presbycast

It's the week of the Revoice conference and CW has some thoughts from the front seat of the Presbaru. The referenced presbytery report: http://mopres.org/safari/article/30.html Pastor's response to criticism and "misrepresentations".

Our friend Will (@lawyerbarrett) sits down virtually with Wresby to discuss his foray into the world of evangelical leadership conferences.

We are joined by @oldschoolpresby whose Dutch heritage and membership in four NAPARC denominations gives him a unique perspective on the P&R landscape. And we talk about Reformedish Xianese words, terms, and tropes with which we'd gladly dispense.

We talk about the ramifications of this year's PCA General Assembly and run through Rick Phillip's post mortem: Is the PCA Becoming More Unified?We also answer a number of great listener questions.

Armchair ecclesiologist in Subaru getting coffee...

PCAGA fixture Bob Mattes and MORE in the PCA founder Charlie Nave join CW and Wresby on the sixth floor of the GA hotel in Atlanta for a look at the most signifcant developments from the business session of day two of the assembly. Pardon a slight echo towards the end -- we didn't expect to be recording two guests at once. https://www.moreinthepca.org/

CW & Wresby record live at PCAGA 2018 with a wrap-up of the first day and a preview of the days to come.

Ride with Brad as he talks about his visit to the 2018 Associate Reformed Presbyterian General Synod, compares it to the PCA General Assembly, and previews Presbycast's PCAGA plans. More about the ARP: http://arpchurch.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associate_Reformed_Presbyterian_Church Clarifying/corrected info from a Twitter follower: "Enjoyed your comments on Synod. Just to clarify, the ARP as it is was founded in 1822 (not the 1900s) and each particular church sends one lay elder delegate or more depending on congregation size."

A helpful sermon on the Lord's Supper from Dr. C.N. Willborn of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, TN -- The Table is a Call to Unity, 1st Corinthians 11:17-30. https://www.covenant-pca.com/ https://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=covenantoakridge

PCA pastor and Mortification of Spin co-host Todd Pruitt joins to help preview the 2018 PCA General Assembly. Here's are this year's overtures: http://www.pcaac.org/general-assembly/overtures/ Our talk was somewhat abbreviated by technical issues, but we covered most of what we intended.

CW talks about the high point of his visit to Savannah, GA -- visiting Independent Presbyterian Church, one of America's most beautiful church buildings. See the IPC website for a number of resources on worship.

CW talks PCA overtures for what *could* be an uncontroversial PCA General Assembly. See all the overtures in question here. Discussed: Sex - Deacons -- 9 &25 Marriage -- 1, 2, 5, 24 Race - 31 REPORT OF THE AD INTERIM COMMITTEE ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC RECONCILIATION TO THE FORTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (PDF link)

Dr. C.N. Willborn discusses the life and work of PCA and Reformed Theological Seminary founding father Dr. Morton H. Smith (1923-2017). Dr. Willborn taught with Dr. Smith at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and shared his interest in Southern Presbyterian history. This is episode will be followed by another in a few weeks which examines his role in the founding of the PCA and his legacy. We also presented an address by Dr. Smith in an earlier episode. Here is Dr. Smith's obituary. And here is a link to an address he delivered at the founding of the PCA. Here is the text of a memorial overture that will be received by the 2018 PCA General Assembly. Learn more about Dr. Willborn here. He has pastored Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, TN for the past 10 years.

Wresby and CW talk about how to deal with a church that's less than ideal...as all are. Our apologies for the mysterious sunspot-related interference towards the end when the guys turn to a decidedly darker subject.

Dr. Darryl Hart of Hillsdale College joins us again for part three of our "Life of Machen" series covering the late 1920s to 1935 in this episode. The opening and closing songs are Machen's favorite hymn "There is a Green Hill Far Away" The opening version is a quartet recording from the 1920s. Here's the book that tells the story of Machen's years of controversy better than any other: https://www.amazon.com/Defending-Faith-Gresham-Conservative-Protestantism/dp/0875525636

LCMS minister Chris Jackson (@revcjackson) joins the boys to talk about things similar, things different, and concerns common to conservative confessional Protestants. We learn of Machen's great appreciation for his Lutheran brethren. Read more about that here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/geneveith/2014/01/j-gresham-machen-on-the-lutheran-church-missouri-synod/ P.S. -- How many small-town upper Midwestern pastors named Chris have we had on this podcast?

