Christ the Center

In this special on-location episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey visits Gießen, Germany, to explore a remarkable work of confessional Reformed renewal. Through conversations with Johann, Lukas Strauß, and Philip Paul, listeners are introduced to the Academy for Reformed Theology, a growing seminary that serves students across German-speaking Europe through a hybrid model of in-person intensives, online instruction, and close partnership with local churches. The episode also traces the recent formation of a new continental Reformed denomination in Germany, the challenges of church planting in a highly secular and heavily taxed society, and the need for pastors who can preach, plant, and patiently build confessional churches from the ground up by God’s grace. What emerges is a deeply encouraging portrait of ordinary, faithful labor. The conversation highlights the need for indigenous theological leadership, German-language Reformed resources, and strong ecclesial communities where believers are not left to grow in isolation. Lucas reflects on discovering Reformed theology and using podcasting and social media to introduce it to German listeners, while Philip describes the theological journey that led his family to move for the sake of a confessional church home. Taken together, these conversations offer a vivid glimpse into the opportunities and difficulties of gospel ministry in Germany today—and a compelling call to pray for theological training, church planting, and lasting Reformed witness. Links Academy for Reformed Theology (Akademie für Reformatorische Theologie) Bund Bekennender Evangelisch—Reformierter Gemeinden (or BBERG) — the Confederation of Confessing Evangelical Reformed Churches in German-speaking Europe Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Watch on YouTube Chapters 0:00 — Introduction from Gießen, Germany 3:36 — The Academy for Reformed Theology—history and mission 7:23 — How the seminary serves students across Germany and Switzerland 13:14 — Why part-time theological training matters in Germany 16:53 — A new confessional Reformed denomination in Germany 21:43 — What church planting requires: men, people, and finances 25:59 — How the seminary is funded and how students manage study and work 28:51 — Why Germany needs indigenous Reformed pastors and literature 34:53 — Bullinger, suffering, and providence 38:56 — Lukas Strauß on becoming Reformed and serving through media 49:18 — Podcasting, social media, and explaining Reformed theology in German 58:17 — Why Reformed believers in Germany need real church connection 1:02:23 — Philip Paul on law, theology, and moving for church 1:18:09 — From Calvinism to covenant theology and paedobaptism 1:32:46 — Elder service, church commitment, and counsel for German Christians 1:39:13 — Reasons for gratitude and prayer for Reformed churches in Germany Participants: Camden Bucey, Jochen Klautke, Lukas Strauß, Philip Paul

In this episode, Dan Ragusa speaks about Letters from America (Reformed Forum). Between 1935 and 1940, Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) wrote twenty-four letters from America for the Dutch magazine De Reformatie at the invitation of its editor Klaas Schilder (1890–1952). Daniel Ragusa’s translation presents these letters in English for the first time. Letters from America opens a window into a critical moment in Reformed history—when orthodox and confessional Presbyterianism in America was under siege from both modernism and the rising influence of Barthianism, which Van Til labeled “the new modernism.” Ragusa introduces these letters by situating them within the broader relationship between the Dutch Reformed in the Netherlands and the orthodox Presbyterians in America—a relationship that reaches back to the seventeenth century. Van Til’s wartime-like correspondences—written in the heat of theological conflict—offer a firsthand account of the spiritual and ecclesiastical upheavals of the era. Through Van Til’s eyes, fixed steadfastly on his risen and reigning Lord, readers witness pivotal moments in American Presbyterian history, among them J. Gresham Machen’s trial, deposition, and sudden death; the founding of Westminster Theological Seminary and the evangelistic work of its graduates; and the formation of the Presbyterian Church of America and its subsequent renaming as the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. These letters bring to life a pivotal chapter in the defense and development of the Reformed faith that helps us to make sense of our present ecclesiastical and theological landscape. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00:07 Introduction 00:06:13 Upcoming Seminar in Raleigh, NC 00:09:29 Dr. Ragusa’s Introduction to Van Til’s Dutch Letters 00:20:54 Van Til’s Concern for the Church 00:29:16 Highlights of the Letters 00:36:19 Van Til’s Hope for the Church 00:42:38 The Afscheiding (Secession) of 1834 00:57:46 A Vision for the Future of the Church 01:06:05 Remaining Faithful Today 01:12:15 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Ragusa

