Three Guys Theologizing (3GT)

Before you join Barry, Kyle, and Scott for this episode of 3GT, you may want to pray first. For the guys address seriously the subject of suicide. Having been affected by suicide in their families, churches, and communities, the men talk about this epidemic in our nation. (Did you know suicide is the second leading …

A reader sent in a question wondering about the 3GTers’ view on Francis Chan’s We Are Church house church movement. After poking around his website and reading this review by Tim Challies on Chan’s Letters to the Church, the guys decided to chime in. They talk about what they admire about Chan and his movement, such …

The 3GTers welcome Dr. George “Skip” Scipione to this week’s episode! Skip first shares his pastoral pilgrimmage that began at Westminster and ends up at RPTS. But then he and the guys dig into his recently released book The Battle for the Biblical Family. Dr. Scipione identifies the cultural trends that have led to the demise …

Scott wants to know. Are you a WINO? Westminster In Name Only? The guys have a vigorous discussion about the level of adherance one should have to the confession of faith of his or her church. Well, actually there is a vigorous discussion after Kyle’s opening monologue! For he lays out very helpfully four different …

Pragmatics. The church can easily begin to do what works rather than what the Lord commands. The guys discuss the various ways the church can fall into the pragmatics trap, from using goofy (even blasphemous!) names for a church coffee shop to promoting a Reformed distinctive over the gospel. As the Cambridge Declaration of the …

What does a really bad cup of coffee and the presence of the Spirit have to do with one another? Nothing. But that’s how this episode starts. Fortunately, it gets better! For from there the guys discuss the presence of the Spirit in the church. The Spirit’s dwelling in the church is defined. The need for …

Scott debuts as a host in this episode by opening the mic! But no, the guys are not doing karaoke (though the pastor does quote a hymn). And no, they are not doing spoken word (that’s just plain funny to think about). Rather, to make theology personal, Scott encourages Kyle and Barry to share what …

These three guys all grew up in churches where infant baptism was a bit of a mystery to them. How can you baptize a baby who has not yet believed in Jesus? Does that not mean infant baptism is gospel-less? The 3GTers answer that last question with a resounding “No!” They eventually learned what covenant …

After a conversation on what Reformed means, the guys follow up with a discussion on covenant theology. They answer such questions as: What is a covenant? Where do see covenants in the Bible? What is the Covenant of Works? Covenant of Grace? How does the concept of old and new covenants fit with the Biblical …

A listener wrote wanting to know how to give a concise answer to the question, “What does Reformed mean?” He probably asked the wrong guys, for the 3GTers immediately demonstrate the difficulty in giving such an answer as they each take a crack at it! But if you hang with them, eventually answers do emerge! …

With the nation fixated on the sexual assault accusation by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, the 3GTers decide to ask the lawyer among them his thoughts. What is going on at these hearings? What is needed for an accusation such as this to stand? How should these things be processed …

Welcome to the 100th episode of 3GT! The gentlemen have a special surprise for you as they hit triple digits. The twin brother of Kyle, Pastor Michael Borg, rode into Winchester and joins us for this episode! After finding out who is the oldest, hearing they both are married to a Rachel and have five …

How are Christians to handle the shame they feel? The Avett Brothers sing, Shame, boatloads of shame, Day after day, more of the same. Blame, please lift it off, Please take it off, please make it stop. Though shame is a God-given emotional response to our sins to draw us to Christ, many believers struggle …

With his new book coming out this week, Kyle and Scott interview Barry about Hitting the Marks: Restoring the Essential Identity of the Church. They ask him such questions as: Why write such a book? What are the marks of the church? How are the classical marks of the church substantiated from Scripture? How can this book …

In this episode the guys pull out their blue banners and wave them proudly…or should we say humbly? Anyway, they converse about the doctrine known as the Mediatorial Kingship of Christ. The pastor leads the charge with all kinds of questions. What is this doctrine? How is is supported Biblically? Do all Reformed Christians believe …

Ever walked into Grandma’s house and been met with the varied, old fragrances of her potpourri concoction? Kyle has, and he’s hoping this episode smells nothing like it. For the guys update you on a variety of matters. Reminders of all that is new at 3GT. Accounts of meeting faithful listeners in a number of …

Yes, a gal joins the guys on this latest episode! Aimee Byrd, co-host of the Mortification of Spin podcast, comes on 3GT to discuss her latest book Why Can’t We Be Friends? regarding friendships between men and women. In our modern context, on the one hand society constantly and boldly sexualizes both our identity and relationships as men and women. On …

3GT has moved! So if you want to hear new episodes with our new parishioner, see our new logo on your iTunes stream, and still have access to all our previous episodes, then listen and learn what you need to do! And please help us get the word out!  

