Before you join Barry, Kyle, and Scott for this episode of 3GT, you may want to pray first. For the guys address seriously the subject of suicide.

Having been affected by suicide in their families, churches, and communities, the men talk about this epidemic in our nation. (Did you know suicide is the second leading cause of death of our young people age 15-24?) They discuss how the act of suicide violates God’s Law, the impact that it has on those left behind, the theology of Christians and suicide, and how the church should not only respond appropriately to suicide but also work toward its prevention.

Join 3GT for this important discussion.

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A reader sent in a question wondering about the 3GTers’ view on Francis Chan’s We Are Church house church movement. After poking around his website and reading this review by Tim Challies on Chan’s Letters to the Church, the guys decided to chime in.

They talk about what they admire about Chan and his movement, such as his desire to move away from a personality-driven ministry; the Biblical origins of churches starting in private houses; and the goal of discipling in the more intimate setting of a home. They also point out some of the potential dangers of trying to avoid an “institutionalized” church.

So just hit that equilateral triangle pointing to the right below and think along with 3GT about the church!

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The 3GTers welcome Dr. George “Skip” Scipione to this week’s episode! Skip first shares his pastoral pilgrimmage that began at Westminster and ends up at RPTS. But then he and the guys dig into his recently released book The Battle for the Biblical Family. 

Dr. Scipione identifies the cultural trends that have led to the demise of the family today, from the Sexual Revolution of the 60’s to the Kinsey Institute to the latest gender issues. From there he explains how a proper applied theology of the family is essential to the church and society. Then he reveals some of the strategy of the battle plan for the restoration of the family. And Skip does it all in his typical no holds barred style!

You do not want to “skip” this episode of 3GT! Especially because you can hear how you might win a free copy of Skip’s book, made available from our friends at Crown & Covenant Publications. 

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Scott wants to know. Are you a WINO? Westminster In Name Only? The guys have a vigorous discussion about the level of adherance one should have to the confession of faith of his or her church. 

Well, actually there is a vigorous discussion after Kyle’s opening monologue! For he lays out very helpfully four different practices in the church regarding how closely one subscribes to their confession: Absolute Subscriptionism, Strict Subscriptionism, System Subscriptionism, and Substance Subscriptionism. When he does finish, then the guys get into it! Exceptions, liberalism dangers, paper popes, semper reformanda, micropresbyterianism…all types of topics are addressed!

So don’t be a Wino and act drunk by thinking  confessions are unimportant! Tune in and sober up with this episode of 3GT!

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Pragmatics. The church can easily begin to do what works rather than what the Lord commands. The guys discuss the various ways the church can fall into the pragmatics trap, from using goofy (even blasphemous!) names for a church coffee shop to promoting a Reformed distinctive over the gospel. As the Cambridge Declaration of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals warns, the modern church has turned “gospel preaching into marketing.” 

Though they are not sure who it was, the 3GTers know someone once said, “What you win them with is what you win them to.” They then remind their listeners that rather than using gimmicks to draw people to the church, in essence “peddling the gospel,” instead the church needs to trust in the power of the gospel.

So hit the play button and think along with the pastor, parishioner, and professor on this week’s episode of 3GT!

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