Reasonable Theology Podcast

How can you introduce the Christian faith to someone who thinks they already are Christian? My guest on this episode is from Mormonism Research Ministry, which is dedicated to reaching current and former Mormons with the true Gospel.Eric Johnson has been a student of Mormonism since 1987 and has written a number of books on this unique area of evangelism, including Sharing the Good News with Mormons which we had a conversation back on episode 5 of the podcast.His latest book is Introducing Christianity to Mormons: A Practical and Comparative Guide to What the Bible Teaches where he compares and contrasts Mormon views with the teaching of God’s Word.In this episode we’ll discuss how the doctrines of the Latter-Day Saints differ from Scripture, why a significant number of Mormons are not only leaving Mormonism but are abandoning religion altogether, and how we can effectively challenge their views with Scripture when they believe the Bible is true only “as far as it has been translated correctly.”We will also get into some of the very, very different theological views on God and Jesus Christ that Mormon missionaries typically won’t get into when they knock on your door and discuss a game plan for how we can witness to Mormons that we interact with.You can see the show notes with additional resources from this conversation at ReasonableTheology.org/MormonGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

If you’ve been around Reasonable Theology for any length of time you’ll have gathered that I greatly admire CH Spurgeon and share resources from his extensive ministry often.So it is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Geoff Chang to the podcast. Chang is curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and he’s the author of a new book Spurgeon The Pastor: Recovering a Biblical and Theological Vision for Ministry.In this conversation we’ll talk about how Chang became academically interested in Spurgeon, the purpose of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern, what Spurgeon was like as a pastor of a local church, and why he was able to avoid the pitfalls of being a celebrity pastor of a large church.Along the way we’ll discuss how Spurgeon was able to accomplish so much and how this larger-than-life figure from church history can still be an encouragement to pastors of small churches.___________________________See the Show Notes at ReasonableTheology.org/PastorSpurgeonIf you enjoy the Reasonable Theology Podcast go to ReasonableTheology.org/Subscribe and get the weekly email, which includes the latest article or podcast episode, a helpful theological definition, a painting depicting a scene from Scripture or church history, a musical selection to enrich your day, and the best book deal I've found that week to build your library.Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

John Calvin (1509-1564) is a man whose extensive theological contributions have impacted countless believers and whose name has become synonymous with Reformed Theology.But who was John Calvin and why did he dedicate his life to the preaching and teaching of God's Word? This brief biographical sketch will introduce you to this pastor, theologian, and Reformer.We'll Cover:Calvin's early lifeHow he was talked into ministering in GenevaHis later banishment from GenevaCalvin's time in Strasbourg and return to GenevaHis constant trialsJohn Calvin's continuing legacyFor more information on Calvin:John Calvin: Pastor, Theologian, ReformerThe Five Points of Calvinism: Defining the Doctrines of GraceCalvin's Golden Booklet of the True Christian LifeSupport the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

Scripture tells us that believers are to "pray without ceasing." Yet many Christians recognize that their prayer lives are not what they would like them to be.So how are we to pray? Thankfully we aren’t left without an answer to that vital question.  Jesus taught His disciples how they were to pray, and this model prayer ⁠— commonly known as the Lord's Prayer ⁠— provides guidance to improve our prayer lives. In this sermon on Matthew 6:9-13 we'll examine and apply each element of the Lord's Prayer and see how we can use it as a model for our own prayers.See the full text of this sermon at ReasonableTheology.org/episode57Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

As Christians, we benefit greatly from the ministry of our fellow believers – this includes those who lived long before our time. Thanks to their preserved writings, we can all learn from pastors, authors, and theologians from throughout church history and have our faith strengthened through their faithful lives.But even though these great works have stood the test of time and are readily available in both print and digital form, we don’t always make use of the storehouse of spiritual treasures we have access to.Our guest Jared Payne joins us to talk about how we can benefit from the written works of the Reformers, Puritans and others and how we can develop the habit of reading older works. Jared runs A Pilgrim’s Coffer Theology, which is dedicated to “urging the claims of Christ’s cause, advocating the revival of godliness, denouncing error, bearing witness for truth, and encouraging the laborer’s in the Lord’s vineyard.”We’ll talk about the value of older works and how they provide unique helps in our modern times. Along the way Jared will share some of his favorite works that he recommends all Christians read and you’ll come away with a solid list of books to add to your shelf.You’ll also learn of a digital tool that can grant you access to hard to find and out of print theological and devotional books completely free and learn about a new magazine that can help you expand your biblical and theological knowledge as well as your personal library with great works from the past.You can learn more and explore additional resources at ReasonableTheology.org/Pilgrim Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

