Members Podcast

The guys talk about pietistic, emotionally-based preaching, as well as the armor of God and the Lord's Table. ...

Jon and Justin talk about how freeing it is to realize your sanctification isn't for you. ...

Jon and Justin talk about how freeing it is to realize your sanctification isn't for you. ...

Jon and Justin deal with common objections to "faith alone" and "Christ alone." ...

The guys pointedly answer the question posed by John Piper's article, "How often should you question your salvation?" ...

The guys have a pastoral conversation about how the gospel isn't about us at all. ...

The guys give advice to those who are stuck in a pietistic context. ...

The guys give advice to those who are stuck in a pietistic context. ...

The guys continue reflecting on 2020 and the faithfulness of God. ...

Jon and Justin have a spirited conversation about how the church has lost its focus and mission--and how that makes it difficult for people to find legitimate communion in Christ around the means of grace. ...

The guys have a lively conversation about how spiritual disciplines are highly individualized--and how the corporate realities of life in the church are what matter.
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Jon and Justin discuss accountability and how it is often approached in the church. ...

Jon and Justin talk about preaching that leads to more despair and discouragement, rather than helping us in it. ...

What about politics? Should Christians be debating what candidate or political party one should vote for? ...

Jon and Justin talk about the mission of the church and what it looks like to keep the main things the main things. ...

Jon and Justin talk about the "taste and see" reality of a church where the gospel permeates everything in the life of the congregation. ...

Jon and Justin consider why we would interpret the Bible in any other way than a redemptive-historical fashion with Jesus at the center. ...

The guys discuss whether all of Scripture is Christian Scripture, dispensationalism, and how interpretative models affect assurance. ...

The guys continue the conversation around the major tenets of reformed theology. ...

Justin and Jon consider Proverbs 6:33 and whether our disgrace from sexual sin can ever be taken away? Also, the guys talk about how the church has often confused its mission when it comes to sex and the culture. ...

The guys consider whether personal Bible reading is a litmus test of being a good and faithful Christian. ...

We get a little bit more punchy as we talk about the dangers of pietism as it relates to the gathered saints in the local church and the damage that it can cause. We hope this conversation is beneficial to you as it was to us. We look forward to you listening. ...

Jon and Justin talk about the most difficult kind of people to live with, as well the struggle we have to accept people's repentance. ...

Jon drops a bomb and opens the topic of transforming culture and American Christianity. Is it the mission of the church to fight back against bad governments? What role should Christian play in politics, or even pursuing being a politician? ...

Jon and Justin consider how Calvinistic evangelicalism hasn't helped with assurance but, rather, has doubled down on pietism. ...

Jon and Justin talk about the responsibility of leaders in light of Hebrews 13 and James 3. And, we discuss turning our fear into good motivation for the advancement of the gospel. ...

Members Podcast: The guys continue the conversation on the burdens of our current cultural moment. We take a look back at the #metoo movement and consider the primacy of the gospel in the life of the church ...

In this episode, we answer the question, "Can we disappoint God in our disobedience?" We also have a spirited discussion about quiet times and the necessity of the church.  ...

The guys layout the primary and secondary issues one should consider first before they leave or stay in their current context. Is something like sanctification a reason to leave? ...

The guys layout the primary and secondary issues one should consider first before they leave or stay in their current context. Is something like sanctification a reason to leave? ...

The guys continue the conversation on evangelicalism by considering how confessional theology is the antidote to so much of what ails the contemporary church. ...

The guys continue the conversation on 2 Peter 1 by going through the rest of the chapter. We give thoughts on preaching the passage and on pastoral posture, in general. ...

Jon and Justin talk pastorally and personally about the fallout of evangelical confusion over justification and sanctification. ...

The guys talk personally with our listeners, some of whom have sent in emails. And, we seek to encourage one another with the hope of the new heaven and the new earth, which Christ has secured for us. ...

The guys discuss the value of counseling centers and how they can partner well with local churches to care for struggling saints. We also talk about the fallout of an obsession with sanctification.
Restoration Counseling Center of Asheville (that Justin mentioned): https://restorationashevillenc.com ...

The guys continue the conversation on triumphalism and by considering the exhortation of Paul to walk by the Spirit so that we don't gratify the desires of the flesh. ...

The guys talk about how to counsel people who are battling depression. We discuss mercy, compassion, the roles of Scripture and the church, as well as practical helps. ...

