Mortification of Spin

It’s that time of the year again when our dear, innocent children are initiated in Satanism through the practice of trick or treating. Well…OK, not really!But indeed, some questions come back around every year, and opinions about Halloween are diverse enough to create a squabble between Carl, Todd, and Aimee. Halloween, or Fall Festival? “Trick or treat,” “trunk or treat,” or “Reformation celebration?” Should young ones dress as Superman or Moses? Should horror movies be avoided, or do they possess some redeeming value? Could a celebration like Halloween help us think about realities such as death and evil, or are we simply trivializing them through the media of entertainment?Todd shares the most frightening thing he’s ever heard, as Aimee announces her candy distribution plan, and Carl—well, you must listen to find out!Show NotesParadise Lost by John MiltonIt is October 31st, so we’re giving away copies of Still Protesting: Why the Reformation Matters by D.G. Hart, which is a generous gift from our friends at Reformation Heritage Books. Register for the opportunity to win one!

Still in the boonies of western Pennsylvania, the crew receives a visit from Fr. Thomas Weinandy. He is a Franciscan Capuchin priest, systematic theologian, long-time professor, and author of many books. In his latest--Jesus Becoming Jesus: A Theological Interpretation of the Synoptic Gospels--Thomas focuses on the doctrine and theology of the synoptic gospels, zooming in closely on the acts of Jesus in his earthly life, and the mysteries of the faith as the Lord becomes Yahweh Saves.The conversation emphasizes the importance of connecting the saving acts of God in the person of Jesus Christ, and the orthodox doctrines of immutability and impassibility. Hear what Fr. Weinandy says about holding both together in preaching, and what is truly essential for our salvation.Show NotesAbout Thomas WeinandyDoes God Suffer?Thomas C. OdenTheologian John WebsterRegister at ReformedResources.org for the opportunity to win a free copy of Jesus Becoming Jesus: A Theological Interpretation of the Synoptic Gospels. The copies are a generous donation of The Catholic University of America Press.

The crew is running for the hills…of western Pennsylvania! And, it’s in the newly renovated bunker that Aimee is training the guys on trendy teenage lingo. Meanwhile, listeners are tweeting Byrd with some good questions about visual versus auditory presentations of the gospel, bad songs in college chapel, and the limitations of social media interactions.Can we really engage in constructive discussion of complex issues in 280 characters? Listen to Todd’s words, and learn how to keep him accountable!This podcast is brought to you solely by the generous financial support of listeners like you. Please donate if you’re able!

A Presbyterian and a Lutheran walk into a bar, and…they write a book together! We’re pleased to feature the one and only Carl Trueman, introducing his latest tome, Between Wittenberg and Geneva, co-authored with renowned Lutheran scholar Robert Kolb.As the two record their written correspondence, they find much upon which to agree—though the differences between the Reformed and Lutheran traditions cannot be overlooked. Recovering the priorities of the Reformation is no small task, yet the authors converse with much grace, as they show us the points of doctrine that are worth fighting for. Listen in, as Carl shares the most important agreement and disagreement between the traditions…and, how to satisfactory offend others with just two fingers.Our apologies for the technical difficulties in the opening moments of the program.Show NotesThe Book of ConcordIf you’d like the opportunity to win a copy of Between Wittenberg and Geneva, register now!! The copies have been generously donated by our friends of Baker Academic.

The following program contains clips of explicit Presbyterianism. Baptist discretion advised!The crew meets at a new underground bunker, but the banter among the three amigos is as old as… well, their very first episode together! But, not everything is fun and games down under, and the topic du jour is worth serious consideration.Whether you’re a paedo or credo parent, the question is: How do we regard our young children? Are they inside or outside the covenant community? Should children be admitted to the communion table before professing the faith? Listen as the crew consider these questions from Baptist and Presbyterian perspectives.Show Notes The Westminster Confession of Faith- Of Baptism (Chapter 28)- Of The Lord’s Supper (Chapter 29) The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689- Of Baptism (Chapter 29)- Of The Lord’s Supper (Chapter 30) We are happy to give away a few copies of Children at the Lord's Table? Assessing the Case for Paedocommunionby Cornelis Venema. Register for the opportunity to win a copy. The books are a generous gift from Reformation Heritage Books.

