Reformed Forum

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church, chapters 10 and 11, "The Entrance Into the Kingdom: Repentance and Faith" and "Recapitulation"

This is the eleventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Does proof have a place in a Reformed apologetic? In this lesson, we explore the proper use of evidence in defending the faith—not as a neutral tool but as a witness to divine truth when interpreted within the framework of Scripture. You will learn how logical arguments and historical evidences can support the gospel without compromising the authority of God’s word. By examining biblical examples and distinguishing between uses of proofs that submit to God’s revelation and those that presume autonomy, this lesson equips you to present compelling, faithful testimony to the truth of the risen Christ. 02:36 The Role of Evidence in a Reformed Apologetic 05:58 Logical Proofs and Their Limitations 11:46 The Use of Evidence 19:14 Heeding the Biblical Example 23:25 Summary and Conclusion Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def... Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study.   Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/   #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

In this milestone 100th installment of Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton turn to page 381 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to explore the “two-sided conception of the kingdom.” Together they unpack Vos’s insights into the already/not yet dynamic of the kingdom of God—its present spiritual reality and its future consummate glory. Along the way, they engage with historical-critical objections, consider the role of John the Baptist, reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ parables, and highlight the religious nature of the kingdom as forgiveness, communion with God, and eternal life in Christ. This discussion not only brings clarity to Vos’s redemptive-historical vision but also deepens our understanding of Christ’s reign now and in the age to come. As the Vos Group nears completion of Biblical Theology, Camden and Lane also share exciting news about what’s next: a new series through Vos’s The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church. 👉 Register now for our upcoming Theology Conference: reformedforum.org/conference. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 10:26 The Two-Sided Conception of the Kingdom 26:43 The Kingdom of God within You 31:18 The Arrival of the Present Kingdom 37:44 The Parables of the Kingdom 47:37 The Gradual Progression of the Kingdom 54:47 Conclusion This is Christ the Center episode 921 (https://www.reformedforum.org/ctc921)

This is the tenth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Apologetics is not merely intellectual—it’s spiritual warfare. In this lesson, we consider how to stand firm in the face of opposition, clinging to the truth of God’s word and the hope we have in Christ. You will learn how to engage others with boldness and Christlike character, especially in moments of suffering or ridicule. We explore the role of the heart, the importance of gentleness and respect, and the need for readiness to follow conversations wherever they lead. Grounded in 1 Peter 3:15, this lesson prepares you to endure with faith and to speak the truth in love amid a hostile world. 01:53 Encountering Opposition 05:43 Engaging with Christ-like Character 09:04 Finding Confidence in the Word 12:43 The Apologetic Context of Suffering 16:21 Ready to Go Wherever the Conversation Leads 18:47 Seeking Apologetic Encounters 22:22 Summary and Conclusion   Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def...  Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study.   Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/   #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy engage in a lively and theologically rich conversation. Fresh from attending Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s summer seminar with David Hall and Carl Trueman, Camden shares highlights from the event before turning to the main topic: a preview of the 2025 Reformed Forum Theology Conference. This year’s theme—The Things Concerning Himself: Christ in All the Scriptures—will explore how the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals Christ as the sum and substance of God’s covenantal plan. Camden and Jim walk through each of the planned addresses, reflecting on why Christ is not an “added-on” figure to the Old Testament, but its very heart from the beginning. Along the way, they share personal ministry stories, insights on biblical theology, and a taste of the fellowship that makes these gatherings so special. Join us September 27, 2025 at Lakeland Church in Gurnee, Illinois, for an edifying day of teaching, conversation, and fellowship. Come early for the Friday night pre-conference at Primo’s Italian Steakhouse. Registration is now open, with early-bird rates through September 1, 2025. Learn more and reserve your spot at reformedforum.org/conference. Whether you are a pastor, student, or serious layperson, this conference will help you see more clearly how all of Scripture points to Christ—and how that transforms our understanding, devotion, and service to him. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00:07 Introduction 00:02:45 Basic Info on RF25 00:11:07 Greenville Summer Seminar 00:23:54 The Seed of Abraham 00:38:44 The Lamb of God 00:53:10 More Discussion of the Conference 00:56:21 Scholars Fellowship 01:03:44 Conclusion

