Redeemer Broadcasting : A Plain Answer

Would you like to raise a godly family? Most of us would! When is the last time you heard a sermon series on the Christian family? The answer may tell you how important this subject is to your church. Our guest today posted an article titled: The Significance of Church Attendance in Raising Godly Sons. Our children are baptized. The sign and seal signifies the renouncing of the devil and all his works, per the Westminster Confession of Faith. Our guest encourages us to always ask if we are being faithful to a trajectory of righteousness. What does it mean when the Bible says we are of another kingdom? Our guest explains. Wherever we are placed on earth, our citizenship needs to mimic the heavenly kingdom. We are obligated to place the imprint of the kingdom of heaven. Here is the link to the article our friend wrote: https://www.uribrito.com/p/the-significance-of-church-attendance Participants: Dr. Uri Brito, Dan Elmendorf

Today we discuss information about The Bahnsen Institute. The name of the institute is a man's last name. The work of Dr. Bahnsen continues to this day. Bahnsen was not afraid to take on opponents to the Christian faith and debate them. One debate was: Dr. Greg Bahnsen and Mr. Edward Tabash debating the existence of God, with Dr. Bahnsen arguing for theism and Mr. Tabash arguing for atheism. Another debate was Does God Exist? Greg L. Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein: "The Great Debate" Today we discuss the work of Dr. Bahnsen. The Bahnsen institute has seen over 612,000 downloads from 174 countries in the world. Significantly, all the material is available for FREE. Unbelief suppresses the truth in unrighteousness. A public meeting will be held on November 4, at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Please see this link: https://www.bahnseninstitute.com/events/ the Bahnsen Institute will host a Zoom meeting for all those interested in this work. "We will give an update on what the Bahnsen Institute has been doing and some of our plans for the future. We began five years ago, first as the Bahnsen Project and then as the Bahnsen Institute, and we praise God for what has been accomplished thus far. You will be able to hear at the meeting from members of the team concerning key achievements and challenges, finances, the remastering project, online outreach, and publications. We will also share goals for the upcoming year and give opportunity for questions, comments, and suggestions." Participants: Pastor Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

Have you noticed the increased violence in society lately? This is accompanied by a crudeness, and incivility. Aggression is seen in many of our city streets. Today we have another fireside chat with our friend and board member, Pastor John Vance. As a pastor for many years, he brings much experience and observation to the discussion. He cites part of this passage as we begin our discussion: "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things." Romans 1:20-23. He observes that when people turn from God, they then believe anything. He also notes a kind of atheism among our elites. We end our discussion on a hopeful note, pointing to the Lord Who gives us meaning to our life. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Today we talk with Pastor Bill Shishko about an important book that is written by Stephen O. Presley. The title is Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church. Amazon says this about the book: "How to keep faith in a culture hostile to Christianity In an increasingly secular world, Christians are often pulled in two directions. Some urge us to retreat and build insular communities. Others call upon us to wage a culture war, harnessing the government to shore up Christian cultural power. But there is another way—and it's as old as the church itself. Stephen O. Presley takes us back to the first few centuries AD to show us how the first Christians approached cultural engagement. Amid a pagan culture that regarded their faith with suspicion, early Christians founded a religious movement that transformed the ancient world. Looking to great theologians like Augustine, Origen, and Tertullian, Presley shows how the early church approached politics, family, public life, and more. From these examples, he draws lessons for practicing authentic, pious discernment in how we engage with the wider culture. The Christians who came before us endured persecution to share a vision of human flourishing that changed the world. Following in their footsteps, we can sanctify our society through social witness. Readers anxious about shifting cultural tides will be left with hope in the already-present kingdom of God and the promised resurrection." We talk with our pastor friend as he discusses the first 400 years of the world after the ascension of Christ. This is the time of the Roman Empire. How is it that so much headway was made in these early years? We discuss that. The Christians were accused of turning the world upside down. In fact they turned it right side up! The early church showed a radical commitment to the kingship of Christ. The book points out five elements of the life of Christians. These are: Identity, Citizenship, Intellectual Life, Public Life, and Hope. Participants: Pastor Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

