URC Learning: Sinners & Saints
107 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 15 years ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsIn an age of moral bankruptcy, political sleaze, theological confusion, and aimless religion in a mindless church, we're addressing the need for a Bible-based, intellectually rigorous, 21st-century christian faith. This is Sinners & Saints. Theology with an edge.
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Episodes
The Ten Commandments | part 16: decorum in the worship service
January 05, 2009 17:43God commands that certain elements be part of a worship service. God commands that these certain elements in a worship service be done in a certain way. God also commands that we conduct ourselves with a certain decorum when it comes to participation in this kind of worship. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_16.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 15: a gospel order to the elements of worship
December 29, 2008 15:18Now that we understand what elements God wants in a worship service, we need to think about when He wants us to do each of them. A good Reformed liturgy gives careful thought to the order of the elements in a worship service. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_15.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 14: the second commandment and the elements of worship
December 12, 2008 16:49If the second commandment teaches the regulative principle, we have to then ask: “What exactly does the Bible say we should do in New Covenant worship”? Without a New Testament book of Leviticus, are we left in the dark? http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_14.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 13: second commandment & the regulative principle
August 21, 2008 01:17Behind and implied by the second commandment is this “regulative principle of worship,” which is taught all throughout the Holy Scriptures. Listen to see how and where. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_13.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 12: second commandment & the regulative principle
August 12, 2008 18:58Though the “regulative principle of worship” may be an odd or unfamiliar phrase, we hope you’ll come to undertsand and accept it as a good label for the second commandment’s authoritative import regarding worship. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_12.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 11: second commandment & images
August 01, 2008 17:05The Jesus statues and crucifixes of the Roman Catholics, and the Jesus pictures in children’s Bibles of the Evangelicals, are a testimony to our thinking we are wiser than God. We are trying to re-make Jesus in our own image in gross violation of the second commandment. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_11.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 10: second commandment
July 15, 2008 12:26The first commandment forbids worship of any false god, and now the second commandment forbids any false worship of the true God. This distinction lays the foundation for the practical application of the second commandment in our lives. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_10.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 9: first commandment
July 09, 2008 23:15At last, the commandments. God requires in the first commandment not only that He be exclusively acknowledged, but also that we give all of our very selves to Him alone. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_9.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 8: the two tables
June 23, 2008 23:04So what was engraved on each of the two tablets that God gave to Moses? How they answered that question in Sunday School might have distracted you from some important ways to understand and apply the ten commandments properly. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_8.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 7: the third use
May 13, 2008 18:48So how should you thank God for saving your body and soul? The right way is to obey His holy laws. The wrong way is to exert yourself in obedience to easier substitutes. As we come closer to the Ten Commandments themselves, be prepared, in light of the gospel, to obey them no matter how […]
The Ten Commandments | part 6: the second use
April 25, 2008 20:54The second “table” of the Ten Commandments is an objective standard for civil order and righteousness. Its principles are reflected among every people group, even among those who deny that the Ten Commandments are from God. Any society in gross violation of the second table is inevitably a cesspool of immorality. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_6.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 5: the first use for Christians
April 16, 2008 18:51Last time we talked about the law thrashing unbelievers and driving them to see their need for Jesus Christ. This time we talk about how the law ought to do the same thing for Christians. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_5.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 4: the first use of the law
April 03, 2008 18:46The first way to apply the Ten Commandments to your life is to let them show you, one by one, how you have failed to keep them. This uncomfortable exercise is necessary for you to see your need for Jesus Christ and appreciate the magnitude of what He has done. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_4.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 3: more basic principles
March 25, 2008 18:52New Covenant Christians must understand the Ten Commandments and apply them to their lives. Concerning both internal and external purity, the Ten Commandments encompass all areas of life, and command the opposite of what they forbid. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_3.mp3
The Ten Commandments | part 2: law and covenant
March 17, 2008 16:27Knowing which commands God wants you to follow is not as easy as just flipping open the Bible and doing the first thing you read. God always gives His commands (laws) to people in the context of different covenants. If you get this, you’ll be ready to apply any of His laws in the Bible […]
The Ten Commandments | part 1: the law/gospel contrast
March 08, 2008 20:47The Ten Commandments are big news. Someone is always complaining they are being ignored or abused. Churches fight over whether they even matter today. But you can’t begin to understand and apply the Ten Commandments unless you know and believe the law/gospel contrast. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS-Ten_Commandments_1.mp3
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 8: Isn’t God the One Who defines His love?