The Earnest movie might have had a twisting plot and focus on humor, but earnest preaching is quite the opposite! The guys engage in lively conversation about what earnestness is in preaching. From defining such qualities as sincerity and seriousness, to recognizing its presence in the sanctuary, to cultivating it in both the preacher and the …

After some playful banter about changing their tagline, the boys get down to the real business at hand. With a lawyer now on board, a question was begging to be asked. Are Christians duty-bound to obey God’s Law? A resounding “Yes!” follows. Precision is sought, as the definition of the word “Law” is given. The …

As the pastor and professor continue to rejoice over having a new parishioner in the fold, the guys interact over the issue of church discipline. When sin is present in the life of a fellow believer, how do you go about the hard work of discipline? Well, as in doing any difficult job, the 3GTers …

Yes, the time has arrived! The pastor and prof finally have found a parishioner willing to join them. You are going to enjoy hearing who he is. Yet there is a conundrum, a coincidence, and a caveat in this episode. The conundrum is that the 3.0 version of 3GT has the guys recording their first …

On this week’s 3GT, the guys welcome the father and son duo Vince and Samuel Ward. They interview these men about their new book Pursuit of Glory, which recounts their time serving on the mission field of South Sudan. In the midst of civil war, idolatry, and poisonous snakes, the Lord has brought salvation to the Dinka …

Though they are still 3GT minus one, the shepherds have sought and found another parishioner who is willing to be on the podcast with them! However, you will have to wait another episode or two to find out who he is. In the meantime, Kyle and Barry dig into a major theme of the book …

That’s what a good name is. For Proverbs 22:1 says, ” A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold.” So on this episode of 3GT, Kyle and Barry discuss the topic of a good reputation. After hinting they may have found their new parishioner, the …

What should men consider if sensing a call to the pastorate? What questions should they ask? What should others ask them? Are their good resources to help them discern? Should one go to seminary, and how do you go about pursuing seminary training? Tune in as Barry and Kyle have a serious yet rollicking discussion …

The pastor and professor are still searching for a parishioner, and that has slowed them down a bit. But they are pressing on until the Lord provides! On this episode, Kyle is loaded for bear as he is speaking twice on this topic this summer. So he explains what is meant by God’s glory, and …

This episode comes to you in two parts. First, the guys discuss what transpired at the cross when Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have you forsakeen me?” How is the Trinitarian relationship between the Father and the Son to be understood at that moment God was pouring his wrath upon Jesus? Was there …

Faith journey. Missional living. Glory story. Clearly the pastor does not like these terms very much. But he wonders out loud if there is a place for sharing testimonies? So he engages the parishioner and the prof in discussing the pros and cons of a testimony. They chat about such things as the power of …

Pope Francis recently created a stir, as he was quoted as saying, “A hell does not exist; the disappearance of the souls of sinners exists.” So the parishioner wants to know what the pastor and professor think about hell and its existence. Aaron then plays the part of a presbytery examiner, grilling Barry and Kyle …

Worship is first and foremost vertical as it is directed to God through Christ by His Spirit. Yet is there a horizontal dimension to it? Does corporate worship bring mutual edification and, if so, how? Aaron leads the way on this topic. He wants first of all to know what pastors get out of worship…besides …

What programs does your church offer? The 3GTers answer this question, then converse about the pros and cons of a congregation offering various activities, events, and ministries. Though certainly a church can have an exciting youth ministry or an active soup kitchen, congregations need to guard against the dominance programs can tend to have. Congregational busyness can …

Kyle was at the public library evangelizing sweet old Methodist ladies and he wants to talk about it. He explains how he is using the approach C.S. Lewis popularized, first attributed to Rabbi Duncan, known as “the trilemma.” Based on Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God and Savior of the world, one must …

Kyle decided to actually listen to a podcast. It’s clear we’re going to have to make him stop! For he starts asking lots of questions about stuff we think others should know (Guess which podcast he was listening to?) in the categories of the theological, practical, historical and so forth. So we discuss things as …

