Putting Away Childish Things: What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like? (Ep. 139)

We live in a culture where people almost throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. Where adults want to go back and live with their parents and be taken care of by them. Where people think that others should compensate for their incompetence. But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:11 that when he became a man he put away childish things. So, what is childishness, and how should we think about it?

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/10/putting-away-childish-things-what-does-spiritual-maturity-look-like-ep-139-audio/

Timecodes
00:00:00 Meaning of Childishness
00:03:43 Good Things About Children
00:13:35 Weakness
00:23:14 Lack of Self Control
00:31:17 Lack of Perseverance
00:37:06 Dependency
01:00:19 Innocence
01:07:04 Foolishness

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Putting Away Childish Things: What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like? (Ep. 139 Audio)

We live in a culture where people almost throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. Where adults want to go back and live with their parents and be taken care of by them. Where people think that others should compensate for their incompetence. But Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:11 that when he became a man he put away childish things. So, what is childishness, and how should we think about it?

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

How Could God Command Children to be Stoned? (Ep. 138)

In Deuteronomy 21:18-21, God’s law says that the parents of rebellious children are to take them to the rulers of the city and they are to be stoned. How can a loving God command such a thing?

In this episode, we deal with a passage that is often used by critics to demonstrate that Christianity is evil or at the very least that the God of the Old Testament was cruel and unloving. But as the Apostle Paul says in I Timothy, “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully”, and in Galatians 3, “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” And so knowing that the law is good, it is also good for Christians to understand and to be able to explain how God demonstrates his goodness and constrains the sin of men through his commandments. Please join us as we discuss the goodness of God’s law.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/09/how-could-god-command-children-to-be-stoned-ep-138-audio/

Thumbnail image by catherinecronin under CC BY-SA 2.0

Timecodes
00:00:00 God’s Laws are Good
00:02:59 What is Love?
00:08:18 A Picture of the Gospel
00:21:51 The Passage
00:55:09 Effects on Society

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

How Could God Command Children to be Stoned? (Ep. 138 Audio)

In Deuteronomy 21:18-21, God’s law says that the parents of rebellious children are to take them to the rulers of the city and they are to be stoned. How can a loving God command such a thing?

In this episode, we deal with a passage that is often used by critics to demonstrate that Christianity is evil or at the very least that the God of the Old Testament was cruel and unloving. But as the Apostle Paul says in I Timothy, “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully”, and in Galatians 3, “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” And so knowing that the law is good, it is also good for Christians to understand and to be able to explain how God demonstrates his goodness and constrains the sin of men through his commandments. Please join us as we discuss the goodness of God’s law.

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Why Youth Groups Are (Still) Not the Answer (Ep. 137)

As with a lot of things that get adopted in the church culture, youth groups started as a way to reach unchurched youth in high school. From there, the practice spread and changed over time until youth groups were viewed as a normative part of American church life.

And while there have been movements within conservative Reformed churches to move away from youth ministry and to emphasize the responsibilities of the parents to train their children,
what we’ve noticed is this: Youth ministry isn’t just the result of the church overstepping its bounds. Sometimes, the parents ask the church for it. Sometimes, it’s a result of the church’s collective fear that they are losing the next generation. And sometimes, it’s a focus on numbers and the growth of the church. But in every case, what we would argue is this: God’s word does not show us a pattern of singling out the youth and separating them from the rest of the flock on a regular basis for special instruction and ministry. Anytime the church adopts practices that cannot be found in God’s word, it is sin. Youth ministry won’t disappear overnight. But we should expect God to continue to mature and cleanse His church. If, as a church, we face the trials our Lord sends our way in the ways He has instructed us, we should expect to see an end to youth groups and youth ministry. Please join us as we discuss this issue.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/09/why-youth-groups-are-still-not-the-answer-ep-137-audio/

Thumbnail image by Richard Masoner under CC BY-SA 2.0

Timecodes
00:00 Intro
11:01 Purpose of Church
20:19 Manufacturing Spiritual Experiences
25:50 Taking the Role of Parents
35:59 Dangers of Gathering Youth
47:26 Thinking Your Children are Saved
52:55 Good Youth Groups

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Why Youth Groups Are (Still) Not the Answer (Ep. 137 Audio)

As with a lot of things that get adopted in the church culture, youth groups started as a way to reach unchurched youth in high school. From there, the practice spread and changed over time until youth groups were viewed as a normative part of American church life.

