Article Quoted: https://theopolisinstitute.com/entitled-children/

Tyler challenges the classes' assumptions and puts forward a view of the progress of history which has deep roots in the church and comes from the authors of Scripture: an optimistic eschatology. 

Each one of us naturally prioritizes either the community of the church or its preaching. We talk about the implications of this dichotomy and recommend how we can grow in our attitudes and actions to becoming productive citizens of God's City. 

Website: https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CGKPodcast?fan_landing=true

Our Sunday School class considers the million-dollar question: Is this movement/philosophy an idea or a worldview? 

Part 3 of the Contemporary Issues series.

In the end, when we worship rightly, we will be equipped to point our nation rightly. 

Website: https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CGKPodcast?fan_landing=true

Who is primarily responsible for educating our children? Which schooling option is best? Does it ultimately matter? 

These are some of the questions explored in this lecture. Lots of class engagement and comments in this one. 

This second session finishes the overview of modern deficiencies in worship and then asks a crucial question: What happens in worship? What are we there for? 

What we learn is both surprising and comforting - something objectively happens when we worship. 

We talk about whether Christians may, and when it is proper to, engage in civil disobedience, including riots, protests, and revolution. Behind all this is the classic reformed doctrine of the lesser magistrate. 

Christians, no matter how gifted and devoted they are, must continually grow in being effective witnesses for Christ. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, something very powerful happens - something that allows us, objectively, to grow in being effective. 

This is how our lives start to bear more meaning.

Today we talk about fear and rulership. The Kingdom-Builder knows who is in him and where things are going. 

An essential characteristic of Christianity is that we are in community with one another. There is no such thing as a lone-wolf Christian. We both need, and are commanded to be with, each other, as members of one body. 

We examine the communal aspect of Church, fellowship, family, and locality through the biblical idea of being about our people. When God comes in Kingdom, he comes in community. 

Website: https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CGKPodcast?fan_landing=true

Considering the "War" theme and how Jesus Christ is our great conqueror 

The Church historically has held to numerous creeds and confessions. What are they? Are they important? What about my church's Statement of Faith, is that enough? 

The answer we come to: A Kingdom-builder is a confessional builder. 

Website: https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/

Patreon: https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/support/

We close out dicussion about denominational unity with some practical ideas for how a merger may happen. There are various challenges and complexities which cannot be captured in these podcasts, but perhaps we can begin moving the needle towards unity amongst the broader Church.

The article mentioned can be found here: https://theopolisinstitute.com/conversations/visible-church-visible-unity/

Now that we have identified a serious problem (how disunited Christ's Church is), we begin thinking about some principles towards solutions. 

Clearly, the solution won't be easy, as the problem is quite complex, but we have to start somewhere. Let's start thinking - and living - towards denominational unity.  

What does it mean that Christ commands us to be unified, yet we are split into dozens (hundreds) of different denominations? How big of a problem is this? 

Let's be thinking of how we can be agents of unity in the Church beyond our own denominations and traditions.

You can support the work of this podcast here.

The audio for the second half of the live presentation was lost and was re-recorded in my studio. 

There is a reason I share this story and it is not to shame, put down, or accuse those in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. It is actually for a better purpose, one much more important than any of us. 

We talk about epistemology, lying, interpreting data, and challenging our presuppositions. The evidence of your eyes and ears should mean more to you than what the media or any "expert" says.

Concluding this series, we examine the topic of Remarriage. Is it permissible to remarry, and if so, when and in what cases? 

Are there sinful remarriages that should be broken up? Does it matter who was at fault for a divorce when it comes to remarrying? 

These are some of the considerations discussed in this episode as we put out some principles regarding this sensitive reality. 

We start with lessons in literary devices, including Chiastic Structure. These devices are utilized by biblical writers and assist in interpreting key parts of a text. 

Divorce is a hard yet widespread reality. Even professing Christians divorce at nearly identical rates as non-Christians. Christians also seem to disagree on how to handle the issue of divorce.

Is divorce ever okay? What are the "Grounds for divorce", if there are any? Are two people equally guilty in the ending of a marriage? 

Thankfully, the Bible has clear-cut things to say. 

The devotional question is: Should I be concerned with leaving a legacy on earth? 

Thank you for listening to this series. God be praised!

The reality is that many of us are in, have been in, or will be in difficult marriages. Marriage isn't the fairytale story we were raised on; but nor is it the dreadful, dead institution we witnessed in our parents. 

The Bible is incredibly helpful to us in teaching about how to live in a difficult marriage. Listen as we consider how to live through these hard situations as faithful Christians.

You can support the work at CGK Podcast here:

https://www.podpage.com/city-of-the-great-king/support/

Our tenth episode brings us to The Marriage Special, a 4-part series. The first of the series, in celebration of episode 10, is sharing my 10 principles to know before getting married. It contains dating advice, things to watch out for, things to take interest in, standards, making marriage more objective again, and much more. 