Have you noticed the awakening that seems to be taking place in our world? Since the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, we have seen churches more filled. Even at his service that celebrated his life, we saw political leaders giving testimony to their love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our guest today has been doing lots of thinking since the assassination. He concluded that he is of the opinion, in light, for example, of Ezekiel 34, that if tens of thousands of pastors all over America for the last 50 years had been teaching, from pulpits and in Sunday school and in Bible studies, the whole counsel of God from the whole Word of God to the whole people of God for the whole of life, the kinds of things Charlie said that so angered the Left would have been commonplace understanding all over America, and while not everyone would have embraced them, no one would have been shocked by them—and no one would have wanted to murder Kirk because of them. Our pastors would do well to do wider reading, and not only what's needed for exegeting the immediate text for their sermons. Also needed is looking for answers to all kinds of applications in daily life. Our guest points out some much needed reform as regards to the novel "Neo-Two Kingdom" present emphasis that has not be shared by any of the reformers of the past. Our churches need to be more focused on the one King who reigns over all and find out what He requires for every area of life. Participants: Dr. E. Calvin Beisner, Dan Elmendorf

In the book "Victorious Christians Who Changed the World," writer Dr. Peter Hammond writes of Martin Luther, that he "removed the necessity of monasticism by stressing that the essence of Christian living lies in serving God in our calling, whether secular or ecclesiastical. In promoting this Protestant Work Ethic, Luther laid the foundation for free enterprise and the tremendous productivity it has inspired." This got us to thinking afresh about the whole topic of calling and vocation. Our friend and board member, Pastor John Vance has mentioned the importance of vocation previously in other settings, so it seemed good to talk with him about this today. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

This interview is based on a paper written for Liberty University for their Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History Vol. 1, Issue 2, Article 3. Today we interview the author of this paper. We discuss the First Great Awakening and its profound effect on the colonies in early America and leading to the Declaration of Independence. The seeds of self government and political autonomy were planted. There is a rich Christian heritage of our nation which inspired the American Revolution. This Great Awakening had a strong reformed character that carried through the years. Substack here: https://krtquirion.substack.com/ Participants: Kory Quirion, Dan Elmendorf

Today, we interview the author of the new book, Think Christianly - Developing an Undivided Mind. Here is what the Amazon write up says: "In an age of shallow soundbites and cultural confusion, the Christian mind is under siege—fragmented, dulled, and often disengaged. In Think Christianly, Dr. Joe Boot calls the church back to clarity, conviction, and courage—urging believers to develop an undivided heart through a mind renewed by the Word of God. This is not a book of abstract theory or ivory-tower intellectualism. Drawing deeply from Scripture, philosophy, church history, and cultural criticism, Boot challenges the artificial divide between the sacred and the secular and reasserts the Lordship of Christ over all thought, culture, and creation." Here is a video that goes along with the theme: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/joe-boot-think-christianly-introduction-to-a-christian-worldview/ Participants: Dr. Joe Boot, Dan Elmendorf

Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday September 10, 2025, while speaking to college kids at Utah Valley University. This was a political assassination. Mr. Kirk was always respectful and peaceful as he talked with college students. He was making a lot of headway in convincing college kids of a biblical worldview, steeped in constitutional law and respect for life. The left was upset that he was making so much headway and had talked about silencing him, much like they have with President Trump. This time, the assassin was unfortunately "successful" as the bullet hit its mark, in Charlie's neck. He quickly died. Today, we discuss this man, his effectiveness, and his Christian faith. Charlie leaves a wife and two young children. Today we talk with evangelist Pastor Dr. Al Baker about this sad development. We also extend our discussion to the much needed application of the Bible to all of life. If Jesus truly is Lord, then there is no area of life that is not under His Kingship. His Moral Law continues into the New Testament era, as testified to by the Westminster Confession of Faith and Shorter and Larger Catechisms. Participants: Pastor Dr. Al Baker, Dan Elmendorf

