The Westminster Podcast

Biblical Counseling in Latin America w/ Claudia Barerro

Mon, 11 May 2026 08:00:00 -0000

This episode of the Westminster Podcast features Claudia Barrero in conversation with Nate Shannon, exploring her journey from a Roman Catholic background and aspirations in medicine to a calling in psychology shaped by a growing evangelical faith. Barrero reflects on the tension between secular therapeutic frameworks and a biblical understanding of human nature, and how the Lord used her experiences in Colombia and Peru to lead her toward a Reformed perspective on counseling as a form of discipleship and gospel witness.

The conversation highlights the challenges of practicing biblical counseling in a Latin American context where it is largely unknown, often misunderstood, and must be carefully contextualized amid cultural distrust, hierarchical church structures, and the influence of both secular psychology and prosperity-driven religious movements. Ultimately, Barrero presents counseling as a means of helping both believers and non-believers reckon honestly with God, suffering, and the need for a Savior, while also calling attention to the broader needs of the church in Colombia for deeper theological formation, active membership, and a more comprehensive grasp of Scripture’s authority in all of life.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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The Council of Nicea & The Church Today w/ Randy Caldejo and Blake Franze

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:00 -0000

This episode of the Westminster Podcast features Blake Franze and Randy Caldejo in conversation with Nate Shannon, reflecting on their experience at the 1700th anniversary conference of the Council of Nicaea in Istanbul. The discussion explores the enduring theological significance of the Nicene Creed as both a historical response to heresy and a continuing model for faithful doctrinal clarity grounded in Scripture. Drawing from the global and ecumenical nature of the conference, the conversation highlights the unity and diversity of the worldwide church, the urgent need for theological education amid rapid church growth, and the importance of recovering a robust, Scripture-shaped theological method.

The episode also reflects on how ancient confessional truths continue to inform modern challenges, from ministry in closed countries to emerging issues like artificial intelligence, calling the church to ongoing reformation and faithfulness in every age.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Our Hope is in Help w/ Pierce Hibbs

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Brandon McLean Smith is Joined by Pierce Taylor Hibbs to talk about his new book Our Hope is in Help. The conversation covers the concept of autonomy and how none of us can truly be independent from the Lord. We rely on his for everything and thus should always be quick to seek help from him and others.

Buy your copy of Our Hope is in Help now.

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The Scottish Tempest — Episode 4: Blood and Fire

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:21:00 -0000

Driven from England as the fires of Marian persecution begin to consume the very church he helped build, John Knox watches from exile as his friends burn, his flock scatters, and his life’s work is undone. What begins as grief hardens into fury, as Knox wrestles not only with the suffering of his people but with his own absence from their trials, forced into a retreat that feels like betrayal.

But the terror engulfing England was not born overnight. Behind the flames lies a dynastic crisis decades in the making—Henry VIII’s obsession with legacy, a marriage unraveling under political and theological strain, and a young princess shaped from birth to be a pawn in the ruthless game of European power. As Queen Mary ascends the throne, the personal becomes apocalyptic: a kingdom convulses, a church is purged by fire, and Knox is left to ask not only how it happened, but what must now be done.

Warning: This episode contains some graphic depictions of Martyrdom so listener discretion is advised.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Irish Monasticism w/ Stafford Carson & Todd Rester

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

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Prayer, Gratitude, and the Christian Life w/ Dr. Greg Parker Jr.

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Recorded live at the Kuyper Conference in Grand Rapids, this episode features a conversation with Greg Parker Jr., a theologian and scholar of Herman Bavinck, reflecting on his academic journey, current work in theological education, and research in neo-Calvinism. Parker discusses his engagement with Abraham Kuyper’s pastoral theology, particularly his exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism and the Lord’s Prayer, highlighting themes of ascent and descent as a framework for understanding prayer, the Christian life, and communion with God. The conversation also explores the importance of translating and retrieving Bavinck’s works for the church, the pastoral dimension of systematic theology, and the need for careful theological engagement with contemporary questions such as human identity, bioethics, and artificial intelligence.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Confessional Theology and the Neo-Calvinist Vision w/ Dr. Gray Sutanto

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Recorded live at the Kuyper Conference at Calvin University, this episode features a conversation with Dr. Gray Sutanto, alumnus of Westminster Theological Seminary and professor of systematic theology at RTS Washington, D.C. Sutanto reflects on his academic work in neo-Calvinism, particularly his efforts to retrieve and clarify the theological legacy of figures like Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. He highlights the coherence between neo-Calvinism and confessional Reformed theology, emphasizing that neo-Calvinism is not reducible to cultural transformationalism or theonomy, but rather represents a historically rooted, theologically rich movement seeking to articulate Christianity as a comprehensive worldview in the modern age.

The discussion also explores the nature of theological retrieval, arguing for a model that is both historically grounded and constructively forward-looking. Sutanto outlines how neo-Calvinism exemplifies this balance by drawing deeply from the Reformed tradition while addressing the intellectual and social challenges of modernity—particularly in its articulation of common grace, sphere sovereignty, and the relationship between church and state. The episode concludes with reflections on the reception of neo-Calvinism in English-speaking contexts, the importance of recovering Bavinck’s broader corpus, and the ongoing task of cultivating a robust, confessionally rooted theology that speaks meaningfully to contemporary cultural and ecclesial life.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Has Science Made God Unnecessary? w/ Ransom Poythress

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Dr. Ransom Poythress, professor of biology at Houghton University, reflects on the relationship between Christian faith and the scientific enterprise, beginning with Psalm 104 as a vision of a world created and sustained by God. He addresses the limits of hyper-specialization and the scientific method, arguing that science itself depends on realities—mind, order, and a knowable world—that are best explained within a Christian framework. Moving beyond critique, Dr. Poythress casts a positive vision of science as a meaningful Christian vocation, where the pursuit of knowledge, healing, and stewardship reflects the biblical themes of creation, fall, and redemption, inviting believers to engage science with humility, wonder, and worship

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Song of Songs w/ Dr. Iain Duguid

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon is joined by Iain Duguid as they explore the depths of the Song of Songs. They discuss the challenges of translating poetry, the interpretive strategies, and the profound biblical insights into love, marriage, and Christ's relationship with the church.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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St. Patrick: Missionary to Ireland w/ Todd Rester

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In light of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, Nate Shannon is joined by Westminster professor of Church History Todd Rester to reflect on the life and witness of St. Patrick. Moving beyond popular legends, the conversation traces Patrick’s remarkable story from his upbringing in fifth-century Roman Britain, to his capture and enslavement in Ireland as a teenager, to his eventual return to the very land of his enslavement as a missionary of Christ. Drawing from Patrick’s own Confession, Dr. Rester highlights the humility, Trinitarian orthodoxy, and deep sense of divine providence that shaped Patrick’s life and ministry.

They also consider why Patrick remains such an important figure for the church today. Rather than treating him merely as a subject of historical curiosity, the discussion explores how Patrick was remembered, read, and spiritually imitated in the centuries that followed. His example of self-denial, gospel conviction, and sacrificial love for a hostile people becomes a testimony to the grace of God at work in history.

Digital Identity w/ Justin Poythress

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon is joined again by Justin Poythress to discuss the complex issues of digital identity, its impact on relationships, and how Christians can navigate the digital age with biblical wisdom. Their conversation explores the influence of social media, online relationships, and the importance of representing Christ in digital life.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Daily Grace and Deep Sorrow w/ Jeremy Schmucker

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Schmucker joins Nate Shannon to recount the Lord’s providential leading through sorrow, theological formation, and vocational redirection. Raised in a Christian home and later shaped by a wide range of evangelical contexts, Jeremy describes a growing conviction that ministry must be ordered not merely around giftedness (including music) but around the shepherding of souls through the Word. That path eventually brought him to Westminster for the MATS and into a deeper appreciation of the gospel’s coherence, especially the already/not yet reality that acknowledges both Christ’s finished victory and the real presence of grief, scars, and longing in this not-yet age.

At the heart of the conversation is the loss of Jeremy and Kristen’s daughter, Sophia, who was stillborn in February 2014, and the way the Lord met them with sustaining mercies “daily.” From Kristen’s written reflections on God’s faithfulness in suffering emerged The Daily Grace Co., a ministry that has grown into a global publishing effort marked by a deliberate resistance to “Christian celebrityism” and a determination to keep the focus on Christ rather than personalities. Jeremy reflects on the importance of embodied presence in pastoral care, the need for theological clarity joined to genuine charity, and a vision for serving both individual believers and local churches with resources that are accessible, Christ-centered, and rooted in the church’s historic confession.

