presbycast

Our friend Ken Shepherd joins us to talk about his work as a DC journalist, the 2019 US political climate, and its implications (or lack thereof) for the church.

Dan Borvan, an OPC minister who was once a member of James MacDonald's Harvest Bible Chapel, joins us to talk about MacDonald's fall and the problems inherent to multi-site and megachurches. Here is the video which shows a series of clips from years past.

PCA pastor Dr. Dewey Roberts, the convener of a recent meeting concerned with reform and renewal in the PCA, joins us to talk about the past, present, and future of the USA's largest conservative Reformed denomination and about the new informal group Grassroots Presbyterians group that has sprung from the meeting in late January of 2019. Show links: Pastor Roberts' bio Group Facebook page Article on the 2012 "Chatham House Rules" meeting 2010 Strategic Plan (PDF link)

Our friend Sean, a former Roman Catholic, joins us to talk about the encroachment of Lenten observance in the Reformed world. Then we venture to discuss the propriety of women who are associated with conservative Reformed churches "preaching". You may hear the entire sermon (or talk) that we excerpted and talked about here. Finally, we briefly mention a new organization of concerned presbyterians in the PCA. (Clarification -- the PCA group to which we referred is "like the *old* Concerned Presbyterians" -- NOT the current Facebook of that name which as some very unpleasant associations. Here is the group we mentioned, Grassroots Presbyterians: https://www.facebook.com/groups/279044582788445/?ref=br_rs)

OPC minichurch pastor Chris Drew joins us to talk about a megatrend these days -- Conference Culture. We trace the development from medieval pilgrimage to Scottish communion season to the Pretty Good Awakenings to 21st century traveling dude bros. Here's the tweet that launched the show: One of the tenets of CONFERENCE CULTURE is that every speaker is supposed to KILL IT or BRING THE FIRE, etc. This is not natural, ordinary, or healthy. It's just revivalism and thrill seeking in some cases.

This special episode features Dr. C.N. Willborn of Covenant Presbyterian (PCA) in Oak Ridge, TN delivering a powerful and direct exhortation from Psalm 42 on the importance of public worship in the life of the Christian and the church. The reading was the entire text of Psalm 42. The accompanying NT reading was John 4:7-26. The Confession of Faith passage was WCF 21.2. Sermon Audio page

Seminarian Ben Woodring joins us to talk about Chortles' 8-point manifesto (of sorts) to culture-proof the church simply and authentically. It was a long talk, be warned. Here's the manifesto: There is evidence that younger people are not buying what the megachurches are selling. Most people know of young people that have fled their "home" traditions for Rome for something further east. I actually believe that we'll live to see the contemporary/megachurch bubble burst. The good news is that the regulative principle of worship and Reformed confessionalism supply actual simplicity and authenticity. You can't make the bible palatable through a thoughtfully-curated set of techniques and aesthetics, but here are some suggestions to consider that might de-culturize the church and make it something that can stand out and stand up in the 21st century: 1) Sing Psalms and ancient hymns without (or with the simplest) accompaniment. Use new tunes if necessary, but don't try to ape what's popular last week. Make sure the Lord's Day worship services look and sound different from the rest of the week. 2) Make communal singing the hallmark of worship and all the gatherings of the church. This teaches and builds cohesion and identity. Have 2-3 psalm snippets that everyone knows. Sing them before, during, or after church meals and other meetings. This is a way of being biblically different. 3) Quit marketing. No one likes to be marketed at. And quit worrying about being "excellent" in things you don't really need to be excellent at. Your logo will not be around in the new heavens/new earth. 4) Emphasize the means of grace -- it's the only thing the church offers that people can't get elsewhere. People have YouTube for how-to, they can be involved in all sorts of things and causes and issues without the church holding their hands. 5) Simplify! (sorta like the Strunk & White's "Omit needless words!") And omit needless words, too. These can be Xianese, stock phrases, personal opinion, culture references, slang, etc. Don't have "programs" -- don't crowd out God's words. 6) Stop trying to contextualize everything, partly because you're not good at it and partly because your context is changing all the time. You cannot keep up. 7) Be consciously reverent, even grave. Where else are people going to get that? 8 - Quit chasing cultural issues that you will never catch. Bonus -- Ministers should consider wearing simple, non-distracting robes without adornment. This is a great way to de-culturize your church services and take the attention of the dude. Bonus #2 (put it under #5 above) -- simplify your church calendar to 52 (very) holy days a year. Period.

We are joined by several friends to talk about what happened in 2018, what might happen in 2019, what did happen when megachurches took a day off, worship, the means of grace, weaponized winsomeness, the state of the PCA...and more.

Noted Festivus authority Dan Borvan joins us for grievances and feats of strengths as the Presbyverse looks forward to the great day. With thanks to must-follow Twitter accounts The Loving Pastor and Dr Tony Hutson for providing IFB grievance audio.

Show ombudsman Amish Ambush joins for the show that nearly didn't happen thanks to our producer Silent Topher's dodgy 1984 Dodge Omni. We talk about a few current issues and ideas for future episodes and permutations of the Presbycast franchise. The Dude, Donnie, and Walter have nothing on this trio.