MARSCAST

In this second installment of our series on a biblical theology of home, Dr. Andrew Compton joins Jared Luttjeboer to trace how the prophets and the New Testament deepen and fulfill the story of God’s dwelling with His people. From Ezekiel’s visions to Christ as the true temple, Scripture unfolds a beautiful story of how God Himself makes His home with us in Christ, and by His Spirit builds us together into His dwelling place. This conversation also reflects on the “already and not yet” of our life in Christ, and points us toward the ultimate homecoming promised in the new creation.

In this opening episode of a three-part series, Dr. Andrew Compton joins Director of Marketing, Jared Luttjeboer, to explore the deep biblical theme of home. From Eden to exile, from the Tabernacle to the temple, Scripture tells a sweeping story of God’s dwelling with His people, a story that speaks directly to our own longings for belonging and stability. In a world often marked by uncertainty and upheaval, this conversation will invite you to reflect on how God’s presence shapes what it truly means to be at home.

What do you really know about the reformer of Geneva? In this conclusion to our series on the reformers, Dr. Alan Strange returns to explore the remarkable legacy of John Calvin. In this episode, we learn how Calvin’s reluctant return to Geneva after three years in Strasbourg shaped not only his theology but the very foundations of Reformed Christianity. Dr. Strange unveils Calvin’s greatest contribution to the church - his understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work - and explains why B.B. Warfield called him “the theologian of the Holy Spirit.” From his struggles with opposition in Geneva to his influence on everything from our understanding of the eucharist to the formation of Western civilization, this episode reveals how one man’s theological insights continue to endure today.

What drives a brilliant 27-year-old humanist scholar to abandon his promising legal career and pen one of history's most influential theological works? Join Dr. Alan Strange as he unravels the early life of John Calvin and explores the unexpected twists that led from French nobility's secretarial service to revolutionary religious thought.We'll learn how a father's excommunication, a sudden conversion, and a chance encounter in Geneva shaped the man whose theology would "exalt God and abase man" like no other system before it. From his humanist education alongside future Jesuits to his reluctant partnership with the fiery reformer Guillaume Farel, this episode reveals the human story behind the formidable intellect.Dr. Strange also addresses the question: Why does Calvinism provoke such strong reactions? His answer might surprise you. Plus, learn about the political intrigue of the Placard Affair that forced Calvin's dramatic flight from France, setting the stage for his world-changing work in Geneva.

What happens when three brilliant minds clash over the meaning of Christianity's most sacred meal? In this episode, Dr. Strange and host Jared Luttjeboer examine one of the Reformation's most heated theological debates: the Lord's Supper. From Rome's doctrine of transubstantiation to Luther's mysterious "in, with, and under," from Zwingli's memorial view to Calvin's real spiritual presence—discover how these competing interpretations shaped Protestant thought on the sacrament. As you listen, you’ll hear Dr. Strange comment on the surprising agreements hidden beneath fierce disagreements, learn why Luther accused Zwingli of rationalism while Zwingli fired back with charges of mysticism, and explore Calvin's ingenious solution that sought to honor both Christ's ascension and His real presence. We'll be taking the month of July off, but join us again in August as we return with more of Dr. Strange and church history!

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of Huldrych Zwingli—a Renaissance-trained scholar who transformed worship, challenged papal authority, and sparked a movement that would shape Protestant Christianity for centuries to come.Dr. Alan Strange guides us through Zwingli's journey from peasant origins to becoming the people's priest in Zurich, where his bold biblical preaching ignited sweeping reforms. We'll uncover how this musical prodigy turned iconoclast approached Scripture differently than his German contemporary, Martin Luther, and why their famous meeting at Marburg in 1529 ended in disappointment despite remarkable theological agreement.From the first Zurich disputations to the development of what would become the regulative principle of worship, this episode reveals how one man's commitment to "Scripture alone" created ripples that continue to influence churches today.

Was Martin Luther right to compare the Roman Catholic Church to the legalistic Judaism of the Pharisees? In this episode of MARSCAST, Dr. Alan Strange and Jared Luttjeboer examine whether Luther's assessment was fair—or even accurate.From the theological foundations of the Old Testament to the modern "New Perspective on Paul" movement, this conversation uncovers the complex relationship between law and grace that shaped both first-century Judaism and medieval Christianity. Dr. Strange reveals how Luther's understanding of justification by faith alone emerged from his study of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, and explains why this doctrine became, as Calvin puts it, the "main hinge upon which true religion turns."But Luther's story isn't without its shadows. We'll also learn how the reformer's initial openness toward Jewish conversion shifted dramatically after 1525, and why understanding this history matters for Christians today.

Step into the world of late medieval Catholicism and discover the spiritual crisis that shaped one of history's most influential reformers. In this episode, Dr. Alan Strange takes us through Martin Luther's early years—from his tormented life as an Augustinian monk to his life-changing encounter with Romans 1:17.We explore the complex religious landscape Luther inherited, where salvation seemed locked behind a system of sacraments, purgatory, and papal indulgences. In Luther's life, we see the internal struggle of a man so desperate for righteousness that he nearly destroyed his health through extreme ascetic practices, only to discover that the righteousness God requires, He freely gives as a gift received by faith alone.

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer finishes the conversation on the papacy with Dr. Alan Strange and Dr. Andrew Compton as they unpack the significance of the newly elected Pope, who, for the first time, hails from just down the road from Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Their conversation explores how this moment intersects with centuries of Reformed thought (from the fiery language of the Westminster Confession to the more nuanced tone of today), and looks at the symbolism behind the Pope’s chosen name, Leo XIV, and what it signals about his vision for the Church. The episode also explores the evolving dynamics between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, the role of social media in shaping perceptions of religious leaders, and the enduring theological divides that remain.

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer continues the series on the papacy with Drs. Alan Strange and Andrew Compton. As news breaks of a new Pope's election, the professors look closely into Rome's promise of certainty—examining why this intellectual security draws some Protestants to Catholicism, while revealing how these claims ultimately unravel under scrutiny. Against this backdrop, they candidly evaluate Pope Francis's controversial legacy, exploring how his unpredictable leadership and statements often undermined the very certainty that seekers were pursuing. The conversation thoughtfully balances critique with genuine hope, asking what meaningful reform within Rome might look like and how Protestants should respond to papal succession.