Three Guys Theologizing (3GT)

After a late summer hiatus, the gents return to their favorite extracurricular activity to record new episodes of Three Guys Theologizing. Yet alas, the parishioner is still not available. However, undeterred, the pastor and professor decide to give listeners an update on the latest in their lives and ministry.

With Kyle manning the mic, he begins to pepper Barry with questions about his life and ministry. Along the way, we hear about his work as a prof, pastor, and even executor (read that last label carefully!). Then, turning the tables, Kyle catches us up on being a new father, watching his older son play football, his failure as a Ninja Warrior, and what life is like as he enters his twelfth year of ministry.

Remember, there are real people behind those 3GT mics. We hope you find this brief update encouraging and preparing you for more regular future episodes of Three Guys Theologizing!

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As the summer ends, the guys welcome a guest to this episode of Three Guys Theologizing. Pastor William “Bill” Boekestein of the Immanuel Fellowship Church (URC) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, joins them to discuss his latest book Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling.

The interview begins by Bill defining Biblically the idea of vocation. He explains how the Protestant Reformation helped recapture the sense of all of God’s people serving the Lord, not just the clergy. Bill then discusses with the 3GTers the theology of work and rest, and how they add to the sense of vocation. From there, Bill describes ways young people growing up in the church can prepare for their vocational calling, chief of which is growing in wisdom and character. Toward the end of the episode, questions about vocation such as “What if I hate my job?”, “Should I go to college?” and “What about the military?” are addressed.

As you will see if you listen, Bill’s pastoral heart and Biblical practicality shine through his voice and this book. Parents, teachers, and pastors should desire to put this volume into the hands of the youth in their homes and churches. Learn more about Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling, and listen carefully to learn how you can win a free copy!

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Scott’s back in the hosting seat after cruising with his beloved for their 25th, which he thoroughly enjoyed and so apologizes to Kyle for making fun of his cruise history. This leads the guys to discus the possibility of a 3GT cruise like other high profile ministries. Yet knowing the 3GT budget, they quickly get back to being content to record as usual. They then pick up on the latest internet kerfuffles regarding seminary education.

Scott asks the pastor and seminary president about the many objections raised about seminary training. They question whether seminary is necessary in this digital age, where vast theological resources are available online. The negative influence of seminaries growing liberal and distributing theological corruption is evidenced. Critics point out the high cost of seminary education (Carl Trueman’s Follow the Money and Barry’s response are referenced). Older men find it difficult to transplant their families for the years of seminary education. Other models of training are also mentioned as alternatives to the seminary.

With Scott firing away with these objections like the prosecuting attorney he is, the pastor and seminary president respond. A vigorous discussion ensues. While acknowledging that no model is perfect, Barry and Kyle give answers and add balance to the question of the importance of seminary education.

As all of God’s people are impacted by the ministers that feed and shepherd them, every believer should become knowledgeable to a degree about pastoral training. So tune in to this episode of Three Guys Theologizing to learn more about this important topic!

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The parishioner is off on the high seas, enjoying a silver anniversary cruise with his beloved. So the professor takes the opportunity to interview the pastor about his new book on Presbyterianism, Household of Faith.

Kyle, as one of the managing editors of Grassmarket Press, a series of books introducing theological and Christian living topics published by Crown & Covenant, explains the purpose of this series as he begins. From there, he shares how the opening chapters of his book describe the nature of the church, which leads to how Christ, as head of the church, wants the church to be governed.

As Kyle explains, our high school civics courses helped us learn what being a good citizen of a country means and how to participate in our government. Similarly, Christians, as citizens of heaven, need to know the importance of seeing the church operate according to Biblical directives and their call to be involved in and honor the courts of the church.

However, you will not find Kyle’s book – or this 3GT episode! – just dry lessons on Christian duty. Instead, you will have explained with Biblical insight and pastoral heart the beauty of how Christ rules over His people in the church.

So tune into this episode of Three Guys Theologizing and learn how you can enter to win a free copy of Household of Faith!

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In this episode of Three Guys Theologizing, the gentlemen welcome back Pastor Nathan Eshelman as their guest. Nathan has authored another book in the Grassmarket Press series, entitled Worthy. They interview him about his book on worship.

As Nathan reminds us, the word “worship” is based on the word “worthy.” The Triune God is worthy of our praise and honor. But therein lies the rub. How is God to be praised and honored in worship? Man’s ideas and imaginations about this subject are nothing short of idolatry. As Nathan reminds us, for God to be worshipped properly we must follow his clear directives in Scripture, which his book explains plainly and practically as being centered on Christ. As our worship here on earth is preparing us to spend an eternity with God, what importance it has!

Listen to this episode to hear more about the book Worthy and how you can win a free copy!