In John 14:13-14, Jesus tells His disciples: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”John 16:23 says “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”Believer it or not, there are some who misuse these verses!In fact, there are several ways we might misunderstand and misuse praying in Jesus’ name.The first is the most obvious, and that is to treat God as our own cosmic concierge who is obligated to do our bidding whenever we use the magic phrase, “In Jesus name, amen.”But the other way we misunderstand praying in Jesus' name is to simply tack this phrase onto the end of our prayers out of mere tradition and filler words at the end of our prayers.We don't want to do either of these things.In this radio interview I discuss what it means to pray in Jesus' name and how these truths should impact our prayer lives.Read more at www.ReasonableTheology.org/PrayGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

Every day it becomes more evident that our culture is actively and aggressively promoting ideas and agendas that go against God's Word. Whether it is abortion, gender issues, drugs, or other hot-button topics, those who hold to a biblical worldview are facing increasing pressure to compromise their beliefs to avoid being ostracized from society. With the news media, movies, music, sports, and just about everything else pushing an agenda that goes against Scripture, it is time for Christians to view themselves as rebels — rebels who stand for truth in a world gone mad. Listen as Sean McDowell shares why Christians must make bold stands for Jesus on controversial issues and how we can do so in a loving way. Sean is an author, speaker, and associate professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He’s authored or edited more than 18 books, including his latest book A Rebel’s Manifesto: Choosing Truth, Real Justice, and Love amid the Noise of Today’s World. On This Episode We’ll Discuss:Why standing for Christ makes us rebels in today's cultureWhy Christians need to speak into controversial issuesHow our view of God and His Word impacts how we engage with our cultureWays parents can prepare their kids to withstand the onslaught of anti-biblical viewsHow we can be both bold and loving as we make a stand for truthSee the Show Notes, Read the Transcript, and Watch the Video at ReasonableTheology.org/SeanGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

If you've sat under a good preacher or have opened a good commentary, you are aware that there is a depth to the original languages of Scripture that can sometimes be difficult to capture in our English translations.But have you ever considered learning biblical Greek or Hebrew yourself?Our guest today says this is not only highly beneficial for your study of Scripture but is also entirely possible - even if you are not a whiz with learning languages.His name is Ryan Martin and he is the founder and lead instructor for KairosClassroom.com, an online school that offers affordable and accessible courses in New Testament Greek and Old Testament Hebrew.Listen as we discuss the many benefits of learning a biblical language, why having a command of Greek or Hebrew is not as difficult as you might think, and tips for picking up a language more quickly.On This Episode We’ll Discuss:The value of learning a biblical languageWhy Greek and Hebrew are not just for pastors and seminary studentsHow you can learn a biblical language in as little as 3 hours a weekWhy learning Greek and Hebrew might not be as difficult as you thinkTips for learning a biblical language more effectivelySee the Show Notes at ReasonableTheology.org/Episode53Use promo code THEOLOGY at KairosClassroom.com for 10% off your Greek or Hebrew classes!Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

If you spend much time on social media, you've likely come across RefToons - cartoons depicting figures from church history such as Calvin, Owen, Spurgeon, and many more.RefToons exists to preserve the legacy of theologians of the past by producing humorous and thought-provoking comic strips that bring clarity to various biblical teachings through visual storytelling.On this episode of the podcast we talk with Paul Cox, the artist behind RefToons, to learn about how his love for deep theology inspires his creative work.Along the way we'll also talk about the importance of church history, the value of catechisms, and which person is Paul's favorite one to draw.On this Episode We'll Discuss:How Paul became a cartoonistHow RefToons got its startThe impact older works from pastors and theologians have hadThe process of creating a RefToon comicWhy merging humor and theology is helpful in our social media ageThe importance of catechisms and how Paul's illustrated Baptist and Westminster Catechisms came to bePaul's favorite person to draw and what he hopes to create in the futureSee the Show Notes, including a video of our conversation and some of the RefToons comics at www.ReasonableTheology.org/RefToonsGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE

Jesus said "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."Despite this wonderful promise, we often allow hurry and distraction keep us from spending focused time with Christ in prayer. How can we build discipline in this area and how can we grow in our prayer lives?On this episode we are joined by Asheritah Ciuciu as we discuss a pattern for prayer that can help you deepen your communion with Christ and resist distraction when praying.On this episode we discuss:How Asheritah's book seeks to help others develop the habit of daily prayerHow the acronym of REST can help us focus our prayers and take the time to be still before the LordWhat we learn about prayer by looking at prayers in ScriptureThe value of praying through passages in the BibleHow we can cultivate the discipline of prayer in our personal lives and in our homesSee the Show Notes and Transcript at ReasonableTheology.org/RestGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS: A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library SUBSCRIBE HERE