Who Am I, Really? The Gospel and the Modern Self w/ Justin Poythress

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Nate Shannon interviews Rev. Dr. Justin Poythress about his forthcoming book Who Am I and What Am I Doing With My Life? The conversation explores the modern “identity crisis” often expressed in debates about sexuality and gender but argues that these are only surface manifestations of a much deeper question: what it means to be human. Poythress explains that contemporary culture’s emphasis on radical self-creation, amplified by social media, limitless vocational options, and hyper-individualism, has produced both unprecedented freedom and profound instability. When identity becomes something we must invent rather than receive, the result is anxiety, paralysis, and constant comparison. This pressure affects everyone, not just teenagers or those wrestling with gender questions; adults experience it through work, retirement, politics, and online self-presentation.

The gospel, Poythress argues, reframes identity entirely. Rather than constructing ourselves from scratch, we discover that much of who we are is “given”, created by God and shaped in relationship to Him and others. Christianity does not suppress the human desire for growth and transformation but redirects it: true becoming happens through union with Christ, not self-invention. What modern self-help and identity movements seek, meaning, stability, and a better self, is fulfilled in conversion and sanctification. The Christian life therefore answers the identity crisis not by rejecting identity language, but by redeeming it, grounding our being and becoming in communion with God.

The Shorter Catechism: A Tool for Theological Depth w/ Dr. S.A. Fix

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, host Nate Shannon engages with Dr. S.A. Fix, an Old Testament scholar, to discuss the significance of John Thompson and his work on the Shorter Catechism. They explore the historical context of American Presbyterianism, the Adopting Act, and the impact of the Great Awakening on the church. Dr. Fix emphasizes the importance of confessionalism and the value of understanding theology as a means to glorify God and deepen one's faith.

Seeing Christ in Lamentations w/ Jeremy Menicucci

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon is joined again by Jeremy Manacuchi for a searching exploration of the Book of Lamentations, one of Scripture’s most haunting and least-studied books. Beginning with the stark poetry of Jerusalem’s fall, they situate Lamentations within its historical context: the Babylonian siege, exile, and the covenantal judgment foretold in Deuteronomy. The discussion traces why the book is so emotionally and theologically difficult: its graphic imagery, its honest depiction of divine wrath, and its profound sense of abandonment, while also arguing for its enduring pastoral value. Far from being marginal, Lamentations confronts suffering head-on as the just response to sin, spoken from within the lived experience of God’s people.

At the heart of the conversation is Lamentations 3, the structural and theological center of the book. Jeremy presents a compelling Christological reading in which “the man who has seen affliction” bears the full weight of God’s wrath, descends into the pit, and yet emerges with renewed hope grounded in the steadfast love of the Lord. Read as a carefully crafted whole, Lamentations moves from darkness to a single, blazing moment of hope, one that ultimately points beyond Jerusalem’s ruin to Christ himself. In that light, Lamentations is not merely a book of grief, but a profound witness to God’s covenant faithfulness, offering hope to sinners and sufferers alike through the one who was forsaken so that God might once again say to his people, “Do not fear.”

John Murray and the Westminster Tradition w/ Paul Woo

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Paul Woo recounts how his academic path converged with his personal theological journey. Though initially trained in seventeenth-century theology, his long-standing passion for Presbyterian history led him to accept an unexpected invitation to pursue doctoral research on John Murray. Murray’s influence, was first felt in reading Murray on Romans 6. Definitive sanctification gave him new categories for understanding the Christian struggle against sin as a battle fought from union with Christ, where Scripture’s imperatives rest on real spiritual power rather than desperation. That spiritual and theological foundation made the doctoral opportunity compelling. Surveying Murray’s lecture notes on the Westminster Standards revealed a meticulous historical theologian, overturning the common assumption that Murray was only a precise biblical exegete rather than a scholar deeply engaged with primary historical sources.

Paul then outlines his emerging dissertation project, provisionally titled John Murray the Westminsterian, which will explore how Murray’s Scottish Presbyterian heritage and confessional commitments shaped his theology, and how in turn he helped shape Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church through his work on the denomination’s confession. The conversation widens to his recent research on Trinitarian doctrine at the Westminster Assembly, particularly debates over the Son’s aseity and Calvin’s doctrine of autotheos, showing how historical dogmatics and confessional theology intersect in his work. He also discusses his editorial research for P&R Publishing’s Warfield reprints, describing the painstaking but rewarding labor of tracing Warfield’s vast multilingual sources, and reflecting on how modern digital access has transformed historical scholarship. The episode closes with reflections on Murray’s enduring legacy as both scholar and pastor, his reputation for prayer and piety, and recommendations for readers approaching Murray for the first time (especially his sermons and Redemption Accomplished and Applied) as an entry point into a theology where rigorous exegesis, historical consciousness, and lived communion with Christ remain inseparable.

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Scripture and Creed: How Mark's Gospel Leads Us to Nicaea w/ Dr. Brandon Crowe

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, host Nate Shannon welcomes Dr. Brandon Crowe to discuss the relationship between Scripture and the Nicene Creed in the 1700th anniversary year of the Council of Nicaea. Drawing from his recent paper, Christology: Mark on the Road to Nicaea, Crowe explains how creeds arise from Scripture rather than being imposed upon it, functioning as faithful summaries and syntheses of the Bible’s teaching. He explores how extra-biblical theological language—such as homoousios and the doctrine of the Trinity—serves to clarify Scripture’s meaning when purely biblical phrasing proves vulnerable to misinterpretation. The conversation highlights the “hermeneutical spiral” between creed and Scripture: the creed guides faithful reading of the Bible, while Scripture remains the final authority that continually tests the creed.

Crowe then turns to the Gospel of Mark to demonstrate how Nicene Christology emerges from the biblical text itself. Challenging historical-critical approaches that fragment the Gospel or diminish its theology, he argues for reading Mark as a coherent narrative shaped by Old Testament imagery. He outlines four key ways Mark presents Christ’s divine identity: the Father-Son relationship, theophanies, divine saving works, and divine claims made by Jesus. Particular attention is given to episodes such as Jesus walking on the water, interpreted as an Old Testament-shaped theophany revealing God’s presence in Christ. The episode concludes by emphasizing that classical creedal Christology does not restrict careful exegesis but provides theological guardrails that enable deeper, more faithful reading of Scripture.

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Revelation, Illumination, and the Apostles’ Reading of the Old Testament w/ Augustus Lopes and Blake Franze

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon and Blake Franze welcome Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Lopez, Westminster alumnus, pastor, theologian, and former chancellor of Mackenzie University in São Paulo. Broadcasting from Istanbul during the Nicaea Conference, they reflect on Dr. Lopez’s lecture on Colossians and deep Christology before turning to his formative years at Westminster in the early 1990s. He recounts studying under Moses Silva, wrestling with liberal European scholarship during his doctoral work, and how faithful mentorship preserved his confidence in Scripture during a season of profound doubt. Dr. Lopez also discusses his dissertation on Paul’s use of the Old Testament, the distinction between revelation and illumination, and how Westminster’s rigorous training equipped him for preaching, scholarship, and academic leadership across the globe.

The conversation then shifts to contemporary challenges facing the church, particularly the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the theological tensions raised by the global Pentecostal movement. Dr. Lopez argues that questions of Spirit, revelation, and spiritual gifts represent the most pressing frontier for confessional orthodoxy today. He also shares his conviction about using social media as a mission field—reaching closed communities, discipling young believers, and providing pastoral presence throughout the week—while warning against the dangers of unaccountable online ministry. The episode concludes with his hope that Westminster will continue equipping leaders from the global South, extending confessional, pious, and academically excellent theological education to the worldwide church.

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Hope in the Midst of Ruin: The Theology of Lamentations w/ Jeremy Menicucci

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

This week Nate Shannon speaks with Westminster doctoral student Jeremy Menicucci about his journey to Westminster, his pastoral background, and his doctoral research on the Book of Lamentations.

They focus on Jeremy’s dissertation work on Hebrew poetry, focusing especially on deviations from unmarked word order in Lamentations. He explains how poetic structure, acrostic form, and word order function not merely as literary devices but as vehicles for theological meaning. Lamentations, he argues, is carefully structured as a chiasm with chapter 3 at its center—a chapter that uniquely holds out hope through a profound declaration of God’s sovereignty and a strikingly Christological portrait of “the man” who bears God’s wrath. The episode closes with a rich pastoral reflection on suffering, comfort, and the sovereignty of God, offering listeners guidance on how to read Lamentations faithfully and how its theology equips believers to grieve, hope, and minister wisely in the midst of profound loss.