The guys talk about how maintaining an appropriate distinction between law and gospel leads to assurance and rest in Christ. ...

In this episode, we talk about angry preaching. We consider where it comes from, why it's common, and why it's bad. ...

The guys continue the conversation on assurance by considering good works, the ongoing struggle with sin, and the work of Christ. ...

We continue answering questions from the online live Q&A. Topics include how to preach obedience and the damage caused by fear-based preaching. ...

Jon and Justin talk about their own journeys away from legal preaching and also consider the purpose of the pulpit. ...

We cover preaching about sin and obedience in light of the gospel. We also discuss Christ-centered preaching--what it is and what it isn't ...

The guys continue the conversation about suffering and the Christian life. We blow up some unhelpful things we've seen being posted on social media and elsewhere. ...

Jon and Justin discuss how Proverbs is selectively applied and misapplied. We also get into The Song of Solomon. ...

Jon and Justin talk about implications for preaching in light of our struggle against sin. We also consider church discipline as a tool given to us by God for the restoration of sinners. ...

The guys continue the conversation on feelings, faith, and assurance. We also discuss Christian Hedonism and where it tends to lead. ...

Jon and Justin continue the conversation about the work of Christ. We turn to consider its implications for love and unity in the church. We also talk about the craziness of self-righteousness. ...

The guys continue the conversation about ambition. We discuss how ambition is harmful to churches, pastors, and church planters. ...

Jon and Justin continue the conversation on faith alone. In particular, we talk about how the truth of justification by faith alone in Christ alone frees us up to love one another. ...

Jon and Justin continue the conversation on love. We discuss how this relates to the meanness and gracelessness we often see on Christian Twitter and in the church. ...

In this episode, we talk about the radical sayings of Jesus. And we consider how love, mercy, and compassion are the order of the day in the church. ...

Jesus prays for our protection and our mission in John 17. What kind of protection does he pray for? And what kind of mission has he left for us? In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about our mission and Christ's desires for us as his church. ...

In this episode, we talk about all the little "l" laws we place ourselves under in the New Year's season. There are a 1,000 things we need to be doing--or not doing. We often fail to meet our own expectations. What do we do with all this? ...

In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about some of the ways contemporary Christianity has made everything complicated. We also talk about the freeing simplicity of the biblical faith that is founded on Christ crucified for sinners. ...

We continue our conversation with Daniel Emery Price about creedal Christianity. We dive deeper into how the creedal faith makes people nervous, as well as ways many in the church today actually contradict the creeds. ...

More from our live event in Palmdale, CA. We consider bearing fruit in the Christian life and the question of how long a Christian can struggle with sin before they should start questioning their salvation. ...

Jon and Justin continue the discussion around Mark Jones' article. We also take listener questions about the Marrow Controversy, Roman Catholicism, and when/how you would know someone is a false convert. ...

In this episode we interview our friend, Chad Bird. We discuss his book, "Night Driving." We cover a number of topics, including the pain we experience in this life, repentance, forgiveness, the struggle against sin, and the love of God for sinners. ...

We cover questions concerning rewards in heaven, are all Jews saved, and how do we rest daily in Christ.  ...

In this episode, we talk about ways assurance is undermined. We talk pastorally about how to counsel and love struggling sinners. And, a few punchy comments are made about habitual sins. ...

We let it rip a little bit on the inconsistencies that exist in the Calvingelical world with respect to God's grace--especially after conversion. We consider how repentance is so often turned into a work that we do and is scrutinized at every turn.
Resources:
"For Calvinism" by Michael Horton
1689 London Baptist Confession (Chapter 10)
Canons of Dort (3&4.11)
"The Five Points of Calvinism: A Study Guide" by Edwin Palmer
Scripture:
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Ezekiel 36:22-32
Deuteronomy 30:6
Matthew 16:16-17
John 3:1-8; 6:37-65; 10:24-30; 15:16
Acts 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; 26:12-18
Romans 8:29-30
1 Corinthians 2:14
Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:1-9
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ...

In the first Hot Topics episode--for our members--we discuss the recent apostasy of Joshua Harris, along with the failures of Tullian Tchividjian, Mark Driscoll, and James MacDonald. How should we think about these things? And, can a man return to ministry after a failure? ...