Today we are joined by our friend, Dr. Peter Hammond, of South Africa. He gives us a short update on the work of his mission. Then we dive in to talk about some Christians in church history, that truly helped change the world. A few of these are The Venerable Bede. He worked on making the calendar system and the significant division of BC and AD. This put Christ at the hinge of history. Boniface the Great is called the Apostle to the Germans. He dared to chop down the "sacred" Oak tree of Thor. He then built a chapel out of the wood. The heathen came to Christ as a result of this strong missions outreach. King Alford the Great first translated the Bible into the Saxon language. He was of the conviction, that all people must learn to read. He was also the founder of the English Navy. He fought in 54 battles! Participants: Dr. Peter Hammond, Dan Elmendorf

Please come into our study today and join us for a fireside chat. Our guest is a seasoned pastor who lives on Long Island. We talk about the Christian life. How can we be serious about our theology and convictions, and yet, not become contentious? We talk about our children and them receiving the sign and seal of God's covenant of grace. In the New Testament, children are spoken to as the people of God. We also reflect on the days of COVID. Our family visited this pastor's church during COVID. The pandemic turned out to be difficult for churches as they attempted to please the Lord, walking fine lines. And what about those times in the Christian life when we don't agree with our brethren? Our pastor friend has observed that we "do not disagree very well." To disagree productively, requires emotional maturity. Our pastor friend closes our discussion, reminding us that in justification, something more has happened, and that is, God has brought us home. He reminds us that Jesus had a tender touch with people. Participants: Pastor Ben Miller, Dan Elmendorf

How do you discern what is an essential element of our Christian faith, as opposed to something that not everyone agrees on and in the end, does not really define the faith? Christians are agreed on some points which become non-negotiables. Typically, these points are documented in a couple of the old creeds. For example, The Apostles' Creed, which is a foundational statement of Christian belief, was developed over time, with its earliest known form appearing around the 2nd century. All Christians essentially hold to this creed. Another common statement is the Nicene Creed which affirms core Christian doctrines, including: The Father: Belief in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. The Son: Belief in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father. The Holy Spirit: Belief in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Church: Belief in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Salvation: A confession of one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the expectation of the resurrection of the dead. A point we would like you to appreciate is how very important it is, to be "catholic." We discuss this in some detail in this episode of A Plain Answer. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Do you want a Christian Education for your children? It will take hard work and sacrifice, but it will be well worth the effort in the eternal lives of your children. Today we talk with a seasoned and very wise pastor from New York City. He was involved in starting a church right after the Islamic Terrorist attack on our Twin Towers back in 2001. He was the founding pastor of Messiah's Reformed Fellowship. He preached there as senior pastor until recently, having handing the reigns over to a new senior pastor. Our guest now heads up evangelism. It is his calling to serve the Lord in this way. That is the background to this man's life who is very informed on how to educate our covenant children. Please listen careful and prayerfully. Perhaps you are a young parent who wants to do the right thing for your children. You may think you do not have enough money. If you chose to homeschool, you may fear that you are not adequately trained. But you are. You will be embarking on a slow and steady path. One that the Lord has already prepared you for. You will talk with others and get help as you need it. Your children will grow up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. They will live out their baptism. By God's grace, they will grow up to be responsible Christians, furthering your godly efforts and multiplying them. They will be like arrows in the Lord's hands. They will hit their targets will godly force for His glory alone. Participants: Pastor Paul T. Murphy, Dan Elmendorf

