Cincy Reformed Podcast

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

Fighting the Sin of Lust (Audio)

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 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

 

Are Arminians Pelagian?

When the Canons of Dort speak of "Pelagianism," of whom is it referring? Were the Remonstrants Pelagian? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss the these questions and more. 

For more information, see: 

The Canons of Dort. 

Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort by Robert Godfrey 

Crisis in the Reformed Church: Essays in Commemoration of the Great Synod of Dort  ed. by Peter Y. De Jong

But for the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort by Cornelius Venema

Are Arminians Pelagian? (Audio only)

When the Canons of Dort speak of "Pelagianism," of whom is it referring? Were the Remonstrants Pelagian? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss the these questions and more. 

For more information, see: 

The Canons of Dort. 

Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort by Robert Godfrey 

Crisis in the Reformed Church: Essays in Commemoration of the Great Synod of Dort  ed. by Peter Y. De Jong

But for the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort by Cornelius Venema

Engaging the Source of ”Calvinism”

What is "Calvinism"? Can it really be summed up into five points? Is the acronym TULIP sufficient for our understanding of salvation? In this episode, Pastor Zac discusses the Canons of Dort. 

For more information, see: 

Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort by Robert Godfrey 

Crisis in the Reformed Church: Essays in Commemoration of the Great Synod of Dort  ed. by Peter Y. De Jong

But for the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort by Cornelius Venema

 

Eucharistic Miracle?

On September 8, 2023 it was claimed that a Eucharistic Miracle happened in Cincinnati, OH wherein the bread of the Lord's Supper became stained with physical blood. The samples were subsequently sent off for verification. In this podcast episode, Pastor Brandon reflects on this local event from a Reformed perspective. 

Should We Swear?

Should we swear? What about oaths? In this episode Pastor Zac discusses the Third Commandment. 

For more information, see: 

Heidelberg Catechism Qs. 99-102. 

Theories on Education from a Christian Perspective

How should children be educated? What is education? What is the goal of education? What should be taught? Are the children products of chance, or are they covenant children made in God's image? Are teachers passive chaperones or mature shepherds who lead with authority? Who shapes the curriculum and what is included? What is the standard for education? Numerous theories on education seek to answer these questions, but many of them are not from a Christian worldview. How should Christians understand the various theories at play in schools across the country? In this episode, Pastor Brandon discusses several theories of education from a biblical worldview. 

For more information, see: 

Philosophy and Education: An Introduction in Christian Perspective by George R. Knight 

Voices from the Past: Reformed Educators, ed. by Donald Oppewal

Essays on Christian Education by Cornelius Van Til