February 23, 2008 00:05Well, folks, this is the swan song to this series and our review of this book. Frankly, we’re tired of reading it. In this final show, we discuss how offensive it is that Arminians are dissatisfied with God’s loving disposition, even to the reprobate. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS_Bad_Reasons_8.mp3
Am I in trouble? Why does my conscience bother me? Now what do I do?
February 11, 2008 02:00Everyone is in trouble. Everyone is guilty. Everyone needs to hear what can be done about the mess we are in. We are trying to convince you that you need to hear us out about the basic questions of life. http://media.urclearning.org/audio/SS_3Questions.mp3
Bad Reasons Why You Are Not a Calvinist | part 7: more on their philosophical analysis
October 13, 2007 01:22 - 12.3 MB(26:54) Part two of our response to the philosophical analysis section seeks to apply the famous Genesis 50 text to Walls’ range of options for understanding the nature of human freedom and God’s control. Our conclusion, again, is that the biblical data cannot support anything but the idea that God ordains and directs the free […]
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 6: Their philosophical analysis
September 11, 2007 21:08 - 15.3 MB(33:20) Otherwise helpful, descriptive philosophical categories regarding the nature of human freedom must not become the ultimate boundaries of how we may systematize and confess the Bible’s teaching about the extent of God’s control and its relationship to human responsibility.
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 5: how they read Ephesians 1 & 2
August 08, 2007 21:44 - 6.28 MB(13:42) That election is “in Christ” does not in any way overthrow the idea that the Father’s election of His people is sovereign, personal, fixed, definite, and individual.
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 4: How they read John 6
July 29, 2007 20:31 - 7.43 MB(16:13) So John chapter six is about Christ’s unity with the Father. Yes, but that does not set aside His clear statements regarding the way in which the Father and the Son save their elect people. The Father drags His previously unwilling people straight to His Son, Who never loses them.
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 3: How they read Romans 9
June 27, 2007 11:22 - 8.62 MB(18:49) If you were wondering how an educated Arminian would read Romans chapter nine in a way contrary to how we have, here’s your answer (at least the first part of it). The authors make spotty references to this or that phrase in this or that verse and essentially ignore the immediate context of Paul’s […]
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 2: Predestination and election
June 05, 2007 14:31 - 13.2 MB(28:50) Everyone agrees that the words “predestination” and “election” are in the Bible. Everyone also agrees that Romans 9-11 is a central passage in understanding what those words mean. Here, we work verse-by-verse through Romans 9:1-24, in order to show that the straightforward reading of this text indisputably teaches what we today call “Calvinism.”
Bad reasons why you are not a Calvinist | part 1
May 12, 2007 03:19 - 17.3 MB(37:48) We present a new series discussing the Calvinism/Arminianism debate by reviewing the new book titled “Why I Am Not A Calvinist.” Today, we alert the discerning reader to some less than helpful analyses and introductions to the topic by the book’s authors.
Every Member Ministry? (remixed)
February 22, 2007 05:20 - 9.52 MB(20:47) Note: This show’s content was re-edited and replaces the original posted in July 2006. One sacred cow of many church growth gurus, including those of the “Presbyterian” or “Reformed” ilk, is the idea that every member of the church should be involved in “ministry.” Ministry, however, is committed by Christ in His Word only […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 8 of 8): Religion Worse Than Child Abuse?!
February 13, 2007 05:21 - 17.6 MB(38:31) Dawkins’ worldview lacks foundation for his outlandish claim that instructing children in the Christian faith is worse than sexually molesting them. His telling extreme stories of religious abuse is a cheap tactic to try and give credibility to this obviously ridiculous claim, and to hide its sinister implications.
