are above certain sins seems to suggest a certain self-righteousness and naivete. Apart from God's grace, we are all capable of unspeakable evil. The doctrine of original sin is humbling and pushes us to ask for and depend upon God's amazing grace. Jesus would never do that, and he is our confidence. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Want to support the show? Don't give money. Instead, pick up a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death and a copy of Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine. Better yet, give several copies of each to your friends. Another great way to support the show is to follow me on Facebook. Perhaps your New Year's resolution can be to read a few theology books with the intent of having your heart warmed and drawn closer to God.

    Have kids? Want to have a little fun as a family and teach your kids some profound theology? Pick up a copy of my friend Timothy Brindle's new book and album titled The Acrostic of God and rap in the van after listening to STT. Hip hop and theology are a great combination!

    10 min
  • STT 058 - Do Masks Really Conceal the Image of God in the Face of Man (HC LD 3, QA 6-8)

    Some Christians who hate wearing masks make a popular argument against masks. The argument is that wearing masks conceals the image of God in the face of man. Is this argument legitimate? What is the image of God in man? This is an important theological question with important implications. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Want to support the show? Don't give money. Instead, pick up a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death and a copy of Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine. Better yet, give several copies of each to your friends. Another great way to support the show is to follow me on Facebook. Perhaps your New Year's resolution can be to read a few theology books with the intent of having your heart warmed and drawn closer to God.

    Have kids? Want to have a little fun as a family and teach your kids some profound theology? Pick up a copy of my friend Timothy Brindle's new book and album titled The Acrostic of God and rap in the van after listening to STT. Hip hop and theology are a great combination!

    10 min
  • STT 057 - Struggling with Besetting Sins with Confidence & Hope (HC LD 2, QA 3-5)

    Besetting sins. They are shameful. They are unsettling. Why haven't we gotten beyond certain sins? The gospel is our confidence and hope in the face of our besetting sins. Sometimes certain theological truths, like our ongoing struggle against our sinful nature, may seem quite discouraging, but when thought about the right way, when thought about in light of the gospel, can give us hope and expectation. Tune in. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Want to support the show? Don't give money. Instead, pick up a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death and a copy of Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine. Better yet, give several copies of each to your friends. Another great way to support the show is to follow me on Facebook. Perhaps your New Year's resolution can be to read a few theology books with the intent of having your heart warmed and drawn closer to God.

    Have kids? Want to have a little fun as a family and teach your kids some profound theology? Pick up a copy of my friend Timothy Brindle's new book and album titled The Acrostic of God and rap in the van after listening to STT. Hip hop and theology are a great combination! 

    8 min
  • STT 056 - Happy New Year: Sound Doctrine Is Connected to Holiness (HC LD 1, QA 1-2)

    Happy New Year! May the Lord bless you in 2022. If we desire to live holy lives for the glory of God, we must understand how holiness is inseparable from sound doctrine. Many Christians do not seem to have a clear doctrinal statement for their lives. Here is where catechisms and confessions are really helpful. Tune in to learn how sound doctrine and holiness are connected. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Want to support the show? Don't give money. Instead, pick up a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death and a copy of Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine. Better yet, give several copies of each to your friends. Another great way to support the show is to follow me on Facebook. Perhaps your New Year's resolution can be to read a few theology books with the intent of having your heart warmed and drawn closer to God. 

    10 min
  • STT 055 - We Are But Needy & Dependent Spiritual Infants (HC LD 52, QA 127-129)

    Merry Christmas! How do you see yourself? You could answer numerous things, but would one of the ways you see yourself be a spiritual infant? We'd like to think of ourselves as strong, independent, capable, but one of the images Scripture gives us of believers is spiritual infants, weak, dependent, and needy. How does this imagery connect with our prayer life? Self-sufficient people don't pray. Weak and dependent people pray. 

    STT is a member of the Society of Reformed Podcasters.

    STT is a member of the Christian Podcast Community.

    Want to support the show? Don't give money. Instead, pick up a copy of The Heidelberg Catechism: True Comfort for Life & Death and a copy of Predestined for Joy: Finding Comfort in a Controversial Doctrine. Better yet, give several away to friends. Also, follow me on Facebook. Merry Christmas!

    10 min

About Small Town Theologian

From the publisher's feed

Biblical, confessional, and practical truth in 10 minutes or less. Recorded in Rev. Jonathan Shirk’s walk-in closet, the Small Town Theologian podcast is a compact show bringing you comforting gospel…