Reformed Podmatics

Interview on Global Christian Education with Mario Matos of EduDeo Ministries - Episode 228

As an extension of our Neo-Calvinist roots, one of the great the convictions of the Christian Reformed tradition globally is its commitment to the importance of Christ-centered education, and how such education brings transformation and renewal to its local communities. In this week's episode we had the pleasure of sitting down - virtually, of course - with Mario Matos, who serves as the International Partnership Director of EduDeo Ministries, a global Reformed Christian education ministry that seeks to provide resources and training for Christ-centered schools all over the majority world. In the episode we discuss the roots of the Christian Reformed Church of the Dominican Republic and the ways in which God is using EduDeo to bring about gospel-centered community transformation all around Latin America, east Asia, and Africa. If you have a heart for missions and/or Christian education, this is definitely the episode for you!
Visit www.EduDeo.com for more information about this ministry as well as ways you or your church may get involved in supporting their work.

How Frequently Should We Have Communion? - Episode 227

One of the perennial discussions in the Reformed tradition is over the frequency with which we ought to observe and partake in the Lord's Supper together. In the history of the CRC, it was common to partake quarterly and on Good Friday. But the growing trend today in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches seems to be going the other direction, toward weekly celebration. In this week's episode we aim to mine the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition's great luminaries to show that while there is no express command, there does seem to be a general push for more frequency rather than less.
 
The article we mention in the episode from Resurrection OPC in Matthews, NC can be found here: https://www.rpcmatthews.org/articles/reformed-theologians-on-the-frequency-of-communion-past-amp-present

Who Am I and What Am I Doing with My Life? Interview with Justin N. Poythress - Episode 226

In this week's episode we were blessed with the opportunity to sit down with Justin N. Poythress, pastor of All Saints Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Meridian, ID, about his upcoming book Who Am I and What Am I Doing with My Life?, set for release on April 1st from the Good Book Company. In this conversation we dive into the contents of Justin's book as he helps guide through the fundamental questions of identity, the self, and understanding who we are in Christ. For a discount code to Justin's book available for pre-order, you can subscribe to blog at justinpoythress.com.

A Tale of Two Halftime Shows - Episode 225

This past week marked the annual observance of America's most important religious, er, national holiday: the NFL Super Bowl. As per usual, there was no shortage of controversy surrounding the halftime show, this year hosted by an artist named Bad Bunny. But this year there was not one but two halftime shows, with the other pitched the "All-American Halftime Show", which aimed at being a celebration of "American culture, freedom, and faith." Sifting through all the noise, we thought we'd add our thoughts about what all of this says for American Christians, and how we might, as Reformed Christians, seek to avoid populist Evangelicalism. 
 

The Rise & Fall of the "Young, Restless, & Reformed Movement" - Episode 224

This week we're traveling back in time to examine the so-called Young, Restless, and Reformed movement, analyzing its roots, its rise to prominence in the evangelical world in the 2000s, and its subsequent decline in the mid-2010s. Through it all we explore the real strengths of the movement, alongside a sober analysis of the genuine weaknesses and valid criticisms. For anyone who lived through it, this may be an intriguing walk down memory lane. For others, it may be merely a cautionary tale. But for all, we hope it's a thoughtful analysis of a movement that profoundly impacted evangelicalism in the early years of the 21st century.
 

Satan, Sin, & Temptation - Episode 223

This week we dive into a fascinating discussion and exploration of what the Bible has to teach us about Satan, demons, sin, and temptation. A listener recently asked us whether it's true that Satan is to blame for our temptation, or whether this removes too much of the responsibility off our shoulders. So this episode is one part response to the question, one part a theology of Satan and demons, and one part exploration of what we might call the "gestational stages" of temptation based on James 1:13-15. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Referenced in the episode:
Can Satan Put Thoughts Into Our Heads? With “Ask Pastor John” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CZOxAql4Ko)
Declare War On Sin, with "Ask Pastor John" (https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/declare-war-on-sin)