The three guys enjoy a discussion on the place of illustrations in a sermon. The purposes of an illustration are highlighted. What constitutes a proper versus a misused illustration is tackled a bit, with some examples given of each. Attention to word imagery by preachers is encouraged. Sources for illustrations are given. Along the way …

A few weeks have passed since a teenage gunman killed seventeen people in a high school in Parkland, Florida. 3GT offers a somber episode regarding it. Aaron, Barry, and Kyle discuss why tragic events like this happen and possible ways we ought to respond. Listen to this latest episode of 3GT as we mourn, pray, …

So Aaron asks, “How are we to confess our sins to God?” We don’t believe we need a confessional booth with a priest forgiving us of our sins. Yet what do we believe? How should sin be confessed in corporate worship? The guys discuss the importance of acknowledging our sins before God, seeking His forgiveness …

Many in the church suffer with depression and the questions it raises. Aren’t Christians always supposed to be happy? So is it sinful to be depressed? Is it always a spiritual problem? Where do you go for help? How do you help someone with it? Are resources outside the church an option? Are medications ever …

Why would the 3GTers want to talk about the Democratic primary for the governor’s race in Texas? Because one candidate who is promoting a pro-choice position is an elder in a Reformed church, and other elders in his denomination are calling him to repent! The guys use this situation to delve into the underlying theological …

Kyle’s been cruisin’ again. Did he really say he had been to the Copacabana? Progreso, Mexico? Anyway, it got the guys talking about R&R, vacations, sabbaths, and even sabbaticals. Questions arise. How do you slow down and disconnect in this fast-paced world in which we live? What principles of rest do the Scriptures give us? …

Talk about a man in an iron cage today, and people will think of mixed martial arts. But there was a time when all that would have come to mind is the scene of a character in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. The man was trapped in an iron cage because, as he said, “I have so …

The so-called Super Bowl Sunday is coming soon. But these three guys don’t seem too excited about it. Why? Are they just nerdy mama’s boys? Partially. Fuddy-duddy Sabbatarians? Probably. Legalistic killjoys? Careful! Just tune in and listen to why you might want to tune in and listen in a whole different way this coming Sunday! …

Now, for our most ironic episode yet. Yes, a podcast where we talk about being quiet! With the digital age readily providing megaphones such as Facebook and Twitter to make our every thought known, believers should consider anew the Biblical wisdom regarding silence. The 3GTers point out how restless hearts create restless tongues. Meddling, self-inflation, …

No, we are not encouraging Kyle to start a multisite internet church! Rather, we draw upon the digital dexterity of Aaron, who flips classrooms with ease, to hear how congregations should (and in some cases should not) use the internet for their ministry. Drawing upon his experience in teaching a seminary class on the subject, …

The prof heard the pastor preach judgment at a funeral recently. So it got the guys talking along the lines of Ecclesiastes: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.” Nothing like …

Children learn how to say it pretty early. But when they grow up into busy Christian adults they seem to forget. How do we say “No” to good requests on our talents, time, and treasures when “Yes” seems so much easier? As the three guys begin discussing this topic, one confesses he is a member …

With the #metoo movement growing in momentum, causing the fall of many in power, the 3Gters wrestle with what to do when accusations arise. When men abuse their authority, we should rejoice when justice is served. Yet given that Satan is the father of lies, believers need to be cautious when charges are made. What …

On this rewind episode, the 3GTers answer questions they received regarding past episodes. Millennial Aaron feels vindicated about electronic giving while Luddite Barry continues to struggle. While discussing again what constitutes plagiarism, Kyle has the audacity to do some freebooting for another podcast. Then Kyle shares the ins and outs of his Keto diet which …

The Presbyterian pastor is confessional but wants also to be a little c catholic. In other words, how can you hold strongly to doctrines but also work with other professing Christians? The professor tries to help him with Al Mohler’s Theological Triage, but the pastor is not so sure. What if one person’s first-level is …

With the Christian blogosphere aflame once again, this time with discussions regarding justification and sanctification, the 3GT men join in the fray. With Aaron pumping the questions, and Kyle and Barry responding energetically, they discuss current controversies then tackle the latter subject of sanctification. Minus a morose morbidity, they meditate on mortification while with vim …