Reformed Podmatics

Reformation Day Special: An Interview with Lutheran Teacher, Jonathon Bolt - Episode 177

What better way to celebrate Reformation Day than with an old friend from the Lutheran Church? Join with Pastor Mark as he interviews his old friend, Jonathon Bolt, who now teaches at a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod day school in New Haven, Indiana. In this week's conversation, we get into the commonalities and distinctions of Reformed and Lutheran theology as well as our two traditions' approaches to Christian education. We hope this is a fruitful dialogue for this special day!
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Rap in Worship? On the Sound of Worship Music - Episode 176

In contemporary worship music today, there is an increasingly popular trend toward using unconventional styles of music such as rap or EDM in corporate worship settings. So in this week's episode we dive into the legitimacy of this trend and whether or not it has a place in the Church's worship. More importantly, the conversation aims to lay out a positive vision for what kind of music ought to be sung so as to best honor the Lord.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

"For Our Daughters" Documentary Review - Episode 175

On September 26, 2024, Calvin University history professor, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, released a new documentary entitled For Our Daughters: Stories of Abuse, Betrayal, and Resistance in the Evangelical Church. Over the past few weeks this 29-minute documentary has been making waves in the broader church, both in the CRC and beyond. So for this week's episode we decided we've offer some of our thoughts on the documentary, both what we appreciated and what we thought was unhelpful, in order to add the conversation it has undoubtedly begun.
Watch the documentary for free at https://youtu.be/IkES4X_qb6c?feature=shared 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

On Death & Funerals - Episode 174

Of all life's many challenges, it is perhaps death which brings us pain and grief unmatched by anything else. So in this week's episode we decide to explore how we as Christians can approach death and think about what makes for a good, God honoring funeral service.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Warning Passages & the Perseverance of the Saints - Episode 173

One of the perennial objections to the Reformed doctrine of perseverance is the mere existence of the Bible's warning passages where believers are warned of the spiritual dangers of apostasy. In these week's episode, we take a look at Hebrews 6 and 10, two of the most passionate warning passages, and explore what implications they might have for our understanding Reformed theology and for the Christian life more broadly, as we seek to avoid making shipwreck of our faith.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Where to Begin? Thinking Through the Trail Map of Christian Discipleship - Episode 172

One of the perennial questions of Christian discipleship is where to begin. The Bible is a big book, and there's no shortage of good books to read about the Christian faith. So where should a new believer start? In this week's episode we take a step away from our two ongoing series to address this important question, thinking through a sort of trail map for those wanting to follow Christ in our world today. This is a great episode for new Christians asking this question or for mature believers who find themselves discipling others in the faith.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Christ & Culture, Pt. 3 - Addressing the Evangelical Inferiority Complex - Episode 171

In our third installment of our new series, Christ and Culture, we address the ways in which Evangelicals today feel pressure to appear intelligent, fashionable, and morally virtuous given the ways in which the Christian faith is uniquely perceived and often maligned in our world today. So as we address these pressures, Christians need also to consider ways in which we might develop assurance, fortitude, and resilience as we stand firm on the gospel of Christ despite the shifts currently taking place in our broader Western culture. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Exploring the Reformed Tradition, Pt. 3 - Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World - Episode 170

In what is maybe more of a crossover episode of our two ongoing series here at Reformed Podmatics, this week we're interviewing writer and consultant, Aaron Renn. Aaron's work over the past several years has been focused on cultural analysis of the Evangelical church with respect to the ways in which Christianity has now become a minority position in America and what that means going forward. In this week's episode, we talk about Aaron's new book, Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture, and about some of Aaron's insights for the Reformed tradition in the 21st-century. 
For more insight into Aaron's work, visit aaronrenn.com.For Aaron's new book, Life in the Negative World, click here.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Christ & Culture, Pt. 2 - The Olympics, the Last Supper, & Handling Offense and Mockery - Episode 169

One of the many public conversations that set the internet ablaze this past summer came from the opening ceremony of the Paris summer Olympics in a scene which appeared to many as a mockery of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper. And so for this week's installment in Christ & Culture series, Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac tackle the questions, How should Christians respond when their faith is publicly mocked and ridiculed? And if we do feel offended, how can we be sure we're offended by the right things and not just by the fact that Christianity no longer holds a privileged position the way it once did?
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.
 