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The Church in Turkey: Gospel Witness, Cultural Cost, and Christian Hope w/ Göksel Erdoğdu

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon speaks from Istanbul with Göksel Erdoğdu, the first—and so far only—graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary from Turkey. Göksel shares his remarkable personal story as a second-generation Christian in a predominantly Muslim context, recounting how the gospel first came to his family amid social pressure, cultural shame, and political instability. From his upbringing in the Turkish church to his theological formation at Westminster, Göksel reflects on God’s faithfulness in sustaining both faith and witness across generations.

The conversation explores the present state of the church in Turkey, including the legal challenges facing Protestant congregations, the need for sound theological resources, and the growing hunger among younger believers for serious engagement with Scripture. Göksel also describes his current ministry work as a pastor, publisher, and translator, and explains how Westminster’s emphasis on biblical foundations, apologetics, and cultural engagement has shaped his approach to ministry in a Muslim context. The episode concludes with a call to prayer and partnership, inviting listeners to consider how God may be at work in Turkey—and how the global church can faithfully support that work.

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Creation Ordered to Christ: Bavinck and the Lapsarian Debate w/ Bryan Selby

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Westminster Podcast, Brandon McLean Smith is joined again by Brian Selby for a wide-ranging theological conversation on Herman Bavinck, Christology, and the enduring significance of the infralapsarian–supralapsarian debate. Selby explores recent developments in Bavinck scholarship, arguing that Bavinck is far more decisive than often assumed in ordering creation, fall, and redemption with a view to Christ as the telos of all things—while firmly rejecting problematic forms of “incarnation anyway.” Drawing on Bavinck’s engagement with Scripture, the Reformed tradition, and his 19th-century theological context, the conversation situates Bavinck as a critical foil to later neo-orthodox developments, particularly Karl Barth.

The discussion also broadens to consider theological retrieval and method. Selby and Smith reflect on how Bavinck models a distinctly Reformed approach to engaging modern questions without surrendering confessional commitments—retrieving the tradition without mere repristination, and advancing dogmatics in service of the church’s witness in every age. Along the way, they address Christocentrism, revelation, apologetics, and the task of theology in a changing intellectual landscape, offering a compelling vision of how historic Reformed theology can remain faithful, catholic, and intellectually alive today.

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Nicaea, Scripture, and the Authority of the Church w/ Leo de Chirico & Blake Franze

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Recorded at the Nicaea Conference in Istanbul, this episode of The Westminster Podcast features a wide-ranging and incisive conversation with Pastor Leo de Chirico, a Reformed Baptist pastor serving in Rome, Italy. Drawing on his unique experience and years of evangelistic and theological engagement in a Roman Catholic context, Leo reflects on the significance of the Council of Nicaea, the purpose of the Nicene Creed, and what it really meant to confess Christ’s divinity in the face of Arianism. Rather than treating the creed as a sentimental or purely ecumenical touchstone, Leo argues that Nicaea functioned as an exegetical workshop—a Scripture-driven response to heresy grounded in the authority of the Bible.

From there, the conversation explores how different Christian traditions interpret the same creedal language within very different theological frameworks. Leo traces the divergent trajectories of Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism, contending that the Reformation did not reject Nicene Christianity but sought to recover what Nicaea assumed: the supremacy of Scripture as the norma normans. The discussion also turns to contemporary issues, including the renewed attraction of Roman Catholicism among evangelicals, the legacy of Vatican II, and the challenge of engaging a Catholicism that is adaptive, plural, and often misunderstood. Throughout, Leo presses a consistent theme: Christians may use the same words, but they often inhabit very different worlds—and faithful dialogue requires clarity, historical awareness, and a renewed confidence in Scripture alone.

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Thank God for Bitcoin w/ Jordan Bush

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Brandon McLean Smith speaks with Jordan Bush, executive director of Thank God for Bitcoin and they explore the practical and theological implications of Bitcoin as a tool for missions and ministries in places cut off from traditional banking, how it can protect individuals and organizations from financial censorship, and the dangers posed by central bank digital currencies.

Jordan ties monetary questions to a broader Reformed framework—invoking “sowing and reaping,” the kingdom’s economics, and the need for Christian economists—while offering concrete steps churches can take (accepting crypto donations, educating congregations, building endowments) to steward resources responsibly in an unstable monetary age.

If you enjoyed this conversation and were inspired by it to consider ways to utilize Bitcoin and other Crypto currencies to support the work of the Gospel I am glad to announce that Westminster now accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most major coins and tokens.

This is a great way to donate and support Westminster’s mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and His Global church. You avoid capital-gains tax, You receive a tax deduction for the full fair-market value and Westminster receives 100% of the value of your donation. If you want to know more about how to go about making such a donation. Please visit wts.edu/donate to get in touch with our stewardship representatives.

You can also access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Reviving Reformed Theology in the Middle East w/ Sherif Fahim & Blake Franze

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, host Nate Shannon, along with co-host Blake Franze, engage in a deep conversation with Sharif Fahim, a New Testament scholar from Alexandria, Egypt. They explore Sharif's journey from a nominal Coptic Christian to a reformed theologian, the critical need for reformed literature in Arabic, and the challenges of translating theological works.

The discussion also delves into the complexities of Paul's theology in Romans, the significance of justification and sanctification, and the historical importance of Alexandria in church history. Sharif emphasizes the current state of theological education in the Middle East and the potential for reformation in the region.

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Grace and Reward in Paul w/ Dr. Blake Franze

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode Nate kicks off a series of interviews conducted in Istanbul at the Nicea Conference. He begins with his colleague, the latest addition to the Westminster Faculty, Blake Franze. They discuss Blake's PhD dissertation which was on the concept of reward in the Pauline epistles.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Tongues and Prophecy w/ Dr. David Garner: Framing the Discussion

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode Nate Shannon engages with Dave Garner, Chief Academic Officer and future president of Westminster Theological Seminary, to discuss the complex topic of spiritual gifts, particularly tongues and prophecy. They explore the importance of theological discourse, the role of the church in shaping theology, and the necessity of handling disagreements with respect and tenderness.

Dr. Garner emphasizes the need for a thoughtful approach to these discussions, recognizing the personal stakes involved for individuals within the church.

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Confessional Statescraft: From Christian Nationalism to Machen's Libertarianism w/ James Baird

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week Brandon McLean Smith speaks with Dr. James Baird. His book "King of Kings: A Reformed Guide to Christian Government" presents a case for the government's responsibility to promote and protect Christianity as the true religion. While this topic has become controversial, James stakes his claim in the soil of Reformed theology, redemptive-historical hermeneutics, while avoiding the pitfalls of premillenialism and theonomy.

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Apologetics: Persuasion and the Point of Contact w/ Dr. Bill Edgar

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Nate returns to the home of Dr. Edgar this week to continue their discussion of the role of persuasion in Christian Apologetics. This time they are talking about the point of contact, where the rubber meets the road.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Definitive Sanctification w/ Timothy Brindle

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this episode Brandon McLean Smith sits down with Timothy Brindle again to discuss the concept of Definitive Sanctification. Typically we think of sanctification as a long slow process of becoming more mature in our faith and more like Jesus. That's not a problematic way to understand sanctification, but behind that idea is what we call definitive sanctification. Definitive because in our union with Christ there was a definitive break with our sinful nature. There has been a breach with sin once and for all such that we are no longer ruled by our sin. We dive into the exegetical rationale for this concept as well as it's practical implications in the life of the believer.

Thanks for listening!

What Evangelism Looks Like in France w/ Joshua Jacobs

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Joshua Jacobs is an alumnus of Westminster Theological Seminary currently serving as a missionary in France. He sits down with Nate to discuss his ministry and how hospitality is a key element to the proclamation of the gospel in a society as "secular" as France's.

Thanks for listening!

Give Me Poland or Give Me Death: Missions in Poland w/ Tom and Damaris Otremba

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

This week Nate is joined by Tom and Damaris Otremba. They discuss their path from Eastern Europe, to Westminster and plans for proclaiming the Gospel in Poland.

⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening!

Persuasion: Do's and Don'ts w/ Dr. Bill Edgar

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon and Dr. Bill Edgar continue their discussion on one of his most influential books, Reasons of the Heart. They discuss a somewhat overlooked aspect of apologetics, Persuasion.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

The Certainty of Faith w/ Daniel Schrock

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Nate Shannon and Dan Schrock explore the themes of certainty and assurance in faith as articulated by Hermann Bavinck in his book 'The Certainty of Faith.' Dan has recently translated and edited this work which will be available through our very own Westminster Seminary Press. Grab yourself a copy here.

