Life and Books and Everything

It is not an exaggeration to say that repentance is at the very heart of the gospel. And yet, Christians talk about repentance too little, and when we do, we are often confused about what repentance is and isn’t. In this episode, Chris Brauns, an author and pastor in rural Illinois, joins Kevin to talk about many of the misconceptions about forgiveness, how to discern true from false repentance, and why both fear and joy should motivate us to repent. Chris is a wise, clear, down-to-earth pastor who has written an extremely helpful book. You’ll also be able to tell he has memorized a lot of Scripture. In other words, he’s someone worth listening to.

You may not think you need 1,000 pages on the Heidelberg Catechism, but you do! R. Scott Clark, professor at Westminster Seminary California, has written a rich, theological, and historical commentary on one of the Reformation’s most beloved catechisms. Listen in as Scott and Kevin talk about the history of the catechism and walk through several key sections—including important differences with Lutheran theology and Catholic theology. You’ll also want to hear the paean to all things Nebraska at the start of the episode.

Dr. Guelzo is back once again for another record setting appearance on LBE. Although he just moved across the country, Allen still made time to talk to Kevin about his latest two-volume mega-project with James Hankins, their new book The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition. Listen in as Kevin and Allen talk about remembering, history as gratitude, and the fragility (and resiliency) of Western Civilization. You won’t want to miss Dr. Guelzo recount the many blessings of the Western Tradition (and mention some faults too), while also singing Bach and reciting Shakespeare.

It’s been a long time since the last LBE episode—too long some (i.e., our mothers) might say. But after a summer hiatus, the three amigos are back in the podcast studio to talk about familiar topics like football, books, and “what time it is” in our world. They also touch on a few unfamiliar topics like weight loss and how funerals bring people together.

What does the Bible say about life in the womb? When does life begin? What about personhood? What has the church taught about abortion over the centuries? How should we respond to familiar slogans like “My body, my choice”? In this important episode, Kevin talks with Tom Pennington, Pastor at Countryside Bible Church in Southlake, Texas, about his new book The Biblical View of Abortion: God’s Heart for Life in the Womb. Listen in as Tom and Kevin try to equip Christians to defend life and love the unborn, just like God does.CHAPTERS0:00 Sponsors1:39 Greeting & Salutations2:48 Who Is Tom Pennington?4:16 Grace To You Origins5:04 Tom’s Time In Texas7:24 Let’s Talk About The Book9:08 What’s Happened Since Roe v. Wade Overturned?11:40 The Effort To Persuade & Promote Biblical View15:17 Counterargument To “Historical Acceptance”18:33 Counterargument To “Might As Well Make It Safe”20:13 Counterargument To “Keep State Out Of Bedroom”21:35 Counterargument To “My Body, My Choice”22:19 Counterargument To “Can’t Legislate Morality”24:30 Positive Rights & Negative Rights29:28 Lack of Scientific Debate About Origin Of Life30:25 How Do We Diagnose This Issue Spiritually?33:55 Sponsor Break35:54 Speak To The Person Who Hates What We’re Saying39:42 Counterargument To “When Personhood Begins”42:24 Connections To Jesus Christ & Christology45:25 The SLED Acronym47:08 Church History Related To Abortion49:10 Rape, Incest & Life Of The Mother57:04 Ending Treatment vs Ending Life58:38 Pray For Us Pastor Tom1:00:55 Thank You & GoodbyeBOOKS & EVERYTHINGThe Biblical View of Abortion: God’s Heart for Life in the Womb by Tom PenningtonCROSSWAY | A Light On The HillDESIRING GOD | Be Happy EventGREENVILLE SEMINARY | Pastoral TheologyWESTMINSTER SEMINARY | Theological Studies

First published in 1877, Thomas Murphy’s Pastoral Theology: The Pastor in the Various Duties of His Office is one of the absolute best books of its kind. Murphy’s treatise is inspiring, challenging, comprehensive, opinionated, practical, and spiritual in the deepest sense of the word. Listen as Kevin and Jonathan Master, president at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, talk about Thomas Murphy (pastor for 46 years of Frankford Presbyterian Church outside of Philadelphia) and this neglected resource, just recently republished by Log College Press.CHAPTERS0:00 Sponsors & Intro2:37 Who Is Jonathan Master?5:48 Let’s Dive Into Pastoral Theology9:23 Kevin Outlines Thomas Murphy Book10:58 Why Does Jonathan Love The Book?13:30 Kevin & Jonathan Explore Exemplary Piety17:18 Sponsor Break / Link For Book19:22 Vital Role For Women In The Church23:00 The Work Of God In The Church & Community24:18 How To Profit My Congregation As A Preacher27:41 Pastoral Care & Troublemakers In The Church31:10 Preach, Pray, People AND Patience32:31 What Else Is Jonathan Working On?33:53 Kevin’s Book Republishing Thoughts35:44 Until Next Time…BOOKS & EVERYTHINGPastoral Theology by Thomas MurphyCrossway | The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and HostDesiring God | What's the DifferenceGPTS | Pastoral TheologyWTS | MATS

Recently, Peter Williams, Principal at Tyndale House in Cambridge, preached at Christ Covenant Church for its missions week. At the end of the evening service, Kevin sat down with Peter and fellow Cambridge-alum Will Ross, who teaches Old Testament at RTS Charlotte, for a discussion about the importance of Tyndale House and its mission to foster faithful, biblical scholarship for the church. The group also talked about apologetics, the Septuagint, being confident in the word of God, and not being so smart that you believe stupid things.Chapters:0:00 Sponsors2:32 The Surprising Genius of Jesus6:27 On Tyndale House14:42 Christianity in the Cultures17:42 Sponsor Break19:45 On the Old Testament29:15 On Confidence in God’s Word31:55 On Biblical Scholarship37:24 Until Next Time…Books & EverythingUnderstanding God's Word: An Introduction to Interpreting the BibleThe Supremacy of God in PreachingGPTS | A Sacred CallingWTS | Biblical Language CertificatesThe Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal about the Greatest Teacher

Before the Bushes or Clintons, before the Kennedy or Kardashians, there were the Beechers—a sprawling family of preachers, suffragists, abolitionists, and moral crusaders that defined (and exemplified) America as much as any single family in the nineteenth century. Join Kevin as he interviews Obbie Tyler Todd, a pastor and professor, about his new biography of the Beechers (LSU Press). From patriarch, Lyman Beecher, to the famous novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe, to the most famous pastor of his age, Henry Ward Beecher, this episode explores the crazy and controversial life of Lyman Beecher, his three wives (not at the same time), and their thirteen children.Chapters:0:00 Sponsors2:00 Introductions5:37 The Beecher Family and Moral Influence10:45 Three Themes of the Beecher Family21:36 Beecherism and Controversy28:07 The Fate of the Nation and Presbyterianism36:49 Other Beeches50:38 Harriet Beecher Stowe54:43 Henry Ward Beecher1:09:11 The Beecher LegacyBooks & Everything:Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily WorshipThe Supremacy of God in PreachingGPTS MidweekerMaster of Arts in Theological StudiesThe Beechers: America's Most Influential Family