Cincy Reformed Podcast

Introducing the United Reformed Churches (URC)

What is the United Reformed Churches of North America (URCNA or URC for short)? In this episode, Pastor Brandon interviews Pastor Zac on the history, practices, and distinct characteristics of the URC. 

For more information on the URC or the general history of the Dutch Reformed Church, see: 

https://www.urcna.org

Cornelis P. Venema, "Integration, Disintegration, and Reintegration: A Preliminary History of the United Reformed Churches in North America," in Always Reforming: Essays in Honor of W. Robert Godfrey (ch. 13) ed. by R. Scott Clark and Joel E. Kim

Old Mud Meeting House (Harrodsburg, KY) by Stephen Beal

A Goodly Heritage: The Secession of 1834 and Its Impact on Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and North America by Cornelius Pronk

Secession, Doleantie, and Union: 1834-1892 by Hendrik Bouma

Dutch Calvinism in Modern America: A History of a Conservative Subculture by James D. Bratt

The Reformed Church in the Netherlands by Maurice G. Hansen

The Reformation of 1834 by Faculty of Mid-America 

Sources of Secession by Gerrit J. tenZythoff

The Netherlands Reformed Church, 1571-2005 by Karel Blei

The Christian Reformed Church by Henry Beets

Dutch Reformed Education: Immigrant Legacies in North America ed. by Donald A. Luidens

A Perfect Babel of Confusion: Dutch Religion and English Culture in the Middle Colonies by Randall Balmer 

Reflections on Thanksgiving (Audio)

In this episode, Pastor Zac gives reflections on giving thanks to God. 

 

Is Palestine still the Holy Land?

In this episode, Pastor Zac highlights the intersection of current events with various theological proposals regarding the nation of Israel. Is Palestine still considered the "Holy Land"? How should Christians view battles over land? 

For more information, see: 

https://elder2elder.substack.com/p/contrasting-perspectives-on-the-land?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2

 

 

A New Church Plant: Christ Reformed Church - Florence, KY

In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss the up-and-coming church plant: Christ Reformed Church in Florence, KY. Pastor Brandon, currently a co-pastor at Westside Reformed Church, will be sent out as a "home missionary" to labor in Northern Kentucky.

On November 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM Pastor Brandon will lead a Bible study on the topic of Law and Gospel from a Reformed perspective at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Florence, KY. And beginning on February 4, 2024 Pastor Brandon will hold weekly Sunday evening services in the same location at 6:00 PM. If you are in the area, please join us and bring a friend. If you know someone in the area, please spread the word. 

In this episode, Pastor Brandon describes his family and background, and also how he hopes that Christ Reformed Church will be a confessional church that stands on Scripture, engages unbelief with truth and love, relies on the ordinary means of grace, and seeks God’s comforting Word and Spirit in every circumstance of life.

A New Church Plant: Christ Reformed Church - Florence, KY (Audio)

In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss the up-and-coming church plant: Christ Reformed Church in Florence, KY. Pastor Brandon, currently a co-pastor at Westside Reformed Church, will be sent out as a "home missionary" to labor in Northern Kentucky.

 

On November 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM Pastor Brandon will lead a Bible study on the topic of Law and Gospel from a Reformed perspective at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Florence, KY. And beginning on February 4, 2024 Pastor Brandon will hold weekly Sunday evening services in the same location at 6:00 PM. If you are in the area, please join us and bring a friend. If you know someone in the area, please spread the word. 

An Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer

What exactly are we asking when we pray the Lord's Prayer? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac walk through each petition of the Lord's Prayer. 

For more information, see: 

Heidelberg Catechism Q.116-129

Sacred Dissertations on the Lord's Prayer by Herman Witsius 

The Lord's Prayer by Thomas Watson 

Can the Pope Change the Lord’s Prayer? by Cincy Reformed 

An Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer (Audio)

What exactly are we asking when we pray the Lord's Prayer? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac walk through each petition of the Lord's Prayer. 

For more information, see: 

Heidelberg Catechism Q.116-129

Sacred Dissertations on the Lord's Prayer by Herman Witsius 

The Lord's Prayer by Thomas Watson 

From Church Plant to Established Church: An Interview with Rev. Sam Perez

In this episode, Pastor Zac interviews Rev. Sam Perez of Grace Reformed Church in Jersey City. 

Abortion: What Does God Say?

According to Scripture, it is God who opens wombs (Gen. 29:31; 30:17-24; Ps. 113:9) and closes wombs (Gen. 20:18; 1 Sam. 1:5). God is Lord of the womb and, under God’s Lordship, life begins and a soul is created by God when an egg is fertilized. With this background, how should Christians think about the killing of a person in his or her mother's womb? God forbids murder (Exo. 20:13; Rev. 21:8), but does this include a person in a womb? Are there exceptions where a mother would be justified in killing her child in her womb? Should a mother put to death her child if the child's father raped her? Should the mother kill her child to save her own life? In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss this difficult issue. (Also see: Job 31:15; Ps. 22:9-10; 100:3; 139:14-15; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41)

For more information, see: 

Abortion by R.C. Sproul 

Do You Really Love Life? by Timothy Brindle 

Healing After Abortion: God's Mercy Is for You by David Powlison 

Forgiveness After an Abortion by Julie Ganschow

Abortion is Immoral: An Animated Roadmap of the Argument by Justin Taylor 

"Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey Haunt Our Country" - Some of the Most Clarifying Words in Supreme Court Historyby R. Albert Mohler Jr. 

Fighting the Sin of Lust

Scripture exhorts us, "Let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous" (Heb. 13:4), "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord," (1 Cor. 6:13), "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality," (Ephesians. 5:3), and "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5). But what if a person feels trapped by the sin of lust? What are some practical ways to fight lust? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss these questions and more. 

For more information, see: 

Fighting Lust by Heath Lambert 

Stuck in Sexual Sin by Alastair Groves 

Lies that Fuel Disordered Sexual Desires by Craig Marshall