They discuss the historical context of Bavinck's writing, the impact of the Enlightenment and modernity on theological thought, and the pastoral relevance of Bavinck's insights for contemporary Christians facing uncertainty. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of grounding assurance in the authority of Scripture and the objective truth of faith, rather than subjective experiences.

Thanks for listening!

Persuasion, Culture, & Context w/ Dr. Bill Edgar

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon is invited into the home of Dr. Bill Edgar to discuss one of his most influential books, Reasons of the Heart. They discuss a somewhat overlooked aspect of apologetics, Persuasion.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

Reformed Royalty: From Switzerland to WTS via Bonn w/ James Beevers

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

James Beevers is a PhD student at Westminster and he has an interesting personal history. He comes from a WTS family in that his father is an alumnus from the PhD program and his mother from the MAC program. But his reformed roots go potentially so deep that he may be related to Theodore Beza himself. Lineage aside, Nate and James also chat about his dissertation topic, the warning passages in Hebrews, as well as various other topics.

⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening!

Introducing, Dean of Online Students w/ Paul Wolfe

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate is joined by Westminster's new Dean of Online Students, Paul Wolfe. They discuss his experience in seminary at Westminster, his battle with cancer, his heart for pastoral ministry, and many other things.

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

In The Shadow of Death w/ Jerry McFarland

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode Nate and Dr. Jerry McFarland discuss ministering in contexts where death and suffering are near. Dr. McFarland has, until recently served as Dean of Online Students and is now enjoying retirement.

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

Pray, Pray, Pray w/ Brandon Crowe: The Book of James, Chapter 5

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

This week Nate Shannon and Brandon Crowe wrap up their series on the Book James by covering the final chapter of James. This discuss the themes of James as well as some translational issues. If you've enjoyed this series, don't fret at it's conclusion. Dr. Crowe will be back on the podcast soon!

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox, ep. 3

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Hey everybody. It's been a while since the last episode of The Scottish Tempest because I really dove deep on this one, as you may be able to tell by the run time. There's a lot of ground covered in this one and a lot of details that I just couldn't overlook.

I know it's a long one, but... that's kind of the point of this podcast. I'm trying to leave very few stones un-turned here and I hope that shows in the finished product. Don't be afraid to reach out to us on Twitter, (or X, or whatever we're calling it these days) or Facebook to let us know what you think about the series so far.

Thanks for listening!

*** Update: The audio has been updated since 9/2/25 to fix an issue where the intro was muted***

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠⁠

The True State of Israel w/ Juan Carlos Martinez

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this conversation, Juan Carlos Martinez talks with Nate Shannon about his recent publication in Point of Contact, "The True State of Israel." They explore the complex relationship between faith, politics, and the interpretation of scripture, particularly regarding Israel. They discuss the significance of Abraham's promises, the role of circumcision, and Paul's teachings in Romans about the nature of God's people, emphasizing that salvation is found only in Christ. The conversation also addresses contemporary views on Israel and the church, highlighting the importance of understanding the unity of God's people across ethnic lines.

If you enjoyed this episode, sign up to receive a copy of Juan Carlos's "The True State of Israel" and all future Points of Contact at wm.wts.edu/pointofcontact

Why a Podcast on John Knox w/ Brandon McLean Smith

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Next week episode 3 of The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox is dropping. It's been a while (a few months) since the last episode, so Jonathan Brack and Brandon sit down to talk about why Westminster is hosting a long form history podcast on John Knox. They also discuss what we can learn from Knox in light of our current social and theological climate.

⁠⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠⁠

Thanks for listening!

Leading God's People from the Pulpit w/ Dr. John Currie

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

A key tool in the Pastor's leadership repertoire is the Pulpit. Too often the leadership methods of the church are modeled after corporate CEOs or self-help books. There is wisdom to be gained in those areas to be sure but Dr. Currie is calling us to look to the Scriptures and the the ministry of Christ himself to learn how to best shepherd God's flock. What we find there is that the preached word ought to be central to our leadership efforts.

⁠⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com⁠

Thanks for listening!

Elton John, Pentecost, and the Art of Skipping Rocks w/ Iain Duguid on Acts 1-8

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

This week Nate Shannon catches up with Dr. Iain Duguid to discuss his forthcoming book on Acts. They cover some of the themes and topics that are found in the first 8 chapters of Acts.

⁠https://wtspreachingconference25.rsvpify.com

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening!

How to Oppose the Devil w/ Brandon Crowe: The Book of James, Chapter 4

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The best way to oppose the devil is to submit to God, being clothed in the armor of Christ. This week Nate and Dr. Crowe continue their series on the Book of James and discuss this question and much more as they focus in on the fourth chapter of James.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠.

"Dayology" in the Book of the Twelve w/ Timothy Brindle

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The Book of the Twelve (commonly known as the Minor Prophets) are usually thought of as isolated micro-narratives that have little to do with each other, but are compiled in the scriptures in addition to the larger prophetic accounts of the Major Prophets. However, Timothy joins us to dissect that notion and argues that the Book of the Twelve is tied together by a running theme of what he calls "Dayology." Join us as we dive into the concept of the "Day of the Lord" and it's related iterations in the Minor Prophets.

Thanks for listening.

Maturity vs Perfection in James 3 w/ Brandon Crowe: The Book of James, Chapter 3

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate and Dr. Brandon Crowe continue their series on the book of James. This week they focus in on the themes and structure of James chapter 3.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening.

The Rock of the Church w/ Jonathan Brack

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

There is a lot of debate surrounding Matthew 16:15-20 and what Jesus was referring to when he said to Peter "on this rock I will build my church." Jonathan and Brandon dive into the text and do some biblical theological digging to offer an explanation and critique some of the commonly held positions on this text.

Thanks for listening.

The Book of James w/ Brandon Crowe pt. 2: James 2

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate and Dr. Brandon Crowe continue their series on the book of James. Dr. Crowe has not one, but two books on the book of James coming out in the next year. One is a full commentary on the book of James and the other is a popular level book on James. In the coming weeks they will be going chapter by chapter through James discussing the theology and structure of the book, its audience, and what makes it unique. This week they focus in on James 2.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening.

The Book of James w/ Brandon Crowe pt. 1: James 1

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate and Dr. Brandon Crowe begin a series on the book of James. Dr. Crowe has not one, but two books on the book of James coming out in the next year. One is a full commentary on the book of James and the other is a popular level book on James. In the coming weeks they will be going chapter by chapter through James discussing the theology and structure of the book, its audience, and what makes it unique.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠wm.wts.edu⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠wts.edu/donate⁠.

Thanks for listening.

The Moral Law w/ Shelby Myers

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon sat down to discuss the Moral Law/the Ten Commandments with Shelby Myers who had recently taught a 9 month series on the Moral Law of God at Proclamation Presbyterian Church.

Shelby Myers was a current student at the time of this recording but, as of last week, he is now a graduate of the MDiv program. Congrats to Shelby.

Thanks for listening.

Incarnation Anyway? w/ Bryan Selby

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode we hear from current Westminster ThM student Bryan Selby as he discusses the centrality of the incarnation in Reformed theology as well as the place of union with Christ in the curriculum at Westminster.

Thanks for listening.

Two Decades of Leadership and Legacy w/ Peter Lillback

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Peter Lillback has been president of Westminster Theological Seminary for twenty years now. He also has at least that much experience as a pastor. He has a long career of academic accolades as well. Nate sits down with Dr. Lillback to discuss what he has gleaned from his time in leadership and in ministry, what wisdom he can share with us, and also just to hear some great stories.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate.

Thanks for listening.

Jonah and Nahum w/ Dr. Stephen Coleman

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0000

This week, Nate is joined by Dr. Stephen Coleman to talk about the books of Jonah and Nahum. Dr. Coleman has a commentary on the post-exilic minor prophets due out in the Preaching The Word commentary series this November. They discuss the complementary ways in which Jonah and Nahum work together in displaying the Lord's mercy for the nations. It's a real deep dive into a fascinating topic of scripture.

Thanks for listening.

The Doctrine of God w/ Sinclair Ferguson

Mon, 26 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson has a long history of teaching the Doctrine of God at Westminster and still teaches it in our online programs. While Dr. Ferguson was in town to deliver the 17th annual Gaffin Lecture, Nate sat down with him to talk about the Doctrine of God, how he teaches it, what resources he recommends, and they also take some time to answer actual questions from WTS students that are currently enrolled in Ferguson's Doctrine of God course.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate.

Thanks for listening.

