Reasonable Theology Podcast

Just as one cannot see the entire Mississippi river when standing in its headwaters, believers initially see only a part of their salvation when they come to Christ. Romans 8:28-30 provides a high enough vantage point to reveal that God’s work in salvation begins in eternity past with His foreknowledge and extends into eternity future with our glorification. This full view assures believers of the certainty and security of their salvation, providing comfort amid present sufferings and confidence in God’s unchanging purpose.Romans 8:28-30And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

Life-expectancy worldwide is twice what it was a hundred years ago. And because of modern medicine, many of us don’t often see death up close. That makes it easy to live as if death is someone else’s problem. It isn’t.On this archive episode of the Reasonable Theology podcast we sit down with Matthew McCullough, a pastor and author who recently published a book called Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope.When we ignore our own mortality, we lose out on much of what Scripture has for us to learn. As McCullough states, "When the reality of death is far from our minds, the promises of Jesus often seem detached from our lives."In this episode we'll discuss:The reason that death is, for many of us, like a foreign countryCultural changes that have occurred that allow us to 'forget' the reality of deathThe negative consequences of death becoming tabooWhat believers miss out on when they forget deathThe benefits of remembering our mortality (and why it's much more than carpe diem)How our view of death impacts how we respond to the promises of ChristPractical (and non-morbid!) steps we can take to remember deathCheck out the Show Notes for this episodeGet a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

Did the United States truly have a Christian founding, or were the Founders simply Deists who desired to create a secular nation?This question has been hotly debated for generations, and our society increasingly regards the idea of America's Christian heritage as something to be minimized, rejected, or denied.So what is the truth regarding the faith of the Founders and how it influenced their actions as they fought a revolution and brought forth a new nation?To answer this question we're speaking with historian Mark David Hall. Hall is one of the most distinguished scholars of early American history. He is a professor, a nationally-recognized expert on religious freedom, and the author of several books, including Did America Have a Christian Founding? In this conversation we'll discuss how Christianity shaped our nation, how much impact deism actually had on some of the Founders, the true meaning of the separation of church and state, and how we can return to the biblical founding principles that made America a great nation.See the Show Notes & Additional ResourcesPick up a copy of Did America Have a Christian Founding? Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

Back when he was an avowed atheist, J Warner Wallace put his skills as a cold-case homicide detective to work investigating the claims of the Gospels and became a follower of Jesus. Now he is a speaker, apologist, and an author as well as a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University, and a faculty member at Summit Ministries.I’ve spoken with him on previous episodes about his books Cold Case Christianity and Person of Interest, and he’s back on to talk about this latest book: The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About Life.We’ll discuss our culture’s fascination with true crime and murder mysteries and the important life lessons that Wallace learned over his career investigating real-life cases and what these lessons teach us about ourselves and our Creator.In our conversation we’ll talk about the importance of humility, how the Gospel on impacts every area of life, and the cautionary lessons we learn from the bad guys he’s helped put away.The Truth in True Crime takes lessons learned from crime scene investigations and, more importantly, found in the pages of Scripture and distills them into 15 principles that everyone should know and pursue.Check out the show notes for links to resources mentioned in our conversation.Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

In Pauls' letter to the Philippians, we find a profound analogy for Christians living in this world: just as the citizens of Philippi lived as Romans despite their geographical distance from Rome, believers are called to live as citizens of heaven while residing on earth. The Philippians embraced Roman customs, language, and loyalty because they cherished the glory and power of Rome. Similarly, Christians must embrace the customs and values of their heavenly kingdom, prioritizing their allegiance to Christ above all earthly ties.  In this sermon we'll look at how this heavenly citizenship impacts our everyday lives as well as the relationships we build within the church, helping us focus on eternal things rather than getting caught up in the temporary concerns of this world. Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

What does it mean to be well-read? How can we choose which books are worth our time and which ones aren’t? Is it okay to give up on a book we’re not enjoying? Do audiobooks ‘count’ as reading?On this episode of the podcast we’re tackling all of these questions and a lot more. Our guest is Andy Naselli, professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary and author of How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers.We’ll talk about the importance of reading in the Christian life, how we can overcome some bad reading habits, different ‘layers’ of reading, how to instill a love of books in our kids, and more.As always, I’ve taken the notes for you on the show notes page below, where you can find additional information and links to the resources we talk about._____________________________________See the Show NotesPurchase 'How to Read a Book'The Five-Foot Bookshelf: 57 Books Every Christian Should Own🗎 Book List Spreadsheet Template (Plus a Great Books reading list)[You'll need to make a copy of the spreadsheet in order to edit it]Audible (30 Days of Audiobooks Free)_____________________________________Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

Each week, Christians around the world gather to worship with their local congregations. How this looks varies from church to church, but there are some aspects that should always be included. Here are 4 essential elements of a worship service.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES▶ The Regulative Principle of Worship♫ Psalm Singing Resources🗒️ Principles for Public Prayer from John Newton🎧 The Source of the Baptism DebateSupport the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28.This is a well-known and well-loved verse, and yet it is commonly misused, misunderstood, and misapplied. The problem is not that people misuse Romans 8:28 by making it say too much, but by making it say too little.If we do not understand what it is that Romans 8:28 is promising – and particularly what it means when it says that all things work together for good – we will exchange an abiding, unshakeable, certain hope for a flimsy “look on the sunny side of life” platitude. The point of Romans 8:28 is not that God is working out ‘all things’ to give you comfort in life, but that He is working out all things to bring you into conformity with Christ.In this sermon we examine the context, the conditions, and the confirmation of this great promise.Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

The Puritans are, at the same time, highly regarded and highly disdained—depending on who you ask. There are many caricatures about who the Puritans were, what they taught, and what they can still teach us today. On top of this, much of their writing can seem difficult for the modern reader. So why should we bother with the Puritans?On this episode I have a conversation with Dr. Don Kistler about the importance of the Puritans and how the church today can benefit from their spiritual guidance. Dr. Kistler is a Bible teacher, author, founder of Northampton Press, and he has been republishing Puritan works for decades.One of his latest reprints is Christ, the Perfect Pattern for a Christian by Ralph Robinson — which hasn’t been reprinted since 1658! We’ll talk about this particular book and the life and ministry of Robinson, as well as why we should read the lesser-known Puritans.Whether you already enjoy the works of the Puritans or have been reluctant to give them a chance, you’re definitely going to get a lot out of our conversation. Dr. Kistler will also share a number of recommended titles both for the beginner as well as some little known works that even those who love the Puritans may not have heard of.I’ll have all of the notes prepped for you at ReasonableTheology.org/Puritans where you can find links to the books we mention as well as additional information and resources. Get a free trial of Logos at ReasonableTheology.org/Logos Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE

We all have a stack of books that we'd like to read but haven't gotten through yet. So how can we read more books, faster?Thankfully, the answer isn't found in speed reading or in simply reading shorter books. Instead, these four simple tips will help you read more books in less time.HELPFUL RESOURCES MENTIONED:🗎 Book List Spreadsheet Template (Plus recommended books)[You'll need to make a copy of the spreadsheet in order to edit it]📖 The 5-Foot Bookshelf: 57 Books Every Christian Should Own:https://reasonabletheology.org/bookshelf🎧 Audio Book Options:EverandAudible (30 Days Free)Support the showGET THE NEWSLETTEREach edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and ClearlyA Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church HistoryAudio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to EnjoyA Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your LibrarySUBSCRIBE HERE