Have you ever thought about the Kingdom of God? Today we discuss this and intentionally avoid pitfalls on either side. We use the Larger Catechism as our guide. We reference Q/A 190-192. We spend time on Q/A 191. Here is the text: "Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition? A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come), acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends." God's Kingdom is not just a future blessed state. We see that Christ is building his kingdom in history as we move toward the eschaton. Christ must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. That means increasingly, the gospel of Christ spreads, and changes the hearts of mankind and in turn, mankind reflects his Redeemer in how he lives, building things that glorify the Lord, or as we could say, Christian civilization. It's not perfect, but is a taste of what is to come. We look at the Larger Catechism, praying it back to God in our own words. It would go something like this: "“Our Heavenly Father, we… Pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed. Pray for the gospel to be propagated throughout the world. Pray for the Jews to be called. Pray for the fullness of the Gentiles to be brought in. Pray that the church be furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances. Pray for the church to be purged from corruption. Pray that the church be countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate. Pray that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed. Pray for the ordinances to be made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins. Pray that the ordinances be used for the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted. Pray that Christ would rule in our hearts here. Pray that Christ would hasten the time of his second coming and our reigning with him forever. Pray that You would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of Your power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN." Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf

How important is your memory? Our memories are not always reliable. Some folks lose their memory as they go through Alzheimer's disease that results in a decline in their cognitive function. Some folks also develop a fixation. It plays into the holding of grudges. Memories are the "stuff of personhood," as our guest puts it. Memory gives us identity. We also talk about the formation of historical consciousness and collective memory. There is a danger how history is recorded - is the recorded history accurate, or is it intended to reframe our history, much like the 1619 project does. America had slavery but it was not central to what America was all about. We mention the Puritans, who gave us our view of government, steeped in covenant theology. Our guest mentions his own practice of reading widely and seeing what other experts have to say - commentators are important for pastors. Our guest likes to check church history. We discuss the deposit of faith and how it is passes to us down through history. Our guest's great great grandfather fought in the Revolution. He lives on land that has been in his family for some 250+ years, slightly before the Revolution. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf

Do you know God's leading and protection in your life? What if God decided to take most of your worldly possessions from you and yet somehow spare your physical life? Would you still rejoice in Him? What means the most to you in this world? People? Things? Vacations? Lot's to think about. Today we talk with our friend in California with whom we have worked in the broadcasting calling. This man was spared by God in the 2018 Paradise California, "Camp Fire." Over 150,000 acres caught fire and did so, very quickly. People got jammed up trying to escape. Some poor folks were later found in their cars, having burned to death - hands still on their steering wheels. About 52,000 people had to evacuate and about 85 people died. Evacuation plans did not work because the fire spread so very quickly. This Paradise fire was one of the deadliest wildfires in US history in the past 100 years. Our guest describes the calm that the Lord gave him. The Lord guided him what to do. He rejoices that he was able to escape with his precious Bible, and some critical audio on a single external hard drive. And a flashlight, and a little water in his backpack. Paradise had few roads leading out of town. The smoke conditions were terrible. Our guest lost his home and all his possessions. During the escape, he was led to abandon his vehicle and walk to a place of safety - a large parking lot that the fire consumed trees could not reach. When the fire was over it had consumed 18,000 buildings. And yet, that is not the main point. The main point is that God was at work through this disaster. People were open to having or guest pray for them. The lesson for us is to trust God and do His will. Participants: Ken Boone, Dan Elmendorf

In this interview we follow the prayers and thoughts of Job as he works through his severe loss. Our guest points out that we see in Job's transformation in how he talks—how he talks about God and to God. At the beginning, Job speaks proper, pious, guarded, reserved words about God. But by the end, Job is speaking open, honest, raw words to God. Are you going through immense suffering? Be honest with God. Tell him how you feel. This interview is based on a sermon that we heard over the Lutheran Hour. A transcript is here: https://www.lutheranhour.org/sermon.asp?articleid=40968 Participants: Dr. Michael Zeigler, Dan Elmendorf