Thank you to everyone who listens to the CGK podcast. I appreciate every one of you (yes, even my haters). I don't make a dime from doing this, but starting next week, I will be including a donation option to consider, if you are benefitting from the work going on here. It will never be mandatory and the weekly episode will always be free, but please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast in this way. 

His view of church, her pastors, and their authority bring some clarity to topics which confuse many people. In how much am I to submit to my pastor? What are his limits? 

His tireless and faithful pastoral life is an example to anyone in the ministry or considering joining it. 

We also provide examples of his teaching of objects as Things and Signs. 

The devotional question is: How do I understand what I read in the Bible? 

This is a call to do hard things when you feel like not doing them. 

This is one of the answers that comes from thinking about where we are and the changes that are coming. Let's channel our inner bird-eyes and see the bigger picture. How is society shifting? What does this mean for the church? Will the church have any influence left in 20 years? 

Certainly, we are not infallible, but careful thought about the current landscape and how it is evolving will help inform where things are headed. This is important, because we need to constantly think about the meaning behind what we do and how that will effect future generations. 

Take heart!

We start by briefly describing the problem of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), illustrated by the two most popular "Christian" songs over the past four years. 

Then we get into an important historical church practice, musically, and a plea to reform. I am asking you to let me convince you to reform your view of Christian music and worship. 

The devotional question is: How do I grow as a believer? How do I get out of a rut? 

Chris serves as the Church Ministries Pastor at Harvest Bible Church in Windsor, ON. He is here to talk about a major issue of the day: Pride Month. Throughout the month of June, Chris has made numerous online posts in reference to Pride Month, getting at the foundational issues, and providing a biblical account regarding such topics as gender, marriage, singleness, authority, sexuality, and more. He joins the program to discuss his motivation for the posts and why these things are important for Christians and non-Christians alike to think about. 

You can find Chris at www.insightinaminute.com

They were contemporaries, born in the same year. Their similarities nearly end there. They have radically different views on sin, human nature, free will, and divine grace, amongst others. Pelagianism spread far, unlike Donatism, making it a more difficult challenge.

This session also tracks the final 20 years of Augustine's life, from 410 until his death in 430. 

The devotional question is: How free is my free will? (And to whom does the glory belong?)

It is vitally important that we have good leaders and it is the death-knell of a nation and church to have bad leaders. We talked today about characteristics of a leader and what makes a poor one. At the forefront of the discussion is the principle that Leaders Don't Hide. Rather, they take responsibility and do hard things that need to be done for the glory of God. 

Come back next week for an important follow-up discussion with a certain individual who doesn't run and hide. 

On the flip side, a major opponent is on the scene - the Donatists, and the schism that comes with them. Questions about how to deal with the traditores (traitors), how much purity we should expect in the Church, and the efficacy of the sacraments are central to the debate. For instance: what if I was baptized by a pastor who later apostatizes? Does that nullify my baptism? 

The devotional question is: Why is there so much sin in the Church? 

Is 'beauty' a legitimate doctrine? What is art? What or who does it reflect? What makes something beautiful? What does sin have to do with all this? 

These are some of the questions looked at today. I hope and trust it will be an encouraging listen. 

"Because it is beautiful"

The devotional question is: What is my calling in crisis? How do I get through the toughest of times? 

To start answering that question, we ought to consider the nature of "building", what it assumes, and how it starts. 

Started with how sad it is that "30 is the new 18", then the news of another shooting. Picked up on a trend of shootings being primarily caused by young men and other statistics in that regard.

Then moved to a primary problem in the discussion: Men are dispossessed and how young men have been failed in our culture. 

In the interests of solution, the Kingdom of God is the perfect place for men. Real men. Manly men. Good men. 

Closed with some encouragement for women in how to help your man behave like a real man, and for men in how to right the ship. 

The devotional question centered around Augustine's formidible intellectual problem - resolving the problem of evil. His former philosophy, Manichaeism, seemed to provide an answer for it; how does Christianity reconcile a good Creator God with the existence of evil? 

Then got talking about how there are no shortcuts to growth and what that means. Includes Kobe references. 

Closed with discussing the value of habits and how powerful they are in shaping you. 

Session 2 looks at the next section of his life, from ages 16-30. We cover his time studying in Carthage, his struggle with lust, the birth of his son and taking of a mistress, and the nine years he spent as a Manichee, including what led to his fallout from that group. The young Augustine is on a quest for truth, and his journey is getting him closer to the God he will serve so faithfully. 

The devotional question is: Is Christianity a religion for mature, intelligent people? Is it a religion for "grown ups"? 

This class is part of the Adult Sunday School at Campbell Baptist Church, Windsor, ON.