In this episode we welcome church historian Stephen O. Presley to explore the life, theology, and enduring relevance of Irenaeus of Lyons. Writing in the latter half of the second century, Irenaeus emerges not merely as a polemicist against Gnosticism but as a deeply pastoral theologian—one whose doctrine, biblical interpretation, and ecclesial commitments were inseparably bound to the life of the church. Presley highlights Irenaeus’s vision of Scripture as a unified, Christ-centered story, summed up in his doctrine of recapitulation: All things find their meaning, coherence, and redemption in Christ, the true head of humanity. Against both ancient Gnosticism and modern disembodied spiritualities, Irenaeus affirms the goodness of creation, the integrity of the human person, and the necessity of catechesis rooted in the rule of faith. For today’s church—navigating doctrinal confusion, cultural fragmentation, and questions of discipleship—Irenaeus offers a compelling model of theological method that is biblical, confessional, pastoral, and profoundly Christ-centered. Dr. Stephen O. Presley is Director of Education and Engagement and Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. He is the author of Irenaeus of Lyons: His Impact and Life (Christian Focus) and Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church (Eerdmans). Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:47 The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy 04:48 How to Pronounce Irenaeus 08:48 The Early Church 13:31 Irenaeus as a Church Theologian 16:00 The Rule of Faith 20:36 Reading Scripture 26:11 Recapitulation 30:18 Against Gnosticism 33:38 Christ as the New Adam 44:07 Surprises While Writing the Book 46:39 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Stephen Presley

In this episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Josiah Leinbach to discuss William Whitaker’s A Disputation on Holy Scripture—a monumental sixteenth-century defense of sola Scriptura, newly edited and republished by Prolego Press. Written in 1588 against leading Roman Catholic theologians such as Robert Bellarmine, Whitaker’s work offers a comprehensive treatment of Scripture’s authority, canon, clarity, and sufficiency. Leinbach explains how Whitaker combined Renaissance humanism with scholastic rigor, engaging Scripture, church history, and patristic sources to show that Protestant convictions about Scripture were neither novel nor reactionary, but deeply rooted in the catholic tradition of the church. The conversation also explores the modern relevance of Whitaker’s work—especially amid contemporary debates over authority, tradition, and ecumenism. Leinbach reflects on how advances in historical and textual scholarship have confirmed many of the Reformers’ arguments, while Rome’s own positions have shifted over time. Whitaker’s insistence on the perspicuity of Scripture, the singular infallibility of God’s Word, and the Spirit’s inward testimony offers not only apologetic clarity but deep pastoral comfort. This episode invites listeners to recover confidence in Scripture as God’s clear and sufficient means of revealing Christ to his people. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:08 William Whitaker’s A Disputation on Holy Scripture 07:25 Leinbach’s Transition from History to Machine Learning 18:10 Whitaker’s Polemical Approach 22:03 The Canon of Scripture 25:50 The Perspicuity of Scripture 28:29 Biblical Authority 32:02 The Testimony of the Holy Spirit 35:27 Ecumenical Dialogue Yesterday and Today 48:10 Future Works 52:25 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Josiah Leinbach

Dr. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant PCA in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, speaks about the life, ministry, and enduring theological legacy of John Lafayette Girardeau—a figure often hidden in the shadow of Thornwell and Dabney, yet towering in pastoral warmth, covenant theology, and confessional clarity. Girardeau emerges as a remarkably gifted scholar, a pastor deeply loved by both enslaved and free Black congregants, and a theologian who married doctrinal precision with heartfelt pastoral care. Through stories of his early intellectual formation, his ministry at Zion Presbyterian Church, his courageous stand against segregation in 1874, and his role in shaping debates on adoption, the will, worship, and evolution controversies, listeners gain a moving portrait of a man captivated by Christ and devoted to the communion of the saints. This episode invites us to look beyond caricatures of Southern Presbyterianism and see a pastor who was shaped by his Huguenot and Scottish heritage, attentive to the spiritual well-being of the marginalized, and unwavering in his conviction that the church must be governed by Scripture and formed by a robust federal theology. Girardeau’s story not only expands our understanding of American Presbyterian history—it encourages believers today to pursue ministry marked by doctrinal fidelity, Christ-centered preaching, and sacrificial love. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:16 Introduction 03:28 Introducing John L. Girardeau 24:49 French Huguenot Background 31:48 Academic Abilities 42:29 Girardeau’s Relation to the Church After the War 49:44 Significant Motions and Statements 56:05 Opposition to Segregation at the 1874 General Assembly 1:00:19 Influence upon Southern Presbyterianism 1:05:19 The Battle over Evolution 1:11:21 Works by Girardeau 1:21:59 Conclusion Links Biographical sketch on Girardeau Participants: C. N. Willborn, Camden Bucey

