How can I talk to family and friends about Christ? How can I witness to family members and friends who seem hardened towards biblical truths? Are there ways I should not share biblical truths to unbelieving family members and friends?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot address some difficulties of sharing our faith with those who are closest to us.  Their discussion will help us think through some practical ways to share our faith with family and friends even if some of them seem hardened towards the gospel. Dr. Caldwell also gives us some clarity on how not to behave when sharing the good news becomes difficult.

Dr. Caldwell begins by saying that this is a special issue for all Christians. We have a God-given affinity for our family members and this is often a heavy burden on our hearts. Sometimes we even find this to be true of friends with whom we’ve grown close. We may often feel as though the door to witness to our loved ones has been closed off on their end. How do we handle this and what can we do? Dr. Caldwell tells us that one of the most important things we can ever do is pray for them. In prayer, we can take great encouragement. What’s so encouraging is that prayer doesn’t rely on our presence, our words and it’s not limited to our influence.

He continues by sharing with us that it is often those who are closest to us who are the least willing to listen to us. Dr. Caldwell also says that this shouldn’t surprise us. Witnessing to our family members can be some of the most difficult evangelism we will ever do. But having said that, we also need to realize that there is great opportunity in these relationships. These people have known us, they’ve seen our sin and our failures, but they’ve also been witness to the changes that God has brought about in our lives. We need to be encouraged that these changes, in us, that have come as a result of salvation in Christ, are unmistakable to these people. God can use us, He may use us, but He may also choose to use someone else to reach them.

Dr. Caldwell says that there really isn’t a strategy for our witnessing and sharing the gospel. We need to be ready to share at any time. We need to be full of truth and always ready to give an explanation for our hope. We need to have confidence and not be intimidated nor afraid; we are to be faithful and obedient to share. Yet, how we converse with unbelievers is really important.  Our number one priority is not to convert them, we can’t do that, we can’t save them; our preeminent aim must be to honor Christ.

Our evangelism to our families and friends isn’t just about the words we say. It’s also about what we do and how we do it. Dr. Caldwell tells us that we don’t want to become frustrated, exasperated, harsh or disrespectful. We need to depend upon our Lord by relying upon Him and being patient in Him. Above all honoring Christ by the way we speak, behave and live before others. As the Lord provides opportunities we are to give clear reasons, being biblical and scriptural, saturated with grace and truth; doing it all with gentleness and respect. We are to manage our expectations by the Word of God and always trust the Lord with the outcome.

If you are interested in learning more about how to be a faithful witness, you can listen to these sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

Remembering the Great Commission – Click Here

The Sword Jesus Brought – Click Here

The Attitude of a Faithful Witness – Click Here

The Assignment of a Faithful Witness – Click Here

The Ambition of a Faithful Witness Part 1 and Part 2 – Click Here For Part 1

Click Here For Part 2

The post How Christians Can Faithfully Share Their Faith with Family and Friends appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

How should I structure my time with the Lord? Should I have a specific strategy, method or plan? Are there specifics I should include in my quiet time? Is there a minimum I should read or a specific amount of time I should devote to spending with God?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the topic of disciplined time with the Lord, often called a quiet time or more commonly called daily devotional time. Dr. Philpot begins by talking about how Christians know that they ought to be reading the bible and partaking of God’s Word for themselves on a regular basis. However, he says that there seems to be confusion about what that ought to look like. He asks Dr. Caldwell to give some advice on this and how to encourage Christians as they seek to structure their devotional life.

Dr. Caldwell says that some basic elements of disciplined time with the Lord will include prayer, Bible reading and time meditating and reflecting on what we are reading. He says there is freedom in how this gets accomplished. There isn’t an explicit method set forth in the Old or New Testament. Questions like when, how much, or how long is really up to each individual. What is most important is that you do something and remain faithful to your commitment. However, we must use care and caution.  It’s not just about glossing over the words and checking it off our checklist. We must not be satisfied with such a superficial approach to the Scriptures; we need to drink deeply and think deeply. Psalm 1 is a good example for us to contemplate.  

