Three Guys Theologizing (3GT)

Want an episode guaranteed to make any listener mad one way or another? Then you’ve come to the right place!

For the 3GTers take on the polarizing chaos in our culture and the church’s responsibility in the midst of it. What chaos, you say? The election. Corona. Riots. Impeachment. Executive orders. Cabinet appointments. As the psalmist says, the church must not put trust in princes. Yet is the church to speak to them? If so, how?

Join the robust conversation on this episode on Three Guys Theologizing!

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The gents are Kyle-less in this episode. Either he is celebrating his wife’s birthday or, as the lawyer suspects, preparing for his delayed court case regarding his hound. After offering the city of Winchester convincing evidence of Kyle’s guilt, Scott and Barry press on with the topic of the day. How is the church to use the imprecatory psalms?

After defining what these psalms are and giving some examples, the 3GTers minus one tackle this thorny issue. They show how these psalms that call heaven’s curses down are not prayers of personal vendettas, but rather petitions to God to judge the wicked. The false theology that denounces these psalms is addressed. Their kingdom-centered nature is highlighted. Their Biblical use, even in the New Testament, is given. The need for the modern church, grown soft in its comfortable idolatry, to rediscover them is noted. Then, as is customary at 3GT, the episode ends with some practical ways the imprecatory psalms can be employed in the church, especially in this angry age.

This episode will help you grow in the prayer language of the Holy Spirit! So stop protesting on the streets or on social media and tune into this episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

(Note: Several of the points Barry made regarding the imprecatory psalms were drawn from the excellent book on this subject The War Psalms of the Prince of Peace by James Adams. Go here to purchase a copy.)

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Well, this episode begins with more kerfuffle about Kyle’s dog’s impending court case. But eventually the guys settle down and get to the main question at hand. What are ruling and teaching elders, and what’s the difference?

The case for a “two-office” view of only deacons and elders in the church is upheld, meaning that ruling elders and teaching elders hold the same office but serve in distinct roles. An explanation of a “three-office” view is given (where churches see ministers as holding a different office from ruling elders), and acknowledgement of some of those bodies is made. With one 3GTer an RE, another a TE, and the third a hybrid (?), the important functions of both roles are given. Both the parity and plurality of elders are highlighted and explained. The guys then begin to apply these distinctions by addressing how ruling elders can encourage pastors, and vice versa.

One of the main areas the Reformers addressed in the church is its governance. So it’s vital to get the eldership right. Join along then with this vigorous exchange on this episode of 3GT!

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After a holiday hiatus, the 3GTers are rolling once again. They start off acknowledging Barry’s fire, Scott’s cardigan, and Kyle’s dog. But then they get down to business on this new year episode. For they look at 2020, the difficulty COVID-19 brought, and ask the question, “Was 2020 a stolen year?”

In answer, they do acknowledge that Corona took much from us last year. Work was more difficult. Worship went into exile mode. People were isolated from loved ones. Ill fruits resulted: unemployment, mental illness, increased drug usage, teen suicides, divorce, etc. However, the Lord still reigns, and the guys speak of the blessings hidden within the clouds. Simplicity of life, time with family, return to purer worship, yearning for fellowship, and more earnest praying are some of the blessings they share.

The Scriptures urge us to pray that the Lord will teach us to number our days so that we might present to Him a heart of wisdom. Hopefully, the challenges of the past year have helped God’s people grow in this way. For further assistance in this regard, tune it to this episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

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For the first time ever, it is 3GT+2! That’s right, the guys are joined by two others. Stephen Atkinson and Mitch Tepper from Christian Witness to Israel (CWI) come on this week’s podcast.

Listeners will first hear how a Jewish Christian from Brooklyn and a pastor from Northern Island were drawn by the Lord into this ministry. From there, Stephen and Mitch share the theology that should drive Jewish missions. They dismantle a number of the modern philosophies regarding the people of Israel. They describe not only how they bring the gospel to the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but the passion they have to see the church learn from earlier Reformers in properly engaging in Jewish missions. They conclude by telling some of the stories of the Lord working among people and sharing resources CWI has available to assist in evangelism.