Addressing the Overlooked Sins of Greed, Gluttony, & Grumbling - Episode 222

In the Christian life there are often sins that are overlooked, dismissed, and neglected. These exist in contrast to the ones that are far more obvious and therefore far more commonly addressed. So in an effort to discern the whole counsel of God and allow its light to pervade into every nook and cranny of our hearts, this week we turn to the sins of greed, gluttony, and grumbling in an effort to address how Christ's Lordship affects our hearts and even our plates.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

What Are the Best Go-To Books for New Christians? - Episode 221

A few weeks ago, a pastor friend reached out to Pastor Zac asking what his go-to book recommendations were for new Christians, and this question got him thinking. Books are an important part of discipleship for many Christians, and so in this week's episode we take some time to reflect on what books we'd recommend for getting to grips with Christianity depending on various considerations (age, maturity level, spiritual needs, etc.). This will be a helpful episode for anyone looking for good books to start with, or for anyone looking for good books to recommend to new Christians in their church.Below is a list of the books we mention in the episode, as well as some volumes we didn't get around to:
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
Be Thou My Vision (Jonathan Gibson)
The Biggest Story Bible Storybook (Kevin DeYoung)
10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about the Christian Faith (Rebecca McLaughlin)
Letters to A Young Disciple (Brad East)
Core Christianity and/or Pilgrim Theology (Michael Horton)
Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion (Herman Bavinck)
Theology: The Basics (Allister McGrath)
Growing in Christ and/or Knowing God (JI Packer)
Everyone's A Theologian (RC Sproul)
Basic Christianity (John Stott) 
The Reason for God (Tim Keller)
How to Have Real Joy (Charles Spurgeon)
The Sacrifice of Praise (Herman Bavinck)
Life Together (Dietrich Boenhoffer)
Taking God at His Word (Kevin De Young)
Gentle & Lowly (Dane Ortlund)
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

A Look Back at 2025: Conspiracies, Conservatives, & the Importance of Trust - Episode 220

In this first episode of 2026, we take some time to reflect on 2025 and some of the major events that transpired. We pay special attention on the recent developments within the conservative right and the fractures that have become clear in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death as a result of conspiracy theories and the appeal of sensational explanatory narratives. Following the guidance of Scripture & our Reformed confessions, in this episode we discuss how Christians ought not be marked by pervasive distrust of government and institutions, but by an abiding respect for and willingness to trust them despite their failings. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

The Real Christmas Story Vs. the Pop-Christmas Story - Episode 219

Do you know the REAL Christmas story, as opposed to the popular versions of the story we hear every year around this time? In this week's episode, we spend some time, like Mary herself, marveling at the goodness of God in the Matthew and Luke's accounts of the nativity of Christ our Lord. We get into the date of Christ's birth, the timeline leading up to and after His birth, the story of the shepherds, the wise men, and the slaughter of the innocents. As we prepare for Christmas, this is a devotional episode to help us focus on the reality of Christmas and the glad tidings of great joy.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

The Reformed Tradition & the Church Calendar - Episode 218

While it may sound strange to many, the Reformed tradition has had a long and complicated history with regard to the use of the Church Calendar. In some corners it's been outright rejected, whereas in others it's been strongly encouraged. So given that we are currently in the season of Advent and approaching Christmas, we thought it would be fun to sit down and discuss how Reformed Christians can and should use the Church Calendar today and how our tradition helps shine the spotlight on the so-called "evangelical feast days." We hope this is a fun and enlightening episode!
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Christmas Carols: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Episode 217

It's the most wonderful time of the year! As another Christmas season has now descended upon us, we thought it would we'd get a little festive and spend this week's episode ranking our favorite (and least favorite) Christmas carols and songs. Perhaps we'll step on some toes, but more importantly we hope to deepen your appreciation for some of the true gems of this wonderful season where we celebrate the arrival of the Son of God in the incarnation. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Ministry in Ripon California - Episode 216