We are not reading God’s Word for information purposes alone, our intake of the Word of God is for the purpose of transformed lives. Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell to expand on the topic of meditation. He asks him to explain what meditating upon Scripture really means. How does a Christian meditate, and what does it do for the Christian? Dr. Caldwell begins by saying simply meditating means – to go on thinking about what you’ve read, to chew on it over and over again. We are to contemplate why God has put something there or included it in His Word, why He intends for us to know about it, and how should it change our lives. Dr. Caldwell explains that according to the New Testament, meditation is the means by which a believer develops discernment. 

The more we meditate, the more we are able to take the Word of God as our lens or grid and begin to apply it to all areas of our life. This includes our thinking and thought life, choices, attitudes, and motives. As we consistently apply the Scriptures our whole worldview changes. Again, we are not reading strictly to obtain information, the intention of Scripture is transformed lives and worship of the God who has given it. 

So it’s taking the Word of God and thinking about it in terms of application, implications, and thinking about it for the terms of obeying it. 

Can listening to sermons and Christian podcasts supplant time sitting and reading the Word of God? Is reading through the Bible in a year a good goal? How should a father lead his family in the Scriptures? These questions and more are addressed in this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, as Dr. Richard Caldwell discusses ways we should approach the Word of God and gives us Biblical wisdom and godly perspectives to meditate on.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can develop healthy habits of delightful and joyful reading and studying the Scriptures, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

The Truly Blessed Person – https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=75028342

The Sweetness of Truth – https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=11110919273

A Believers Relationship to Scripture – https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=71215205359

The Believers Relationship to God’s Word – https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=77102058357

The post How to Structure My Daily Devotionals appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, we are talking with Owen Strachan about the Excellency of God’s Sovereignty.

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell is conducting interviews with special guests from recent conferences held at Founders Baptist Church.  This week our special guest is Dr. Owen Strahan, Associate Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Dr. Caldwell starts off the interview by asking Dr. Strahan to tell us his story, when he was first introduced to the doctrines of grace and a little about his personal journey with them. Dr. Strahan tell us he was raised in a believing home and grew up attending a Baptist church in Maine, so he heard the gospel and accepted it from an early age. Yet it was not in a context that emphasized limited atonement. He tells us that from as early as he can remember he recalls hearing that everybody had their sins paid for, and effectively salvation was a check you needed to cash.  

It wasn’t until he was at college that he and some friends began reading reformed theology and about the doctrines of grace. He describes reading about and coming to understand that God has a people for himself and that He loved that a group of people before the foundation of the earth, and that He was carrying out His plan through all of time to save those people, as pretty revolutionary.

Dr. Strachan shares that the doctrines of grace have helped him understand the love of God so much better and that it’s so much sweeter.  He tells how he learned a lot from Jonathan Edwards, because of how big his God was. He tells us that Edwards summed up all the awesome, glorious, perfections and attributes of God under the term “Excellency.” Dr. Strachan says that Edwards wrote a book that was basically about why God created everything and that his main point was about why everything exists; it exists to display the glory and beauty and excellencies of God. He tells us that having this kind of foundation can help us receive some of these hard doctrines when they come up, as good and true.

Dr. Caldwell asks Dr. Strachan to tell us how these particular doctrines of grace and God’s sovereignty have shaped his ministry and his personal life. Dr. Strachan tells us that God’s sovereignty is everything. He paraphrases something that Adoniram Judson said as he went to Burma, saying, “If I did not know that God was sovereign, none of this would have been doable.” He explains how that plays itself out in his life as he attempts to take a humble stand for certain contested doctrines in Scripture. 

As a Christian, any influence, any platform or opportunity that he has to speak and pour forth truth before others are due to the sovereignty of God. He tells us every opportunity is given by God, it all belongs to Him, He owns it. Dr. Strachan explains that because it belongs to God, his desire is to be humble in it, and pray and trust that whatever outcome that comes from it will be glorifying to God.

In his personal life, Dr. Strachan shares that it’s everything, it’s all about understanding the excellency and greatness of God. Christians are to be living their lives every second of every day before God, this is what the reformers called “corem deo,” living before the face/presence of God. God is watching over us every second of every hour of every day, He sees everything. This understanding changes the way you go about doing everything in life.