Be warned! Their enthusiasm for this work is contagious! So be ready to be challenged and motivated on this episode of 5GT! (And if you want to learn more about CWI, go here.)

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Well, some technical and scheduling difficulties delayed the 3GT Team in getting this episode out. Also, we learn part of the distraction is that lawyer man Scott has been helping dog owner Kyle with a difficult court case know as “The Wandering Dog of Winchester.” So we gave you ten minutes extra bonus material to compensate (At least, that’s how we are spinning going over time!).

In this episode, the 3GTers discuss how different the various members in the body of Christ can be. They reflect on the Triune God in creation, and how He has made all things with variation and unity. The guys then turn their attention to His most wondrous creation, the redeemed people of God in the church. As the body of Christ, each member comes with differing personalities, gifts, and graces. The 3GTers converse on the difficulties in pastoring differing people, false ways to deal with diversity, modern attempts to promote diversity falsely, and, ultimately, how to appreciate the beauty of and shepherd the varying people of God. And along the way, we also find out more about that court case!

So find a quiet spot, push play, and enjoy the latest on Three Guys Theologizing!

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On this episode, the 3GTers welcome a guest onto the show to talk about one of their favorite topics. Worship! Pastor Jonathan Cruse joins them to discuss his new book What Happens When We Worship.

After an introduction by Jonathan and a correction on how to pronounce Tobias Fünke, he digs right in. He explains that he wrote this book on worship to help to people understand the dynamic interchange that takes place between God and the worshiper. Topics such as spiritual formation, covenant renewal, God’s agenda, and confession of sin are addressed. The importance of prioritizing public worship, especially in light of the Corona epidemic, is stressed. It’s a lively discussion about the most important act God’s people can do! (And a final dig about a cappella psalm singing is duly administered, as it’s only proper anytime Reformed Presbyterians talk about worship!)

You can listen and also enter an opportunity to win a free copy of What Happens When We Worship. So be sure to tune into this latest episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

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With Thanksgiving upon us, the 3GTers decide to theologize upon it. Surely many make comments and complaints about how difficult the year 2020 has been thus far. Yet why should the giving of thanks come naturally to the Christian?

To answer, the guys first give glimpses into how they typically celebrate Thanksgiving, with one of them revealing an interesting movie tradition his family has. They go on to talk about how the believer in Christ is duty-bound to “give thanks in everything.” They explain how our salvation undergirds all of life, even brining thanksgiving forth in difficult times. From there, they go on to discuss the place of giving thanks in worship, and how special days and services for giving thanks is appropriate in the Reformed faith. The gents then conclude with what they are personally thankful for these days, which includes Scott’s cardigan.

Need a little help in cultivating that spirit of thanksgiving? Tune in, theologize with the guys a bit, and let them encourage you to that end!

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Scott is back! Barry found him a fan! And Kyle sounds like who? Though this episode starts off all over the place, the 3GTers finally hone in on their topic by stepping into the cage.

For they take on what is often called Cage Stage Calvinism. They look their young opponents over by discussing the main doctrines cage stagers usually fight over, whether it is the five points of Calvinism or denominational distinctives. The 3GTers wrestle through how these tendencies can be hurtful to the church, and how every Christian has to be on the defense against them. They then offer several moves to try to pin to the mat – or at least bring to submission – cage stage Calvinists.

Do they succeed? You be the judge! Tune into into this episode of 3GT!

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No, the 3GTers are not talking about protesting election results, face masks, or any other hot button issue that gets people all riled up these days. The protest of their concern is much older than these modern affairs. They are reflecting on the “protest” in the Protestant church and why it continues on.

Without their fiery parishioner on hand, the pastor and professor have to supply the heat. They first take listeners through a basic history lesson that starts with Luther’s original 95 Theses protest. They then highlight the great divide that yet remains between the Catholic and Protestant church, looking at such matters as papal claims, justification by faith, and worship practices. The guys discuss some figures who have “returned to Rome” (one Kyle met on an airplane!) and discuss why that road has such an appeal today. They conclude by warning not only against going into the Catholic church, but remaining there if you are already are.

So push play and enter into another lively chat on this episode of 3GT!

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