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 7 of 8): The Impossibility of the Contrary
February 07, 2007 00:31 - 14.1 MBDawkins’ critique of typical God-proofs simply avoids the main one: the transcendental argument for the existence of God. Last time, we introduced this argument as an answer to the “ultimate Boeing 747 gambit”; this week, we present the transcendental argument to bolster the other more traditional proofs which Dawkins attempts to refute.
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 7 of 8): The Impossibility of the Contrary
February 07, 2007 00:31 - 14.1 MBDawkins’ critique of typical God-proofs simply avoids the main one: the transcendental argument for the existence of God. Last time, we introduced this argument as an answer to the “ultimate Boeing 747 gambit”; this week, we present the transcendental argument to bolster the other more traditional proofs which Dawkins attempts to refute.
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 6 of 8): This 747 Gambit Down In Flames (remixed)
February 07, 2007 00:21 - 11.4 MB(24:56) Note: This show’s content was re-edited and replaces the original. Dawkins’ central argument against God’s existence–the “ultimate Boeing 747 gambit”–fails for at least two reasons. First, the gambit needs Darwinian evolution by natural selection to be true in spite of its glaring logical and factual flaws. Second, the gambit’s conclusions cannot account for the […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 6 of 8): This 747 Gambit Down In Flames (remixed)
February 07, 2007 00:21 - 11.4 MB(24:56) Note: This show’s content was re-edited and replaces the original. Dawkins’ central argument against God’s existence–the “ultimate Boeing 747 gambit”–fails for at least two reasons. First, the gambit needs Darwinian evolution by natural selection to be true in spite of its glaring logical and factual flaws. Second, the gambit’s conclusions cannot account for the […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 5 of 8): The Reliability of the Bible
January 23, 2007 00:49 - 20.4 MBAs if his simplistic attack against the Scripture’s moral fabric wasn’t enough, Dawkins marches forward to assault the Bible’s factual credibility. But evidence, common sense, and the modern scholarly consensus (even of the Bible’s detractors) are major obstacles to the credibility of his argument.
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 5 of 8): The Reliability of the Bible
January 23, 2007 00:49 - 20.4 MBAs if his simplistic attack against the Scripture’s moral fabric wasn’t enough, Dawkins marches forward to assault the Bible’s factual credibility. But evidence, common sense, and the modern scholarly consensus (even of the Bible’s detractors) are major obstacles to the credibility of his argument.
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 4 of 8): Did He Even Read the Thing?
January 14, 2007 20:01 - 17.7 MBUnable to plug the gaping hole left by his inability to account for absolute standards of morality, Dawkins resorts in chapter seven to try and discredit the Bible as that plug. Of course, he again proceeds to critique something without any foundation for objectivity; also, he analyzes the Scripture in such a simplistic manner that […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 4 of 8): Did He Even Read the Thing?
January 14, 2007 20:01 - 17.7 MBUnable to plug the gaping hole left by his inability to account for absolute standards of morality, Dawkins resorts in chapter seven to try and discredit the Bible as that plug. Of course, he again proceeds to critique something without any foundation for objectivity; also, he analyzes the Scripture in such a simplistic manner that […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 3 of 8): Coming up Empty
January 09, 2007 20:42 - 16.9 MBThe title of Dawkins’ sixth chapter, “The Roots of Morality: Why Are We Good?,” betrays his inability as an atheist to account for the absolute standards of morality which he so readily embraces and applies throughout the book and his own life. His speculations about humanity’s moral consensus are merely descriptive, and when he finally […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 3 of 8): Coming up Empty
January 09, 2007 20:42 - 16.9 MBThe title of Dawkins’ sixth chapter, “The Roots of Morality: Why Are We Good?,” betrays his inability as an atheist to account for the absolute standards of morality which he so readily embraces and applies throughout the book and his own life. His speculations about humanity’s moral consensus are merely descriptive, and when he finally […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 2 of 8): Even Brighter Bloodstains
