Reformed Forum

In this episode, we welcome Leonardo De Chirico to discuss his book Ancient Landmarks: An Evangelical’s Guide to Patristic and Medieval Thought. We consider how evangelicals can receive the riches of the ancient and medieval church without either dismissing the fathers or treating their work as an unquestionable authority. De Chirico commends an appreciative yet critical approach governed by the final authority of Scripture.We also discuss the Didache and the Epistle to Diognetus, the church’s changing public identity after Constantine, and Cornelius Van Til as a guide for theological discernment. The conversation concludes with practical ways pastors and congregations can bring church history, creeds, and confessions into the ordinary life of the church.Book: Leonardo De Chirico, Ancient Landmarks (Apollos, 2026).Chapters00:00 Opening and welcome05:54 Retrieving the church fathers with discernment08:08 Patrophobia, patrilatry, and Scripture’s authority14:32 How Ancient Landmarks developed20:20 The fathers among evangelicals in Rome25:43 Did the Protestant church begin in 1517?32:46 The Didache and the Epistle to Diognetus41:19 Constantine and the church’s public identity46:39 Van Til as a guide and conversation partner52:28 Bringing church history into congregational life55:54 Closing thoughts and book informationMentioned in this episode:Call the Question! To be able to vote and see the results of our weekly polls, subscribe to our email newsletter for free at reformedforum.org/newsletter. You’ll also receive our bi-annual magazine in digital format. If you provide a US mailing address, we’ll also send you a print copy for free. Cast your vote, and we'll share the results next week.

This is the first lesson in Dr. James J. Cassidy’s Reformed Academy course, Romans: God’s Worldwide Outreach. This lesson covers the following topics:00:00 Theme: God’s Worldwide Outreach03:20 Introduction: What is the Gospel?07:51 The Gospel of God and the Son of God (Romans 1:1–7)18:28 The Mission of the Gospel and the Power of God (Romans 1:8–17)23:31 The Wrath of God Revealed Against Humanity (Romans 1:18–23)26:04 The Wrath of God Revealed in Giving Sinners Over (Romans 1:24–32)Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/romans-gods-worldwide-outreachYour donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/#romans #gospel #reformedtheology #biblestudy

In this episode, we welcome Cornelis Venema to discuss Roots Renewed: Perspectives on the United Reformed Churches in North America (After Thirty Years), a collection he edited on the history and identity of the United Reformed Churches in North America. We trace the Dutch and Christian Reformed histories that shaped the URCNA, consider its relationship with the Canadian Reformed Churches, and discuss Scripture, the confessions, and church order in Reformed ecclesial identity.We also reflect on the reform efforts preceding the URCNA’s formation, the relationship between Mid-America Reformed Seminary and the federation, and the book’s treatment of missions, evangelism, and church planting.Reformed Fellowship is offering Reformed Forum listeners 30 percent off. Use the code ROOTS30 at checkout. The discount applies to single copies, which are $35, and to cases of sixteen, which are already reduced to $400 and ship free. A case puts the book in the hands of a consistory, session, or study group.Chapters00:00 Opening and welcome03:22 How the book took shape08:03 Dutch roots and CRC history20:03 The URCNA and the Canadian Reformed Churches35:10 Scripture, confessions, and Reformed identity46:18 Reasons for forming the URCNA51:17 Church history and catholicity across generations56:04 A practical proposal for church unity57:41 Reform efforts before federation1:03:13 Mid-America Reformed Seminary and the URCNA1:12:08 What the book hopes to preserve1:15:00 Missions, evangelism, and church planting1:17:38 Growth and decline in the URC and CRC1:21:48 The book in wider Reformed conversations1:23:01 Reformed Fellowship’s history1:25:54 Closing thoughts and book informationMentioned in this episode:Call the Question! To be able to vote and see the results of our weekly polls, subscribe to our email newsletter for free at reformedforum.org/newsletter. You’ll also receive our bi-annual magazine in digital format. If you provide a US mailing address, we’ll also send you a print copy for free. Cast your vote, and we'll share the results next week.

This is the sixth lesson in Dr. Camden M. Bucey and Dr. Marcus Mininger’s Reformed Academy course, Resurrection and Redemption: A Reader’s Guide. It was originally recorded for one of Reformed Forum’s International Cohort Reading Groups. This lesson covers pages 114–143 of Richard B. Gaffin Jr.’s Resurrection and Redemption: A Study in Paul’s Soteriology, addressing the following topics:00:00 Introduction and Overview08:28 Resurrection as the Redemption of Christ12:49 The Mutual Implication of Death and Resurrection16:18 The Positive Import of Resurrection21:24 Adoption33:36 Justification42:18 Sanctification49:36 Glorification56:18 The Eschatology of the Ordo Salutis58:22 Distinct Benefits as Facets of One Event64:31 The Whole Christ and Pastoral Significance68:59 Course ConclusionRegister for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to dozens of additional video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedacademy.org/course/resurrection-redemption-readers-guideYour donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/#biblicaltheology #redemption #reformedtheology #biblestudyMentioned in this episode:Christ the Center 1000Christ the Center 1000

Jim Cassidy joins Camden Bucey to discuss the Gospel of Mark and a newly recorded Reformed Academy course, The Gospel of Mark: A Study in the Kingdom. They consider how Mark identifies Jesus as the divine King and teaches the nature of his kingdom through a fast-moving account of Christ’s ministry.The conversation explores faith and union with Christ, Mark’s high Christology, exorcisms as signs of Christ’s conquest over Satan, Jesus’s cleansing of the unclean, the covenantal transition signaled in Mark 7, and the two-stage healing of the blind man as a mirror of the disciples’ partial understanding. They also discuss why the kingdom advances through the cross and resurrection rather than worldly power—and how that hope steadies an anxious church.ResourcesReformed AcademyChrist the Center 1000 SummitReformed Forum newsletterChapters00:00 Introduction01:57 Reformed Academy courses with Jim Cassidy04:03 Christ the Center episode 1000 summit10:00 The Gospel of Mark as a study in the kingdom15:14 Mark’s rapid narrative and distinctive emphasis18:31 Faith, healing, and union with Christ21:13 Mark’s high Christology26:30 Exorcism and the conquest of Satan’s kingdom32:58 Jesus, purity, and the covenantal transition37:40 Scripture and tradition in Mark 742:35 The two-stage healing of the blind man47:45 Victory through the cross and suffering50:52 Rendering to Caesar and to God55:45 Resurrection hope for an anxious church59:57 Peter’s confession and the structure of Mark62:14 ConclusionMentioned in this episode:Call the Question! To be able to vote and see the results of our weekly polls, subscribe to our email newsletter for free at reformedforum.org/newsletter. You’ll also receive our bi-annual magazine in digital format. If you provide a US mailing address, we’ll also send you a print copy for free. Cast your vote, and we'll share the results next week.