This is the ninth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. How do we put all the pieces together to faithfully defend our hope? In this lesson, we turn from theological foundations to practical methodology. You will learn how to construct a biblical and Reformed approach to apologetics—one that maintains the antithesis without compromise and resists conforming to unbelieving patterns of thought. We examine the two-step method, emphasizing internal critique and gospel proclamation, and contrast it with evidentialist, classical, and cumulative case approaches. Whether you are in a coffee shop or a classroom, this lesson equips you to defend the faith with theological integrity and practical confidence. 01:54 The Two-Step Method 04:19 Apologetics Is for Everyone 06:00 Apologetic Method Is Not Arbitrary 08:21 Building a Defense 11:28 Other Apologetic Methods 19:08 Summary and Conclusion  Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def...  Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study.   Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/    #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. William D. Dennison, pastor of Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Kent, Washington, to reflect on Cornelius Van Til’s student paper “Evil and Theodicy” and the enduring challenges of explaining evil in a world governed by a sovereign, good God. Dennison has edited The Problem of Evil, a new volume that includes an edition of this paper and a helpful introductory essay that brings Van Til’s paper in dialogue with contemporary thinkers. Dr. Dennison offers a deeply personal and theological meditation on Van Til’s conviction that God himself is the only sufficient theodicy. We explore how the mystery of evil cannot be unraveled by philosophical speculation or evidentialist reasoning, but only understood through the revelation of the triune God in Scripture. The conversation moves from Van Til’s early insights as a seminary student to the contemporary relevance of his critique of autonomy, his rejection of theistic rationalism, and his insistence on beginning all thinking with the self-attesting Christ of Scripture. Along the way, Dr. Dennison shares biographical reflections on Van Til, his own pedagogical experiences in teaching apologetics, and the pastoral importance of grounding theological inquiry in the redemptive narrative of Scripture rather than speculative philosophy. This episode is a must for those who desire to think confessionally and presuppositionally about one of the most difficult questions in theology. Chapters [0:00:07] Introduction [0:05:04] Background to the Project [0:16:55] The Historical and Biographical Context of Van Til’s Student Paper [0:22:55] Van Til’s Main Point [0:28:21] God Is His Own Defense [0:35:26] Van Til and Plantinga’s Free Will Defense [0:41:59] The Fourfold Estate of Man [0:54:42] Van Til’s Critique of Kant [0:58:40] Treating Theodicy as a Fundamentally Religious Matter [1:08:45] Conclusion

This is the eighth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. What fundamental commitments lie beneath every argument—ours and others’? In this lesson, we explore the essential concept of presuppositions: the foundational beliefs that shape how people interpret reality. We begin by surveying a range of influential thinkers who challenge the notion of objective, neutral knowledge. Though differing in emphasis, each demonstrate that human understanding is always shaped by deeper frameworks: whether through paradigms that govern scientific inquiry, social structures that define reality, or systems of power that shape what is accepted as truth. Building on this recognition, we turn to Cornelius Van Til, who shows that beneath all such frameworks lie ultimate commitments—religious in nature—that govern how people interpret every aspect of life. This lesson equips you to uncover the presuppositions behind objections to the faith and to expose the necessity of the Christian worldview as the only foundation for truth, meaning, and rationality. 01:06 Understanding Presuppositions 04:02 Key Thinkers and Concepts 10:28 The Theological Foundations of Presuppositions 14:10 The Danger of Autonomy 16:51 The Demand for Consistency 21:56 Compassionate Engagement with Unbelievers 23:58 Summary and Conclusion  Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def...   Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study.   Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/    #apologetics #evangelism #presupp

David W. Saxton’s God’s Battle Plan for the Mind (Reformation Heritage Books, 2015) presents a compelling argument for recovering the lost art of biblical meditation, a discipline once central to Puritan piety and spiritual formation. Saxton argues that the modern church, though rich in theological resources and preaching, suffers from a superficial spirituality precisely because it has neglected meditation—a practice essential for transforming doctrinal knowledge into heartfelt godliness. Drawing extensively from the Puritans and Scripture, Saxton defines biblical meditation as the intentional, sustained, and spiritual reflection on God’s Word. Unlike Eastern or mystical forms of meditation that promote mental emptying, biblical meditation involves filling the mind with divine truth, leading to spiritual transformation and godly living. The book is structured thematically, beginning with the importance of meditation, contrasting it with unbiblical forms, and moving through practical guidance on how to meditate—whether occasional or deliberate. It outlines occasions for meditation, offers advice on selecting subjects, and highlights both the benefits and the spiritual enemies of the practice. Saxton concludes with pastoral encouragement to begin and persist in this vital spiritual discipline. Rev. Saxton is pastor of Cambridge Bible Church in Cambridge, Ohio. Chapters 00:00 Mid-America Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference 01:41 Introduction 06:06 The Background to This Book 10:08 Distinguishing Meditation from Prayer 14:58 Why the Practice of Meditation Has Been Lost 18:12 Retraining Our Minds to Delight in the Right Things 21:44 God’s Battle Plan for the Mind 25:22 Meditation as Essential to Spiritual Vitality 29:08 Practical Expectations 33:47 Steps to Beginning Effective Meditation 36:52 Occasional and Deliberate Meditation 42:37 Satan Especially Opposes Meditation 48:44 The Powerful Benefit of Meditation 53:15 The Spiritual Benefits of Meditation 59:10 Conclusion

This is the seventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Is there any shared ground between believers and unbelievers? In this lesson, we explore the doctrine of common grace—the means by which God, in his goodness, temporarily restrains judgment and bestows non-saving blessings even on those who remain in rebellion against him. You will discover how this temporary, non-saving grace provides space for meaningful interaction, cultural engagement, and the proclamation of the gospel. Drawing from biblical and theological insights, including historical reflections from Calvin, Warfield, Kuyper, and Van Til, we examine how common grace enables communication without compromising the antithesis. Learn how to faithfully build bridges without erasing the gospel’s call to repentance and faith. 01:53 The Nature and Scope of Common Grace  07:20 Common Grace in Redemptive History 09:51 Biblical Foundations of Common Grace 20:24 Common Grace and Apologetics 27:21 Historical Perspectives on Common Grace 35:57 Withstanding Rejection 39:11 Summary and Conclusion   Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def...   Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study.   Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/    #apologetics #evangelism #presupp