January 03, 2007 19:05 - 14.9 MBIn part one, we urged people to see the necessity of actually believing that the Christian religious claims are true. This time, we affirm Dawkins’ assertion that most religion, even much of what is said and done in the name of Christ, is untrue, and superstitious, and devised and promoted for selfish, bad reasons. Professing […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 2 of 8): Even Brighter Bloodstains
January 03, 2007 19:05 - 14.9 MBIn part one, we urged people to see the necessity of actually believing that the Christian religious claims are true. This time, we affirm Dawkins’ assertion that most religion, even much of what is said and done in the name of Christ, is untrue, and superstitious, and devised and promoted for selfish, bad reasons. Professing […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion†(part 1 of 8): Blood on Our Hands
December 26, 2006 13:55 - 20.1 MBHere we begin an eight-part series discussing this best-selling book by acknowledging that professing Christians are much to blame for the kinds of critiques Dawkins levies against theism. If we forsake orthodoxy, or if we keep it but trivialize it; if we say we believe something that we don’t think is true, or if we […]
Atheism, Richard Dawkins, and “The God Delusion” (part 1 of 8): Blood on Our Hands
December 26, 2006 13:55 - 20.1 MBHere we begin an eight-part series discussing this best-selling book by acknowledging that professing Christians are much to blame for the kinds of critiques Dawkins levies against theism. If we forsake orthodoxy, or if we keep it but trivialize it; if we say we believe something that we don’t think is true, or if we […]
The Tattoo Redo
December 19, 2006 12:49 - 9.5 MBHave you been pierced or inked? Are you artistic or are you simply defacing your body? Does God have anything to say about it? Lots of questions with some at least mildly interesting debate about the answers on this recut of a show on body piercing and tattoos.
But What about the Children?
December 11, 2006 01:16 - 20.5 MB61% of kids active in youth groups–that’s right, SIXTY-ONE PERCENT–are not found in church as adults. Questions like, “What is a better model for youth ministry, how can we improve it and make it more substantial?” or “What is a Reformed youth ministry model?” are trumped by the right question, “Where in the world did […]
The Haggard Debacle – Part Two
December 04, 2006 21:44 - 14.6 MBHow should we react to the fall of Ted Haggard? In this second show of two, we ask if a true Christian can struggle with sin, especially the sin of homosexuality. We also think about how the church should face the “homosexual issue” in our culture.
The Haggard Debacle – Part One
November 27, 2006 14:21 - 18 MBHow should we react to the fall of Ted Haggard? In this first show of two, we look inside at our own hearts and outside at the evangelical cult complex to learn some sobering lessons. We also think about a wife’s obligations to an adulterous husband and a church’s obligations to an adulterous pastor.
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21, 2006 01:51 - 9.49 MBEvery thankful Christian should be in church this coming Thursday morning, right? The Bible calls every world culture to set aside a national Thanksgiving Day, right? Tape your ankles for the Turkey Bowl, lick your lips for the feast, and dive in to the Sinners & Saints chat about good ol’ Thanksgiving.
Prosperity Light
November 13, 2006 19:39 - 13.7 MBHave you caught on yet? Have you claimed your promises? The good news is that Christ saved you, but the really good news is that He wants you to be rich. So say some of the most visible leaders in the “Christian” church today.
Christian Crap Culture
November 06, 2006 21:33 - 14.6 MBThe sales numbers don’t lie: “Got Jesus” coffee mugs, “Huggy-Jesus” teddy bears, and “O.C.” t-shirts (“only in Christ”) have become the preferred piety of many professing Christian people. Underlying this triviliazation of Christ and culture are life-denying, idolatrous beliefs that are just as much a threat to the Reformed churches as they are to the […]
Toward a Reformed Political Ethic – Part Two
November 01, 2006 16:40Yes, politics again. This is part two of a very brief, whet-your-appetite-for-further-study series on how to begin answering political questions from the biblical, Reformed perspective. Here, we introduce our approach to defining government and addressing a Christian’s political responsibilities.
Toward a Reformed Political Ethic – Part One
October 27, 2006 00:11Yes, politics. This is part one of a very brief, whet-your-appetite-for-further-study series on how to begin answering political questions from the biblical, Reformed perspective. Here, we critique “theonomy” in order to lay the foundation for answering political questions from Scripture.