Undone Podcast

Part 2 of our "Calvinism" series focuses on the first point in the popular acrostic: "T.U.L.I.P.", also known as the "doctrines of grace", or the "5 points of Calvinism".

"Total Depravity" is a doctrine that many evangelical Christians would probably verbally affirm, on its face, without actually understanding all that it entails. This was certainly the case for many of us. We agreed that man has a sinful nature, that he is inclined towards sin, that we're saved by grace through faith, and that we must repent and believe in Christ or we will perish in our sins. But what if the bible actually teaches that fallen man cannot do that? That he isn't willing or able to lift even a finger towards God? What would be the implications? This was the burning question that our church began wrestling with at the early stages of our reformation. What seemed at first to be a minor issue of doctrinal nitpicking, soon turned into a snowball that eventually became an avalanche demolishing much of our theology. All to the glory of God! We pray this episode is a blessing to all who will listen. May our understanding of who we are only serve to magnify God's grace in our hearts. And may we never grow tired of hearing about it!

As our church embarked on a journey of laying aside our presuppositions and allowing God's Word to determine our doctrine, we came into a theological clash over the issue of soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). Ultimately the foundation for our shift from what we would now call a "man-centered" to a "God-centered" theology came as we surrendered to what Scripture teaches regarding God's sovereignty. The result of this change was devastating to our church. Many people left. Some, amicably. Some, angry. Many, without a word. Though it was painful to endure, we are grateful to God for His gracious correction. Calvinism is a difficult subject to discuss due to the many misunderstandings, mischaracterizations, and front-loaded theological assumptions surrounding the doctrine. Our goal is to walk patiently through our journey of discovering the "doctrines of grace", how they point us away from ourselves and towards the glory of God, and to address many of the common objections along the way. But there is no way to properly introduce these doctrines without laying out the foundation of God's sovereignty, from which they flow. So this episode will serve as part 1 of our "Calvinism" series, which will consist of several episodes in the weeks/months to come. We hope you are blessed by them. Soli Deo Gloria!

In episode three, we discuss our massive shift away from the pentecostal/charismatic tradition and how close we come to absolute chaos. We talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, demon slaying, emotionally driven worship services, and "me-centered" worship music. Believe it or not, the bible actually has a lot to say about these things, yet many churches simply choose to worship in whatever way makes them happy. The result is ignorant worship at best, self worship at worst. Maybe you are a part of a church or even leading a church that is caught up in the chaos and emotionalism of man-centered worship. We invite you to take a listen as we tell a little more of our story.

Five years ago, in June of 2021, we planted Stone Chapel as a non-denominational, pentecostal/charismatic church. However, a commitment to study and submit to God's word, no matter the cost, resulted in radical reformation. In this first episode, we provide you with an overview of that process, which will be unpacked in greater detail in the episodes that follow. Much of what is discussed will be offensive to those who are steeped in a man-centered theological tradition. Trust us, we understand. Nevertheless, if that's you, hang in there with us. Keep listening. And more importantly, keep reading.

Soli Deo Gloria!

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness.' The Christians at Rome are not to dwell on God's goodness alone, nor on His severity alone, but to contemplate both together. Both are attributes of God-aspects, that is, of His revealed character. Both appear alongside each other in the economy of grace. Both must be acknowledged together if God is to be truly known."

-J. I. Packer

Knowing God

The doctrine of the Trinity is a foundational doctrine of orthodox Christianity. And yet, most christians would probably struggle to articulate it without actually stumbling into a heretical view of God's nature. As christians, we should desire to know God more, by studying all he has revealed to us about himself in scripture.

Elder, Pastor, Shepherd, Bishop, Presbyter...

What do these words mean? Are they different titles/functions? What are the requirements to hold such a position? Many of us have been in church all our lives and don't have a clue what the bible says about those tasked as "under shepherds" for Christ's flock. Let's dig into the scriptures for some answers!

If the title of this episode made you yawn, grab a red bull and tune in anyway. The subject of church government is often overlooked. But if you are a member of a church, it should matter a great deal to you that your church operates within a biblical model of church government. In a time where trust of authority is at an all-time low, biblical structure and accountability is an absolute MUST in our churches. On this episode, we take a look at the 3 major forms of church government, and focus in on one in particular.

Around 500 years ago a young catholic monk got kicked out of the church for reading the bible and believing what it said. Out of this little dust up arose the "protestant reformation". The "Five Solas" represent the heart of the reformation and the foundation of the essentials of the Christian faith.