A key influencer on Western Civilization was the exiled French Reformed, John Calvin. His teachings helped shape Great Britain and the United States of America. The idea of the separation of church and civil government - where each stand independent of each other yet recognize each other's Divine authority, and supporting each other was a teaching of John Calvin. The Reformation under Calvin dominated European and American history during the 16th and 17th centuries. These thoughts helped set the agendas and inspired some of the greatest social reformers. We see Puritans in England, and the Dutch fighting for freedom from Catholic Spain in the Netherlands. Calvinists were in the forefront of political and military resistance to tyranny. Calvinism would often thrive in those countries where opposition was the greatest. Calvin was a second-generation Reformer. Luther before him emphasized justification by faith. Calvin's focus was on the sovereignty of God and application of God's word to all areas of life. As our guest today said: "If Luther's central Biblical text was "the just shall live by faith," Calvin's was: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." To read the article that our guest wrote, please visit: https://www.reformationsa.org/history-articles/john-calvin-a-heart-aflame-and-a-mind-renewed Participants: Dr. Peter Hammond, Dan Elmendorf

Today is another "fireside chat" with our friend, board member and former pastor of Westminster Presbyterian church. He now lives in West Virginia. We open our discussion by talking about the recent good work at our border. Our guest points out the difference between the invader on a border as compared to a whole family coming into a country (legally) because of severe persecution. We mention the prevailing message of the left that promotes the idea of displacement of settled citizens, and we are shocked how many have no problem with the idea of displacing you and me. We mention an article online that said this: "This is a deliberate resettlement program, a calculated strategy to break the back of the real America by ensuring there is no escape. The damage done during the Biden years cannot be overstated. They were bused in, flown in, and planted in your communities to act as demographic time bombs, ensuring that no pocket of resistance can form. You are being made a stranger in your own home. There is no running. There is no hiding. The front line of this invasion is now on every main street in every small town in this country." (h/t A. Torba). We mention that people want to feel safe. In our discussion we segue to the present day concern of small business owners who are finding that its hard to get someone who wants to work. Another concern are "squatters." People who unlawfully occupy an uninhabited building or unused land. Again, the left gives us no help in reclaiming our own land from the invader. We pay taxes, and they take it over. How is that fair? Finally we talk about our calling. Our guest points out that the Puritans had a strong theology of calling. We would do well to adopt this attitude and understanding from the Puritans. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf.

In Matthew 9:35-38 we read: Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” It was 168 years ago, in York Dutch church on Fulton Street in NYC, where began a great revival. It began with just one man. The Lord directed him to start a prayer meeting. It was held once a week for one hour. Designed for those who were busy, it was midday to make it convenient for those over lunchtime to come in and pray. It met in the Consistory building in the rear of the North Dutch Church. It gave the people an opportunity to stop, call upon God, amid the perplexities incident to their respective vocations. The first day a prayer meeting was held on Wednesday from 12 Noon to 1pm. That first meeting was on September 23, 1857 and it saw saw 6 people present. The following week, the meeting saw 40 prayer members. Then they decided to hold the meeting daily. Within 6 months, 10,000 businessmen were meeting daily. Within 2 years, a million converts were added to the American churches. This meeting that began in the financial district in Manhattan, spread throughout he state, and then it spread throughout the country. Just think, a million converts added to the churches. One lesson is this: When God asks you to follow him in humble ways, please obey. You never know how He intends to work in your life and the life of others. Also, When God moves in revival, nothing can hold it back. People's hearts changed by God is what really matters. Today we talk about the general theme of the harvest being plentiful and the laborers being few. We have a mess right now in New York City. The situation on the ground threatens to absolutely destroy the city. If God does not miraculously move, the whole city will be lost to a godless religion, not of the Lord. Chaos and oppression will reign. Pray the Lord of Harvest to sent for workers into his harvest field! Participants: Rev. Paul Murphy, Dan Elmendorf