In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about a verse of Scripture that has produced much angst and confusion: Hebrews 12:14. In that verse, we read that there is a holiness without which no one will see the Lord. How should we understand this passage? ...

Jon and Justin consider how Calvinistic evangelicalism hasn't helped with assurance but, rather, has doubled down on pietism. ...

In this episode, we talk more about limited/particular atonement and assurance. We also launch into some spirited discussion about biblicism and expositional preaching. ...

In this episode, we answer the question, "How do I know if I'm elect?" We talk about the unhelpful answers that are often given in the broad, Calvinistic evangelical world. ...

In this episode, we talk about the inconsistencies that exist in the Calvinistic evangelical world when it comes to total depravity. Many claim to hold to the doctrine but functionally deny it. We also touch on how a right understanding of total depravity produces compassion. ...

In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about issues related to John 15 and how it so often misapplied in pietistic contexts. We touch on Lordship Salvation, total depravity, and sanctification. ...

In this episode, we answer the question, "Can we disappoint God in our disobedience?" We also have a spirited discussion about quiet times and the necessity of the church.  ...

Maybe you've noticed that the grace of God in Christ is so often qualified? As soon as the gospel is heralded, immediately comes the "Yeah, but..." In this episode, we talk about the tendency to footnote grace and hedge on sola fide. Where does this come from, and why does it happen? ...

Episode Description: In this episode, we discuss the reality of weariness. It's common. We consider how the church is supposed to be a haven for sinners, but sadly, the church has often only piled it on the weary Christian. ...

In this episode, we discuss the darkness that resides in all of us. Should we be surprised when Christians sin--and sin heinously? What do we mean by total depravity? What do we do when we come face to face with the wickedness of our hearts? ...

Does God choose people according to their own will? Is there such a thing as free will? Is God responsible for evil? The Boys answer all of these questions from the 1689 London Baptist Confession. UNFILTERED: How do the doctrines of grace (Calvinism) influence the way you preach and do ministry? Hope you enjoy! ...

On this episode, the Boys tackle the question: What role does Satan play in the life of a believer? How should we understand the warning passages about Satan? In the UNFILTERED: what does Paul mean in Ephesians by “grieving the spirit”? ...

The Boys answer a number of your questions this week. How do we deal with sin in our lives and not beat ourselves up over it? How can the believer find assurance if we are not sure whom God has elected? What do the Boys think about the sanctification debate with Tullian? In the UNFILTERED, are we required to put in personal effort toward our sanctification? ...

The Boys walk through the book of Hebrews demonstrating how the entire Bible is pointing us to Jesus Christ and his redemption of sinners. They also dive into several of the "problem" passages and provide simple yet helpful answers. Their greatest goal in this episode is to lead you to trust in Christ. ...

The Boys take a real practical approach in answering some common questions about what it looks like to rest in Christ daily as a parent, pastor, and sinner. In the UNFILTERED we respond to one of our listener's questions, "Is Lordship another Gospel?"
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Jon and Ryan answer the question: How does the move from pietism to confessionalism impact your parenting? In the UNFILTERED, they talk about the historic teaching called Preporationism. ...

Is the doctrine of the Trinity really that important? The Boys discuss how your view of the Triune God impacts your ability to rest in Christ. This discussion is taken from chapter two of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.v ...

The Boys do a 30,000-foot view of one of the most controversial books in the Bible, the book of James. The Boys spend most of the time answering some common questions: Was Abraham justified by works? How do we reconcile James and Paul? Can we even find the gospel in the book of James? In the UNFILTERED they cover the famous passage on healing with oil. ...

Today on the podcast the Boys are answering your questions! You asked us to comment on Paul Washer, Reformed Theology, Calvinism, and whether ties are an important aspect of worship. We hope you enjoy the discussion. ...

Today on the podcast The Boys are talking about the Bible. Particularly, what the 1689 LBC has to say about it. After briefly discussing how we should approach the confessions we turn our discussion towards the relationship a believer should have with the Bible. ...

Does Heaven seem stale and distant to you? The Boys unfold the joy of the hope of Heaven and how this reality can strength the believer's faith. ...

Today on the podcast The Boys are talking about new year Resolutions. Should believers commit to New Year's Resolutions? Are they anti-gospel? Is there a place for them in life? And in the Unfiltered section, the Boys discuss if the presence of sin and addiction is due to a lack of resolve in the life of a believer. ...