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The boys start off talking about the pleasantry of mowing their lawns, which has nothing to do with this episode but is a continuation from the last one! Kyle gets the guys on track by sharing an anecdote that takes them to the subject at hand – church conflict. 

As Samuel Rutherford once said, there will always be disagreements in the church. To aid in thinking through how to handle them, the 3GTers utilize three stories of church struggles found in Acts 15-16.  From the Biblical witness, they discuss the different types of disagreements that can arise in the church, wrongful approaches to dealing with them, and proper ways of addressing them.

Sadly, believers will always have to deal with issues of conflict in their congregations and denominations. But being prepared for them is important in working through disagreements. So tune in to this episode of 3GT for a little help!

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As the three guys return to the studio, the prof has just mowed his lawn. He explains to the pastor and parishioner some trouble he had with his new riding lawn mower, which involved the tortoise and the hare on the throttle. From there, they move to the topic at hand – encountering the Christian slog.

The 3GTers define the slog as the dark and discouraging times Christians sometimes face. They describe its symptoms and the problems it brings to the Christian life. After referencing the Slough of Despond from Pilgrim’s Progress, they end up in a slough of their own making by discussing how to pronounce slough before getting back on track. They offer their listeners means that the Lord has provided to help leave the slog (no discrepancy in its pronunciation) and offer words of encouragement and promise as they conclude.

Feeling encumbered and weary in your Christian walk? Perhaps this episode of 3GT is just the help you need!

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The boys are back! Yes, indeed, all three guys show up for this episode. After some banter that involves Scott and Kyle referencing old movies once again and making fun of Barry’s birdwatching, they get down to the business at hand. For they return again to the subject of ordination.

Treated in an episode long, long ago (see Episode 32), the 3GTers again explain what the practice of ordination is and then expand upon it. They explain the relationship of ordination to authority, as well as the correspondence between the congregation and courts of the church wit respect to this subject. The biblical pattern of being sent and how ordination represents that sending, rather than assuming it by one’s own volition, is discussed. The guys then focus on the office of elder and the distinction between those with a ruling eldership and a teaching eldership. They look at what body ordains ruling elders versus teaching elders, and delineate the difference and functionality between the two positions while maintaining the quality of authority in them.

As they conclude, they cannot help themselves as Kyle relates Scott’s work as a ruling elder back to a movie. Surprisingly, even Barry gets into the action. Join us for another action-packed episode of Three Guys Theologizing (3GT)!

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With this episode recorded near the time of the solar eclipse, the parishioner and the professor share their experiences while the pastor gallivants around Kansas for his kids’ track meets. Though clearly the eclipse did not result in the end of the world, as some predicted, surely it testified to the Lord’s glory in natural revelation. With that in mind, two of the 3GTers turn to the special revelation of that special book at the end of the Bible entitled Revelation.

With Barry having completed a second preaching series through Revelation recently, and helping homiletics students at RPTS as they preach from this book, he shares interpretive tips for the last book of the Bible. As he does so, he quizzes Scott along the way! As they discuss how to understand Revelation, they touch on matters such as the way this book reveals more (not less!) of Christ, the prophetic language the book uses, the covenantal closing to the Bible Revelation provides, the different schools of interpretation, and much, much more.

If you would like to better understand Revelation and avoid using the latest newspaper headline – such as an eclipse! – as your interpretive guide, then tune into this latest episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

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The following episode is sponsored by Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

With the prosecuting parishioner away on trial, the pastor and professor handle this latest episode of 3GT. Given the significance of an event in the life of the seminary, Pastor Borg interviews President York regarding it.

In November 1923, the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America purchased the Horne Mansion located on Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh in order to house its denominational seminary. For the sum of $40,000, the Synod invested in this beautiful, well-built home to create a more permanent place for men to be trained in pastoral ministry. After preparing the mansion for the seminary, the next year (1924) classes began at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. For the past century, RPTS has continued to dwell in this spacious home.

On this episode, Barry shares this history and how housing the seminary in this building enhances the commitment of RPTS to create a theological family. Under the roof of what today is known as Rutherford Hall, RPTS offers its students the academic excellence, devotional piety, and practical training they need to serve the kingdom of God. Along the way, he explains some of the celebration events RPTS are doing to commemorate this history. In addition, he asks listeners to consider helping as it takes much more than the original sale price to keep the building in proper condition, as a $500,000 capital campaign is underway at this time to preserve, renew, and beautify Rutherford Hall.

We hope you will enjoy hearing of the fascinating history and ongoing ministry taking place at Rutherford Hall. If you would like to help with the 100 Years in Rutherford Hall campaign, please go to this site (be sure to select the 100 Years category as you do). As always, thank you for listening to Three Guys Theologizing!

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