In this episode, Rob and Bob discuss the commission of Barnabas to Antioch, the spread of the gospel, the addition of Saul to work in Antioch, and the relief sent to the congregations of Jerusalem for their aid in a…
Qualifications for Deacons
Paul gave Timothy specific instructions to ordain elders and deacons as the leaders of the churches that they were planting. The Deacons who we were first introduced in Acts 6 were to be dignified, honest, and faithful, not addicted to…
The Relationship between Church and Kingdom according to Geerhardus Vos
The relationship between the kingdom of God and the church, in the words of Geerhardus Vos, is a “delicate and eminently practical question.”[i] In fact, different ecclesiologies have even arisen because of the various ways the church has construed this…
The Relationship between Church and Kingdom according to Herman Ridderbos
The complexity revolving around the question of the relationship between the kingdom and the church is largely due to varying definitions. So before setting forth Herman Ridderbos’ formulation in his magisterial work on the gospels, The Coming of the Kingdom, we’ll first consider his definition…
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism is a system of doctrine that views human history as divided into distinct eras (or dispensations). In each of these dispensations, God provides a unique test to humanity. Repeatedly, they fail these tests and receive the judgment requisite to…
Charles Hodge and the Spirituality of the Church
Dr. Alan Strange is professor of church history and apologetics at Mid-America Reformed Seminary and associate pastor of New Covenant Community Church in Joliet, Illinois. Dr. Strange sits with us to speak about the great American Presbyterian, Charles Hodge, and his contribution…
The Church in the Old Testament
Jonathan Brack explains a Reformed ecclesiology which spans Old and New Testaments. He touches upon covenant theology, polity, and other foundational issues as he speaks about important books on ecclesiology. George Gillespie, Aaron’s Rod Blossoming, or the Divine Ordinance of Church…
Debating Baptism and Ecclesiology
I wrote an essay recently posted at Reformed Forum, called “Ecclesiology and Redemptive History . . . Oh and Baptism.” As I explain in the introduction to that piece, my principle interest is ecclesiology. My approach in the essay is…
The Practice of Ecclesiology
Several contributors are on location in Green Lake, Wisconsin as we discuss the practice of ecclesiology. Although ecclesiology is one of the traditional loci of systematic theology, it is often under-studied and even under-appreciated. Even if we do study the subject thoroughly, we…
Ecumenical and Inter-Church Relations
Mark Bube and Kurt Vetterli speak today about ecumenism and inter-church relations. Mark Bube, general secretary of foreign missions in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, plays an important part in the OPC’s ecumenism because the OPC collaborates with other NAPARC denominations in…