CW talks briefly about...the church's brief. What is the church's role in society? What should she do beyond ministering the means of grace? He also dodges a wild turkey. Here's the KDY article referenced: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/racial-reconciliation-mostly-almost-agree-likely-still-dont-agree/

Opinion writer Forfare Davis (@Pseudoplotinus) of The National Review (among other places) joins us to talk about 2018...and 1789 and everything in between. We examine American political theater, social media, good books, and bad food. Here are links to two articles we discussed as well as a podcast featuring Presbycast patron saint Peter Hitchens. https://www.nationalreview.com/postmodern-conservative/social-media-twitter-politics-republic-virtue-individualism/ https://www.nationalreview.com/postmodern-conservative/politicized-soul-and-death-wish-heart-liberal-disorder-forfare-davis/ Peter Hitchens on Delingpole's podcast SUPPORT PRESBYCAST ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/presbycast

The Rev. Chris Gordon of Escondido URC and Abounding Grace Radio joins us to talk about his controversial Reformation 21 article that draws warning from the case of the CRC for NAPARC denominations. Here's the article link: http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2018/03/the-burning-of-the-wooden-shoe.php Escondido URC & Abounding Grace: http://www.escondidourc.org/ http://www.agradio.org/

An article on secular musicians who supplement their income playing church gigs set us to thinking about music in the church, and we invited musician (church and secular) @JennMGreenberg and OPC pastor @ChristopherDrew to talk about psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and dollars. Here's the story that prompted our discussion: http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/6-dfw-musicians-tell-us-whats-it-like-to-gig-at-church-10477625 This tweet has the Keller quotes: https://twitter.com/presbycast/status/978340219895267328

That's the question. In this short mobile episode CW encourages you to listen and discuss an interesting podcast where this assertion is made. http://confessingourhope.com/blog/2017/05/22/gospel-reformation-network-an-interview-with-mr-mel-duncan-dr-richard-d-phillips/

We present a reading of chapter VII (The Church) of J. Gresham Machen's classic book from 1923, Christianity and Liberalism.

We discuss the life of J. Gresham Machen from 1920-1929 with Machen scholar D.G. Hart of Hillsdale College. We often refer to Hart's essential work on Machen, "Defending the Faith". https://www.amazon.com/Defending-Faith-Gresham-Conservative-Protestantism/dp/0875525636/

Twitter saint @chuck_finney returns to Presbycast with answers to questions about Finney's legacy and the future of evangelicalism. Don't miss this one!

CW talks basic church architecture and worship hall layout. We hope to do a full show on this one day. References: Tremendous conference at IPC Savannah -- many of the things referred to originated here: https://goo.gl/ekyr8j Bishop Pusey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bouverie_Pusey Oxford Movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Movement Important book: https://www.amazon.com/When-Church-Became-Theatre-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0195179722 Picture is of the early 17th-century Huguenot "temple" in Charenton, France. http://www.crommelin.org/history/Ancestors/Scheffer/Charenton/Charenton.htm

Charlie Nave, founder of @MOREinPCA joins CW and Wresby to talk about his organizations efforts to get more ruling elders to the PCA General Assembly. It's polity-picking, BCO-wielding fun! Learn more about MORE at https://www.moreinthepca.org/ and in the introductory article from The Aquila Report: https://www.theaquilareport.com/pca-foundation-urging-pca-ruling-elders-attend-general-assemblies/

Chortles calls in to Mike Abendroth's No Compromise Radio show and shares a bit of backstory. Episode photo shows Mike on the left, CW on the right. Follow Mike at @nocoradio and visit the show page at http://nocompromiseradio.com/

Dr. Darryl G. Hart of Hillsdale College joins us to kick off a mini-series on the life of J. Gresham Machen. This discussion covers Machen's early life, education, World War I experience, and first major work -- The Origin of Paul's Religion (1921).