Third Use Of The Law: Are believers still under the Law? What is the Law's role? Are we obligated to obey the Law? ...

Are we Antinomian? What does being an Antinomian mean? Do the Boys promote Antinomianism, and what does the Bible have to say about it? The Boys answer these questions and more on today's podcast. We also see how 1 Pet. 1:16, Phil 2:12, and Heb. 12:14 should influence the discussion.
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How does the reformed context help you become a better church member? And in the UNFILTERED, Jon and Ryan discuss when you should leave a church. ...

Understanding the practical implications of a proper understanding of sin. ...

The Boys begin the podcast by discussing the Reformed and Confessional view of discipleship. The rest of the podcast is dedicated to answering listeners’ questions about the topic like: Where did the modern perspective come from? What does the Bible say about the topic? Can we look to Jesus or Paul as examples? What is its purpose? And in the UNFILTERED, what about discipleship and marriage? We hope you enjoy!
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Why making the law gospel distinction is essential to life and faith ...

How getting Sola Fide right changes our approach to Scripture and liberates the life of the believer ...

How are you supposed to approach the Bible now that Gospel clarity has ruined your perspective? The Boys walk through how reading, teaching, and preaching changes when you hold to a gospel-centered view of the Bible. ...

Reading Exodus Redemptively: The boys discuss how the Exodus story should shape our reading of the Bible, expand our understanding of the Gospel, and strengthen our faith in Christ. ...

How should we respond to racial injustice in the past and present? Is the preaching of the Gospel the only mandate for the Church, or should it be directly involved in responding to sins in society through social justice? ...

How should Christians respond to the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Is there really even a good answer to the problem of evil? The Boys also give some helpful thoughts on how to provide gracious and loving answers to those who are in the midst of suffering. ...

The Boys work through some of the most common questions Christians are asked today. How many of the popular answers given today only cause confusion and mistrust in the church? How can we instead have reasonable dialogs that provide compassionate, yet helpful answers? ...

How far does the authority in the church reach into the individual life? What does the Bible say about submitting to elders? How much control are leaders actually given? Has the church over reached? ...

The Boys answer the questions they teased out on the episode. They may have had too much fun doing this episode!  ...

Special UNFILTERED, we read one of our favorite sections in the book. We hope you enjoy! ...

On this episode, the Boys talk about how we read our evangelical storyline into the story of Jesus, and how we’ve largely mishandled the gospel genre. LISTEN TO THE END! Special announcement from Jeremy. ...

The Failure of Moralism: How living moralistically destroys grace and people. ...

Luther suffered from what he described as his “anfechtung.” A persistent “terror of the soul” the sinful human being suffers under the Law. Luther saw this pain as the baseline for the Christian experience and the Gospel as the only remedy. ...

In Romans 7, Is Paul referring to his struggle with sin before or after his conversion to Christ? In this episode, the Boys walk through the passage and answer that very question. They also ask the question, "Is the struggle with sin the normal experience of the Christian life?" Join the conversation to find out! ...

The Boys get personal in this episode! They discuss how the modern churches philosophy, strategy, and overreaching authority has damaged many Christians. How the church has gained the reputation for abusing its members. And, how do you help those who have left the church? Make sure to listen to the UNFILTERED, its free with this episode. ...

Ever hear of "The Victorious Christian Life?" Should Christians expect their lives to gradually improve over time? How do we measure this improvement? How is this perspective dangerous to Christians? ...

The Boys pull another one of their favorites from the vault: How Covenant Theology helps our understanding of the law/gospel distinction. Fun interview with Pat Abendroth. ...

An interview about the educational series, "From Here To There: Learning Church History Backwards." ...

The Boys pull one out of the vault and discuss a great topic! Assurance: Has evangelicalism given up what the Reformers fought to win? ...

Luther’s “tower experience” and breakthrough moment on Sola Fide immediately transformed his understanding of Scripture. The Boys discuss how reading the Bible as an accounting of redemption (rather than a handbook of spirituality) will inevitably transform your perspective of the Bible. There’s an obvious correlation between Law-Gospel distinction and biblical unity. ...

You’re Not Crazy: “No you’re not crazy.” The boys deliver this message pretty regularly to those Christians who’ve begun to notice the contradictions within Evangelicalism. Faithfulness has replaced faith. Moralism has replaced the Gospel. Improvement has supplanted redemption. How did things ever become so convoluted? ...

