It’s often said that the Reformers — and later, the Pilgrims — advocated for religious liberty, which is understood to mean “the freedom to believe whatever you want.” But is this really the kind of freedom they had in mind? In this episode, Mark and Cameron discuss the tensions between the biblical (and classical) understanding of liberty as the freedom to pursue the good versus the later enlightenment idea of liberty as the freedom to pursue whatever you want.

As Mark prepares for a long-anticipated Paris vacation, Cameron asks what our theology can teach us about the role of work, rest, refreshment, and (yes!) vacation. Is the God-given purpose of leisure merely to recharge our batteries for more work, or does it point us toward something deeper? Is rest more than just the absence of work? In this episode, we explore these questions and more.

The Shorter Catechism famously asserts that “man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” It sounds great — but what does it mean? In this episode, Cameron asks Mark to explain what the Westminster perspective on human purpose really is, and how we might actually go about fulfilling that purpose.

In Matthew 10.23, Jesus says: “You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” What does Jesus mean when he refers to the coming of the Son of Man? Scholars debate the interpretation of this reference, and in this episode Cameron and Mark will weigh three of the major theories and explain why our sermon series at Grace has chosen the third as most compelling.

It’s time for a recap of Mark’s trip to Washington, D.C. for the Bible Craftsmanship Conference. In this episode, Mark tells Cameron about what it was like to visit the Museum of the Bible for the first time, and describes the tours and talks accompanying the launch of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lectio - Read Mark’s writing on the topic of Bible design
“What Makes a Good, Readable Bible?” - Mark’s interview on the Museum of the Bible’s podcast

Episode 077: Knowing God and Knowing Ourselves

Calvin’s Institutes famously opens with the assertion that all human knowledge consists of knowing God and knowing ourselves. These two forms of knowledge are interconnected and possibly inseparable — and they are the focus of this episode of The Commentary. Here, Mark and Cameron reflect on the many different areas of life where this fundamental observation of Calvin’s shines a light on our thinking.

Mentioned in this episode:

Institutes of the Christian Religion (1541 Edition) from Banner of Truth

If you can get past the poor audio quality in this episode, you’ll hear a wide-ranging discussion of Christian mysticism. What is the role of mystery in the Christian faith? For those of us with a bent toward systematic theology and precise doctrinal formulations, mysticism often raises red flags. Is this skepticism justified, or is there a danger of mission out on something vital if we take too dismissive a stance toward mystery and mysticism? Mark and Cameron try to unravel a mystery or two in this conversation.

The Missionary Discourse in Matthew 10 gives Jesus’s instructions to the apostles as he sends them out to proclaim the presence of the kingdom. Imagine a whole chapter devoted to practical preparation on how to do the mission of the Church well! The strange thing is, Jesus doesn’t talk about a lot of topics we might consider essential for that kind of instruction — and he includes things we wouldn’t, as well. In this episode, Mark reflects on what’s missing from the missionary discourse, why it’s missing, and what we might be missing about the mission of the Church.

In this episode Mark flies solo for two segment and is joined at the end by Dan Reed, Grace’s director of discipleship and education. Mark will introduce a new sermon series on Matthew’s so-called “missionary discourse” in Chapter 10, a study we’re calling The Apostolic Foundation. Then he’ll talk about the upcoming Bible Craftsmanship Conference at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D. C., where he will be speaking. Finally, Dan and Mark will catch up on summer actives at Grace and preview what’s coming in September.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lectio - Read Mark’s writing on the topic of Bible design

Bible Craftsmanship Conference - Attend online Saturday, August 27

The City for God is a new collection of essays published in honor of Tim Keller, perhaps the most recognized name in our denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America. Mark will talk about what it was like to contribute to this volume, and together he and Cameron will discuss the influence of Tim Keller on our church, and the church in general.

Mentioned in this episode:
The City for God: Essays in Honor of Tim Keller
Keller’s Questioning Christianity podcast
Keller’s interview with Mike Cosper
Trevin Wax’s articles on the “Negative World” concept
King’s Cross, by Tim Keller
Center Church, by Tim Keller