Three Guys Theologizing (3GT)

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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Of all the episodes that the prosecuting attorney would miss, it should not have been this one! Yet so it was, as the parishioner was on spring break when the pastor and professor were finally able to record again. For the topic they chose to discuss was that of God and His justice.

In the first part of this episode, Kyle and Barry look Biblically at the concept of justice. Too often, people portray justice as counter-opposed to mercy and, further still, even the lack of mercy. Yet as they theologize, the two of the 3GTers help hearers understand that the God of mercy cannot be truly known and loved unless He is also seen as the God of justice. For the cross of Jesus Christ reveals the wondrous truth of how “righteousness and peace kiss each other” (Ps. 85:10).

From there, they apply this doctrine very practically. For Barry has just returned from an Indiana courtroom, where the man who shot his son-in-law and altered greatly his family’s life was sentenced. As he recounts the incredible events of that day, we are once again reminded that the answer to the question “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen. 18:25) is a resounding “Yes and Amen!”

The pastor and professor hope that not only will the parishioner/prosecuting attorney tunes into this episode. They hope many faithful listeners of 3GT will also listen and declare with the psalmist about Christ, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord” (Ps. 33:5).

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On this episode, the guys take up a topic submitted by a listener. However, before they do, the listener asks Kyle a question regarding BeReal. He acts as if this French app is better than Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook, but his explanation will leave you dubious.

They then get down to the true question at hand. Can a sincere Christian who loves football watch it on the Lord’s Day? If not, how is that not legalism? Having waited until the NFL season and the Super Bowl are over, the 3GTers answer this question outside the heat of the moment. Kyle gives a history of how the NFL purposefully chose Sunday for its “special day” to air football games. From there, the guys speak of how the Lord’s Day is to be consecrated unto the Lord and how exchanging the pleasure of football for heavenly blessings is a far better path. They offer many practical ways the day can be holy between and after its worship services, while sharing personal anecdotes of God’s blessings they have experienced as they dedicated the day to Him.

Push the play button and enjoy yet another sanctifying episode of Thee Guys Theologizing!

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After conferring upon Barry another title and hearing what a good time he and Scott had together over the weekend, Kyle brings up another topic that shows the 3GTers are about all things Presbyterian. For they discuss the process of a man becoming a pastor through the presbytery. 

They explain what it means for a man to be taken under care by his presbytery. From there, the holy partnership of how a seminary theologically and practically develops a man and how the presbytery examines him is highlighted. Scott is then given a pop quiz on what are the first five exams in being licensed to preach and scores a 4/5 after the answer “cooking exam” is marked wrong. The different exams and their purpose, how the seminary and presbytery seek to work in tandem in taking a student through the process, and what it means to be licensed to preach are all discussed. Again, Scott is quizzed on the five exams in the next level of eligibility to receive a call and again scores a 4/5 when “basket weaving” is tossed out. Conversation occurs about experiencing the difficulty of students failing exams and presbyters making things difficult. After highlighting the process for ordination and installation, the episode ends by stressing how important guarding the ministry of the gospel is as presbyteries exercise due diligence in this regard.

If you want to know how Presbyterian pastors are made, be sure to tune into this episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

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For a funny reason, the guys get introduced as characters from Back to the Future such as Biff and Marty McFly, which is about the only theme that ties this episode together. For the guys take a break from their normal singular focus and discuss a variety of seemingly unrelated topics on this installation of 3GT.

They first return to discuss Episode 301 where Rosaria Butterfield was interviewed about her new book Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age. As Kyle and Scott decided to make a Mr. Bean quote the basis for winning a free copy, Barry reads the quotes and the other guys choose their two favorites. (Those listeners who submitted the winning quotes did have books sent to them!) From there, they discuss the fact that Kyle’s wife will be having a baby soon, and he reveals the gender and even the name of their little one! Next on the list is a short section on the brouhaha regarding Alistair Begg, and a reference to another movie (Bobby Jones) makes it into the conversation. They then venture into the political realm a bit as they discuss the Texas border crisis and the standoff between the state and federal governments.

As stated, quite a range of topics on this episode! And, if that’s not enough, as Scott tries to tie it all together with a Biff quote he has been building up to the whole time, he truly biffs it at the end!

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After establishing Kyle‘s proper location and noting that Scott is wearing a pink sweater, the guys get down to the task at hand. What does it mean for elders to shepherd the flock of God?

As Elder Hunt is about to head into a session meeting, the 3GTers start there. What is the session and what goes on in those meetings? They define how the session is a court of the church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. They talk about the importance of overseeing the church in a way that represents the interests of Christ and caring for the people of God through wise decision-making and prayer. They explain how the elders are responsible for admitting members to the church and removing members when needed from the church. They interact about the voluntary nature of associating with the church and avoiding coercion in shepherding people. The guys then discuss how a great deal of shepherding is done informally, as elders come alongside the people to get to know them and show care for them in their daily lives. The guys then spend time speaking about how to create an environment where people can be helped in a church through difficult matters such as sin, conflict, and crisis.

This episode was designed to be practical. Did the Three Guys succeed? Only one way to find out! Tune in to this latest episode of 3GT!

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In this episode, Kyle, Barry, and the other guy bring a special guest to help them with a controversial topic. Pastor Colin Samul joins the pastor, o the professor, and the other guy discuss his review of the book The Case for Christian Nationalism by Stephen Wolfe. 

They begin the episode by having Colin define nationalism, particularly Christian nationalism. This concept is differentiated from patriotism and fascism, as well as contrasted with the rabid, secular individualism of our modern day. Though Wolfe’s book has received scathing reviews by people like Kevin DeYoung, Colin shares with Kyle, Barry, and the other guy a more balanced take on the book. He notes three positives in Wolfe’s work: 1) it promotes a national confession position without straying into transformationalism; 2) the book is based upon reformed, scholastic works; and 3) it supports governments upholding the moral law of God while resisting theonomy. Colin then shows how these positions have touch points with the doctrines of the RPCNA regarding the civil realm.

However, Colin tells the two cohosts and the other guy some of his concerns about the book. He points out an inconsistent anthropology with Reformed theology that roots mankind’s ability to form nations despite its fallenness. Though not accusing Wolfe of promoting prejudicial forms of government, his views on ethnicity as it is tied to his understanding of nationalism are troublesome. Wolfe’s position on the need of a Christian prince, almost calling for messianic figures to arise in nations to lead them in a Christian profession, differs significantly from Westminster’s view of the civil magistrate.

In this election year, there is much food for thought on this episode of Three Guys Theologizing!

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