Epistemology and Apologetics w/ Vern Poythress

Mon, 19 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

The difference between a faithful apologetic method and an unfaithful one often lies in your interpretation of Romans 1. What does it mean that the unrighteous "suppress the truth" and yet "what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them"? In this episode Nate and Dr. Poythress look to Romans 1 to answer these questions and discuss the relation between epistemology and apologetics.

Thanks for listening.

Pastoral Counseling & Sexuality w/ Dr. Alfred Poirier

Mon, 12 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

When it comes to the issues that pastors are forced to deal with, the landscape is quickly changing. In a culture that is obsessed with gender and sexuality, a pastor is often going to be engaging with these issues and ideas. However, there is nothing new under the sun and the Scriptures have much to say on issues of sexuality. Nate sits down with Dr. Porier to discuss how pastors can engage with the the common sexual sins of our modern age.

Thanks for listening.

Theological Education: Past, Present, and Future w/ Dr. Stafford Carson

Mon, 05 May 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Dr. Stafford Carson has a long history with theological education and his experience comes from a number of different contexts. So this week we hear about some of the history of theological education from the early modern period as well as some current developments that are happening in theological education today. Most importantly Nate and Dr. Carson talk about not losing sight of the purpose of theological education, preparation for ministry, knowledge of God, and the proclamation of his Word.

Thanks for listening.

Science and Faith w/ Vern Poythress

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Vern Poythress teaches a course at Westminster on the Theology of Science and has a lot of experience in both the fields of science and theology. Nate sits down to discuss science and faith with him and it's implications for theology, apologetics, evangelism, etc.

Thanks for listening.

The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox, ep. 2.

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Hey everyone. We're back this week with the second episode of The Scottish Tempest. In this episode I'll be covering the period from Knox's conversion to Protestantism until his initial exile from Scotland. There's a lot that happens during that period; his best friend dies, he is the subject of a manhunt, there's an assassination, some people take over a castle, he becomes a pastor at said castle, they try to make alliance with the English and ultimately, they all become slaves to the French. There is, of course, a lot of historical background and context as well because the politics of England, France, Scotland, and Rome all have indirect (and some times direct) bearing on Knox's story. It's a long one, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for listening.

God and Country... Music w/ Luke Laird

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Luke Laird is a prolific country songwriter. He's written over 20 Billboard number one singles, has won two Grammys, and a handful of CMA awards. He also happens to be a student in the Master of Theological Studies (MATS) program here at Westminster and is set to graduate next month. Brandon McLean Smith sits down with Luke to talk about the MATS program, what brought him to WTS, how his education might impact his career as a songwriter, and also about the country music industry in general. It was an honor and pleasure to chat with Luke and we hope you enjoy listening.

New Testament Biblical Theology w/ Dr. Brandon Crowe

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Hey everyone. Dr. Brandon Crowe is one of the most prolific authors on the faculty at Westminster and teaches several classes here. Nate sits down to talk with him about his approach to teaching New Testament. They cover a lot of topics, but one thing that shines through is how Biblical Theology, Redemptive History, and Systematic Theology are woven together in a way that highlights the interconnected nature of the theological disciplines in the curriculum at Westminster. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for listening.

Apologetics for Everyone w/ Dr. Mark Farnham

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Dr. Mark Farnham graduated from Westminster's PhD program in Apologetics. His book, "Every Believer Confident" was recently released by P&R Publishing. He currently teaches at Lancaster Bible College. Nate sits down with Dr. Farnham to discuss apologetics and how every Christian believer is equipped to do the work of apologetics. It's not just a discipline for those who are trained philosophers or expert theologians. The early Christians didn't get sent off to Athens to learn Aristotelian philosophy before they were allowed to engage their friends and neighbors in evangelism. The Scriptures are sufficient for apologetics.

If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at wm.wts.edu. You can also get a copy of Dr. Farnham's book at the Westminster Bookstore. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate.

Genesis 1 w/ Vern Poythress

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Nate Shannon sits down with Dr. Vern Poythress to discuss Genesis 1 and its implications for theology, evangelism, and apologetics.

Thanks for listening.

The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox, ep. 1.

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Hey everyone. I hope you're enjoying the interviews with Dr. Shannon. We've been having a great time getting this content produced and out for the world to hear.

This week we're releasing the first episode in a series on the life of John Knox. Ever since I heard about some of the stories from the life of John Knox in a Church History course on the Reformation at Westminster, I've been fascinated by him. That's why this project is pretty near to my heart. There's a lot of material on John Knox out there but, not really in this medium, as far as I know. So if you enjoy it, let us know.

Also, if you are enjoying this content, you can find plenty more like it at wm.wts.edu. Also, if you want to contribute to Westminster's mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, please visit wts.edu/donate.

Thanks for listening!

Prison Ministry

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon is joined by Luke and Charis to discuss their ministry in the London prison system. Luke works with London City Mission and ministers to those in the prison and with people who have recently been released from prison. Charis also works as a chaplain in the London prison system.

Sanctification While in Seminary

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:26:00 -0000

When it comes to the Christian life Orthodoxy (right belief), Orthopraxy (right practice), and Doxology (worship) work together like a 3-fold braided cord. If any of the 3 are compromised, the whole cord suffers. So, at Westminster, we don't just commit to theological education in the abstract. Some might be tempted to say "I'm just going to study theology and not worry about my moral life, my personal relationship with God, or the quality of my worship. I'll deal with those things later." To do so is actually to misunderstand theology in the first place. You cannot have good theology without a heart for the Lord. In this episode Nate Shannon sits down with Jerry McFarland to discuss how Westminster commits the sanctification of our student body.

Cultural Apologetics w/ Dr. Bill Edgar

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:39:00 -0000

Culture is the air that we breathe. It informs how we view the world around us and is a necessary consideration for any apologetic discussion. Dr. Nate Shannon sits down with Dr. Bill Edgar to discuss culture, apologetics, and cultural apologetics.

Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:36:00 -0000

Stafford Carson has been associated with Westminster Seminary for nearly half of its existence. He has also had a rather prolific preaching ministry with experience in proclaiming the Word of God in many diverse contexts. Dr. Nate Shannon sits down with Stafford to discuss a range of topics including not just how to preach well but how to listen to preaching well.

Apologetics and Exegesis

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:37:00 -0000

Many of Cornelius Van Til's critics claim that Van Til did not sufficiently base his apologetic method on Scriptural exegesis. Van Til himself acknowledged that robust exegesis wasn't as prominent in his work as it could have been. That was not, however, an admission that his method was not built on exegesis, just that it's exegetical foundation was assumed more than it was argued.

The second generation of Van Tilian scholars (Gaffin, Edgar, Oliphint, Tipton, Poythress, etc.) filled what Van Til claimed was a gap in his theological corpus by focusing on exegetical arguments for Van Til's apologetic approach.

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Jonathan Brack, Pierce Hibbs, and Brandon Smith discuss what exegetical avenues ought the third generation of Van Tilian scholars explore.

Bonus Ep. C Van Til Goes Pop

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

With the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics now available, we figured giving you a taste of the audiobook would be a great companion to this podcast. So enjoy chapter 2: Van Til Goes Pop. If you enjoy what you hear, check out wtspress.com to grab yourself a hard copy and/or and audio copy of The Future of Reformed Apologetics.

It's Personal

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

With no "Oliphint in the room," Brandon goes it alone for a long form, free ranging interview with Nathan D. Shannon (The Great Thinkers series). They touch on Nate's essay in the book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics, as well as his monograph Absolute Person and Moral Experience.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:59:00 -0000

Mr. Anderson punches a plot-hole through simulation theory... In the final episode of this book companion podcast series, Brandon and Scott don't go as all-in on The Matrix references as the guy who wrote this description has. Instead, they follow the white rabbit down Greg Bahnsen Lane as Scott discusses how to interpret one of Van Til's foremost interpreters. Read James Anderson's essay "Van Til versus The Matrix" in The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation

Disillusioned With The Fact That They Can't Change The World

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:59:00 -0000

You couldn't ask for a better guide through The Future of Reformed Apologetics than Dr. Strange (No, not that Dr. Strange). Brandon Smith (No, not that Brandon Smith) and Scott Oliphint (Yes, that Scott Oliphint) take us back to Rust Auditorium in the Winter of '23 and review Dan's rousing lecture titled "Van Til Goes Pop." To enjoy Strange's essay in another dimension (print), visit Westminster Seminary Press to order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

A Bracing Single Malt (Feel the Burn)

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 08:59:00 -0000

Brandon and Scott sample a draught of Christopher Watkin's cask strength "Van Til's Two-Handed Apologetic." While some claim that Van Til's original malt was tainted with notes of idealism and even (shriek!) "biblicism," Scott suggests that when it comes to the good stuff there's only one ingredient that matters... For a full pour, check out the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics and enjoy Christopher's essay with a tumbler of islay: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Cowboy? Yes.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:59:00 -0000

Episode II: There is unrest in the theological senate. . . Brandon and Scott revisit Brian G. Mattson's lecture "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit." They get into Van Til's criticism of Herman Bavinck and then into some criticism of Van Til's criticism of Bavinck. If you ride with Bavinck and want to size up this Van Til fellow, please visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and lasso yourself a copy of the book to read the full essay "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit" by Brian G. Mattson: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Poor Das

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:59:00 -0000

BONUSODE! Enjoy an extra slice of Reformed apologetics as Brandon and Scott go off script and talk about Van Til's friendship and theological affinity with J. Gresham Machen, as well as the early days at Westminster Theological Seminary. Visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. Also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

Enough!