In this conversation from Austin, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and Camden Bucey reflect on the abiding value of the Westminster Shorter Catechism as a tool for cultivating a God-centered, covenantally rich, and confessionally rooted Christian life. The discussion highlights Jim’s new book, Introducing the Faith: A Study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which serves as a written complement to his two free Reformed Academy courses through which he teaches the Shorter Catechism (Questions 1–38 and Questions 39–106). Together, the hosts trace their own histories with the Standards, demonstrating how catechesis shapes believers in the chief end of man—to glorify and enjoy God forever. They also explore how the catechism’s covenant theology anchors the church in biblical teaching, safeguarding the glory of God amid contemporary pressures. The discussion turns to the weighty task of confessional subscription—its history, responsibilities, and the risks of revision. With pastoral clarity and historical attentiveness, the hosts encourage churches and teachers to handle their confessions with both gratitude and vigilance. The episode concludes with a look at the ongoing mission of Reformed Academy and the resources being developed to strengthen the church in catechesis and confessional fidelity. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Setting the Scene in Austin 03:14 Why Catechesis Matters Today 09:12 Personal Histories with the Westminster Standards 16:47 Man’s Chief End and the God-Centered Life 20:44 Covenant Theology in the Catechism 26:22 Guarding the Glory of God in Reformed Theology 31:48 Confessional Revision: History, Risks, and Responsibilities 57:47 Looking Ahead: Resources and the Mission of Reformed Academy Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane G. Tipton

In this episode, Dr. Harrison Perkins speaks about his new book A Penitent People: The Doctrine of Repentance (Christian Focus). Perkins brings the warmth of pastoral ministry together with the clarity of confessional Reformed theology. He explains that repentance is often misunderstood—as if it were a dreary duty or an entrance requirement for grace. Instead, Scripture presents repentance as a saving grace, a divine gift through which Christ frees his people from sin’s enslaving power and draws them into renewed joy. Repentance is not the price we pay to come to Christ; it is the fruit of having already been brought to Him by the Spirit through faith. Together they explore key biblical passages (Psalm 51, Psalm 38, 2 Corinthians 7, Luke 3), the Reformed confessions, unhealthy distortions of penance, and the pastoral challenge of helping people see repentance not as a terror but as a mercy. Repentance doesn’t merely involve feeling guilty—it involves embracing Christ, turning from sin, and tasting the joy that accompanies renewal. They also discuss what a repentant church culture looks like: a community marked by humility, honesty, grace, and a shared approach to the Lord’s Table as those who come on equal footing—sinners saved by a gracious Redeemer. Harrison Perkins (PhD, Queen’s University Belfast; MDiv, Westminster Seminary California) is the pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He is the author of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Press 2024), Catholicity and the Covenant of Works (Oxford University Press, 2020), Righteous by Design: Covenantal Merit and Adam’s Original Integrity (2024), Created for Communion with God: The Promise of Genesis 1–2 (Lexham Press, 2025), and a number of popular and academic articles. He regularly writes articles for Heidelblog and Modern Reformation. Watch on YouTube Chapters 0:00:07 Introduction 0:10:03 Background to the Book 0:16:22 Reframing Our Understanding of Repentance 0:20:39 The Joy of Repentance 0:24:35 The Reformed Confessions on Repentance 0:37:17 Psalms 38 and 143 0:43:26 Bearing Fruit in Keeping with Repentance 0:48:15 Distinguishing Fruits of Repentance from Acts of Penance 0:53:28 Illustrations of Repentance 1:00:41 Exodus 24, Covenant, and the Repentant Community 1:06:45 Hope for Readers of This Book 1:12:06 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Harrison Perkins

In this rich conversation, Camden Bucey sits down with Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn—historian, pastor, and professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte—to explore the remarkable work and enduring wisdom of the Westminster Assembly. Together, they discuss how the divines pursued theological clarity through collaboration, not compromise, and how their humility and respect shaped confessional standards that have guided the Reformed church for centuries. Van Dixhoorn explains why the Westminster Confession should be seen as “a document with compromises, not a compromise document,” how its chapters differ in tone and theological armor, and what this teaches us about confessional fidelity today. The conversation also explores doctrinal preaching—how to preach theology without losing the text—and why confessions must unite rather than constantly be rewritten. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Van Dixhoorn reminds us that Reformed unity is not built on uniformity, but on the shared pursuit of truth before the face of God. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Word & Deed Ministry 01:18 At the Reformation and Worship Conference 04:10 Introducing Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn and the Westminster Assembly 06:00 Consensus, Collaboration, and Compromise in the Assembly 09:30 The Process of Drafting the Westminster Standards 12:00 Respectful Debate and the Spirit of the Divines 19:30 Comparing the Westminster and Heidelberg Traditions 25:30 Confessional Revision, Study Committees, and Doctrinal Reports 33:00 Doctrinal Preaching: From Text to Theology 40:50 The Joy of Teaching and Ongoing Research on the Divines Participants: Camden Bucey, Chad Van Dixhoorn