Theology on the Go

A Special Update from Theology on the Go

You may have heard that our dear friend and colleague James Dolezal was recently struck by a car and suffered very serious injuries. He remains in the hospital and is receiving excellent medical care, but his condition is grave.
Before the accident, James and Jonathan had recorded several interviews for Theology on the Go. Those episodes will continue to be released through August 17. After that, we plan to share selected past episodes from the Theology on the Go archive. We do not yet know what the weeks ahead will hold, but we will keep listeners informed as we are able.
Please pray for James. Pray that the Lord would be pleased to glorify Himself in James’s recovery. Pray for his family, for strength, comfort, and sustaining grace. Pray also for the doctors, nurses, and all who are caring for him. And as you pray, continue to rest in the goodness and sovereignty of our God, who loves His children with a perfect and everlasting love.
James has always loved hearing from Theology on the Go listeners . He loved meeting you at events, interacting with you, and receiving your questions. He loves God's Word and the truths of God's Word, and he loves those who would listen as he and Jonathan would discuss these things over the years.
Thank you for the encouragement you have shown to James and Jonathan, and to this podcast, over many years. We are deeply grateful.
 

Pilgrim's Progress, Part 12

The three J’s – Jonathan, James, and Jeff – continue their exploration of John Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's Progress, exploring the themes of flattery, ignorance, and the challenges faced by Pilgrims on their journey to the Celestial City. The hosts discuss the dangers of being led astray by deceptive flatterers and the importance of remaining vigilant in faith, especially as one approaches the end of life. 
The closer we get to the Celestial City, the more important it becomes to rehearse those early dealings of God with us. – James Dolezal
Today’s reflections emphasize the need for Christian companionship and the rehearsal of God's faithfulness in our lives.
We should really be cultivating Christian friendships where we do actually discuss not just deep theological things, but also regularly rehearse the goodness and the kindness of God to us. – Jeff Stivason

Reformed Confessionalism

Reformed Churches describe themselves as confessional, but what does that mean, and what does it matter? Blair Smith, president of the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, sits down with James and Jonathan today to answer these questions based on his new book, Reformed Confessionalism. Together, they explore the virtues of confessions and how historic confessions serve as guardrails for believers today. 
There are many Christians today, however, who are principally opposed to confessions. They think that confessions get in the way of our reading of the Bible. 
…I would say everybody has a confession, whether it's hidden or whether it's stated. We all have ways that we approach Scripture in which we understand the doctrine of Scripture. And what confessionalism does is it very clearly states what those doctrinal truths are. And it does so based on sort of the ritual of Christian tradition, whether that be ancient with the creeds or whether that be reformational with the Reformed confessions. – Blair Smith
Discover why these doctrines are not just relics of the past but vital tools for understanding Scripture and nurturing a balanced faith in our contemporary world.
We are pleased to offer listeners the opportunity to win a copy of Blair Smith’s book, Reformed Confessionalism, thanks to the generosity of P&R Publishing. Enter here to win.
 
Show Notes
Blessings of the Faith Series: https://www.prpbooks.com/series/blessings-of-the-faith

The Desecration of Man

Jonathan and James are pleased to sit down with their friend and fellow Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals podcast host Carl Trueman, professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Grove City College, to discuss his latest book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity. Carl discusses the moral implications of modern expressive individualism, the quest for control over life and death, and the significance of anthropology in understanding contemporary issues of identity and ethics. 
The telos [ultimate objective] is that we should be like gods. The real telos is we reduce ourselves to nothing.”-- Carl Trueman
Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges our understanding of what it means to be human.
We are pleased to award two listeners a copy of Carl’s book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity, thanks to the generosity of Sentinel Publishing. Congratulations to James P. from Summerville, SC and Abhishek P. from Langhorne, PA. 
 
Show Notes:
To buy your copy of The Desecration of Man, here is a link: https://reformedresources.org/the-desecration-of-man-hardcover/
 

Duties of Church Members

Christians often think about the responsibilities of pastors to their flocks, but today James and Jonathan flip the script and consider the responsibilities of church members toward their pastors. Drawing insights from the works of John Owen, our hosts explore the biblical mandates for honoring, submitting to, and praying for ministers, emphasizing the mutual relationship between pastors and their congregations. 
When we submit and give honor to those to whom honor is due, we're actually doing something good for ourselves. – Jonathan Master
This conversation highlights the importance of pastoral care and the duties of church members in fostering a joyful and supportive church environment.
If your pastor is laboring without joy, it actually hurts you as a Christian. – James Dolezal
Thanks to our friends at Banner of Truth Publishing, we are pleased to award two two listeners a copy of John Owens, Duties of Christian Fellowship. Congratulations to Eric M. from Trotwood, OH and David M. from Newport News, VA!

The Scandal of Church Division

Never should anyone run faster to deal with division in Church than someone would run to put out a fire in a house. – Matthew Vogan
Jonathan and James engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Matthew Vogan, editor of the book The Scandal of Church Divisions: Healing the Wounds of Schism by James Durham. They explore the complexities of church unity and division, examining the historical context of Durham's work and its relevance for contemporary Christians. Discover the distinctions between heresy, schism, and division, and learn how these concepts apply to today's church landscape. 
Tune in for valuable insights into the importance of edification and the biblical basis for unity within the body of Christ.
Thanks to our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to award two copies of James Durham’s The Scandal of Church Division to our listeners, Luke S. from Crest Hill, IL and Ray N. from Brampton, Ontario!
 

Pilgrim's Progress, Part 11

The dynamic trio continues their exploration of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, focusing on the characters Ignorance and Little Faith. Join Jonathan, James, and Jeff Stivason as they unpack the complexities of faith and ignorance in the Christian journey. Discover how Ignorance, despite his good deeds, remains blind to his spiritual state, while Little Faith, though struggling, embodies the essence of a genuine believer. 
Ignorance is someone who knows the Lord's will and lives well, but lacks true understanding of his status before God. – Jeff Stivason
This thought-provoking discussion reveals the nuances of faith, fear, and the importance of companionship on the pilgrimage of life.
Thanks to our friends at Banner of Truth, we were pleased to award a copy of John Bunyan’s classic, A Pilgrim’s Progress, to Enoch C. from Chicago, IL!

Declaring Our Faith

In this episode of Theology on the Go, Jonathan and James welcome back John Fesco, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, to discuss the upcoming Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, Declaring Our Faith: Confessions in a Modern Age, at which John and Jonathan will both be speaking. Today, they discuss the significance of confessions and creeds in the church, exploring common objections and misconceptions surrounding their use in the modern day. 
We need the Scriptures and we need the church, not just the church today, but the church throughout the ages. – John Fesko
 
Join us as we unpack the historical context, the causes of deconfessionalism, and the personal application of creeds in our devotional lives.
We’d love to see you at the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, April 24-26, at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA! Click here for more details and to register: https://alliancenet.org/event/pcrt26/