He also shares that the truths from the Word of God should not have a deadening effect on us in our spiritual practice.  They should have quite the opposite that many would criticize Calvinism for. Doctrine should not be pitted against practice. Our right understanding and embracing of Biblical doctrine should drive our practice. Having the right view of life will transform our daily existence. It will supercharge and re-enchant us with great joy to live for the glory of God. These doctrines/biblical teachings do not deaden vibrant Christianity.

Lastly, Dr. Caldwell asks Dr. Strachan to suggest some references for reading that will help others dive into these great truths. Dr. Strachan recommends The Holiness of God, by R.C. Sproul and Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George Mardsen.

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on Gods sovereignty in salvation and the doctrines of grace that were presented at Founders Baptist Church,  you can click on the following link:

(Dr. Strahan’s message on the history of Calvinism in missions, can be found and accessed for listening from this same link)

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

For more information about the Truth In Love Conference visit http://truthinlove.org

The post Owen Strachan on the Excellency of God’s Sovereignty – How it Should Shape Our Understanding and Living appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, we are talking with Rick Holland on the Sovereignty of God in Salvation and being a Real Calvinist vs. a Theoretical Calvinist.

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast we are conducting interviews with special guests from recent conferences held at Founders Baptist Church.  Dr. Richard Caldwell sits down this week with Rick Holland, Senior Pastor of Mission Road Bible Church and Professor of Homiletics at The Expositors Seminary. Rick was here speaking on the conference topic of Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God.

As with our other guests these past few weeks, Dr. Caldwell asks Rick to begin by telling us about his own story in relation to the doctrines of grace. What was his exposure, when did he come to understand them, and how did he arrive where he is now?  Rick tells us that he grew up in a very modest Baptist church that did not teach the doctrines of grace but taught very much against them. The teaching there made the God of the Presbyterians and the Reformers out to be a pernicious, persnickety, precarious God who willy nilly picked people out for salvation. So in his heart, he leaned away from these doctrinal truths. 

His exposure to these doctrines didn’t come until his first year in seminary, where he studied the depravity of man and learned how depraved men are.  As he studied this he began to understand that if dead is dead, and sinful is sinful then it’s God who has to rescue us from that situation. He says there were no lights or flashing signs, he just realized at that point that Gods sovereignty in salvation was true. It was total depravity that convinced him, and the other doctrines just lined up after that. He explains that the hardest doctrine to accept was limited atonement because when he first heard it, it was so ill-defined. He states that he prefers to call it definite atonement saying it just makes more sense theologically and exegetically.

Next, Dr. Caldwell asks Rick to tell us how the doctrines of grace have shaped his ministry and his personal life. Rick tells us they have given him confidence enabling him to rest in Gods sovereign purposes. He understands that as he faithfully preaches the gospel week after week that the results are truly up to God. There is comfort also in that he doesn’t feel the burden of other people’s souls as he used to.

This isn’t to say that he doesn’t have and feel the burden for people to be saved. He just knows that he has a responsibility to be faithful and to proclaim the gospel, he doesn’t have to lasso people into the kingdom of God. Rick moves on to share about a personal crisis his family went through. Explaining that there was a period of time where one of his sons was rebellious and recalcitrant. Nothing that Rick and his wife did appeared to have any effect on that son.  He tells us that that time in his life rocked his world and changed their lives, sharing that he moved from being a theoretical Calvinist to being a real Calvinist.

Dr. Caldwell proceeds with asking Rick what advice he would give to young men coming out of seminary, that believe and embrace these doctrines, who might be going into a church that hasn’t had much exposure to Calvinism.  Rick says that these men should not try to teach a system or a theological perspective, they should just teach the text. He expresses the point of endearing yourself to the people where they trust your handling of God’s Word. Then when you come to something they disagree with they can trust you with that as well. He says these are battles that need to be fought, but rarely should they be the first. He reminds men to be patient, let the scriptures dictate the agenda of the pulpit, not their own curiosities or favorites. God will get you there and you need to let Him decide when.

Lastly, Dr. Caldwell asks Rick to share some resources that were influential and helpful for him that he believes would be helpful for others as well.  Rick tells us that there are a couple that he thinks will do this, one in a theological way and another in a more practical way. The first is by J.I. Packer, in his “Introductory Essay to John Owen’s Death of Death in the Death of Christ,” it’s more deep and theological. It can be read here. 

