http://www.redeemerbroadcasting.org en-us © 2010 Redeemer Broadcating, Inc. Weekly Podcast Redeemer Broadcasting, Inc. Redeemer Staff and guests interact with listener questions from a variety of subjects, including but not limited to: theology, history and current events. Within the milieu of theology, history and current events, we answer listener questions, tying our answers back to the Scriptures. no Redeemer Broadcasting, Inc. dce@redeemerbroadcasting.org Redeemer Broadcasting The Trinity - an old teaching with profound implications for us today The Trinity refers to the Bible's teaching that there is only one living and true God. Further that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are the same in substance and are equal. In this discussion we take a look at this important basic teaching of Scripture. There are some interesting implications of this teaching to think about. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 25 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Trinity, triunity of God, Jehovah's Witnesses, Modalism no Redeemer Broadcasting Pentecost - what it means to us as believers Pentecost will be celebrated this Sunday in many churches. We look back on when the Spirit came down upon His church. But we also realize that the Spirit of God was here since the very beginning. The Holy Spirit was certainly active at many times in Old Testament times. The Holy Spirit worked with His Covenant people all through the ages. We find the Holy Spirit very much in the Old Testament. Yet it is in the New Testament that something very special happens. Now since Jesus has ascended, Jesus has sent us the "Comforter," and that is the Holy Spirit. Now, every believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit and is regularly to be filled with the Spirit. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Pentecost, Holy Spirit, Filled with the Holy Spirit, Spirit gifts no Redeemer Broadcasting Imagination - An important part of our lives Imagination is a faculty which we possess from God. There is both a sanctified and a sinful imagination. There are any number of literary works that are based on good imagination. This would be fantasy works. The world of engineering is also tied in some ways to imagination, that is, in terms of new inventions. In some ways, imagination is essential to civilization. We also touch upon good music. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Imagination no Redeemer Broadcasting Memory - A human faculty that is tied to who we are Today we discuss human memory as it relates to living life, history and culture. The ability to retain and relive the past events in our life is very important to us. What about Alzheimer's Disease? This is an extremely difficult situation for many folks. We also talk about the animals as compared to humans. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 4 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Memory, image of God, no Redeemer Broadcasting The Lord's Prayer - A closer look The Lord's Prayer is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. It is an important prayer in the life of the Historic Christian church and finds frequent use in our worship services. In this discussion we look at the beginning of the prayer and two of its petitions. We spend some time looking at the second petition, which is "Thy kingdom come." One aid in helping us to understand this second petition is the Shorter Catechism, which says: "In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened." We talk about the increase of the kingdom of grace, this side of eternity, as well as the yet to come kingdom of glory. In our time, there seems to be a lack of appreciation of the first aspect, namely the successful advance of the kingdom of grace. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:50 The Lord's Prayer no Redeemer Broadcasting The Easy Chair - Pull up a chair and have a chat today Today we discuss more personalities and cultural issues and news items. Pope Francis was recently elected Pope and was in the news. We note that the pressures in society and the hostilities against Christians have in effect to a degree, pushed Christian traditions together and we appreciate each other more, now that the world is attacking Christianity with such fervor. We discuss the resignation of Benedict. He remains a Bishop, and no longer has the authority that he once had in the Roman Catholic tradition. The new Pope Francis has a Jesuit background. We try and be fair to the Roman Catholic views as we describe them, putting the most charitable description upon that tradition, even though as Protestants we have major differences. Back to our first point, the issues in our world force the various Christian traditions to work together in order to stand against the onslaught of secularism and the erosion of our religious freedoms. The rule of ideas is real and we have almost reverted back to paganism. A side note, we take some time to encourage pastors to be studious in their approach. We must be as the Apostle Paul or St. Augustine. That is, well read in order to confront the forces of our day. We desire our fellow pastors in "sister" churches to be successful in the gospel. We mention some of the books that Pastor Vance is reading (from the standpoint of good scholarship). We encourage reading St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. But secular works are also mentioned so that we can better understand for ourselves the other side and be able to effectively interact with all views. What are you reading? Light devotional works are fine as far as they go, but what about a more weighty book? We need to train our minds. After the break we talk about Christians and their involvement in this world, including politics. Jesus expects Christians to engage the world. The Church itself has a role of preaching and teaching the gospel so that we have a Christian mind. But the individual Christian has an extra responsibility through our membership in the body politic. We must apply the Christian view to the times in which we live. That is, we must understand our times so that we can engage the world for Christ. Finally we touch upon some issues. One issue is that Obamacare is a threat on our religious freedoms. Further, Utopian Statism is a huge threat for us right now. Finally there is an attack upon charitable giving. These are bald attacks upon what we took as the basic freedoms that we once had. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Pope Francis no Redeemer Broadcasting Easy Chair Discussion - several personalities who influenced culture Ever want to sit back and just have a chat about some news items and a few people who have really influenced our world? Take for example, Margaret Thatcher, C.S. Lewis, and John Bunyan. What about capitalism? Is it consistent with the Bible? What principles from the Bible support free market capitalism? Enjoy this discussion and sit back with us, and just relax! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Margaret Thatcher, Capitalism, Unions, CS Lewis, Alistair McGrath, John Bunyan no Redeemer Broadcasting Discipleship Evangelism - A synthesis for reaching the world for Christ We often hear of evangelism, and we hear of discipleship. But what we sometimes miss is the very real overlap of the two, as the Lord uses our outreach to bring others to Himself and make them disciples of Jesus. Sometimes it is not clear where one activity ends and the other begins. So it is in the real world of God working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. This week we discuss this topic with a young man who works for Disciplemakers. Hear his testimony of how the Lord used a friend in his life and how this man grew closer to Christ as a result. Disciplemakers is currently in the Pennsylvania area and works at mostly smaller colleges. Coming up on 4/19 and 4/20 is a training session led by Disciplemakers that is available free of charge to anyone wanting to become better prepared to share the gospel with their friends. Join us for this interesting discussion of the Great Commission in action. Participants: Brian Roberg, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 6 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Disciplemakers, witnessing, Great Commission, success of gospel, making disciples no Redeemer Broadcasting Psalm 22 - A Psalm of the Cross and of the Resurrection Psalm 22 from the Old Testament opens with the statement: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" On the cross, our Lord Jesus quoted these very words. Finally He would say "Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." The words of Psalm 22 were evidently very much on Jesus' mind as He suffered on the cross. Yet as Calvin said, "there is not one of the godly who doesn't ask himself the same question daily." In other words, we have some encounter ourselves, with the tension between the faithfulness of God and the very difficult realities of life. Jesus' suffered for us - and as we go through times of seemingly God-forsakenness, we know that we have a Savior who behaves faithfully in the midst of despair. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 Psalm of the cross, psalm of the resurrection, death of Christ, Good Friday, Easter no Redeemer Broadcasting Are you optimistic for the gospel? How much do you let this world influence your view of missions? We live in times characterized by the heavy hand of government, loss of jobs, deep financial problems, and loss of personal freedoms. It is very tempting to "throw in the towel" as it were, and adopt a pessimism that affects our view of the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But God doesn't have this for us. He tells us of great exploits of the gospel as His word is proclaimed and His people live holy lives for Him. Join us this week for an encouraging discussion that will lift your heart from the negativity of our time. Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Optimism, gospel success, missions, water cover the earth no Redeemer Broadcasting Is Christ the only way to God? What our Savior taught on this subject Is there more than one way to God? If you are interested in Jesus and what He said about Himself, then this discussion may pique your interest for further consideration. The historical Jesus made statements about a number of things - care for the poor, harmony, justice, etc. People like most of what he said -but what about when the subject takes a turn to how we are saved? Are there multiple paths to God? Did Jesus claim exclusivity for Himself as the way to God? We live in a time of multiculturalism and diversity. In fact these two areas have nearly become a religion unto themselves. Join this discussion for insight into how Jesus really defined and described himself. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 16 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Exclusivity of Christ, the way of salvation, multiculturalism, diversity no Redeemer Broadcasting What if you never heard the gospel? Thoughts about the ordinary means and the extraordinary means Just think if you had never heard the gospel story? Some people in this world have never had the privilege of hearing about Jesus and they die without Christ. What about an infant of Christian parents who dies? These questions and others are discussed in today's A Plain Answer. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 8 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Salvation, preach the word, dying without Christ, evangelism, missions no Redeemer Broadcasting A missionary couple returns to the field This is a discussion with a sweet missionary couple about their work in aviation in support of SIL in Brazil. SIL is associated with the Summer Institutes of Linguistics. Wycliffe translates the Bible into the heart language of the people. The aviation program allows efficient travel in support of the translators, as well as emergency transportation. Participants: Jeremiah Diedrich, Julie Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Wycliffe Translators, Jeremish and Julie Diedrich, missions no Redeemer Broadcasting Assurance of Salvation - do you have it? What about Christian assurance? Can we have confidence of the Lord's love for us and of our eternal home in heaven? Some time ago, there was a group of people who followed a confused Bible teacher who predicted that the return of Christ would be May 21, 2011. But of these people that I talked with, every one of them did not possess Christian assurance of their eternal salvation. All they could say was "cry out to God." Or, "I hope God will save me." There was no warm and abiding assurance but only a fear of judgment day. Is this the best that God has for us? Each of these people had forsaken the church and were in disobedience to God's command of not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together. Is there not much more for the Bible-believing, faithful Christian? Yes there is! Join us for this discussion to find out more. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Assurance, assurance of salvation, blessed assurance, fellowship, knowledge of God's love, Harold Camping, May 21, Family Radio no Redeemer Broadcasting President's Day - a closer look at President Lincoln including a look at secession On President's Day we celebrate the two birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We also acknowledge all of our presidents. Dr. Vought spends part of our time discussing the movie "Lincoln" - the 2012 American historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. We also discuss the time frame of Lincoln's presidency and the war that took place. Lincoln tragically died by an assassin's bullet just prior to the end of the war. Dr. Vought reviews Lincoln's keen understanding of moral boundaries. We delve into the sensitive area of secession and what might be the likelihood of secession in our own day. Also, as a Constitutional Republic, is secession ever legitimate? When is there a right of revolution? Lincoln said that revolution is a right when it is exercised for a morally justifiable cause; but without such a cause, revolution is no right but simply a wicked exercise of physical power. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 President's Day, Abraham Lincoln, Secession, Civil War, War Between the States no Redeemer Broadcasting Valentine's Day - an important day - enjoy it Valentine's Day does not appear to have any pagan antecedents. It is a great time to express our love for our spouses and also for those who are about to get married. We remember those we love perhaps with flowers, candies, a meal out together, etc. But there is something more too, and that is the love of God as expressed in Jesus Christ. Valentine's Day is almost here - enjoy it! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Valentine's Day, love, lovers, marital love, agape love, Christ's love for His church no Redeemer Broadcasting The Book of Revelation - read it and be blessed The book of Revelation contains a promise for those who read it. When we read through the entire book, and see the book as a whole, we find ourselves worshiping the Lamb, cheering for the saints, detesting the beast, longing for the end, and wanting to bear steadfast witness. These things are of critical importance to the church of any age. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Revelation, End times, Prophecy, schools of interpretation no Redeemer Broadcasting College Experiences - how to handle attending a secular school Going to a secular college can be a scary prospect for Christian students and their parents. Are there any practices which can help the students to survive and not become ship wrecked in their faith? What about those who are on a campus already and have never known Jesus Christ? In this episode of A Plain Answer, we interview two students, both recently graduated from Stony Brook University. We review how the Lord worked in both of their lives. Participants: Stephen Elmendorf, Ozan Bellik, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 College, Christian students, Secular colleges, evangelism, dating, courtship, Stony Brook University no Redeemer Broadcasting The Temptations of Jesus - why the temptations and what they accomplished The temptations of Jesus almost take us by surprise. Jesus was just baptized in the river Jordan, and we would expect that the next item on the agenda would be Jesus' immediate public ministry, but instead, our Lord is driven into the wilderness for 40 days. Notice the tactics that our enemy uses - he attacks Christians when they are at their low point. But not to fear. Our focus is to remain on Christ and not Satan. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:42 Temptations of Jesus, testing, Satan's tempting, 40 days in wilderness, hungry no Redeemer Broadcasting The Baptism of Jesus - What it means and our response to it The baptism of Jesus is an historical fact - testified to even by secular historians. For us Christians it has immense importance. Jesus Christ, the messiah from heaven, identified with us in His baptism. He calls us to identify with Him. Christian baptism is not an option. Any sincere believer in Christ is required by God to receive this sign and seal of God's covenant of grace. In Jesus' baptism, we see Jesus' active obedience. He was the only man who ever lived who was perfectly holy. Jesus would not have been our Savior unless he fully identified with us. Do you take baptism seriously? What if you were a Muslim convert to Christianity? If you as a Muslim, were to be baptized in Saudi Arabia - that would be your death sentance. Do we take baptism as seriously as the Muslims do? This is a telling question. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 baptism, the baptism of Jesus, sign and seal of God's covenant, John the Baptist, Pouring of water, infant baptism, fencing of table, communion no Redeemer Broadcasting A Story of Life - A continuation of the account of a special baby We interview Jeremiah and Julie Diedrich - a missionary couple who tell the story of their baby Anna Karen. This is a continuation of the account which we covered in part in an earlier interview. Baby Anna was a Trisomy 18 baby. Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder in which a person has a third copy of material from chromosome 18, instead of the usual two copies. These babies usually do not live. Listen to this interview of what this couple experienced as it came time for the premature delivery. Participants: Jeremiah and Julie Diedrich, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 4 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Trisomy 18, no Redeemer Broadcasting The New Year - potentially tough times ahead, but let us be positive! In this new year we will face any number of challenges, nevertheless there are many opportunities to embrace. How we respond to the turning of the clock should be tied to our Christian worldview. We discuss New Year's resolutions. Pastor Vance reminds us of the parable of the talents. Towards the end of this discussion we weave into the whole area of our nation and the challenges that lay ahead for us in the new year. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 New Year, Opportunities no Redeemer Broadcasting Christmas - How to enjoy it in the midst of busy or lonely times Christmas is a time for celebrating with our family and friends. Jesus our Savior has come in the flesh. In this discussion we cover various things such as the enjoyment of the year including the challenge of the busy-ness of preparing for our celebrations. We perceive expectations that are placed upon us, and we would do well to sit down, relax and enjoy the time. Pastor Vance encourages us to pursue simplicity. What about those folks who are lonely this time of year? We talk about some things which may help you. Participants: Dr. John Vance and Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Christmas celebration, loneliness, Christ, Advent no Redeemer Broadcasting Advent: What it means and why we celebrate it We celebrate and "look for" the coming of Christ - both in history looking back, as well as eschatological, at the end of history. Advent has been celebrated since about the 4th century. History turns on the person of Jesus Christ. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. During Advent we prepare ourselves and focus in a renewed way, upon the Person of Jesus Christ. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 Advent no Redeemer Broadcasting A Story of Life - A missionary couple shares the account of a problem pregnancy In the studio with us today is a missionary couple who serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They have an interesting, yet heart-wrenching story of expecting a baby. The pregnancy however proved to be a problem pregnancy. Find out more about how the Lord helped this dear couple cope each step of the way with the unexpected news of a baby with deformations. Listen to what happened as the baby came prematurely. Finally hear the account of the Lord taking this little one home to be with Himself. Participant: Jeremiah Diedrich, Julie Diedrich, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Pregnancy, problem pregnancy, abortion, missionary service, Wycliffe no Redeemer Broadcasting Obamacare: A massive government takeover of our personal information and personal health care Health insurance is being taken over by the Federal Government. “Big Brother” is now fully arrived and this is a freedom issue about all of life. There are organizations which are shedding light on this dangerous takeover. Twila Brase is the President of the Citizen’s Council for Health Freedom, and she joins us today to explain the exchanges. The health exchanges will pre-populate the information fields about your personal information. The Federal Government is dependent upon the states saying “yes” to this government takeover of our personal health care. Obamacare offers health care to another 16 million people – but the number of doctors is not increasing and some argue that there is even a decrease as a result of this new law. So the argument that you are covered with a pre-existing condition is a logical “don’t care” because the problem becomes whether care will even be available for you. In other words the question is not pre-existing conditions for some, it is rather availability