Theology 101-Pragmatism

Dr. R.C. Sproul once said, “Modern man wastes little time thinking about ultimate or religious questions. The pragmatist is basicalkly skeptical or agnostic about man’s ability to discover ultimate truth…” On this program, Mike and Pastor Scott Reiber discuss the philospohy of pragmatism, or ‘the end justify the means’, contrasting how Christianity and its competitors influence various aspects of our culture: economics, science, art, literature, and government.

Additional Resources:

• Lifeviews by R.C. Sproul
• Westminister Presbyterian Church, Vicksburg, MS

 

Challenges to the Gospel

“And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

In this special repeat broadcast from April, 2006, Mike interviews Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Mike and Dr. Duncan examine the challenges facing the Gospel and the church today such as “easy-believism”, liberalism, and the very definition of the Gospel. Then Dr. Duncan exhorts us to always seek what the Bible tells us about what the church should be and do, not what the culture demands, but what the Word of God requires.

Additional resources:

• First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS
• Paul’s Good News (The Theme of Romans)-Dr. J. Ligon Duncan
• The Direction of the Church-CD Series by Mike Corley

 

 

Dont Waste Your Pulpit..Your Life

Mike discusses various subjects, topics and issues today, including:

• The devastation in Myanmar
• T.D. Jakes says the black church is unfairly portrayed
• Carl Trueman’s review of Roger Olsen’s Arminian Theology:Myths and realities
• Lastly, an audio clip by John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Pulpit

Related Resources-John MacArthur’s Q&A on Arminianism

 

Author Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

Mike visits with friend, author, writer Shellie Rushing Tomlinson about her new book Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On! In this humorous handbook, Shellie, host of All Things Southern, reveals the all-important lessons Southern Mamas teach their daughters. Woven with quotes from real Southern Mamas and sprinkled with recipes and other Southern secrets, this book’s a bona-fide celebration of all things south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Additional Resources:

• Penguin Books
• All Things Southern on WQBC.net

ADF Update

Mike Johnson of the Alliance Defense Fund joins Mike to talk about two cases in involving public schools; An ADF victory in the 7th Circuit in the “Be Happy, Not Gay” t-shirt case, and the Louisiana school that refused to provide transportation for a FCA club to attend a “Jump for Jesus” concert. Also, Mike reads Steve Camp’s Christian Bill of Rights. 

 

Theology 101…Humanism

Francis Schaeffer once said, “The humanist has both feet firmly planted in mid-air. Unless humanism is stopped, it intends to beat to death the [Christian] base which made our culture possible.”   This week on Theology 101, Mike and Pastor Scott Reiber continue their study of worldviews, examining the philsophy of humanism, its content, background and influence.

 

 

Young,Restless & Reformed

What is this “resurgence” of interest in Reformed Theology, especially among younger Christians? On today’s program, Mike interviews Collin Hansen, author of the book Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalists Journey with the New Calvinists. Mike and Collin talks about the factors that have led to the new interest, the leading voices, and what effect it will have on the church.

Additional resources:

• Crossway Books
• Collin Hansen’s article in the Sept. 2006 edition of Christianity Today
• The Resurgence of Reformed Theology CD Series by Mike Corley

Apostasy of Jeremiah Wright continues

In this program, Mike dissects the most recent public statements of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, given at a National Press Club event. Mike examines the issues of Black Liberation Theology, Wright’s accusations that America commits terrorist acts, and his “non-support-support” of Louis Farrakhan.  Also, aside from the obvious differences, should there be any deliberate distinctions between the “black church” and the “white church” 

Additional resources:

• Jeremiah Wright undermines racial reconciliation
• Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s comments on YouTube.com

To Expose or To Proclaim!

Many times, many of us, have become so consumed with over-emphasizing the wrong, and under-emphasizing the right, and it is a very easy thing to get caught up in. For far too many it has become an obsession and I am convinced if not kept in the proper biblical perspective, it will overwhelm us and we will grow weary. On this program, Mike examines how vital it is to always point to the Truth, rather than just expose the error.

Additional resources:

•  A.W. Pink’s  The Sovereignty Of God;
• Expose or Proclaim, The Expositor

Truth more than Error?

Jesus said in John 17:17, “…Thy Word is Truth.” Are we certain of the what the Truth, the Gospel, is, and are we being faithful in proclaiming it? And…do we focus more on exposing error than proclaiming the Truth? On this program, Mike takes a look at these topics, plus shares a portion of a Mark Driscoll message on preaching.

Theology 101-Worldviews and Cultural Awareness

(Todays program is a repeat broadcast, as Mike is still away due to the illness of his mother.)
What is the importance of cultural awareness in regards to a proper Biblical worldview? What does it mean to be a “witness” to Christ? In this installment of Theology 101, Mike and Scott Reiber examine how that every Christian is a missionary, and that every Christian should be a “thinking Christian”.

Promoting ourselves or Jesus?

(Todays program is a repeat broadcast as Mike is away due to the illness of his mother. He earnestly desires your prayers.)

Listen to almost any Christian television or radio broadcast and you will see or hear a lot of emphasis on the person; claims such as “So-and-so’s dynamic preaching….Brother So-and-so led the church to the greatest period of growth in history” are common. But are we supposed to promote ourselves in such a manner, especially when the Apostle Paul said he counted all of his accomplishments and abilities as “loss”.  On this program Mike examines that we are not called to puff ourselves, but we are called to die to ourselves. 

Challenging Caricatures of Calvinism

Dr. Thomas Ascol of Founder Ministries writes,” I hope I live long enough to see the day when the common caricatures of the doctrines of sovereign grace have been so widely exposed that any self-respecting preacher will be ashamed to keep serving them up as if they were irrefutable critiques of what John Broadus called “that exalted system of Pauline truth which is technically called Calvinism.”  On todays program, Mike examines the gross misrepresentation what he calls “the true exposition of Scripture.” 

Additional Resources: Timmy Brister on The Gospel and the SBC 

Revisiting Saved of Self-Deceived

In this repeat broadcast…….How can so many who claim to be Christians and not have a proper, scriptural understanding of salvation? As Dr. John MacArthur states in the teaching series Salvation Survey: Saved or Self Deceived?, “I am convinced that in the name of Christianity there are many places that call themselves churches and they’re not churches. And they have men leading them who call themselves pastors and they’re not pastors.” On this program, Mike asks the question are many saved or deceived? 

Encouragement for Evangelism

On this Friday’s installment of MCP, Mike shares encouragement to believers in their call to evangelize, citing a article by John Piper enitiled I’m Sending You to Open Their Eyes. Also, Mike shares a listener email regarding the previous program discussion on Roman Catholicism.