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

We have another book recommendation, but this one is somewhat unique. In this episode, Cameron quizzes Mark about his 2007 book Rethinking Worldview, one of the volumes every new member at Grace receives as a gift. What made Mark write this book, and what can we learn from its three-fold focus on worldview, wisdom, and witness?

Mentioned in this episode:
Rethinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in This World, by J. Mark Bertrand

The culture practices discipleship just as surely as the Church — if anything, the world’s efforts are greater. This forming power is inescapable. But that doesn’t mean that it is unanswerable. In this episode, Mark and Cameron think about what Christian discipleship needs to look like in a culture that is actively molding us in its image. The key may be as simple as realizing that true discipleship is friction.

In its call to the world, the Church inevitably reveals how it perceives sinners. Should our message be one of acceptance, or should it demand a changed life? Based on Matthew 9, Cameron and Mark attempt to figure out whether how we see sinners matches up with the practice of Jesus.

This time it’s Cameron’s turn to make a book recommendation. In this episode, he suggests a collection of writings by Dr. Jeremy Begbie titled A Peculiar Orthodoxy: Reflections on Theology and the Arts, which encourages creative Christians to see the benefits of theological orthodoxy in general, and even the merits of Reformed orthodoxy in particular.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Peculiar Orthodoxy: Reflections on Theology and the Arts, by Jeremy S. Begbie

Digging deeper into a point made during Mark’s recent sermon on Matthew 8, this episode explores the divine gift of authority, as well as its all too frequent abuse at the hands of sinners. Cameron and Mark will touch on aspects of a recent report on abuse in the PCA, as well as the Westminster Larger Catechism’s teaching on power and its intended uses.

Mentioned in this episode:

ByFaith Online: “PCA Abuse Study Committee Releases Its Report”

The Commentary, Episode 36: “Presbyterians Need Presbytery”

This episode is one long reading recommendation! During a recent power outage, Mark read Sinclair Ferguson’s The Whole Christ by candlelight. Now, he attempts to summarize the historical controversy in the eighteenth century Scottish church which serves as a backdrop tot he book, as well as several key takeaways from the reading.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance, by Sinclair Ferguson

In this episode, Mark and Cameron wrap up Grace’s recent sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount with a discussion about what it means to “do” Christ’s words. Then they shift gears to talk about the next series: Royal Authority: The Rule & Reign of God’s Anointed in Matthew chapters 8-9.

Following up on our recent episode on vocation, Cameron and Mark dig deeper into the challenge of pursuing our work as believers. What does it take to do you job in a Christian way? How are we supposed to balance the demands of work with those of faith?