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Cincy Reformed Podcast is a podcast of Westside Reformed Church (URCNA) in Cincinnati, OH. Pastors Zac (Mdiv, Westminster Seminary California) and Brandon (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) discuss matters of theology, history, apologetics, contemporary issues, and more.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
There are no shortages of books, documentaries, and movies that attempt to grapple with the reality of what happened in Salem Village, 1692. Many approaches are admittedly secular and naturalistic, using the historical event to discredit religion, Christianity, or specifically the Puritans. But what is a Christian to think about the Salem Witch Trials? After all, Christians believe witchcraft not only to be real, but also to be a great evil (Exo. 7:11; Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Deut. 18:10-11; 1 Sam. 28:6-25; Acts 16:16-24; 19:17-20; Gal. 5:19-21). Moreover, the Puritans were spiritual giants whose writings have blessed many. John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, John Owen's Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Herman Witsius's The Lord's Prayer, Thomas Boston's The Crook in the Lot, Thomas Watson's The Doctrine of Repentance, and Richard Sibbs The Bruised Reed are just a few Puritan classics that have blessed Christians for generations. It would be wrong to "throw the baby out with the bathwater." Nevertheless, there are serious lessons to be learned, both negative and positive, from the terrible events of Salem Village, 1692. In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac explore this historical occurrence from a Puritan perspective.
For the original source material (from a theological perspective), see:
A Discourse on the Damned Art of Witchcraft by William Perkins
The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits by Richard Baxter
Demonology and Theology by Nathaniel Holmes
On Witchcraft by Cotton Mather
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
There are no shortages of books, documentaries, and movies that attempt to grapple with the reality of what happened in Salem Village, 1692. Many approaches are admittedly secular and naturalistic, using the historical event to discredit religion, Christianity, or specifically the Puritans. But what is a Christian to think about the Salem Witch Trials? After all, Christians believe witchcraft not only to be real, but also to be a great evil (Exo. 7:11; Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Deut. 18:10-11; 1 Sam. 28:6-25; Acts 16:16-24; 19:17-20; Gal. 5:19-21). Moreover, the Puritans were spiritual giants whose writings have blessed many. John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, John Owen's Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Herman Witsius's The Lord's Prayer, Thomas Boston's The Crook in the Lot, Thomas Watson's The Doctrine of Repentance, and Richard Sibbs The Bruised Reed are just a few Puritan classics that have blessed Christians for generations. It would be wrong to "throw the baby out with the bathwater." Nevertheless, there are serious lessons to be learned, both negative and positive, from the terrible events of Salem Village, 1692. In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac explore this historical occurrence from a Puritan perspective.
For the original source material, see:
A Discourse on the Damned Art of Witchcraft by William Perkins
The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits by Richard Baxter
Demonology and Theology by Nathaniel Holmes
On Witchcraft by Cotton Mather
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
In this week's episode, Pastors and Brandon and Zac unpack the religion of Wicca and brainstorm ways in which Christians can reach Wiccans with the Gospel of Christ.
For more information, see:
Unexpected Journey: Conversations with People Who Turned From Other Beliefs to Jesus (ch. 7) by Thom Rainer
Out of the Cults and Into the Church: Understanding and Encouraging Ex-Cultists by Janis Hutchinson
Wicca's Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger Behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality by Catharine Sanders
Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader ed. by Lorne L. Dawson
Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History by Philip Jenkins
[NOTE: These books cannot be recommended wholesale, as there are some places where we disagree, but they do shed light on key aspects of Wicca.]
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
In this week's episode, Pastors and Brandon and Zac unpack the religion of Wicca and brainstorm ways in which Christians can reach Wiccans with the Gospel of Christ.
For more information, see:
Unexpected Journey: Conversations with People Who Turned From Other Beliefs to Jesus (ch. 7) by Thom Rainer
Out of the Cults and Into the Church: Understanding and Encouraging Ex-Cultists by Janis Hutchinson
Wicca's Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger Behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality by Catharine Sanders
Cults and New Religious Movements: A Reader ed. by Lorne L. Dawson
Mystics and Messiahs: Cults and New Religions in American History by Philip Jenkins
[NOTE: These books cannot be recommended wholesale, as there are some places where we disagree, but they do shed light on key aspects of Wicca.]
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
The Trinity is difficult to understand. As pastors and teachers try to break down the concept in order to teach, analogies are often deployed. Some liken the Trinity to a three-leaf clover, others to the three possible states of waters (solid, liquid, gas). But are these analogies helpful? Do they reflect the God of Scripture? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac show that all human analogies actually teach an ancient Trinitarian heresy rather than the God of the Bible. This being the case, human analogies ought to be rejected.
For more information, see:
Belgic Confession, Art 8-9
Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 25
The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain
The Essential Trinity: New Testament Foundations and Practical Relevance ed. by Brandon Crowe and Carl Trueman
The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham
Van Til's Trinitarian Theology by Lane Tipton
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
The Trinity is difficult to understand. As pastors and teachers try to break down the concept in order to teach, analogies are often deployed. Some liken the Trinity to a three-leaf clover, others to the three possible states of waters (solid, liquid, gas). But are these analogies helpful? Do they reflect the God of Scripture? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac show that all human analogies actually teach an ancient Trinitarian heresy rather than the God of the Bible. This being the case, human analogies ought to be rejected.
For more information, see:
Belgic Confession, Art 8-9
Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 25
The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain
The Essential Trinity: New Testament Foundations and Practical Relevance ed. by Brandon Crowe and Carl Trueman
The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham
Van Til's Trinitarian Theology by Lane Tipton
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
If we believe in the Trinity, should that shape our worship? Should a liturgy have an explicitly Trinitarian shape to it? In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss not only why the Trinity should shape Christian worship, but also ways in which the Trinity can be explicit featured in a church's liturgy.
For more information, see:
The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain
The Essential Trinity: New Testament Foundations and Practical Relevance ed. by Brandon Crowe and Carl Trueman
The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham
Van Til's Trinitarian Theology by Lane Tipton
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
How is our worship shaped by the Trinity? Should a liturgy have an explicitly Trinitarian shape to it? In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss not only why the Trinity should shape Christian worship, but also ways in which the Trinity can be explicit featured in a church's liturgy.
For more information, see:
The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain
The Essential Trinity: New Testament Foundations and Practical Relevance ed. by Brandon Crowe and Carl Trueman
The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham
Van Til's Trinitarian Theology by Lane Tipton
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
"Can I come back to church after years of being away? What should I do?" In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss practical matters related to getting involved with your local church once again.
To find a solid church in your location, search here.
For more information about church and worship in general, see:
What Happens When We Worship? by Jonathan Cruse
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
"Can I come back to church after years of being away? What should I do?" In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss practical matters related to getting involved with your local church once again.
To find a solid church in your location, search here.
For more information about church and worship in general, see:
What Happens When We Worship? by Jonathan Cruse