Mortification of Spin

David Ayers, Provost of Grove City College and professor of Sociology, is still Carl’s boss…and, he’s back in the bunker. David has recently done research on the sexual habits of evangelical teenagers and young adults, and he’s reporting some disturbing findings. What do these sexual behaviors tell us about the church? David raises the concern that the church is failing to explicitly teach young people the connection between marriage and sex, and what it represents biblically. Not just that, but a loss of parental authority in teaching about sexuality is indicated when parents lack commitment to the church. Join us for this timely conversation!Disclaimer: For the purposes of this interview, David Ayers does not speak on behalf of Grove City College. All views contained in this program reflect the personal opinions of its hosts and guest.We’re giving away Christian Marriage: A Comprehensive Introduction by David Ayers. Register for the opportunity to win a free copy. The copies are a generous gift from our friends at Lexham Press.Show Notes· Current Sexual Practices of Evangelical Teens and Young Adults by David Ayers· Harvest USA

One prodigal host has wandered off, so the other two discuss the many questions surrounding today’s topic. What is a prodigal child? Is every child that’s struggling with sin or indifferent to the Gospel a prodigal? Should parents take full blame for children who walk away from the faith, or—conversely—take credit for a good outcome because they “raised ‘em right”?  Todd and Aimee talk about the promises of God (as in Proverbs 22:6), the God-given responsibility of parents, and the role of the covenant community in assisting parents to raise covenant children in the most ordinary but loving ways. Now, and for a limited time only! Sow a seed of any amount, and receive a guaranteed seven step program for raising perfect godly children, so your family can look really good before others! :)Show Notes· One Year Praying Through the Bible for Your Kids by Nancy Guthrie· Getting Back In the Race: The Cure for Backsliding by Joel BeekeWe’re giving away a few free copies of Come Back, Barbara by C. John Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani. Register for the opportunity to win one! The copies are a courtesy from our friends at P&R.

Carl, Todd, and Aimee are joined by Rachel Green Miller. She writes for the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, and has a blog of her own. Rachel has recently published her first book, titled Beyond Authority and Submission: Women and Men in Marriage, Church, and Society. Rachel conducted several years of research into the history of women in different eras, and—in the book—compares and contrasts those findings with the biblical perspective of men and women in marriage and society.Rachel makes the case that, throughout history, Christianity has responded to the secular view of women. But, were there times when those responses were excessive, therefore distorting the biblical view of manhood and womanhood? Should we be constantly preoccupied with who owns or wields the power in any type of relationship between the sexes? Join us for intriguing conversation about this hot topic! Show Notes·A Daughter of the Reformation·Reformation 21 articlesRegister for the opportunity to win a free copy of Beyond Authority and Submission: Women and Men in Marriage, Church, and Society. The books are a generous gift from our friends at P&R.

A listener asks "the famous Carl Trueman" what “to be Reformed” really means, as Aimee and Todd play the mediators.The term “Reformed” is full of meaning, but many times it’s reduced to simply mean holding to the five points of Calvinism or merely ascribing to a predestinarian theology. What does it mean to be Reformed, and—conversely—what does it not mean? What bearing does the 16th and 17th-century church have on this word today, and what other factors make one’s faith practice truly Reformed? Does Reformed theology necessitate Reformed liturgy? How do you know you just walked into a Reformed church? The famous Dr. Trueman answers it all. We’re offering a great resource on this topic. Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of Welcome to a Reformed Church by Daniel Hyde. The copies are a generous gift from Reformation Trust.

We enjoy a pleasant visit with Terry Johnson. He’s the senior minister of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA, where he’s been serving since 1987. Eons ago, Terry had planned on teaching a 10-part series on the attributes of God…which turned into 82, as he immersed himself in the greatest classical literature on the doctrine of God. Such preparation and teaching has not only blessed his congregation, it has deeply inspired, challenged, and enriched Terry’s personal life, resulting in his latest book: The Identity and Attributes of God, published by Banner of Truth.Join us and discover how the immutability and impassibility of God have implications for, and practical impact on, everything that we believe. Show NotesThe Existence and Attributes of God by Stephen CharnockThe Works of Swinnock - The Incomparableness of God by George SwinnockA Divine Life by Richard BaxterChristian In Complete Armour by William GurnallThe Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and Banner of Truth are pleased to offer you the opportunity to own one of the three remaining copies of the first print of The Identity and Attributes of God. Register to win!

Worship: The Chief End of Man is the main theme of the Quakertown Conference on Reformed Theology, sponsored by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, happening this November 8 and 9. The crew sits down with Quakertown conference speaker Jonathan Master to get a glimpse of the wonderful lineup of teachers and the topics they’ll address. Jonathan is dean of the School of Divinity and professor of theology at Cairn University and the co-host of the Alliance’s Theology on the Go podcast. He’s excited to share with us the focus of the conference, and engages our hosts in a general discussion of worship as well.The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is happy to give away a few free registrations for the Quakertown Conference on November 8 and 9. Register for the opportunity to win! Click here for more information about the conference.

Rutledge Etheridge is in the house. He’s assistant professor of Biblical Studies at Geneva College, a former chaplain in the same institution, and an ordained minister at Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. “Rut” is the author of God Breathed: Connecting Through Scripture to God, Others, The Natural World, and Yourself, which was born from a rhetorical question by Augustine, fascinating personal observations, and the desire to dig deeper into the disconnect between the claims of Jesus and the way society at large lives day to day.Etheridge explains what he means by “The Ceiling of Self,” and why it’s such a wonderless and lonely place to be. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation on theology, philosophy, and apologetics. Show NotesIs Facebook Making Us Lonely?Is Facebook Making Us Lonely? The Follow UpThanks to Crown and Covenant Publications, we can offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of God Breathed. Register!!

A few sad recent events have caught the attention of the media, and our trio is talking through the high profile, so-called Christian “influencers” who have publicly declared their departure from the faith. Is it possible to pinpoint a pathological cultural pattern as a motive for such departures? Is it fair to draw a connection between local church commitment (or the lack thereof) and apostasy? Some of the defectors accuse the Church of never addressing a host of life issues. Is that accusation legitimate? If so, to what extent?Because three heads think better than one…Carl, Todd, and Aimee join forces to weigh in on the product of celebrity and youth culture, and the indispensable role of the local church. We’re giving away a few copies of Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Restless World. Register for the opportunity to win one! The copies are a generous gift from Zondervan.

Unable to catch any decent waves this morning, Danny Hyde pumped up the volume of his hair and came over for a chat about his latest work, written in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Canons of Dort. Danny is the pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in Carlsbad, California, and author of several books. Grace Worth Fighting For is a thorough examination of the history and text of the articles discussed and debated at the Synod of Dort, and what it really means to be Reformed. What do the Canons offer that the Westminster Standards don’t? What are the distinctives of the Canons, and what is its relevance for our day?Listen to Pastor Danny give these answers in a passionate and pastoral way.Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of Grace Worth Fighting For by Daniel Hyde, a complimentary gift from our friends at The Davenant Press.

The gang gathers in the bunker to answer some listener questions. From the holy to the profane, funny to offensive, all kinds of queries drive today’s episode. Will Baptists go to heaven? Who in the world is Nate Diaz? Differences between the PCA and the OPC, the influence of Van Tilian apologetics outside the US, Luther, Jimmy Hendrix, Calvin, and Sinatra--there’s a lot to cover. Listen as Todd shoots himself in the foot by declining a dinner invitation from the rest of the crew—you’ll enjoy every moment!