After Carl and Todd try to steal the spotlight, Aimee finally gets to introduce our guest. Colleen McFadden is Director of Women’s Workshops for the Charles Simeon Trust. She’s happy to share how Simeon Trust started, what sparked the need to begin women’s workshops, and how those workshops help women teach the Bible expositionally as they serve their local churches and support their leadership.What are some common difficulties women - and men - encounter while preparing to teach a passage? Colleen has noticed a trend, and she’s ready to tackle the issue by using some basic principles. Can we imagine the countless benefits of having a congregation full of biblically-literate men, and women?Show notesMore about Simeon TrustExpositional Preaching by David HelmSaving EutychusPer our guest recommendation, we’re giving away few copies of Saving Eutychus by Millar and Campbell, a gift from Matthias Media. You might win one if you register with us!

While Todd is busy attending meetings about the doughnut ministry program at his church, the darling Cruella De Vil is honored to fill in. And the topic is as hot as the oil in that doughnut fryer: Would a church’s basket weaving class somehow further the proclamation of the Gospel? Sometimes, the answer is just…sometimes.So, what are the purposes of church programs, and whom should they serve? Are programs a Biblical criteria for choosing a church? What if a church is unable to offer anything beyond the preached Word, and administration of sacraments on Sundays? Would that church be found lacking?The trio discuss the pros and cons, the temptations to avoid, and the small ways church members can display the love of Christ. You’ll even learn what Carl is doing to better relate to his students!Show NotesThe NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible by ZondervanRosaria Butterfield on hospitalityThe Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals along with Zondervan are giving away The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible. Please register for the opportunity to win one!

What is a definitive standard for Biblical interpretation? Our guest is Dr. Craig Carter. He’s professor of theology at Tyndale University College and Seminary, and his most recent book--Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition: Recovering the Genius of Premodern Exegesis-- is a robust defense of bible interpretation grounded in the Trinitarian theology of the Nicene tradition. Dr. Carter walks us through the exegetical process that defined the orthodoxy we observe today. We’ll consider several historical figures, including Thomas Aquinas, and such intriguing subjects as Christian Platonism. Tune in for this compelling conversation, and discover whether Bible interpretation is a task for scholars only. You may be surprised by what Dr. Carter’s has to say! Show Notes ·The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible by Zondervan ·Pacifist Theology of John Howard Yoder ·British Theologian John Webster ·Rethinking Christ in Culture: A Post-Christendom Perspective ·Colin Gunton ·Nicaea and Its Legacy by Lewis Ayres ·Scripture and Metaphysics by Matthew Levering ·Thomas C. Oden ·Richard Muller ·The Cappadocian Fathers ·Edward Feser

The crew weighs in on the pastoral care of those who struggle with sin associated with homosexual desires. How can elders and leaders of the church help these brothers and sisters walk in holiness? One way is to understand how society defines sexual orientation and identity. First and foremost, there must be clarity where the Bible is clear. Then, some hard work must be done to define the nuanced complexities of sexual sin that are not expressly stated in Scripture. Is it helpful to use the term, “gay Christian?” Join us for a compelling conversation! Show Notes Rousseau’s Confessions The NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible by Zondervan We’re giving away few copies of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield. Register to win! The copies are a generous gift from Crown and Covenant Publications.

The second century of the church hasn’t received much attention from historians, as it lacked what many would call “remarkable developments.” Michael Kruger disagrees. In his recent book, Christianity at the Crossroads, the RTS president fills in the gaps on how the challenges faced, decisions made, and directions taken by second century Christians were essential to the growth and future of the young church of Jesus Christ.Professor Kruger offers examples of the political and intellectual resistance Christians faced at that time, and draws helpful parallels with the present day. Join the crew, as we discover how our faith took root in the second century.Show NotesThe Collection of the Apostolic Fathers, a collection of post-apostolic writings from Ignatius, Polycarp, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria.The Apology by Tertullian Thanks to our friends from IVP Academics, we are giving away a few copies of Christianity at the Crossroads. Register if you want the opportunity to win one!Social PostsWe think of the church now as so big and established that we forget that there was a time, from a human perspective, when it wasn’t clear if it was going to make it… There were some dark times there. - M. KrugerThe Christians found themselves distinguishing their beliefs from the broader Greco-Roman polytheistic world and a lot of the things that were going on were very similar to the kind of things that are going on in our world. Christians have to say, there is only one God, and you only worship that one God, and He made everything, and his Son is the only way to salvation, and so on… - M. Kruger