Wresby, CW, and Silent Topher's neighbor Amish Ambush meet up live for the first ever in-person, in-the-flesh recording experience. Topher sits in (silently)and Mrs. Wresby gets the last word...as it should be. The boys use utensils, eat food, and talk briefly about a Lone Star State kerfuffle in the PCA. Google Books link for Van Drunen's 2K take on abortion: https://books.google.com/books?id=Sx0eVwurpg8C&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=david+van+drunen+abortion&source=bl&ots=KX-dpLv8wR&sig=5O_uUkSvEJ1CP_qzKXbA5JENDkw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXsvyB8v_YAhUH0VMKHVNRC48Q6AEITTAG#v=onepage&q=david%20van%20drunen%20abortion&f=false

Listen in as CW and Wresby talk about many of the things they love about their presbyterian churches, flawed though they be. Marvel as their positivity wafts winsomely about the airwaves. Link to PCA overtures: www.pcaac.org/general-assembly/overtures/

Lee Irons and Chris Caughey of the Glory-Cloud Podcast (http://glorycloudpodcast.libsyn.com/) join us to talk about the life, career, and contributions of biblical theologian Meredith G. Kline. We had a hyphenated good-time talking covenant, neologism, and controversy with these students of Kline. More resources may be found at these websites: http://www.meredithkline.com/ http://www.upper-register.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/186624674718299/permalink/1523470111033742/ https://twitter.com/GloryCloudPod

Some of our favorite people join us for a look back at 2017 and a squint forward to 2018. This wide-ranging discussion with a diverse panel considers the present church and political climates, and -- not surprisingly -- takes a few unexpected turns.

CW and Wresby react to a piece by Todd Pruitt and share some audio from a controversial speaker to provide further context. http://www.mortificationofspin.org/mos/1517/a-thought-experiment#.Wk239N-nGCo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Davis Urbana talk: https://vimeo.com/150226527

OPC cool guy Dan Borvan joins us for grievances aired, strength displayed, and hope extolled...at the most wonderful time of the year. Few emerge unscathed from this ecclesial slugfest which veers occasionally into hugfest.

Pastor Mike Abendroth of @NoCoRadio joins us for his take on indie, presby, and coalitional Christianity (or what passes for it) in the Year of Our Lord 2017. Don't mess this unificatorial, ecumenical lovefest which barely survived a Massachusetts winter squall. https://nocompromiseradio.com/ https://bbcchurch.org/

A quick bit about the Top 100 Protestants list and our new Patreon thing. https://juicyecumenism.com/2017/12/06/100-influential-protestants/ https://www.patreon.com/presbycast CW article: https://oldlife.org/2017/11/30/morality-divides-coalitions-unite/ (full: https://chortlesweakly.weebly.com/of-commandments-confessions-and-coalitions.html) Voicemail line: 865.888.6209

Virgil Walker and Darrell B. Harrison from the B.A.R. (Biblical and Reformed) podcast join CW and Wresby for a surprising and wide-ranging discussion of doctrine, race...and funk music. Maybe we'll get to food next time...and there will be a next time. Darrell's podcast "Just Thinking" will soon spin off on its own feed but is now mixed in with B. A.R. podcast feed. Read Darrell here: justthinking.me/ Learn about Virgil here: thebarpodcast.com/index.php/virgilwalker/

Dr R. Scott Clark of Westminster Seminary California joins us talk about the Second Commandment and the particular challenges Christians face during the winter holiday season regarding images and the so-called church calendar. Here are a number of resources on the topic from Dr Clark's web site: https://heidelblog.net/category/images-of-christ-2/

This is a recording of a 2005 talk that the late Dr. Morton H. Smith gave to a congregation in Los Alamos, NM on the history and future of the Presbyterian Church in America -- the denomination that Smith was instrumental in founding. Here is Dr. Smith's obituary: http://byfaithonline.com/morton-smith-1923-2017/ Here is the website of the church at which the talk was given: http://www.bapca.org/ The talk is available for viewing on YouTube though the audio quality is lower than on this recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZFxGspjF4s