Christ & Culture, Pt. 1 - Is Modern Western Culture Progressive or Conservative? - Episode 168

A crucial aspect of Christian discipleship is learning how to follow Christ faithfully regardless of the culture we find ourselves in. At times in history, Christians have found themselves both on the outside and on the inside of cultural power. But today, things are a little more complicated. And that leads us to ask the question, Is our culture more progressive or more conservative? How you answer this question often has everything to do with your general outlook, but it's an important question to consider if we're going to really understand and navigate the complexities of life in the modern West as those whose desire is, above all, to be faithful to the Lord Jesus.This episode is the first of a new series we'll be doing here at Reformed Podmatics right alongside with our other ongoing series, Exploring the Reformed Tradition. 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Exploring the Reformed Tradition, Pt. 2: Dr. Gayle Doornbos of Dordt University - Episode 167

In this week's episode Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac sit down with Dr. Gayle Doornbos of Dort University to discuss the Reformed tradition and particularly its Neo-Calvinist stream and how it helps us navigate many complexities of daily life in the 21st century. This conversation is part of a larger series of discussions we are be having with various Reformed leaders from the CRC and beyond. 
Visit www.dordt.edu for more information about Dordt University.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Making Sense of the Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump - Episode 166

In the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, people throughout the country have been trying to make sense of things. For Christians in particular, and especially those on the political right, it has become quite common in recent days to try to see in Trump's survival a divine endorsement of his candidacy for reelection. In this week's episode, Pastor Zac and Pastor Mark do their best to avoid political analysis as they try to offer theological reflections on what this weekend's events do (and, maybe more importantly, don't) mean. 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Exploring the Reformed Tradition, Pt. 1: Dr. Michael Allen of RTS-Orlando - Episode 165

In this week's episode, Pastor Zac kicks off a new series of episodes in which we'll be gathering voices from around the Reformed tradition, both within the CRC and without, to give their insights on what the Reformed faith is all about. With Pastor Mark on a missions trip this week to New Mexico, Pastor Zac takes the reigns and kicks off the series with Dr. Michael Allen, author and professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. Topics covered include Reformed theology, Neo-Calvinism, and the catholicity of the Reformed tradition. 
 
Visit www.rts.edu/campuses/orlando for more information about Reformed Theological Seminary's Orlando campus.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Reflections on CRC Synod 2024 - Episode 164

It's been a week since the conclusion of synod, and there is definitely a lot to talk about. Many other great summaries and reviews of synod have already been conducted (see links below), so Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac settled down this week to discuss not so much the play-by-play of what took place but to try to analyze the deeper theological forces at work within our denomination--the "spirit" of synod, if you will. We hope you find this edifying and beneficial as you process the goings on in the Christian Reformed Church, whether yo
u're a member or following along from the outside!
 
Other post-synod resources:
The Banner (official periodical of the CRCNA)
The Abide Project synod recap
Paul VanderKlay's synod delegate panel discussion 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.
 

3 Ways to Improve Your Vacation Bible School - Episode 163

The days are getting longer, the temperatures are rising, and school is no longer in session. That can only mean one thing: it is VBS season! In this week's episode, Mark and Zac take a few moments to talk about the ins and outs of Vacation Bible School from a Reformed perspective and offer a few ways to improve your VBS program, particularly from a Reformed perspective.Article mentioned by Zac in the episode:
https://thefederalist.com/2017/06/28/vacation-bible-school-drove-millennials-away-church/
 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Synod, Gravamen, & Confessional Subscription - Episode 162

Today marks the beginning of Synod 2024 and delegates have begun arriving at the campus of Calvin University for a weekend of deliberations and discussion. In this week's episode Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac get into some of the weightier matters about to be worked through in the crucial week ahead.
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.
 
 
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Good Books for Summer Reading - Episode 161

As the ministry year has now ground to a halt and Christians find themselves entering into the dog days of summer, Pastor Zac and Pastor Mark settle into a conversation about books they've read and recommend as well as books they're hoping to work through over the summer months ahead. If you have a little extra margin on your hands in these summer months and would like to continue growing in your faith, this is just the episode for you!
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

It Matters More Than You Think (Pt. 6): Church Attire & Church Polity - Episode 160

In the final installment of their "It Matters More Than You Think" series, Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac tackle two final subjects: what we wear at church and how our churches are governed and organized. While the two subjects have nothing to do with each other, we hope our thoughts stimulate some deep thinking and reflection. If you have any other topics you'd like us to address this summer, please reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you!
 
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

It Matters More Than You Think (Pt. 5): Family Discipleship - Episode 159

Continuing the series "It Matters More Than You Think," we turn our attention to the calling of Christian parents to lead their children in worship at home. This episode gives a theological and biblical argument for family worship and provides practical advice for how to guide children towards a life of Christian discipleship.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

It Matters More Than You Think (Pt. 4): The Use of Humor in the Pulpit - Episode 158

In the communication of God's holy Word and Christ's holy gospel, one often overlooked element is the pastor's use (and misuse) of humor in the pulpit. In this week's episode Pastor Mark and Pastor Zac seek to consider ways in which reliance on jokes, laughter, and humor can either hamper or aid in the preaching of God's Word.
Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA.
Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.