Second, on the more practical side, he recommends J.I. Packer’s book, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, which is a more sweet, gentle approach than a theological argument.

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on Gods sovereignty in salvation and the doctrines of grace that were presented at Founders Baptist Church,  you can click on the following link:

(Ricks message on irresistible grace, can be found and accessed for listening from this same link)

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

For more information about the Truth In Love Conference visit http://truthinlove.org

The post Rick Holland on the Sovereignty of God in Salvation and being a Real Calvinist vs. a Theoretical Calvinist appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, we are talking with Anthony Kidd about the Sovereignty of God in Election and Beyond.

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast we are conducting interviews with special guests from recent conferences held at Founders Baptist Church. This week, Anthony Kidd, Pastor of Faith Bible Church and Professor at Los Angeles Bible Training School, joins Dr. Richard Caldwell. Dr. Caldwell starts off asking Anthony to talk to us about his exposure to the doctrines of grace and what that journey was like.

Anthony tells us that shortly after he was saved he started listening to John MacArthur on the radio. One teaching that aired was John teaching from Romans 1. This was his first exposure, and it was on the doctrine of total depravity. As he continued to listen to Johns teachings, he was introduced to other teachers where he could go listen and read, one of those was R.C. Sproul. He tells us that he got hold of one of R.C.’s books, Chosen By God. In this book, he was exposed to more understanding of the doctrines of grace. But more specifically he says, that book got a hold of him and exploded his thinking as an Arminian.

He goes on to say he saw it as biblical but was challenged because the scriptures were scattered throughout. Pastor Kidd wanted to go to the bible to be able to validate what he was learning, and this is what he did. He sat down with a couple of people, some limited resources and started studying in the book of Ephesians. What he found there made his journey pretty quick without much pushback, because it was there in the scriptures, in the Word of God.

Dr. Caldwell next asks Anthony to explain which of the five doctrines of grace was the hardest for him to embrace. Anthony responds and says like many others it was limited atonement. He tells us he can’t remember who it was that he read that pressed it home for him, but it was like the last domino that fell. It was a turning point and it came when he saw that it was about the importance of understanding God’s intention in the atonement, the design of it and what God was actually achieving.

Lastly, Dr. Caldwell asks Anthony how he suggests introducing these doctrines to a church congregation, and to tell us how these doctrines have impacted his preaching, ministry, and him personally. Anthony tells us that he sees the importance of being expository in his preaching instead of laboring to preach theological systems. As you carefully and prayerfully preach from Genesis to Revelation you will come across these doctrines and as you do you point your people to them, tying them to the sovereignty of God. Dr. Caldwell shares that this is good because as you come to each book you’re going to be reminding the people that this is the Word of God, it’s inerrant, it’s sufficient, it’s authoritative, and whatever it teaches this is what we believe.

Anthony then says yes this is true, we are going to go where the Bible takes us; we might get uncomfortable, we might have to wrestle with some of this, and it may push against some sinful tendencies we have. But we need to be patient, and we need to go there, being patient with the congregation as God has been with us.

Anthony tells us that he can’t say one particular doctrine of grace has shaped how he preaches, goes about ministry work, and lives out life. More importantly, he says it’s been understanding the sovereignty of God. So that whatever he might see at any given time in ministry and life, good or not so good by human perspective, he knows that God is sovereignly working. God is going to accomplish His purposes by His sovereign grace, His goodness, and His kindness as He uses broken jars of clay.

Anthony explains that it was as he listened to Sinclair Ferguson teaching through Ephesians 1, talking about what the doctrines of grace should do to the Christian, it was incredibly humbling. Seeing that it is all of God, and then seeing the wonder in it that we get to participate in the unfolding of His plan, is all just so very humbling. He finds it comforting and encouraging that God is in control; knowing that each individual’s part is to remain faithful in all areas of life, growing in your own sanctification as you do life with others, and always trusting the Lord for the results.

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on Gods sovereignty in salvation and the doctrines of grace that were presented at Founders Baptist Church, you can click on the following link:

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

For more information about the Truth In Love Conference visit http://truthinlove.org

The post Anthony Kidd on the Sovereignty of God in Election and Beyond appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.