What does it mean to edify one another? It’s amazing what a simple little word of encouragement can do to a soul. Why are we more inclined to tear down rather than build up? How can we more effectively point each other to Christ? ...

The Boys pulled another one of our favorite episodes out of the vault and gave it a new intro and UNFILTERED. Enjoy!
Why do we struggle to pray? Have we turned prayer into a merit based system? The boys talk about the struggle and how we find hope in the gospel. ...

You’re not crazy. Contrary to a pietistic understanding the struggle of sin lasts deep into the Christian life. This is because sin runs deeper than we imagine. How has our understanding of progressive sanctification confused our view of sin’s effects? How does it differ from the consistent view in the confessions? ...

The Boys pulled one of our favorite episodes out of the vault and gave it a new intro and UNFILTERED. We hope you enjoy! #70 Leaving Pietism Part One - The unusual experience of transitioning from a pietistic world to a confessional one. ...

Losing A Generation: A cursory analysis of the current departure of young adults and millennials from the Evangelical church. Is it a reality? Where does their cynicism toward the church come from? How should the church respond? ...

Why you should stop trying to be happy. The negative side effects of pursuing happiness in your life. How we largely misunderstand the notion of happiness. How a biblical view of life and suffering puts it into perspective. ...

Fasting: A brief look into the history, benefits and potential problems with the Christian practice of fasting. Should we do it? Are we disobedient if we don’t? What about Lent? And then, we talk about food.   ...

Reflections on this year’s conference. The boys discuss the theme, sermons and culture of the conference. We take issue with specific statements and theological dispositions. We also explain why we went in the first place. ...

2 Corinthians 5:17 - What is the “New Creation” Paul mentions? Does he mean we should never struggle with sin? Is that what’s new? How should we understand his point? ...

A discussion of Theology Proper. Communicable and incommunicable attributes. The mystery of God’s nature. The practical realities of understanding the nature of God. Why transcendence is crucial to life and worship. ...

The boys discuss the influence and importance of Warfield’s classic work on Calvinism. What insights does it offer? How it changed their perspective. Why any serious thinker should consider reading it. Why dead guys are the authors we should look to most. ...

An Interview With Dr. Horton: We discuss Future Justification, Union With Christ vs Justification, The order of salvation, Lordship Salvation and so much more. ...

A personal and candid discussion about depression, what causes the low-grade fever of the soul, why is it so prevalent and how the church has largely mishandled those who suffer from depression. ...

Understanding the central doctrine of atonement, exploring the various theological approaches and wrestling with questions of its extent (limited or unlimited). ...

A taxonomy of gossip. What species of gossip are you? The various ways gossip manifests itself in the church. Why we can’t seem to resist it. The countless lives and reputations which have been destroyed. What is it about human nature that loves to shame others? How to deal with it in the church. ...

Why do we suffer so many insecurities? What do they reveal about our persons? What’s underneath them? How do we deal with them at the heart level? ...

How this one theological concept is essential to understanding the Bible, the Gospel, the life of Christ and the doctrine of justification. Its long history in reformed theology. Why it’s gone missing in popular evangelical theology. Why some people are resistant to it. ...

Critical to Reformed Theology is the understanding that sin is not merely an action (morals), but also a state (condition). The confessions refer to our collective “misery.” Pietism is largely ignorant of the category. What problems has this caused in our practice of the Christian life? How does keeping the state of sin adjust view? ...

The church has a reputation for being a place of strife and discord. Divisions, splits, accusations, slander, disruptions are all too common in the Body of Christ. How do we address negative and destructive attitudes in the church? ...

The liberating habit of brutal self-honesty, developing a realistic view of self, the spiritual benefits of self-awareness and abandoning the behavioristic model of sanctification. ...

Evangelicalism has way overcomplicated the Christian life. How do we get back to the simplicity of the Christian life?  ...

Christians and Alcohol. Teetotalers and their arguments against drinking. Moderation, freedom, and favorites. ...

Is being a Calvinist the same as being Reformed? Why is the distinction important? What does it mean to be Reformed?  ...

What is "fruit" anyway? How much is enough to qualify as Christian? How we turned the joy of abiding into a bondage. ...

Male misery and the myth of escape. Why men wreck their life deep into living. What grace is available to the male soul. ...