Thu, 30 May 2024 08:59:00 -0000

Scott Oliphint has had enough of the bad caricatures of Cornelius Van Til. . . but a brand new book is on the way that might change things. The Future of Reformed Apologetics gathers nine essays from the eponymous 2023 conference, and addresses the state and future of the Reformed apologetic that Van Til developed. In this first episode of our podcast companion series, Brandon McLean Smith and K. Scott Oliphint reflect on the conclusion of Scott's lecture titled "The Sensus Divinitatis." Visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and find out more about the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics, which contains the full essay "Van Til and the Sensus Divinitatis" by K. Scott Oliphint: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. It is also available wherever sound Christian books are sold.

The Future of Reformed Apologetics – Trailer

Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

COMING SOON: Author and apologist K. Scott Oliphint joins host Brandon McLean Smith to discuss a new book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics. Addressing current debates and controversies within theological apologetics, Scott and Brandon review highlights from the eponymous 2023 conference at Westminster Theological Seminary and preview the thought provoking collection of essays from Scott, Vern Poythress, Christopher Watkin, James Anderson, Daniel Strange, Brian G. Mattson, David Owen Filson, and Nathan D. Shannon.

Theonomy and Eschatology

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In the fourth episode of the series, Nathan speaks with Nathaniel Gray Sutanto (Reformed Theological Seminary) about Richard B. Gaffin Jr.'s theological methodology and development, his commitment to scripture, and his early work on Herman Bavinck. Then Nate and Thomas Keene (Reformed Theological Seminary) discuss Gaffin's 1989 essay, "Theonomy and Eschatology", which appeared in the now out of print essay collection Theonomy: A Reformed Critique edited by William S. Barker.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on Word & Spirit by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

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Epistemological Reflections

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0000

In a field like theology, epistemology (or the study of the nature of knowledge) is tremendously important. Not just because the very existence of God is debated; not only because the possibility of the knowledge of God must be addressed in a systematic way; but because the conclusions we make about God and about the security of our knowledge of him should matter for our jobs, our relationships, and how we view ourselves.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

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The Usefulness of the Cross

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:11:00 -0000

The Usefulness of the Cross by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. is an article that has revolutionized the approach to suffering for many Christians across the world. It was first published in 1979 but has now been republished in the volume Word and Spirit which showcases the selected shorter writings of Richard B.Gaffin Jr.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

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Redemption and Resurrection

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

This is the story of a theologian. A first rate, world class New Testament scholar and Systematics professor whose body of work stands quietly in the confluence of two great church traditions, Scottish Presbyterianism and Dutch Neo-Calvinism. But unless you’ve gone to seminary or happen to subscribe to peer reviewed academic journals, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

To find out more about the book visit wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Word & Spirit” by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

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Word & Spirit – Trailer

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:45:00 -0000

Few Reformed theologians have exerted the influence in both the church and the academy that Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. has, shaping the theology and spiritual formation of generations of pastors and teachers. Until now, his most significant published works have been inaccessible to most theological readers, published in academic journals, denominational newsletters, and out of print festschrifts and essay collections. A decade in the making, Word & Spirit gathers Gaffin’s finest works of biblical and systematic theology and arranges them in a singular, organic whole that presents Gaffin’s thought and work as comprehensively and clearly as it ever has been. More than 40 essays, articles, and tracts have been compiled, including “The Usefulness of the Cross”, No Adam, No Gospel, “A Cessationist View,” and “The Work of Christ Applied”. This collection is a must-have for any student of theology.

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The Active Obedience of Christ (Chapter 49)

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:00:00 -0000

Shortly before dawn on a cold North Dakota morning, a telegram was sent to John Murray, professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

“I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ,” it read, “no hope without it.”

Not long after composing this telegram, J. Gresham Machen died after a short battle with pneumonia and entered the eternal rest of his savior, who had redeemed his sins and given him peace with God.

Not long before he left for North Dakota, Machen wrote and recorded the message you’re about to listen to. It’s these thoughts—of the incomprehensible act of salvation--which occupied him as he considered the prospect of meeting his Savior face to face.

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Christ our Redeemer (Chapter 47)

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the previous episodes, we heard from J. Gresham Machen about how we can know that God exists, and about our sin that keeps us from having peace with God. In this broadcast, Machen introduces us to the hope for that grim reality, the only person who can redeem us from our sin and give us the peace with God that we need: Jesus Christ.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

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What is Sin? (Chapter 33)

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the previous episode, we talked about how we can know and have confidence that God exists. But the difference between knowing that God exists, and enjoying a relationship with God is a vast distance. Just believing in God doesn’t explain why he seems so far away.

The answer to that dilemma isn’t a popular one these days. When we talk about sin a lot of modern preconceptions come to mind. Ideas about guilt and shame, judgment and brokenness. But none of these terms really captures what the Bible says about sin, the power that separates us from God.

It’s that biblical definition of sin that J. Gresham Machen sets out to explain in this broadcast, and this isn’t just an exercise in academic theology. Although it can be uncomfortable to dig deeper into the darkness of our hearts, there’s hope. As we learn more about what sin is, we can begin to understand the real meaning of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

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Reformed Standards of Unity: Special Episode

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 20:13:00 -0000

Creeds and confessions are the banner of the church militant. They contain statements of doctrine that are to be believed, for knowledge unto godliness; and are to be confessed, for the ministry of the church unto the world. In this way, creeds and confessions are for each member of Christ’s body, and for the body as a whole.

In this podcast I chat with Dr. Peter Lillback about a project that he has been working for close to fifty years. Reformed Standards of Unity is a new volume that carries Christians down ancient paths, so that they might walk in today’s world with a living and confident faith. A church living in accord with these “standards of faith” is essential in the world today.

Westminster Seminary Press has issued a portable, durable, and elegant edition of the ecumenical creeds, the Westminster standards, the three forms of unity, and the second helvetic confession. Order today: www.wtsbooks.com/rsu For the Reformed Standards of Unity database, visit: standards.wts.edu

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How May God Be Known (Chapter 2)

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0000

How can you know that God is real?

This question has always been difficult, but in 1935, when J. Gresham Machen broadcasted the first of these little talks, the ground had shifted. Cultural Christianity was giving way to new ideas about truth and the universe. Darwinian evolution was becoming entrenched in the public school system, and it had even become fashionable to openly question the existence of God.

In the best of times, it isn’t easy to find a place to start to give answers proving the existence of God, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t answers. It just takes careful, patient explanation. And that’s just the challenge J. Gresham Machen takes up from the beginning of his talks in Things Unseen, giving a clear, succinct and easy to understand case for a God who not only exists, but actually tells us he exists a lot!

To find out more about the book visit Wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

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The Present Emergency (Chapter 1)

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The year is 1935. The Great Depression grinds on in the United States, and dramatic action by the federal government is deepening political divides. Abroad, things aren’t any better. War between communist and fascist factions is about to break out in Spain, and there’s fear o f it spreading to the rest of Europe. In a word, things are looking grim.

Stepping into a broadcast booth in Philadelphia, J. Gresham Machen had all of this in mind. But for more than a decade he had grown accustomed to grim outlooks. Between leaving Princeton Seminary and being defrocked by his denomination, he’d lost everything that gave him significance in the eyes of the world. Along the way, he’d started a new seminary and a new denomination. And none of it had been easy.

For another man, these radio broadcasts might have been a great opportunity to give the world a piece of his mind. But Machen had something else planned. He knew his audience saw the same things he did — a series of impersonal events that seemed to keep the world perpetually teetering on the brink of disaster. And so he did the only thing a Christian can do, he introduced them to things they could not see.

To find out more about the book visit Wtspress.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

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Things Unseen by J. Gresham Machen – Trailer

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 18:20:00 -0000

When theologian J. Gresham Machen died suddenly during a visit to North Dakota on New Year’s Day, 1937, he left unfinished one of the most innovative theological projects of his time.