CW talks with New Cal celebrity megablogger Tim Challies and we unleash the first listener emails from our dedicated line. Leave your own message at (865)888-6209. "I ask permission to revise and extend my remarks: In the latest show I said 10% of PCA churches are confessional. This was wrong. "Confessional" was shorthand for Old School/strict subscriptionist. Most/all PCA churches would consider themselves confessional. I also referred to 7-day creationism...of course I meant 6/24 creationism."-- cw

Here's a brief on-the-drive-to-work talk about church security in light of recent events. Recorded in an actual Presbaru in driving rain on state and federal highways.

Drs. T. David Gordon and Robert Godfrey speak with us about worship and the challenges faced by Reformed churches and believers in the 21st century. Recorded at the Reformation Worship Conference at Midway PCA in Powder Springs, GA.

Tricks were being treated and a World Series game was being played, but four guests -- two baptists and two presbys -- joined us for a wide-ranging discussion of Reformation 500 and the events surrounding it...plus a message from Silent Topher and a brief visit from two young Presbycast fans. With: @JonnyYounboi,@khendarian, has-been podcaster @bkben3, and meme star @acmills237.

Rev. William Castro, Archbishop G. Vijay Raju, and Dr. Jonathan Master speak to us at the Reformation Worship Conference. From Peru to Greenville, from India, from...the Alliance -- three interesting guests that demonstrate the range of Reformed witness. https://emmanuelupstate.org/ http://www.placefortruth.org/

This show features conversations with Terry Johnson, a pastor and prolific author, and Chad Van Dixhoorn of RTS, an authority on the Westminster Assembly and standards. The interviews were recorded at the Reformation Worship Conference at Midway PCA in Powder Springs, GA. Below you'll find links to each man's books and to the Westminster Assembly Project. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=terry+johnson+worship https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=chad+van+dixhoorn&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Achad+van+dixhoorn https://www.westminsterassembly.org/

In our first interview from the Reformation Worship Conference at Midway PCA in Powder Springs, GA we talk to Zack Groff (@zgroff24) of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary about the seminary and its podcast, the PCA, and social media. A certain mustache may also come up. This is the first of several episodes made up of interviews recorded at this conference. Conference website -- http://www.reformationworship.org/Reformation_Worship/Home.htm Seminary website -- https://gpts.edu/ The GPTS podcast -- https://twitter.com/GPTSPodcast Theme music -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cClmmE6uJ5g&index=18&list=RDZEXa0kUYHLQ

Wresby and CW are joined by two real living breathing deacons to discuss their role in a Reformed church. See Tim's resources at http://reformeddeacon.com/ And since we mentioned it -- to ordain or not to ordain? https://chortlesweakly.weebly.com/tkny-on-deacs.html

Three guests --@acmills237, @NatePaschall, and @pseudoABoethius join Wresby and CW to talk tacos, desert islands, celebrity pastors, and smoking hot current ecclesial events. Slide into that virtual Taco Bell corner booth and join us.

Everyone's favorite presby Dan Borvan, an OPC ministerial intern, joins again to discuss things Reformational and a major issue for the Reformers -- images of Christ. And before you're offended -- the image on the pope's hat is that of Mary, not a person of the Trinity...last time we checked. The article we referenced in the first half of the show: http://byfaithonline.com/protestant-catholic-relations-on-the-500th-anniversary-of-the-reformation/ Here are some links for the Second Helvetic Confession which we referenced: www.ccel.org/creeds/helvetic.htm www.wscal.edu/personal-pages/sec…nfession-1561-1566 www.monergism.com/second-helvetic-confession-ebook

Jed Ostoich (https://twitter.com/thejeditor) joins Wresby and CW for the second go-round -- this time to discuss the shadowy and worrying world of ghostwriting and content creation in The Gospel-Industrial Complex/Big Eva. Read Jed at https://www.fathommag.com/ or see http://jedostoich.org/