In this week's episode we take a step back to ask the question, What is ministry like in Ripon, California, USA? Part of the goal of every Christian is to understand the mission field in which God has placed them, and so as pastors called to serve Almond Valley CRC in Ripon, CA, we often find ourselves thinking how ministry in Ripon both excites us and is a challenge to us. We hope that even those who live across the world will find this discussion encouraging, informative, and helpful as you seek to serve the Kingdom of God where God has put you.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

The Case for the 'Long Prayer' - Episode 215

Over the past few decades it has become increasingly common throughout the church to relegate the congregational prayer to being merely a segue between other more favored elements of the modern worship service. So in this week's episode, we call for a recovery of the congregational prayer, or as some people have called it, "the long prayer" in the church's gathered worship. We also give some reflections on why this kind of prayer is so vital in the church today, and how pastors can labor in this area as means to deepening the prayer life and ministries of their congregations.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Is Gambling A Sin? - Episode 214

Given recent headlines about the crackdown on illegal gambling in the NBA, we're betting some of you will be interested in this week's topic of discussion: is gambling permissible for the Christian? To answer this question we turn to Scripture and our Catechism for help, as we consider how Christians ought to approach gambling, betting, the lottery, and even stock market investing. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

On Nuance, Third Way-ism, & Navigating Politically Fractious Times - Episode 213

Prompted by the recent peace agreement between Israel and Gaza—and the wide range of reactions it has sparked—this week we ask: how should Christians respond when their political “opponents” accomplish something that’s objectively good? In our polarized age, it can feel almost disloyal to celebrate the other side’s victories. But followers of Jesus serve a King whose kingdom transcends every earthly party and platform. In this episode, we explore the role of nuance, the challenges of “third way-ism,” and how to live faithfully in politically fractured times. We hope this conversation offers clarity—and a little encouragement—along the way.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Escaping the Soul-Crushing Trap of Cynicism - Episode 212

As we grow and mature in our faith we can often find ourselves becoming more and more cynical of everything around us, even beginning to think of cynicism as a sign of maturity. And for those of us who have grown in our theological understanding and awareness, this can be especially true in how we begin to look down on expressions of Christianity we think are less evolved, less enlightened, and less robust. But is this really how things should be? In this week's episode, we explore how cynicism is actually a false kind of spiritual maturity and how real growth and real progress in the Christian life actually manifests itself in a spirit of gracious gratitude. This will be an especially helpful episode for those struggling with a temptation to either leave Protestantism for Catholicism or Orthodoxy, or to leave Christianity altogether.
 
The episode mentioned by Pastor Zac with historian Molly Worthen can be found here.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

How to Sift through the Failures of Our Faith Heroes - Episode 211

One of the perennially challenging questions we face in the Christian life is what we are supposed to do when our heroes in the faith fail theologically or ethically. As Reformed Christians, it's not uncommon to hear accusations against John Calvin for his involvement in the execution of the anti-Trinitarian Michael Servetus or of Jonathan Edwards' defense of slavery on theological grounds. So how are we to think through these things? Should we write them off? Should we ignore their failings or downplay them? Or is there another way? In this episode, we seek, as always, to offer a more constructive path forward. We hope this is a help to you!
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Are Christians Allowed to Doubt? - Episode 210

This week's episode comes from a listener question regarding whether or not doubt is allowed in the Christian walk. As we get into the particulars and try to make helpful distinctions for consideration, we hope this is a thought-provoking and pastoral conversation about the very real struggles many Christians face as they to honor and glorify the Lord, even in their intellectual lives. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Jesus, the Psalms, and Reformed Worship w/ Rev. Peter Holtvlüwer - Episode 209

In the Reformed tradition, the Psalms have always played a central role in our worship, piety, and formation. And the reason for this is simple: the Psalms are the hymnbook of Jesus Himself. Joining us week to discuss how this is the case and why this matters is Rev. Peter Holtvluwer, pastor at Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church and editor of a recent 4-volume pastoral commentary on the Psalms entitled Christ's Psalms, Our Psalms. 
 
For more on Peter's work, check out the following:
In the US: www.reformedfellowship.net
 
In Canada: www.providencebookspress.com
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.