Cincy Reformed Podcast

Common Arguments for God‘s Existence (Audio only)

Pastors Brandon and Zac don their apologetics hat in today's episode and discuss the common arguments for the existence of God that have been used throughout church history. In this episode, they discuss the cosmological, teleological, ontological, moral, and transcendental arguments for God's existence. If those titles look too daunting, fear not! Zac and Brandon break them down to their simplest levels. 

For more information, see: 

[Introductory Level]

Know Why You Believe by K. Scott Oliphint 

Why Should I Believe Christianity? By James Anderson 

Covenantal Apologetics: Principles and Practice in Defense of Our Faith by K. Scott Oliphint 

The Faithful Apologist: Rethinking the Role of Persuasion in Apologetics by K. Scott Oliphint 

[Intermediate Level]

Christian Apologetics: Past and Present (Vol. 1 & 2) ed. by William Edgar and K. Scott Oliphint 

Christian Apologetics by Cornelius Van Til

Van Til's Apologetic: Readings and Analysis by Greg Bahnsen 

Revelation and Reason: New Essays in Reformed Apologetics ed. by K. Scott Oliphint and Lane G. Tipton 

The Trinity and the Vindication of Christian Paradox: An Interpretation and Refinement of the Theological Apologetic of Cornelius Van Til  by B.A. Bosserman 

Tell the Next Generation

This is the final installment of the 2021 Nurture Conference that was held at Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH. To round out the conference, Pastor Zac preached a sermon from Psalm 78 where he emphasized the need to tell the next generation their story as it is found in Sacred Scripture. 

The Beauty of Biography (feat. Bill Boekestein)

This was Bill's second and final address in the Nurture Conference (2021) held by Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH. In this episode, Bill discusses the role biographies can play in the raising of our covenant children. 

Some of the biographies Bill Boekestein has written include: 

- The Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism 

- The Glory of Grace: The Story of the Canons of Dort 

- Faithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido de Bres

- Ulrich Zwingli 

 

Catechized for Battle

This is the second talk of the Nurture Conference (2021) held by Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH. In this talk, Pastor Brandon unpacks the biblical basis of catechesis, the history of catechisms, and some practical tips for catechizing. 

For more information, see: 

Rediscovering Catechism: The Art of Equipping Covenant Children by Donald Van Dyken 

Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett 

The Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism by Bill Boekestein 

The Duty of Catechetical Instruction by Archibald Alexander 

More Catechism Needed by Cornelius Van Til 

Classical Christian Catechesis by R. Scott Clark 

The Early Church at Work and Worship: Catechesis, Baptism, Eschatology, and Martyrdom by Everett Ferguson 

Educating People of Faith: Exploring the History of Jewish and Christian Communities ed. by John Van Engen 

Minds in Love With God (feat. Bill Boekestein)

This was the first of three talks given at the Nurture Conference (2021) held by Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH. In this lecture, Rev. Bill Boekestein helps parents think through how to cultivate the intellectual life of our covenant children. 

God's Choice to Save Some and Not Others (Audio only)

Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss the doctrines of Unconditional Election and Reprobation. Unconditional Election is a comforting doctrine. As Christians we know: Before God even spoke the galaxies into existence, He loved me and wrote my name in His Book of Life. There is also the unpleasant flip side of unconditional election, namely, that God has chosen to pass over some sinners, to leave them in their sin, and to show them justice. No one receives injustice from God. 

For more information, see: 

The Canons of Dort

The Joy of Calvinism by Greg Forster 

For Calvinism by Michael Horton 

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray 

The Majesty of Mystery by K. Scott Oliphint 

Saving the Reformation by Robert Godfrey 

 

Nurture: Pre-Conference Interview with Brandon Burks

Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH is hosting a Nurture Conference designed to encourage and to help Christian parents as they shepherd their covenant children. This conference will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Rev. Bill Boekestein will be our main speaking, giving two of the three talks during the conference. The conference will address the following topics: 

1. Minds in Love with God (Boekestein)
2. Catechized for Battle (Burks)
3. The Beauty of Biography (Boekestein)

For more information, see:

http://westsidereformed.org/nurture-conference-on-christian-parenting/

For resources on Catechesis, see: 

Recovering Catechism: The Art of Equipping Covenant Children by Donald Van Dyken 

Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett 

The Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism by Bill Boekestein 

The Duty of Catechetical Instruction by Archibald Alexander 

More Catechism Needed by Cornelius Van Til 

Classical Christian Catechesis by R. Scott Clark 

Nurture: Pre-Conference Interview with Brandon Burks (audio only)

Westside Reformed Church (URC) in Cincinnati, OH is hosting a Nurture Conference designed to encourage and to help Christian parents as they shepherd their covenant children. This conference will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Rev. Bill Boekestein will be our main speaking, giving two of the three talks during the conference. The conference will address the following topics: 

1. Minds in Love with God (Boekestein)
2. Catechized for Battle (Burks)
3. The Beauty of Biography (Boekestein)

For more information, see:

http://westsidereformed.org/nurture-conference-on-christian-parenting/

For resources on Catechesis, see: 

Recovering Catechism: The Art of Equipping Covenant Children by Donald Van Dyken 

Grounded in the Gospel: Building Believers the Old-Fashioned Way by J.I. Packer and Gary Parrett 

The Quest for Comfort: The Story of the Heidelberg Catechism by Bill Boekestein 

The Duty of Catechetical Instruction by Archibald Alexander 

More Catechism Needed by Cornelius Van Til 

What Shall We Feed Our Children by Cornelius Van Til

Classical Christian Catechesis by R. Scott Clark 

 

The Ordinary Means of Grace: Calibrating Ministry and Expectations (Audio only)

What are the ordinary means of grace and how do they shape the Christian's expectations and the church's ministry? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac explore the Reformed view of the means of grace and how it is distinct from the emotionally-driven, morally-driven, and seeker-driven church models. 

For more information, see: 

Heidelberg Catechism, questions 65-82

Belgic Confession, articles 28-35

What Happens When We Worship by Jonathan Cruse 

Thinking God's Thoughts: An Introduction to a Pilgrim Worldview (ch. 17) by J. Brandon Burks 

Liturgical Worship: A Lutheran Introduction (pp. 9-15) by Jordan Cooper

With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship (ch. 9) by D.G. Hart and John Muether 

Reformed Dogmatics, volume five: Ecclesiology, the Means of Grace, Eschatology (ch. 3-5) by Geerhardus Vos 

Reformed Dogmatics, volume four: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation (ch.8-11) by Herman Bavinck 

The Ordinary Means of Grace: Calibrating Ministry and Expectations

What are the ordinary means of grace and how do they shape the Christian's expectations and the church's ministry? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac explore the Reformed view of the means of grace and how it is distinct from the emotionally-driven, morally-driven, and seeker-driven church models. 

For more information, see: 

Heidelberg Catechism, questions 65-82

Belgic Confession, articles 28-35

What Happens When We Worship by Jonathan Cruse 

Thinking God's Thoughts: An Introduction to a Pilgrim Worldview (ch. 17) by J. Brandon Burks 

Liturgical Worship: A Lutheran Introduction (pp. 9-15) by Jordan Cooper

With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship (ch. 9) by D.G. Hart and John Muether 

Reformed Dogmatics, volume five: Ecclesiology, the Means of Grace, Eschatology (ch. 3-5) by Geerhardus Vos 

Reformed Dogmatics, volume four: Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation (ch.8-11) by Herman Bavinck