The Doctrine of Angels  Jonathan and James tackle a topic somewhat underemphasized in Reformed circles, and—perhaps—overemphasized elsewhere. Should we give more attention to angels? What are the benefits of studying the few verses in Scriptures that address these holy and glorious creatures?  Angels are certainly a display of God’s creative power, but what is their purpose, and how do they relate to us? The discussion doesn’t begin and end here; our hosts promise more comprehensive conversations in the near future.  We’re giving away a few copies of Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology. Register for the opportunity to win one. The books are a generous gift from our friends at Banner of Truth.

With All Your Heart Dr. Craig Troxel is professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California and James’ former pastor.  Craig visits the podcast to discuss his recently written book, With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will toward Christ.  When Scripture mentions the word heart, to what is it referring? Some view the heart as a “gut feeling;” others believe the heart to be the seat of all emotions. Dr. Troxel explains that the Bible portrays the heart as the governing center of life, and outlines principles for orienting our hearts to love and obey God.

Historical Collections of the Past  A socially-distanced Caleb Cangelosi joins Jonathan and James via Zoom. Caleb is the senior pastor at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in Ridgeland, MS, and the founder of Log College Press—the topic of our conversation today. Log College Press is a publishing company and free online library that seeks to collect and reprint historic Christian texts, especially from 18th and 19th century American Presbyterian writers. With approximately 6000 works by over 900 authors in its free PDF library, Caleb enthusiastically shares with us the broad appeal the resources offer to all.  Show Notes  ·  Explore the Resources of Log College Press ·  A Forty-Three Year Pastorate in a Country Church by C.W. Grafton ·  Various devotional writings by William Swan Plumer ·  Discourses of Redemption by Stuart Robinson ·  Aging in Grace: Letters to Those in the Autumn of Life by Archibald Alexander

Walking with God Jonathan and James have the pleasure of speaking with Rhett Dodson today. He’s the pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Hudson, OH. Pastor Dodson was scheduled to speak at the Banner of Truth East Coast Ministers’ Conference this month, had the event not been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Communion with God would have been the topic of Rhett’s talks at the conference, and that subject piques the interest of Jonathan and James. What does it mean to walk with God and how does it express itself in times of difficulty? Can the walking imagery also relate to the Christian’s pilgrimage in this life with all its ups and downs? Rev. Dodson shares some resources that have been helpful to him in understanding what it means to commune with God biblically and in the personal Christian walk.  Show Notes  ·  Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos ·  The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson ·  Graeme Goldsworthy ·  Communion with God by John Owen ·  Marching to Zion: Ancient Psalms for Modern Pilgrims by Rhett Dodson ·  Every Promise of Your Word: The Gospel According to Joshua by Rhett Dodson Register for the opportunity to win some Banner of Truth merchandise!

Fear Podcast  Jonathan and James lead a timely conversation about fear. As we all grapple with a viral pandemic—and the social isolation, anxiety, and economic uncertainty it can bring--fear can creep in, bringing with it hopelessness and even despair.   How must Christians respond when the world is struggling with such unusual and difficult times? Our hosts ponder both the negative and the positive connotations of the word fear, discussing the danger of crossing from a proper concern of looking after one’s well-being into a state of irresolvable anxiety. What is the prescribed antidote for fear?   We would like to offer you the opportunity to win a copy of a great resource: A Small Book for the Anxious Heart. Register! The copies are a courtesy of New Growth Press.

Hugh Martin was a 19th century Scotsman and distinguished mathematician who became a minister of the gospel. As he battled mental health issues, Martin’s last 20 years of life were marked by writing--sermons, essays, and letters--as well as some occasional preaching. Sinclair Ferguson joins Jonathan and James to talk about Martin’s book, Christ Victorious, and give us a wider scope of Hugh Martin’s life and ministry. How did Martin’s mathematical and analytical mind serve him in his approach to theology? Join us for this intriguing conversation. Works by Hugh Martin Christ Victorious Christ For Us The Shadow of Calvary Simon Peter Free download of The Atonement: In Its Relations to the Covenant, the Priesthood, The Intercession of our Lord

Doctrinal Introduction: Perseverance of the Saints Jonathan and James have a chat about the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. The Christian race isn’t always easy, which sometimes may cause us to wonder whether we’ll finish well. What assurance do we have that our running is not in vain and that we’ll finish the course? What’s the role of grace in the perseverance of the saints, and is there any work to be done on our part?  Our hosts review a few of God’s promises in this regard and the purposeful tension that exists between those promises and God’s commands.    Show Notes  ·  Canons of Dort heading 5 ·  2 Corinthians 4:7 ·  John 6 ·  Philippians 2:13

Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ   Jonathan and James are joined by Alan Strange. Alan is professor of church history at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The question is posed: How important is the doctrine of the active obedience of Christ? The resulting conversation deals not only with the biblical text, but with the historical aspect of the doctrine as well. Is there more to the doctrine than “Christ died for our sins”? What are some of the great truths attached to this statement? What’s the relationship between our law keeping and justification?  We have a few copies of Alan’s book, Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ in the Westminster Standards. Register for the opportunity to win one. The copies are a generous gift from our friends at Reformation Heritage Books.

Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals What do evangelicals need to retrieve, and why? Gavin Ortlund is pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai, California.  He joins James and Jonathan to talk about his book--Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals--and to answer these questions, and others. Some church history and tradition have been forgotten or neglected by many modern Christians…in part, for lack of knowledge of their importance. Gavin believes that we still have a lot to learn from the early and medieval church, and he calls for a balance on tradition and the authority of Scripture. We have a few copies of Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals for giveaway. Register for the opportunity to win one!

Ministering With a Clear Conscience  Why does Paul emphasize clearness of conscience in regard to one’s ministry? James defines “conscience”, expands on its dual function, and talks about how it often speaks against our will.  The hosts discuss the fallibility of the conscience, and how it can—at times—prevent us from enjoying a fruitful spiritual walk. So, what determines the standard of conscience, and how is it applied? Can a guilty conscience in ministry be a good thing, and—if so—to what extent?  We are giving away a copy of Christ Victorious, Selected Writings of Hugh Martin. Register for the opportunity to win a free copy. The book is a complimentary gift from our friends at Banner of Truth.