Author Archive

Hebrews 13:7-20 – In Search of a City (Edmund P. Clowney)

October 11th, 2009 by admin

View this sermon at SermonAudio.com

Hebrews 13:7-20

1 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,

ESV

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Posted in Proclaiming Christ | 2 Comments »

Luke 9:18-36 – Glory Revealed: Christ and His People (Eric Alexander)

October 4th, 2009 by admin

View sermon at St. Georges-Tron

Luke 9:18-36

18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

30And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,

31who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

33And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”? not knowing what he said.

34As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

36And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

(ESV)

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August 2009 News

August 8th, 2009 by admin

Noll and Hart on CTC

Mark Noll and Darryl Hart are scheduled to appear on Christ the Center Monday, August 17 at 3PM EDT.  Join us live at http://reformedforum.org/video to listen in.  The subject of discussion will be Noll’s new book The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith from Intervarsity Academic Press.

New Members Site

We are pleased to announce the launch of http://members.reformedforum.org, our new member site.  The new site gives Reformed Forum members access to exclusive content including pre and post-show recordings, news and audio blog updates as a thank you for their contributions.  To become a member, signup for a monthly contribution of $5 or more at http://reformedforum.org/support.

July 2009 Top Episodes

July was another great month at Reformed Forum.  Here are the most downloaded episodes for the month.

August 2008 Top Episodes

It’s fun to go back and look at the download stats from a year ago.  Here are the top episodes from August 2008.

Stay tuned for more news.  We’re planning to put these updates out monthly in addition to everything that’s going on at http://members.reformedforum.org.

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A Comparison of Rahnerian to Reformed Apologetics

June 19th, 2009 by admin

Christ the Center discusses the theology of the influential Roman Catholic Karl Rahner.  Rahner’s theology is a composite of Kantian, Hegelian and Heideggerian philosophies.  The panel discusses these philosophic influences and compares Rahner’s approach to apologetics with a Reformed approach – particularly the system taught by Cornelius Van Til.  This episode will prove useful not only for the philosophically-minded apologist, but also for anyone interested in seeing the influence of one’s theological system upon apologetic methodology.  The discussion may also help listeners to realize that much of modern Roman Catholic theology is quite different from that which was taught during the Reformation.

This episode is brought to you in part by The Confessional Presbyterian, a journal for discussion of Presbyterian doctrine and practice. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted in Apologetics, Camden Bucey, Christ the Center, Featured, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, Systematic Theology | 7 Comments »

Cultural Relevance, Mercy Ministry and the Social Gospel

August 15th, 2008 by admin

The Christ the Center panelists converse with the Rev. Richard Phillips, Senior Minister at 2nd Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC about the importance of a Reformed approach to evangelism and mercy ministry.  The tendency can be to remain inside the four walls of the church when the church has been called to proclaim the gospel to a dying world.  Phillips points out that it is possible to be solidly Reformed and also committed to getting the message of the gospel out into the highways and byways of our various communities.  Rev. Phillips draws upon his own pastoral experience and one of his most recent publications, Jesus the Evangelist.  While believers are called upon to give a reason for the hope that is in them as they are given opportunity (1st Pet. 3:15), the primary means of evangelism is the proclamation of the Bible from the pulpit in public worship.

The panel also discussed the rightful place of mercy ministry and cultural engagement.  It is important that the church take care of its own, but there is also a place for demonstrating mercy to those outside the church.  However, there is always the danger that demonstrating God’s love in deeds of mercy will eclipse the clear, forthright declaration of the gospel.  The church must never forget its mission or identity by compromising or conforming to the culture of this world.  The social gospel and inadequate methods of cultural engagement have confused and in some cases lost the truth of the gospel.

The Christ the Center panelists along with Rev. Phillips conclude that with evangelism and mercy ministry, all must be done to bring glory and honor to the Triune God of Scripture (1st Cor. 10:31).  In other words, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing! Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted in Camden Bucey, Christ the Center, James Dolezal, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, Nick Batzig, Practical Theology, Rick Phillips, Systematic Theology | 2 Comments »