For the last two years of his life, Machen had begun work on what he hoped would be an accessible four part introduction to Christian theology. Only, he wasn’t just writing. He was broadcasting. Throughout 1935 and 1936, WIP radio in Philadelphia broadcast 50 of Machen’s “little talks,” as he called them, introducing listeners to profound doctrines in a popular and exciting format.

Machen’s complete radio talks have now been collected into a single volume titled “Things Unseen” with an introduction by Tim Keller, a foreword by Sinclair Ferguson, and more.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to share some specially selected chapters from the audiobook of “Things Unseen.” I hope you’ll listen in and enjoy experiencing these talks the way their author intended.

To find out more about the book visit Wtsbooks.com and listen in to the episodes for a special discount on “Things Unseen” by J. Gresham Machen.

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Facing Christ (Chapter 6: Salvation)

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

A lot has changed in 100 years. But a lot has stayed the same. The church in the United States is once again in a crisis. Critical theory has gripped a nation experiencing vibrant technological and societal change. America in the 2020s is accelerating. Our screens are filled with incredible stunts and spectacle. The entire globe is connected like never before. Electric cars, Artificial Intelligence, and on demand shopping have transformed how we live and work. Smartphones and the advent of social media mean that information travels faster than ever before. . .

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Just the Facts (Chapter 2: Doctrine)

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Facts. We like to think they can be taken for granted, but human feelings always seem to get in the way. Even in 1923, when J. Gresham Machen wrote Christianity and Liberalism, liberal theologians struggled to reconcile the history presented by scripture with their experience of that history as 20th century men and women.

Although we like to think of ourselves as scientific and objective, we nevertheless remain subjectively biased, twisting beliefs like the resurrection or ascension of Christ to conform to more comfortable man-made doctrines. If anything, the 100 years since Machen wrote this book have shown us when the facts don’t align with our feelings, we will find a way to reinvent them.

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Bonus Episode: The Church

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

God Breathed (Chapter 4: The Bible, Pt. 2)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Bible. A divinely-inspired book so glorious and yet so debated these days that we decided to record another podcast on this essential topic.

In 1820 Thomas Jefferson completed his redacted version of the Four Gospels he called “The Philosophy and Morals of Jesus.” Although it wasn’t published in his lifetime, “The Jefferson Bible” would become a popular example of an alarming trend in post-enlightenment hermeneutics: cutting and pasting with the Word of God.

According to Jefferson and other readers and scholars since, the Bible is an imperfect text. There might be truth in its pages, but it needs a modern lens, or additions, or subtractions to purify it or to make sense of its ancient obscure meaning. There are hard things to understand in the Bible, they say, supernatural events that are difficult to believe. So, does the Bible need to change? Or do we?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Bonus Episode: Christianity & Liberalism: 100th Anniversary Edition (Now Available)

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

One of Christianity Today’s “100 Most Influential Books of the 20th Century”, J. Gresham Machen’s earnest case for true, biblical faith and communion in Jesus Christ has been read around the world for 100 years. Originally published in 1923, this new edition features a brand-new foreword by Kevin DeYoung and is issued with the hope and prayer that the next century will be celebrated as one of reformation and renewal for Christ’s church throughout the world.

The 100th Anniversary Edition of Christianity & Liberalism officially launches today! + Free downloadable study guide included with any purchase Order: https://wtsbooks.com/collections/westminster-seminary-press/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition-9781955859103?variant=42693609881800

Clarity (Chapter 4: The Bible, Pt. 1)

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Inspiration means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some it’s the thrill of creative expression, or motivation to accomplish something great. But in a biblical theological context, it has a very specific, very important meaning: that God is the author of the Bible.

But for liberal theologians this doctrine—that the Bible is the reliable and sufficient source of God’s revelation to man—poses a problem. If we can trust the Bible, then we can trust what Jesus says about sin, about judgment, and about his being the only way to salvation. But if Jesus isn’t who he says he is in the Bible, as liberal and progressive Christians claim, how can we say anything about him at all?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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The Safest Place in the World (Chapter 7: The Church)

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Church. Few institutions are more unpopular or controversial these days than the Christian church. And, let’s face it, a lot of the time, even Christians don’t appear to like it very much. Every week it seems there’s a new scandal or debate splitting congregations. It can be tempting to think that maybe the church is obsolete, maybe we’d be better off going our own way.

But there’s a tragic irony in that. Sometimes it’s lost on us that in the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus says “upon this rock I will build my church” he’s not talking about flawless rich young ruler types, or even the pharisees. He’s talking about the disciples but especially Peter, the one who would later deny Christ, who needed to be confronted by the apostle Paul, and who often had to have things repeated three times before he understood it.

The point is, from the very beginning Jesus knew that his church would be filled with the messy, sinful men and women that he gave his life to save. And so he gave his apostles specific guidance on how the church should help Christians grow in faith, in repentance, doctrine and ethics through preaching, sacraments, and prayer.

The liberals of Machen’s day didn’t believe this was enough. They began to look for ways to accommodate Jesus’ vision to the culture at the expense of our core beliefs about Christ, the Bible, Salvation, God, and even our own identity. We find ourselves at a similar crossroads today, surrounded by a culture asking the question: does the church even matter?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Bonus Episode: God and Man

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Bonus Episode: Living up to the Name

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Losing is never fun. And it’s even less fun when the New York Times is paying attention. But by 1929 that’s what had happened. J. Gresham Machen had lost the fight against liberalism at Princeton seminary. Even after reading Machen’s warning in Christianity and Liberalism, the Presbyterian church voted to reorganize Princeton to allow liberal theology on faculty.

That would’ve been the perfect time to pack it in. But for Machen the fight had never been about Princeton. True Christian doctrine could never belong to a single organization, no matter how influential. So Machen did what any God fearing independently wealthy bachelor would do. He quit, poached Princeton’s best faculty, and started his own seminary.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Supernatural (Chapter 5: Christ)

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0000

What’s in a name?

In the past, when Christians talked about Jesus, it was safe to assume we were talking about the son of God become man who conquered death to save the lost. You know, the person the Bible’s about.

But with the rise of liberal theology in the 19th and 20th centuries, that meaning began to change. At least for some people. Christ, liberal theologians said, might be better understood as an idea, a metaphor, or a good example, rather than the sinless supernatural savior who accomplished our redemption in the first century.

This was J. Gresham Machen’s line in the sand in 1923. If we don’t worship the same Christ, Machen said, we don’t have the same religion.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Bonus Episode: Southern's Story

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0000

In the 1980s the Southern Baptist Convention found itself at a crossroads. While many of its churches were faithfully teaching biblical Christianity, the seminaries where its pastors were trained had been immersed in theological liberalism for decades.

In a lot of stories, this is where the split would occur. But this time something different happened. Instead of dividing, a group of courageous Christians decided to change the equation. They came up with an unprecedented plan to turn Southern Seminary from liberal theology, back to its confessional roots.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Bonus Episode: Christianity & Liberalism Free Audiobook

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0000

https://wtspress.com/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition

Bonus Episode: Machen: The Man

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0000

On a cold winter’s day in 1921 pallbearers carried the body of one of the great theologians of the 19th and 20th centuries to a graveside in Princeton, New Jersey. Writing to his mother afterwards, J. Gresham Machen would remark that when they carried B. B. Warfield’s body out, that Old Princeton went with him. Old Princeton had been the primary seedbed for pastors and missionaries in the Presbyterian church, but now, more than 100 years from its founding, the roots of declension had taken hold and modernist theology had made inroads, infiltrating the pulpits and pews of the Presbyterian church as well. As Machen saw it, Warfield’s vital orthodoxy had been the last vestige of orthodoxy keeping Princeton from a catastrophic embrace of liberal theology.

Over the next 15 years, J. Gresham Machen’s struggle to preserve an orthodox Presbyterianism would become a touchpoint of the larger “fundamentalist controversy” boiling over in churches all around the United States. His book, Christianity & Liberalism, precipitated a series of events that culminated in Machen and other professors leaving Princeton in 1929 to plant a new seedbed for pastors and missionaries called Westminster Theological Seminary. Then, in the 1930s, Machen would break away from the mainline Presbyterian church he had spent his life in and establish a new denomination devoted to faithful teaching of God’s ancient word — an idea completely antithetical to the most influential and powerful forces of the day.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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The Affirming Church (Chapter 3: God and Man, Pt. 2)

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:21:00 -0000

And yet, as radical as this seems, there are prescient notes throughout Machen’s 100 year old book, words from his time that can help us make sense of our own. Principles that help us to take every thought captive, even in a world that insists on allegiance to being everything we want to be, whenever we want it, on demand. . .

