Small Town Theologian

PLEASE LEAVE A SINCERE 5-STAR RATING IF YOU CAN. To belong to Christ is to belong to those who also belong to Christ. Salvation is not an individualistic thing, it is ultimately a corporate thing. We are saved into union with Christ and his precious church, his body. We belong to one another. We are united to one another in Christ. Rejoice in this beautiful truth! Support: I don't ask for your money. I do ask that you TELL SOMEONE about the podcast and/or READ and pass on my books. This is a great help, and I hope an encouragement to you. Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. Books: Predestined for Joy; The Heidelberg Catechism Blog: smalltowntheologian.org. Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community.

PLEASE LEAVE A SINCERE 5-STAR RATING IF YOU CAN. The church was from the beginning. Throughout history, God has been redeeming a people by Himself for Himself. To belong to Christ is to belong to Christ's church. The existence of the church is comforting because it reminds us that Christ is redeeming his people, gathering them, defending them, preserving them, protecting them, and ever loving and caring for them. The church is a beautiful and glorious thing. Support: I don't ask for your money. I do ask that you TELL SOMEONE about the podcast and/or READ and pass on my books. This is a great help, and I hope an encouragement to you. Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more. Books: Predestined for Joy; The Heidelberg Catechism Blog: smalltowntheologian.org. Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community.

PLEASE LEAVE A SINCERE 5-STAR RATING IF YOU CAN. It is not uncommon that professing Christians live estranged from local churches. They confess Christ and love for him, yet they do not submit themselves to a local church. Why is this? How could someone claim to love Christ while consciously and intentionally refusing to love the Bride of Christ? This series is meant to help you be more faithful, joyful, and helpful in your local church.  Support: I don't ask for your money. I do ask that you TELL SOMEONE about the podcast and/or READ and pass on my books. This is a great help, and I hope an encouragement to you.  Podcast: Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.  Books: Predestined for Joy; The Heidelberg Catechism Blog: smalltowntheologian.org. Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community.

Christians do good works by God's grace and Spirit, but do good works count toward their righteous standing before God? Is Christ our righteousness or are Christ and our good works our righteousness? Tune in for comfort for the soul. CLARIFICATION: When I say at the end of the podcast, "will reward us with grace when our race is finished" I am not talking about us meriting the grace of God in any way. What I mean is that the reward we receive for our good works will be all grace and no merit. Our reward is pure grace (HC 64).   Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you! Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away. Blog: smalltowntheologian.org. Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) What difference would it make if we believed that Christ was 99.9% of our righteousness and our good works were only 0.1% of our righteousness? (2) Do you believe God demands 100% purity and perfection to be considered righteous under the law? Discuss. (3) If we obey 99.9% of the law, but fail in only 0.1%, are we considered obedient or righteous (James 2:10)? (4) Considering HC 64 and the associated Scriptures, why is it a straw man to say that justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone encourages people to sin?  

Is it important for you and me to believe the Apostles' Creed, indeed everything in it? If we believe the Apostles' Creed, how does that help or benefit us? Believing the gospel is critical to having comfort in life and death, especially considering how much we sin in thought, word, and deed. Take comfort in the gospel by believing the doctrine of double imputation.  Please find "Small Town Theologian" on Apple Podcasts, Podcast Addict, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. and SUBSCRIBE. This will ensure you get the latest episode delivered directly to you! Books: To support Small Town Theologian, head to my Amazon authors page HERE and buy some books to read and give away. Blog: smalltowntheologian.org. Associations: Society of Reformed Podcasters & Christian Podcast Community. Check out other Christian and Reformed podcasts. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY WORSHIP: (1) Why do so many people think that God accepts them because they do enough good works? (2) Why does a performance mentality in life lead to self-righteousness or despair? (3) Do your good works contribute at all to your right standing before God? (4) How does self-righteousness connect to a works-righteousness mentality?