And while there have been movements withing conservative Reformed churches to move away from youth ministry and to emphasize the responsibilities of the parents to train their children,
what we’ve noticed is this: Youth ministry isn’t just the result of the church overstepping its bounds. Sometimes, the parents ask the church for it. Sometimes, it’s a result of the church’s collective fear that they are losing the next generation. And sometimes, it’s a focus on numbers and the growth of the church. But in every case, what we would argue is this: God’s word does not show us a pattern of singling out the youth and separating them from the rest of the flock on a regular basis for special instruction and ministry. Anytime the church adopts practices that cannot be found in God’s word, it is sin. Youth ministry won’t disappear overnight. But we should expect God to continue to mature and cleanse His church. If, as a church, we face with the trials our Lord sends our way in the ways He has instructed us, we should expect to see and end to youth groups and youth ministry. Please join us as we discuss this issue.

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

Gossip: When to Speak and When to Be Silent (Ep. 136)

We live in a society filled with gossip, yet the Bible commands to avoid it. We discuss how we can know when we we are speaking gossip, and when we are speaking the truth in love.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/09/gossip-when-to-speak-and-when-to-be-silent-ep-136-audio/

Timecodes
00:00:00 Standards for Gossip
00:07:28 Importance of Words
00:12:00 Use of the Tongue
00:21:08 Speaking Against Heretics
00:29:13 Check Your Intent
00:43:48 Who to Talk To
00:48:54 Words that Tear Down
00:56:11 Gossip as Flattery
01:05:53 Gossip in the Family
01:13:12 Gossip in the Church

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

How Bribery Destroys Nations (Ep. 135)

If you’ve ever visited a third-world country where bribery is rampant, it’s easy to think that the United States doesn’t have a bribery problem. But the church is supposed to understand that sin left unchecked with always grow and that when it is allowed to grow among leaders and those who are exalted, it will grow even faster. And in that sense, America has a horribly bribery problem, and it getting worse every day.

In this episode, we discuss what the Bible says about bribery and why the word it uses for bribes means gift. We talk about bribery in different contexts, in the government, the church the workplace, and how in each case it perverts judgment and tempts men to serve someone other than their true master.

In the end, bribery is a picture of sinful man’s slavery to his desires. All men have an obligation to serve God, but his sinful desires cause him to pervert righteousness. Only those who are free from their sin can serve the Lord of earth faithfully and not be swayed by earthly things.

Listen to the audio version here: https://theconqueringtruth.com/2023/09/how-bribery-destroys-nations-ep-135-audio/

Thumbnail image by Marco Verch under CC BY 2.0

Timecodes
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:22 Are All Gifts Bribes?
00:10:51 What the Bible Says
00:21:55 Political Bribes in the USA
00:31:15 A Culiture of Bribery
00:39:14 Can You Pay Bribes?
00:52:32 Bribes in Church
00:59:29 Tiping in the US

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson

How Bribery Destroys Nations (Ep. 135 Audio)

If you’ve ever visited a third-world country where bribery is rampant, it’s easy to think that the United States doesn’t have a bribery problem. But the church is supposed to understand that sin left unchecked with always grow and that when it is allowed to grow among leaders and those who are exalted, it will grow even faster. And in that sense, America has a horribly bribery problem, and it getting worse every day.

In this episode, we discuss what the Bible says about bribery and why the word it uses for bribes means gift. We talk about bribery in different contexts, in the government, the church the workplace, and how in each case it perverts judgment and tempts men to serve someone other than their true master.

In the end, bribery is a picture of sinful man’s slavery to his desires. All men have an obligation to serve God, but his sinful desires cause him to pervert righteousness. Only those who are free from their sin can serve the Lord of earth faithfully and not be swayed by earthly things.

Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NC
Hosts – Dan Horn, Jonathan Sides, Charles Churchill and Joshua Horn
Technical Director – Timothy Kaiser
Theme Music – Gabriel Hudelson