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show.

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Reinvention (Chapter 3: God and Man, Pt. 1)

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 11:10:00 -0000

What does it mean to be a human being created in the image of God? In the brave new world of today, that’s a loaded question. Modern culture in the West has affirmed a radical reinvention of the self that was barely imaginable when J. Gresham Machen wrote Christianity & Liberalism in 1923. Not only is LGBTQ ideology inescapable—in schools, books, movies, fashion, sports, even beer and car commercials. It has become a dogma of the mainstream. And yet, as radical as this seems, there are prescient notes throughout Machen’s 100 year old book, words from his time that can help us make sense of our own. Principles that help us to take every thought captive, even in a world that insists on allegiance to being everything we want to be, whenever we want it, on demand. . . Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith? Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show. Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: NLBIDNZFO0KSQJKB KJNJEKWBCFMJQ9GI

The Ampersand (Introduction)

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Arrested Development. In the 1990s, it was a hip hop group. In the early 2000s, it was a sitcom. But it’s a real psychological phenomenon that happens when, due to a variety of causes, a person or institution stops growing and ceases to thrive. And it’s a phrase J. Gresham Machen uses in his book Christianity & Liberalism to describe the consequences of a liberal theology.

In the book, Machen is describing liberals who ridicule Christians for defending a defenseless cause. It’s like defending the belief that the earth is flat, they say, or that miracles happen, or that sins need to be forgiven. What’s the point, says the Liberal. Everyone knows those things are impossible, so why bother defending them?

If that sounds familiar, it’s because we hear similar arguments from within the church today. Many are calling for a reevaluation of biblical views on sexual attraction, the sanctity of life, ethnic diversity, or even what it means to be a man or a woman. Although the topics have changed, the motivation for liberalism today isn’t all that different from that scathing critique of the church Machen confronted 100 years ago. Back then, the American church tried to compromise essential tenets of orthodox Christianity in order “to make it work.” And, as Machen predicted, it resulted in arrested development. In the years after Machen’s book, liberal protestant mainline liberal churches folded, thousands made a shipwreck of their faith, denominations split, and scores of ministries succumbed to the trajectory of theological compromise and, ultimately, to decline into the outward appearance of faithfulness—beautiful buildings and good deeds on the outside, but without a genuine saving faith in Jesus within.

So, what should we do? Visit christianityandliberalism.com for more on the book, audiobook, and show. Music: “Line in the Sand (C&L)” by Timothy Brindle Produced by Nobody Special Wrath and Grace Records Music Licensing Codes: G1HX88SIQCSCHHVQ RAHXBDKANRLMHSBS

Christianity & Liberalism – Trailer

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:06:00 -0000

In 1923, the church in the United States was in a crisis. Modernist theology born in pre-War Europe now gripped a country experiencing vibrant technological and societal change. America in the “Roaring Twenties” was booming. Fashion was changing. Music was faster, louder. Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin were astonishing moviegoers with impossible stunts. The cities were electric. Industry was booming. The country was three years into a progressive prohibition of hard liquor. For the first time, a person could fly non-stop from New York to Seattle. President Harding was the first president to be elected by women who’d won the right to vote. Even so, much of the country remained racially segregated. Mass produced cars, trucks, and tractors had replaced horses and wagons, and were transforming the landscape. Telephones and the advent of radio meant that information traveled faster than ever.

Politics. Technology. Identity. Power. Science. Everything seems to be changing. So why not faith?

https://wtspress.com/products/christianity-liberalism-100th-anniversary-edition

Worship and the Power of the Spirit

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss John Murray on Romans 12, noting how worship of God puts us in the perfect place to follow the commands of God. The power of the Spirit enables us to lead a life commensurate with Christ, to whom we are united. This life is a life that glorifies God and enriches the church.

God's Adoption, Love, and Justification in Christ

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:15:00 -0000

In this episode, John Murray's exposition of Romans explores adoption in Christ and the full restoration and renewal of all things in him. Westminster faculty also dig into Romans 9 to explain Paul's teaching on God's unconditional, electing love and our justification through union with the person of Christ.

Union with Christ and the Real Change of the Gospel

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Westminster faculty reflect on John Murray's passionate teaching on union with Christ and its pastoral comfort. Union with Christ brings real change in us and offers his personal presence in the midst of our suffering so that we can persevere with hope.

How Christ Saves and Identifies You

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:19:00 -0000

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss John Murray's work on Romans 6 and how union with Christ changes everything. Being united to Christ defines not just our eternal destiny, but our very identity in the present. His work doesn't just forgive us of sin; it defeats the power of sin in our lives right now.

John Murray's Childlike Joy

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 13:00:00 -0000

Mark Garcia speaks passionately of John Murray's childlike joy in the gospel, even in darker passages such as Romans 5. Westminster faculty also talk about the importance of Christ's righteousness, shared by all those who are in union with him.

https://wtspress.com/products/the-epistle-to-the-romans

The Humble Son of God in Power

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 19:26:00 -0000

In this episode, Westminster faculty discuss Murray's commentary on Romans 1. Following Geerhardus Vos, Murray points out the importance of what is called a "redemptive historical view" of Christ in Romans 1:1-7. In other words, Murray focuses on the humiliation of the Son of God as our human representative, whose exaltation crowns him with power. This helps us see that we follow in the same path: going through humiliation before receiving our exaltation with the risen Christ. The faculty also discuss the apologetic implications of Romans 1:18 and following.

Standing Under God’s Word

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 18:06:00 -0000

John Murray’s historic Romans commentary has been republished by Westminster Seminary Press. In this video, Westminster faculty passionately discuss and recall John Murray’s focus on the biblical text, tying this to how we do theology in faithful dependence on God’s Word. They show how Murray’s serious exegetical work produced a commentary that was both careful and devotional, giving pastors and Bible readers the gift of entering the text of Scripture with awe, joy, and certainty.

Music

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The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 3: DeYoung, Reeder, and Currie

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:28:00 -0000

In 1959, John Murray, a Scottish systematic theologian at Westminster Theological Seminary, published the first volume of his commentary on the book of Romans, one that John Piper would later call “the most beautiful commentary ever written.”

In more than 60 years since it first appeared, Murray’s commentary has changed the way scores of pastors and teachers read and teach the Bible, helping to draw many readers and congregations into deeper communion with their savior.

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson. In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

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The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 2: Gaffin, Broekhuizen, and Currie

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 17:00:00 -0000

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The Epistle to the Romans – Episode 1: Ferguson, Begg, and Currie

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 19:01:00 -0000

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The Epistle to the Romans – Trailer

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:33:00 -0000

Now Westminster Seminary Press has reprinted John Murray’s commentary on Romans in an beautiful new hardcover edition, updated with a new introduction by Sinclair Ferguson.

In this podcast, we’ll revisit this classic text with some of the pastors and teachers it has influenced the most. Along the way, we’ll explore the ways in which the Paul’s letter to the Romans and John Murray’s commentary on that letter help us to understand, to teach, and to preach in the present day.

Bonus Episode: A High Calling

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:16:00 -0000

It’s a high calling to serve the people of God, and a hard one in today’s world. Pastors need wisdom, encouragement, and guidance to serve people living in the context of secularism. In The Pastor and the Modern World, they get exactly that. Three seasoned pastor-scholars―William Edgar, R. Kent Hughes, and Alfred Poirier―come to the aid of today’s pastor, bringing their experience to bear on cultural engagement, the craft of preaching, and the care of souls. How has secularism infiltrated culture and the arts, and what is a Christian response to it? How does a pastor prayerfully construct a message that moves the hearts of his congregants? What can we learn from Gregory of Nazianzus about being a “physician of souls”? These questions are answered, with many more, in a volume that’s sure to encourage pastors to take up their call with fresh enthusiasm and Spirit-led vigilance.

Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:27:00 -0000

In Episode 3 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 3: “Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls” by Alfred Poirier.

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The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:16:00 -0000

In Episode 2 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 2: “The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit” by R. Kent Hughes.

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Are We Really Secular?

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:37:00 -0000

In Episode 1 of this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss chapter 1: “Are We Really Secular?” by William Edgar.

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The Pastor and The Modern World – Trailer

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:59:00 -0000

In this companion series to the book The Pastor and the Modern World, host Peter A. Lillback and guests John Currie, K. Scott Oliphint, and Todd M. Rester discuss the chapters, “Are We Really Secular?“, “The Heart of the Pastor and the Pulpit”, and “Gregory of Nazianzus: The Pastor as Physician of Souls”.