of care for everyone. In the news, several governors have announced that they will not set up state health care exchanges. This past Thursday, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley sent a letter to Secretary of Health Human Services Kathleen Sibelius saying that South Carolina “should not and will not set up a state-based health care exchange.” Several other governors, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced that their states would also not set up an exchange. Other states where the governors have made similar declarations include Kansas and Alaska. In Missouri, the Democratic governor announced on Thursday that the state would not set up an exchange either, but that announcement resulted from a ballot measure that forbade the governor from moving forward with an exchange without the approval of the state’s legislature. The enormous cost to implement Obamacare has not yet been documented adequately. As you listen to this important interview, you may also want to visit the group’s website at: www.cchfreedom.org . Or call them at: 651-646-8935. Some governors are rising up to say “NO” to Obamacare for their state. We laud these governors for their love of freedom and love of protection of our personal information and health choices. Participants: Twila Brase RN, Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 1 Dec 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Health Care Exchanges, Twila Brase, Obamacare, Socialism no Redeemer Broadcasting Suffering - what good does it serve? This is the time of year wherein many people feel alone and suffer. You may be in the midst of many people and yet feel terribly alone. The heart of Christianity is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel would not be the gospel, had not Christ Himself suffered for us. Our human sufferings are dealt with in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. In this broadcast we have an easy chair discussion about this important topic. Please come along side and join us. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Suffering no Redeemer Broadcasting Thanksgiving - A time to reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God Coming up this coming week is Thanksgiving. In 1621 there was a harvest celebration among the Plymouth Colonists and the Wampanoag Indians. There were earlier giving of thanks by peoples who had settled in America, quite some time prior to the Pilgrims - listen to learn more. We are to give thanks for "all things." What does that mean exactly? We discuss this. The Pilgrims lost about 1/2 of their numbers between the travel to American on the ship, and the first year once settled. We discuss the subtle distinctions between the Pilgrims and the Puritans. The fact is, the Pilgrims were Separatists, and yet they are still Puritans. They are called "Pilgrims," in the sense that they were travelers. The difference between them and the Puritans which came to New England 10 years later was that the Pilgrims felt that the Church of England could not be reformed, while the Puritans felt that it could be Reformed, and did not take a separist stance. For further education: A couple of years ago, we covered in detail, the Thanksgiving tradition with our good friend Dr. Hans Vought. That Podcast is contained on this webpage, dated 11/20/2010. The cut and past link is here: http://www.redeemerbroadcasting.org/podcasts/apa_112010_Thanksgiving.mp3 Today's participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Thanksgiving, Puritans, Pilgrims, French Huguenots, Indians, 1621 Harvest Celebration no Redeemer Broadcasting An Election Postmortem - what happened this past Tuesday? This past Tuesday was an important election. In this edition of A Plain Answer, we look at what happened. We also discuss why the vote went the way it did. We take a look at the ramifications of this vote outcome. There is a divide in our country right now. We see a clash of worldviews and culture. There has been a pitting of class against class and race against race, and it didn't have to be that way. A huge area is our religious liberty and it is under attack. On the positive site, this is an important time for the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the end of our discussion we end on a surprisingly positive note. Please join us. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Election, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Morman, Mormanism, Socialism, Marxist, Constitutional Republic no Redeemer Broadcasting Religious Affiliation - America is growing less religious According to a recent Pew Forum poll, America is growing less religious. There is growth in atheism, particularly among the university professors and students. There is a gradual supplanting of older people with the young along with their attendent lack of Christian belief. We discuss the difference between freedom of worship, and freedom of religion. People like to say that they are "spiritual," however this does not intersect with ofthodox Christianity. What to do about this alarming trend? The religiously unaffiliated typically vote liberal according to the statistics. It is an undisputed fact that a solid majority support legalized abortion. They do this because there is no basis for a moral stance; they become the arbiters of right and wrong, rather than the Word of God. Join us for this discussion to find out more. While all this sounds very pessimistic, know this - that God is over all and He wins. The gospel will advance in a powerful way in history for the glory of Christ. We briefly discuss other areas of the world and the wonderful advance of the gospel. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Nov 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Church affiliation, Religious affiliation, secularism, atheism, no Redeemer Broadcasting Church Discipline - A tough subject but much needed What is church discipline and when is it needed? Join us today for a pastoral discussion of this important topic. The first area of discipline is self discipline. Secondly, if there is a sin between brothers, first go to your brother and seek reconciliation. Church discipline is the last resort, but a needed one in some cases. For the most extreme cases, excommunication is called for. This discussion is very balanced and pastoral, and will lend some balance especially to young men in the ministry who may be overly aggressive in their approach. Later in our discussion we talk about what is meant by "the keys." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Church discipline no Redeemer Broadcasting Missions - The love of God to the world and a unique missions opportunity Imagine what it would be like to be an orphan in a city in Russia. Imagine feeling that you have no hope of ever having a pleasant life, and really no love. In this discussion on missions we take a look at one particular missions outreach, and that is Operation Christmas Child. One of our guests was born in Russia and at age 9 received hope for her life. Missionaries visited her orphanage, and she saw the love of Jesus Christ for the very first time in her life. She was given a "shoebox" filled with practical gifts. For the first time she had her own tooth brush! Jesus said: "assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. The listener has the opportunity to participate in a "packing party" that will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rock Tavern, next Saturday 10/27/12. Participants: Ellen Siletzky, Oksana Nelson, Sue Croston, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Operation Christmas Child, no Redeemer Broadcasting God's Covenant Love - why the Covenant matters to believers What is the Covenant? Did you know that it is tied to relationship? The word points to the way that God relates to us in Jesus Christ. God has set things up such that there is a structure or nature of the relationship, setting out the terms or grounds of the relationship. The gospel story unfolds in a very organic sort of way. We look at the overall unfolding of God's covenantal workings, in particular the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David - all of them pointing forward to the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. We learn that for the substance of the Abrahamic Covenant and the New Covenant, that they are essentially one, and yet they are administered differently. We talk about how to read the Bible. The concept of the Covenant is a uniquely helpful paradigm or prism by which to see the Scriptures as one book. We see that God made a covenant with Adam but then Adam breaks that covenant. Then God establishes a promise in the garden - of a Redeemer, and thus graciously establishes a covenant. God then preserves the created order with Noah so that His covenant purposes can go forward, and then He calls Abraham. There for the first time He makes what we might call a redemptive covenant. The characteristics of these covenants are that they are a bond in blood, sovereignly administered by the God of Israel, with His people. When God makes these various covenants, we realize that they are not a different covenant, but they are all related to the others - in other words, they grow organically and all move towards the New Covenant which God makes with Christ, the Second Adam. At the very end of His life, on the night in which He was betrayed, or Lord Jesus institutes and establishes the New Covenant. "This is the New Covenant in my blood," said Jesus - and he thereby was gathering up the Passover meal and the Exodus tradition. The New Covenant is a re-establishment and is in the blood of Jesus. It is new in the sense that it is established in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and given a permanent form. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 The Covenant, relationship, How to read the Bible no Redeemer Broadcasting Voting: Issues that matter to the Christian While we are nonpartisan, we are not amoral. There are several categories of issues which are of great interest to Christians. Morality cannot be separated from politics. There is a relationship between public and private. One item we discuss is religious freedom. This is not the same as freedom to worship. We also discuss some matters which even nature itself teaches us. Despite the assertions of some, we really cannot separate morals from the political sphere. As we head to the voting booths in one month from today, Christians care a great deal about certain issues - and our religious freedom and free speech extend outside of the church walls. We take a look at the religious freedom in Communist nations. The contrast with America may shock you. The fact is our freedoms have been severely eroded of late, and particularly by the health care law. We also take a look at a particular platform statement without saying which party it is from. Some of the verbiage is completely consistent with the Bible. We also talk about the sanctity of human life (including the end of life), as well as marriage being between one man and one woman. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 6 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Politics, Christian worldview, Christian issues, morality, honesty, loving God, integrity, law abiding, peaceful, abortion, traditional marriage, religious freedom no Redeemer Broadcasting Christians involvement in the world of politics - is it legitimate? Is it proper for a Christian to be involved in politics? What does the Christian's role to be salt and light entail? The Bible assumes that we live in a fallen and corrupt world. What about the notion that the candidate must be as perfect as possible? Is it legitimate to vote for a candidate that is the "lesser of two evils?" A minority of well meaning Christians hold to the position that by voting for the lesser of the evils, (it is said) that "you are still voting for evil." We disagree. If you consistently hold to this sentiment, then you will never vote at all. Is that being salt and light? In this discussion we conclude that it is proper and legitimate to vote for less than perfect candidates. The reason is because we must mitigate evil. Listen closely to learn more. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Christians in politics, Salt and Light, Involvement in this world, Libertarian, Plato, Amish people, Kingdom of God no Redeemer Broadcasting Surprised by Jesus - Aspects of Jesus' person you may not have considered Jesus is fully God and fully man. Sometimes it seems easier for us to accept his divinity than it is to accept His humanity. As we read and think about Jesus, some of the details can almost be surprising. How did Jesus treat His parents? Did Jesus need to pray? Did He worship? We take a look at His sympathy for the downcast, yet his condemnation of those who were externally religious without sincere faith. What kinds of people did Jesus hang out with? What about Jesus' view of children of believing parents? Did the blessing of Jesus accomplish anything? Did you know that there is a man in heaven? Join us for this intriguing look at Jesus Christ and hopefully you will come away with a greater love for our Savior. Participants: Dr. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Jesus, Surprised by Jesus, Jesus' humanity, The incarnation, Jesus the man, Jesus is God, Jesus is fully man no Redeemer Broadcasting The Battle of Antietam - honoring the 150th anniversary Antietam is one of the pivotal battles of the Civil War. There were over 22,700 killed and wounded on a single day. General McClellan had a tremendous opportunity to win the day, and yet he did not. We discuss what the two sides looked like - for example, many of the Confederate soldiers had no shoes. The 150th anniversary of this important battle is on Monday, September 17, 2012. We also discuss the affect that photography played in the civil war. Now with photography, for the first time, some of the horrors of war could be viewed by folks at home. This played a profound role in people's mind. Also of key significance during this time is Abraham Lincoln's waiting for an important victory to launch the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery was a bone of contention during this time frame. Slavery would become a war issue, which Lincoln would use to his advantage. The Constitution at this point, protected slavery. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Seward Osborne, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Battle of Antietam, Civil War, War between the states, Abraham Lincoln, no Redeemer Broadcasting The Christian Citizen and voting your conscience The Presidential election is November 6, 2012 and there are lots of perspectives to help inform our votes. Christians want to maintain a clear conscience as we vote. At the same time we don't want to throw our vote away. We are often frustrated over a virtual two party system. Both groups seem to be drifting to the left, and one faster than the other. What about the Morman religion? Is it simply another "denomination" under Christianity? No it isn't - listen to this podcast to find out more. What if Mitt Romney gets elected, will this energize Morman evangelism? What if Barrack Obama gets elected, will this incite new boldness among Muslims? What about the huge gathering of Muslims prior to the DNC? Mr. Obama has attended Trinity United Church in Chicago - a Liberation Theology church for many years. Mr. Obama's policies have been friendly to Muslims. Our guest notes that a true Muslim would not attend a church, even one based on Marxism. Barrack Obama is Pro-Abortion. On the other hand it appears that Mitt Romney is pro big government, and does not appear to sufficiently advocate downsizing government. (Side note: To his credit, he and his running mate do understand finances,and know how to run businesses, keeping them in the black.) Our guest on the phone forthrightly states that he cannot in good conscience vote for Romney, while another guest in the studio says he will, but with reservation. Participants: Jerry Johnson, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Voting, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Libertarian, Republican, Democrat, Socialism, Muslim, Liar, Marxist no Redeemer Broadcasting The Christian man in the world - what does he look like? As we continue this series on the Christian man and his God given roles, this week we look at the Christian man in the World, or you could say, society. God said "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Gen. 1:26)" What did He mean by this? What about the times when we as men sin - what are we to do? What should be our perspective with respect to work? Things are bad, so is there any reason to be optimistic? Yes there is! Listen to this podcast to find out more. We also talk about callings. Quite often our callings are not the same as what we do to earn money. It's nice when they can match but often they don't match. Sometimes later in life we are blessed with the opportunity to do our callings full time. Regarding callings, just suppose you passionately see something that needs to get done; and others just don't see it like you do. Well, very possibly you are looking at a calling for your life. Participants: Dr. George Grant, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 1 Sep 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Christian men in the world, Christian men in society, dominion, Jesus is Lord, Christian man's role, work, labor no Redeemer Broadcasting The Christian man in the church - our roles and responsibilities As we continue this series on the role of Christian men, this week we look at Christian men in the church. Men are given a unique role by God, and charged by God of being leaders in the church. However that said, they are not "better" than women - just different roles. We also talk about the Christian church and what it "looks like." How does creation tie into the structure that we see in a church? What about Hierarchy? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 25 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Men in the church, elders, deacons, male leadership, servant leadership no Redeemer Broadcasting The Christian man in the home - our role and responsibility What is the role that God has given to Christian men in the home? This discussion is the first part of a series that we intend to air, namely: The Christian man in the home, the Christian man in the church and the Christian man in society. For this discussion we embark on this first discussion by looking at the first book of the Bible, Genesis. The Christian home is THE covenant unit. We touch upon the covenant promises of God to our families. What about the worth of women as compared to men? Well, that is simple - there is no distinction with respect to a woman's worth or we could say with respect to their ontological being. What is the role of a man in the family? For that you will have to listen to this podcast! We also touch upon the necessity of a covenantal perspective as we embrace the biblical Calvinistic understanding pertaining to soteriology - we feel that a covenantal perspective brings softness, love and precious and deep meaning to the whole theological landscape. Leave out the doctrines pertaining to God's covenant love, and you are left with a harsher construct that seems lacking. In other words, it is the covenant that brings our understanding of God's seeking and saving us into right perspective. Salvation is completely of God, and it is based on his electing love and further ties into His placing specific children into our Christian homes. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Home life, Christian men in home, Fatherhood, Man of God, Men and Church, Leadership in the home, Servant leadership, Christian Home no Redeemer Broadcasting Family - God created the family as an institution between a husband and wife God created the family. "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."" Genesis 2:21-23. A true family occurs as a man marries a woman, and the fruit of the marriage union is children. We are encouraged to develop a deep love for children. We talk about young people who are starting to look for their life's mate. What simple guidelines are there? Later in the discussion we cover the myth of over population. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Family, marriage, mate, fellowship, no Redeemer Broadcasting Christians in the Media Should Christians get involved in the media? What about the news - how do we get to the bottom of what is actually true? The internet has become very active and is an important and rather young media platform. If you are listening to this podcast, that fact alone illustrates the use of the internet and the distribution of information and truth using this newer mechanism. Consider that we are created in the image of God. A major component of God creating man in His own image, is the capacity for communication. Also because we are in God's image, we are meant to create - this includes many disciplines, and in particular we must have communication. We communicate in very unique ways. In this part of the conversion, we talk a little about our pets, and the limitation of them. We talk about some of the well known Christians who are in the media. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 4 Aug 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 The media, Christians and the media, salt and light, news, news gathering, anabaptist, Calvinistic, Calvinist, Puritans, Transformation of Society no Redeemer Broadcasting Discouraged? - Staying Optimistic in a Pessimistic Age We all need to give much more attention to what the Bible says. Pessimism is essentially emotional heterodoxy. We take a look at the promise to Abraham - the seed promise which bears fruit in the New Testament when our Lord tells us that all the nations are to be discipled. Psalm 72 is a beautiful picture of the blessing of the gospel that will go to all the nations. Kings will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. After listening to this Podcast, we invite our listeners to learn more by listening to sermons available on Sermon Audio from the Franklin Square OPC church pertaining to this very subject. Just do a Google search for "Sermon Audio Franklin Square". Then scroll down to "Sunday PM" and detect. You will see a series listed there entitled "Salt and Light: Christianity in the Public Arena. Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Christian life, optimism, pessimism, eschatology, Biblical world view, Redeemer Advisor, discouragement, encouragement no Redeemer Broadcasting Immigration - what is good about it and a look at illegal immigration America is a nation of immigrants. Today's discussion looks at immigration and its constitutional mooring, and the advantages of it. We also look at illegal immigration. We look at the biblical concept of "aliens in the land," and the principles garnered from that and its application to us today. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Immigration, Obama, Executive Orders, Illegal aliens, Illegal immigration, no Redeemer Broadcasting Executive Overreach - what has happened to our legislative process? Has the Administration in Washington sidestepped our nation's legislative process? We look at Executive Orders, noting that both sides of the aisle have used the mechanism. The recent use of this power has virtually created new laws, which completely bypass Congress. President Obama has signed about 900 Executive Orders. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Executive Overreach, Democrat, Republican, Executive orders no Redeemer Broadcasting The Church - Christ has a people who assemble and worship together Are you a church-goer? Church attendance may be frowned upon in some quarters, but we here at Redeemer Broadcasting love the Church and encourage listeners to attend a faithful church. The church is one holy, catholic and apostolic in its nature. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 6 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 The Church, catholic, holy, apostolic, church membership no Redeemer Broadcasting Independence Day - its roots, the original religious fervor and where we are today A quick review of the history of the American Revolution, including an analysis of the religious fervor that was evident in 1776 and even 100 years prior. The providence of God is mentioned. From the Puritan days up until the great awakening, almost every person in the colonies considered themselves a British citizen. But something happened at a special event in history (approx. 1730-1750), such that the colonists started to see themselves as the "American people." 90% of the people at the time of the Revolution were Calvinistic. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 The 4th of July, American Revolution no Redeemer Broadcasting Education - Deciding what to do after High School What should a student do who has completed High School? How do you choose a school and what about a Christian vs. Secular school? It is not as simple as you may think. What about going on to graduate school? The Christian grad schools may not be as well funded as needed. In this discussion we include a recent 4 year college graduate in our discussion. What about your passions? We encourage finding a match with your personal passions and gifts. Once on a campus, it is essential that you get involved with a Christian group and a church, independent of whether you attend a Christian or non-Christian school. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Ian Keir, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:54 Education, High School, College, Graduate School, Christian education, How to choose a school no Redeemer Broadcasting 200th Year Anniversary of the War of 1812 Today, June 17th, is the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812. Congress declared war on that day. In this discussion we cover the background leading up to the war, what parties sided together, and what happened during the war. American ships were being ceased by both Britain and France on the high seas. Thus, there was interference in neutral shipping; but there was also impressment of Americans into the British naval service. We talk about Tecumseh and his efforts among the Indian nations. We also talk about Tecumseh's brother Tenskwatawa ("The Prophet") - who turned out to have a negative affect on the whole milieu. During our break midway through the discussion we will listen to the finale of the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. Even though the war was officially ended prior to the Battle of New Orleans, America won a very decisive battle there. It was important that America won, because if we hadn't, then Britain would have either kept the properties, or ceded them back to Spain. We remind the listener that our Constitution requires that is is Congress only, that legitimately declares war. We close our discussion with an excellent work performed by the US Air Force Band - The National Anthem. The lyrics of which actually come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf - also sitting in with us was Bill Diedrich, Mark's Dad Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 The War of 1812, Congress declares war, Britain, France, Napolean no Redeemer Broadcasting Anarchy - What is it, how it exists today, and its dangers In this edition of A Plain Answer we discuss the political theory and practice of "Anarchy." The participants today share a common concern over modern day cultural elites lording it over the populace - that is, elites behind the scenes who are non-elected. However this concern is not the same as the so called anarchy movement. Anarchists believe that all forms of authority are unnecessary. This may include state, church, or some form of economic elite. The children of Israel went through a phase in which "everyone did what was right in their own eyes." Anarchy can be applied to some forms of revolution in history. However not all revolutions fall under the category of anarchy. For example, the American Revolution essentially replaced one authority with another authority, and was legitimate. Such was not the case with the French Revolution. We take a look at what the Scriptures have to say about civil authority. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Ian Keir Sat, 9 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Anarchy, No rulers, no leaders, Politics no Redeemer Broadcasting Fellowship - The joy and help that is available within the Body of Christ Fellowship. Why is it necessary? What are its advantages? In this discussion we take a look at the meaningful relationships that are available to the Christian as he or she participates in the Body of Christ, the Church. Fellowship is the way we carry out the two great commandments of Scripture, namely, love God and love our neighbor. We discuss the unorthodox and destructive emphasis of Mr. Harold Camping, as he asserts that "Satan is in all the Churches." He tells people to leave the Church, and if they don't, they are in danger of going to Hell. Mr. Camping has blasphemed the Body of Christ, and indeed Christ Himself. Contrast this with the Bible's teachings. We are enjoined to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We are to hear the word of God preached and to observe the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. God has given to us the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to take this away from people cuts us off from all that is good. To those former followers of Harold Camping, we would tenderly say: Now that it is clear that Harold Camping was wrong concerning his entire time line of history and the setting of dates, realize too that he was wrong about other his other unbiblical assertions as well. Return to Church. Return to those who love you. Yes, we are imperfect, but here you will find those who love and care about your soul and will come along side and give you loving support. Fellowship with the Body of Christ is the norm for the Christian. God is not done with His church, in fact He is building it with power and the gates of Hell shall not be successful against it! Return to those who really love you. It is time to come home to deep fellowship. Christianity was never intended to be lived out as a "Lone Ranger." Christ is calling you to return to His Body. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Jun 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Fellowship, The church, Harold Camping, End of Church age, Family Radio, Family Stations Inc, WFME, KEAR, Tom Evans, Susan Espinoza, Bill Thornton, Harold Camping, Charlie Menut, Latter Rain, Harold Camping cult no Redeemer Broadcasting Pentecost - Now that Christ is ascended, He sends The Helper We reflect on Pentecost - it is a Greek word meaning 50 days. It is based first, in the Old Testament. Yet it is in New Testament times, where we see the re-formation of the church which is the beginning of the New Testament church - and significantly, it includes Gentiles now! God uses a special gift of languages, or perhaps hearing, to convince the Jews then present that God was now folding into the covenant family, the Gentiles who believed on Jesus Christ. We also discuss the fact that when you receive Jesus Christ, you also receive the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 is one proof of that. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:37 no Redeemer Broadcasting The Ascension - why it matters and its huge role in our lives and in missions Tomorrow, many churches celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. We learn that Jesus showed Himself to more than 500 people at once. After this, Jesus departs into heaven. But it doesn't end there! Because Jesus has ascended, He then was able to send His Holy Spirit to us. We talk about Jesus being seated on His heavenly throne. This is not a static position. Jesus rules and reigns in a powerful way from this heavenly throne. In the meantime before his second coming, He is successfully bringing men to Himself. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 The Ascension, Gospel advance, evangelism, Great Commission, gospel success no Redeemer Broadcasting Mother's Day - a time to celebrate and appreciate our Moms Tomorrow is Mother's Day! This is a wonderful time to celebrate our Moms and express our thanks to them, if in fact they are still alive. In this discussion we talk about our own mothers, and then move the discussion to some mothers who are mentioned in the Bible. We also talk about the societal implications of godly mothers. Sat, 12 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Mother's Day, Mothers, Mothers in the home, Home Schooling, training covenant children no Redeemer Broadcasting Missions - What is God doing in this world of ours? Missions. That word may evoke a picture of a husband and wife diligently working in a foreign tribal people for 40 years, sustaining persecution, and completing their work with few converts. While this does happen we must think about the larger picture too. God is doing some amazing things worldwide. The success comes from God and rests on the proximate foundational work of the scenario just mentioned. In this discussion we urge our listeners to not look at the world and the Bible merely through the interpretive lens of Americanism. There are marvelous stories coming out of Africa, Asia, and China. The next time your American friend tells you that things are getting worse and worse (in America) and that is proof for for the certain soon return of Christ, we hope you think as a Christian first, and remind your friend of what Jesus said to the disciples in Acts 1:7,8. The focus of our Lord is that of the Great Commission, not speculative end-time scenarios. Our Lord wants us to see that we receive power because of the Holy Spirit which He has given us. The gospel of Christ will be successful. That may shock you in our 21st century American culture. Here in America much of our Christian foundation is under serious attack. But if we reflect on the words of Jesus as shared in this broadcast, we will be reminded of the thorough pervasive influence of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the entire world. Simply put, God wins. The "leaven" affects (in a profound way) the entire lump of "dough." In another parable Jesus talks of a mustard seed. Human thinking would not anticipate what would happen with such a small seed. Please tune in to find out more. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Missions, Spread of gospel, Gospel success, eschatology, missionary, African missions, China missions, conversions, Asian missions no Redeemer Broadcasting Miracles - The Christian faith is founded on the greatest miracle ever Miracles. What do you think about them? You may have become calloused to even considering legitimate miracles because of the many hucksters on television who purport miracles but are really charlatans. But there does exist a realm of the miracle, despite the false prophets which today are in abundance. The greatest miracle of all was the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Another fantastic miracle is the new birth - that point in your life when God becomes real to you, and He truly and miraculously grants spiritual "eyesight" to you and you become a child of God. In this program we take a step back and try hard to lay aside our biases and open the Word of God with sincere hearts as we take a look at this most interesting subject. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Miracles, Charismatic gifts, healings, the new birth, Jesus turned water into wine no Redeemer Broadcasting Church Eldership - what does the Bible require? The elders of the church are placed there by Christ and described in the New Testament. In a previous A Plain Answer broadcast, we talked about Jesus being our King. At that time we talked about Jesus visibly governing His church through the officers which He gives to the church. A listener asked the question of how can people be disciplined by imperfect humans, and especially if the one doing the disciplining has hidden sins greater then the person being disciplined? We talk about discipline that is insensitive and not according to the Scriptures. Our view of Christ's kingship is conditioned by the Scriptures in which Jesus is meek and lowly of heart and bids people to come unto Him that they might have life. Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Elders, New Testament Church, Christ's Kingship no Redeemer Broadcasting Hope Because of the Resurrection We have Resurrection hope in a Good Friday world. In this world of suffering, loss of life, disappointment, job loss, etc. - in this world of mayhem. God gives us a solid hope and assurance because of the resurrection of Jesus for the dead. In the midst of these things, we have the joy and hope of Christ because of His resurrection. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:50 no Redeemer Broadcasting The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ The most important part of the Christian calendar is celebrated this time of the year. In this program we review the account of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We talk about the gospel - it is centered on the person and work of Christ. It includes nothing from our side, but is entirely from heaven. It is not a gospel of politics or a gospel of feminism or whatever. The gospel really is centered on Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Savior. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Gospel, gospel of Christ, resurrection, The Resurrection of Christ no Redeemer Broadcasting Christ our Prophet, Priest and King Our Lord Jesus executes three offices - that of Prophet, Priest and King. He is the one Mediator appointed by God to us. In the office of Prophet, Christ reveals to the church by His Spirit and word the whole will of God. As a Priest, we are reminded of His offering of Himself one time as a sacrifice without spot to God. He makes reconciliation for the sins of His people. Plus He continues to make continue intercession for us. As our King, Christ calls a people to Himself and gives them church officers, laws and censures. Our King Jesus bestows saving grace on His elect, rewards our obedience, and corrects us for our sins. Praise God, that He preserves us as well, as restrains and overcomes our enemies. The focus here is not merely political - but Christ's kingship is exercised as King of kings, and Lord of lords. We especially consider how Jesus Christ, the Head and King of the Church rules in our midst via the church. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Christ our Prophet Priest and King no Redeemer Broadcasting Lent: Why do Protestants celebrate it, and what is at its core? Christians often celebrate Lent. Certainly Roman Catholics observe this, but there are also many Protestants who do as well. Lent means "spring." As we look forward to our most important holiday in the Christian calendar, namely Easter (Resurrection Day), many Christians optionally find that it is helpful to focus on our own repentance and dealing with our own sins. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Lent, Repentance, Protestants observing Lent, Roman Catholic, 40 days no Redeemer Broadcasting St. Patrick: His story and why we celebrate his life So you thought only Roman Catholics would talk about St. Patrick? Well, that's normal. When we were kids, we all went to school on "St. Patty's Day" and our Roman Catholic buddies would see if we were wearing green! Remember those days? I guess that dates us. But have you ever looked into the life of this godly man? Join us for an engaging discussion of St. Patrick and sit back and enjoy the discussion of this amazing man of God. Oh, and don't worry, your host and guests are not turning into "Romanists," but we are embracing the history as God has providentially worked in this world of ours! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:50 St. Patrick, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Reformation, Myths of St. Patrick, Shamrock, no Redeemer Broadcasting In the news again: Harold Camping and his weak apology Harold Camping in the news - it seems to never go away. Three days ago he posted a letter to his website in which he issued his latest statement. Today on the first segment of A PLAIN ANSWER we discuss this particular letter. We deal with what was posted, and more significantly what was missing! Harold Camping included his entire staff in this statement in which he admits that what Family Radio did was sinful in the setting of dates for Christ's return. Yes, that's right, he included everyone - that is, "the staff of Family Radio." What is most interesting is what he did NOT say in his letter. We also address his justification of spreading falsehoods and lies about the end of the world, under the guise of people hearing "for the first time the Bible's warning." In this letter of Harold Camping, as with others, there is no grace and no real repentance either. Perhaps you would like to hear other podcast downloads dealing with most of the Harold Camping heresies - you are invited to listen to these other free downloads, dated: 7/16/11, 7/09/11, 5/28/11, 5/21/11, 5/14/11, 3/05/11, 1/08/11, 11/06/10, 10/28/10, 3/27/10, and 9/19/09. Yes, this Harold Camping story is an on-going saga and from time to time we will comment on it. If you still need more to think about after the podcast, we invite you to visit our home page, and scroll down to the link: "A blog for Family Radio listeners or staff with questions" - just click on the link for a discussion of this important letter and the implications of it. The second segment of today's discussion deals with the topic of "Natural Law." Finally we close with a quick comment about shame and the grace of God. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Harold Camping, Family Radio, Staff of Family Radio, May 21 no Redeemer Broadcasting Original Sin: What does the Bible teach - is there true innocence at birth? Christian theology teaches that the guilt of Adam passed on to all future generations - is this fair? That is, suppose you grant the premise that God says all men are sinners from birth forward - is it a valid question to charge God with the "sin" of lack of fairness? What does the Scripture say? The Apostle wrote: "Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19). If it is "unfair" that we inherited Adam's guilt, then should we presume that you think it is also unfair that Christ died for a people in their place (ie, substitutionary atonement)? Think about it. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Sin, Original sin, election, predestination, judgment, Arminianism, Calvinism, Historic Biblical Faith, Free will Baptists no Redeemer Broadcasting Culture: What does it mean and what makes it wonderful? Culture. We hear of "multiculturalism" or "diversity." But what is the basis for meaningful culture in all of its loving relationships? The discussion this week stems from last week's topic of big government imposing their values on our families and religious and societal groups. Culture comes from the word "cultivate" (tilling the soil). Richard Niebuhr said that Culture is that secondary environment that we lay on top of nature. We talk about the Tower of Babel and the curse of God in confusing the languages, so that their culture would not be able to communicate among themselves. We also talk about the goodness of diversity. Abraham experienced the growth of a theocentric culture. We are very much part of the Judeo-Christian culture here in America. Multiculturalism as we know it today has some negative aspects as related to Christianity - please listen to find out more! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Culture no Redeemer Broadcasting Government mandated health care - a dangerous intrusion into our lives Suppose you were successful and have established your own health insurance company. You are a Christian and also as a hard working person established your health insurance company for the glory of Christ and to help people. Under the new mandate from the current Administration however, you will be required to provide contraceptives free of charge, including abortifacients! (ie, medicines which cause abortions). That's right, your constitutional rights are being run over roughshod and there appears to be nothing that you can do about it. Or is there? Join us for this non-partisan look at this major news item and its implications for freedom loving Christians - including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 18 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Abortion, Government Mandated Health Care, Marxism, Freedom, Religion, Politics, Obamacare no Redeemer Broadcasting God's Redemptive history and the need for adopting a long range vision for Kingdom advancement Why is it that we as Christians are so short sighted in modern 21st century America? In today's discussion we take a look at God's Redemptive plan in history. God's unfolding of His plan often takes much longer than we think with our puny understanding. We talk about having an eschatological perspective and frame that within the relative slowness of God's moving. We talk about Abraham, and the bondage of Israel for 400 years! The advance of God's kingdom takes time and we are to be encouraged as we diligently serve our Lord with keen focus. We know that God is on His throne and that His Kingdom will be successful. Participants: Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Spread of God's Kingdom. no Redeemer Broadcasting How to read the Bible - what about 'deeper spiritual meanings?' The early church dealt with the gnostic heresy. This problem never really went away and reappeared at various times in the church's history. There is much pride involved in such secret knowledge. The followers of Harold Camping's heresies have demonstrated this. But that aside, are there not different genres to be observed in the Scriptures? Yes there are. So we have the case of not over reacting to the recent Camping scandal. We take a look at the book of Psalms, and in particular Psalm 1. We see simile as well as metaphor. When we get to the last book of the Bible, Revelation (which is apocalyptic literature), we see Jesus riding a horse with a sword coming out of His mouth! Obviously there are literary forms present. But as we observe the various forms, there are literal meanings in all of the Bible. We need to be careful as we approach the Scriptures. One of the HUGE safety nets for our understanding is to be in community. We need to be in fellowship with God's people in a church that is faithful to the Bible and is preaching it and exercising the keys and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. For personal devotions, we also recommend some particular books of the Bible to begin reading, particularly if you are new to Bible reading. Towards the end of our program we share some more about the Psalms and how they are of such profound help to the people of God. The Psalms are both a hymn book and a prayer book. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 4 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 How to read the Bible, Deeper spiritual meanings, Harold Camping, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, Family Radio cult, Campingites no Redeemer Broadcasting How have the Saints been saved through the centuries? As we approach this subject we first look at how a person comes to faith in Christ in our day. Was the Old Testament Saint saved in a different way? What does the Bible say about Abraham - what did He experience? The text says: "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." We mention also, the Biblical idea of God working in families - the "promise is to you and your children," we are told. What does that mean? If you are like many American 21st century Christians, you may struggle a little with the meaning of that text. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 How are we saved?, How as Abraham saved?, The covenant, Covenant children, Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, Biblical theology, John Calvin no Redeemer Broadcasting Abortion - what is the biblical perspective? On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court handed down Roe v. Wade. It has been 39 years now, of legalized abortion, and the estimates are that 54 Million babies have been killed in America. Our guest Kevin Chiarot was one of the people who helped found the Crisis Pregnancy Center in New Paltz, NY in the early '80's. We discuss the battle of the words, such as: "choice", "women's rights", "reproductive rights", etc. These words make the pro-life people sound like we are tyrannical. Choice becomes an abstraction and obscures what is really chosen. The pro-abortion people ultimately defend their right to kill a child. Participants: Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Abortion, Roe v. Wade, Life, Death, no Redeemer Broadcasting The Baptism of Jesus: What did it signify? John came to the Jordan river inviting people to a baptism of repentance. Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. We spend some time early in the broadcast discussing the tremendously interesting person of John the Baptist. His diet and dress were very unique. He was an odd man who lived it the desert, surviving on a diet of locusts and wild honey! Then we discuss Jesus and how that he was baptized by John. Why was this necessary? In this baptism, Jesus was identifying with the people. He identified in their plight. He was not a sinner, and we are. As the people came to John, they confessed their sins. They knew they were sinners and were asking God to forgive them. Jesus was baptized with the baptism of sinners because He can take away the sins of the world - the very bad sins. Sins you would think that are so despicable, that they could never be forgiven. But Jesus would forgive even these sins. And so Jesus took part in the same sign to indicate that He would be providing for us sinners. He is closely identified to us in our sin and yet remained sinless. Just think, all of our sins are transferred to Jesus and all of His benefits are transferred to us! The Heavenly Father's love for Jesus is gifted to us! Praise be to God. This baptism of Jesus also hearkened back to the "baptism" that would have taken place for the Levitical priesthood. Jesus was therefore being anointed by His own Heavenly Father. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:37 Jesus' Baptism, no Redeemer Broadcasting Epiphany: Light has come! The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In Western churches, it commemorates the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King. Jesus appeared to the world, and the church calendar lists January 6 as Epiphany day. We are reminded that Jesus came not only for the house of Israel, but for the whole world. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 7 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Epiphany, Wise Men, Light of Christ, Light has come, 3 Kings no Redeemer Broadcasting Looking to our Lord for the New Year - is there hope? Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet? What is a proper perspective to have during this time of year as we look forward? We have an opportunity to look at what we have done in the past, and to plan for the future in the light of Christ's faithfulness to us. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 New Year's resolution, evalutate where we have been, 2012, God's promises no Redeemer Broadcasting The Fullness of time - Lessons and Carols for Christmas Scripture readings and readings from older fathers in the faith. We intersperse these with carols. We hope you enjoy it! Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Lessons and Carols, The fullness of time no Redeemer Broadcasting Jesus Christ has come into the world, taking on Human flesh, bacame man and yet retained His diety The Incarnation means that the eternal God sent His son into the world to seek and to save the lost. He did this through human flesh, born of a woman, born under the law. His name would be called Immanuel, meaning: God with us. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Our first parents turned their backs on God. Jesus humbled Himself and came to us, seeking us, even though we sinned against Him and have offended Him. Jesus became a Servant. We also talk about Mary the mother of Jesus. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Incarnation, born of Mary, The humiliation, The coming Savior, Messiah, Isaiah no Redeemer Broadcasting Advent and the 2nd Coming of Christ Advent - from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming." We discuss this whole season of Advent and especially focus on the 2nd coming of Christ. This is the Christian's blessed hope. Churches have celebrated this event at this time of year. We briefly review three celebrations by God's people: Pentecost, Passover and Tabernacles. Early churches would take their lead from the idea of celebrations. The Old Testament prophets often wrote about both comings - the first and the second, and many times made very little distinction between them. This sometimes makes it hard for us to understand them. We also discuss false prophets, who feel obliged to set dates, such as Harold Camping. This practice is old and is heretical. It places a stumbling block before people and also gives reason for the non-Christian to mock the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Second Coming, Harold Camping, May 21, October 21 2011, Family Radio, Tom Evans, Susie Espinoza, Bill Thornton, The coming of Christ, false prophets no Redeemer Broadcasting The Secularization of Christmas and our response There is an effort in our land to eliminate Christianity from public life. Even last week's Presidential speech for Thanksgiving, made no reference to God! A comparison of a newer Charlie Brown cartoon with an older one written by Charles Schulz is also very telling. The contemporary idea of inclusiveness and diversity has been used as leverage to squelch Christianity in the public square. We can still celebrate Christmas in our homes, but are under increasing pressure to not talk about God in the public square, or present Christianity on commercial TV. This is by design and is not an accident. We discuss the use of the phrase "Merry Christmas." We even take a short look at Hanukkah - which celebrates a real event in Jewish history. There are some who think that we should not celebrate Christmas at all. We share information about the Puritans, who were an early group who did not feel they should celebrate Christmas. They were attempting to remove the pagan elements, and didn't celebrate. We love the Puritans, but don't share that perspective. However we acknowledge that there is freedom to not observe. This is an important distinction - that is, freedom of conscience. We also discuss the topic of Christmas music that was written to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Christmas, celebration of Christmas, no Redeemer Broadcasting Giving thanks to God in the midst of loss We just came through the national observance of Thanksgiving here in America. We review some of the facts surrounding the giving of thanks of the Pilgrims. They had lost 50 percent of the group of people who came over with them - that is, within one year, half had perished. Yet they gave thanks. We review both the Pilgrims and in general, the Puritans. But what of thanksgiving in the midst of loss and sorrow? Some of you have lost loved ones at this very time of year. The men participating in this discussion had just lost a close friend the same week as the broadcast, and we all were grieving. Maybe you have lost a job, or perhaps have gone through the "death of a vision." Some of you have lost relationships. We cover some simple notions to consider as you work through your grief and suffering. We also would invite you to email us with any inquiries. Our pastor friends would be happy and honored to deal with your questions. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Pilgrims, Puritans, death, suffering, loss, divorce, marital problems, love, literacy, Thanksgiving no Redeemer Broadcasting What is one of the most important things to be thankful for? What is penal substitution in Christian theology? We talk about Jesus' death on the cross, and his death for our sins. Christ bore punishment in our place. We talk about the wrath of God, and tie that to the love of God. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice which placates the wrath of God for our sins. It is the love of God that both results in just wrath in the face of evil and sin and that same love that sets forth the Son as an atoning sacrifice to bear that wrath. There is no pitting of the love of God and the wrath of God against each other. Participants: Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:42 Penal Substitution, death of Christ, God's wrath, Isaiah 53, Christ redeemed us no Redeemer Broadcasting This year marks the 400th anniversay of the King James Bible Have you ever wondered about Bible translations? This year marks the 400th anniversary of the well known King James Version of the Bible. What other translations were in existence at that time? What did the Pilgrims and Puritans use? What was the Geneva Bible? What is the difference between a literal translation, a dynamic equivalency, and a paraphrase? Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Bible Translations, KJV, King James Version, 1611, Dynamic equivalency, paraphrase, ESV, NKJV no Redeemer Broadcasting The concept of the Trinity flows naturally from the Scriptures In this second installment of our discussion about the Trinity, we take a closer look at this teaching that flows from the Scriptures themselves. We focus particularly on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We look at the prologue to John's gospel and contrast that with gnosticism. We also talk about docetism (ie, the belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion). We spend some time looking at some of the church's creeds and confessions and encourage the listener to investigate them and become familiar with them. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Trinity, Tri-unity, Docetism, Gnostics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormans, Harold Camping no Redeemer Broadcasting The Reformation and how it extends into Protestant denominations We don't like Halloween, but we do like the Reformation. October 31st is significant because of Martin Luther and the his 95 theses in 1517. Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31 in remembrance of the Reformation, particularly by Lutheran and some Reformed church communities. We review the state of the American church and how it has often embraced an anti-intellectual approach. Seminaries are often put down, and there is almost a badge of honor that goes along with being ignorant. We have forgotten our history, and we seem to take pride in it. We review the life of Martin Luther, as well as the conditions on the ground in the church of his day. We explore the follow-on reformers, including John Calvin as well as the various Confessions of Faith. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Jerry Johnson, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Martin Luther, Thunderstorm, St. Anne, Halloween, 2nd London Confession, Westminster Confession of Faith, Presbyterian, Baptist, 95 Theses no Redeemer Broadcasting The Bible teaches the doctrine of the Trinity - find out more The Bible never uses the word Trinity, and yet the concept is undeniably present in the Scriptures. We start our discussion by reviewing another monotheistic religion, namely Islam. The unique position of Christianity is that we believe in one God, and yet there are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Participant: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Trinity, Tir-unity, Monotheism, Islam, no Redeemer Broadcasting Arab immigration, conversions of Muslims, and Dhimmitude (second class citizens) During the Arab immigration here in America well over 100 years ago, and into the 30's, 40's and 50's of the 20th Century, most of these Arabs were Christians and they were fleeing persecution. Christians and Jews are said to be "people of the book." We have a special status, but that does not mean equality. However for Muslims who convert to Christianity - historically, it is considered treason against the state, and some countries, such as Egypt have in their laws, the death penalty for such conversions. For people who were already Christians and were conquered, they have Dhimmitude - this is the case for the Koptic Christians. We talk about Baptism, which is a profound change of status. The Muslims tend to take Baptism far more seriously than many evangelicals do. We talk about Baptism as being a "sign and seal" of God's Covenant of grace. The Muslims literally see Baptism as a mark of treason. We grieve over the fact that our own Christian friends here in American often do not see the import of this important Sacrament. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Muslim, Islam, Sharia, Dhimmis, Dhimmitude, Crusades, Hudad Laws, Youcef Nadarkhani, Mulsims in America, Koptic Christians no Redeemer Broadcasting When did Islam begin, and why did it spread so rapidly? Are there different types of Muslims? In this two part series on Islam in Christian perspective, we discuss the definitions of "Muslim," and "Islam." We explore the types of Muslims: Sunni/Salafists, Sh'ia, Suffi/Dervish, and Alawis/Nusayris. Here in the Hudson Valley, there is going to be an excellent Forum to be given by Dr. John Vance on this very subject. This coming Friday night, the first part of the series will be held at at Westminster Presbyterian Church, on October 14, 2011, starting at 7:30 PM. Come early at 6:45 PM and we will be there to have some pizza and soda with folks - we would love to meet you! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Muslim, Islam, Sharia, Dhimmis, Dhimmitude, Crusades, Hudad Laws, Youcef Nadarkhani, Mulsims in America, Koptic Christians no Redeemer Broadcasting Is America's problem merely economic in nature, or does it run much deeper? We continue last week's discussion that was prompted by en experience of heavy taxation in our town in terms of school taxes rising precipitously. What if a leader seeking public office were to take a stand that all that really mattered was economics and the candidate did not take into consideration the human condition and morality? How is your spiritual condition today? What if you see someone who is very talented and works hard, and becomes exceedingly productive and prosperous. Can you rejoice with that person? Or do you want what they have? Greed in the human heart is a terrible evil. In our political system greed and class warfare is often at the root cause of some very bad laws. We comment about laws that have been put in place that are nothing more than legalized thievery. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Hand outs, big government, entitlements, taxes, tithing, tithe, 10 percent, freedom, God's law no Redeemer Broadcasting Taxes: we have to live with them, but when does the government overstep its bounds? Jesus said to "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Have you ever thought about what are the limits of what belongs to "Caesar?" What percentage of your income can the government legitimately lay claim to? We look at some world wide statistics which have been compiled regarding economic freedom among nations - which nation has the most freedom, and which has the least, and where does the United States stack up? Is there a connection between persecution of Christians and economic freedom? What about seniors in the Town of Olive in Ulster County in NY State who cannot afford to pay their school taxes? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Government, Taxes, Civil law, taxation, representation, law, politics, freedom, God's law, American political system no Redeemer Broadcasting 'I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven' - what did Jesus mean? In Matthew 16, is recorded Peter's confession of Christ. Jesus then turns to Peter and says: "...I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.." In this program, we discuss the authority that has been given exclusively to the Christian church. Protestants and Catholics do not agree as to the meaning of this exact verse. Catholics see this as pointing to the role of the Pope. Protestants on the other hand, also see this statement as pertaining to authority, but come out with a different conclusion. The Protestant Reformation would teach that the church has authority from Christ, through the Apostles, to preach the gospel of the Jesus Christ, to teach the whole counsel of God, and to administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Reformation position is that the administration of these Sacraments are within the purview of the Church only. We also address a listener's question/assertion regarding being baptized by a non-church group. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Baptism, The Keys, Peter, Pope, keys of the kingdom of heaven, Sacrament of initiaion no Redeemer Broadcasting Reflections on the 9-11 attacks and considerations going forward We discuss the 9-11 terrorist attacks, this year being the 10th anniversary. We provide a summary of the attacks. Why did these attacks occur? We attempt to provide some thoughts in answer to that tough question. We review Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. We review the Sunni Islamist radicals. We also cover the Shias, as well as briefly discuss Iraq and Iran. We explore some of the feelings of that day. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Terrorist attacks, Muslims, Al-Qaeda, Sunni Islamist , Osama bin Laden, Political Correctness no Redeemer Broadcasting Some facts about baptism to remember Is baptism a repeatable Sacrament? What if you were baptized by another body, is your baptism still valid? Is baptism precisely related in time to the salvific work of the the triune God of the Scriptures? What is a Sacrament? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Baptism, infant baptism, credo-baptism, water baptism, sacrament, Roman Catholic baptism no Redeemer Broadcasting A closer look at the Sacraments, in particular, the Lord's Supper A continuation of a discussion that we began four weeks ago. We have signs and seals of the covenant in both Testaments. The Sacraments communicate to us the benefits of Christ. As important as Sacraments are, do all churches employ them? The Scriptures alone, teach us that there are two Sacraments. God pledges Himself to us, and these Sacraments are attached to the Word. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Eucharist, Lord's Supper, Sacraments, Body of Christ, Blood of Christ, memorial, no Redeemer Broadcasting Jesus took on human flesh, becoming man, and yet did not lose his divinity Jesus took on human flesh and yet remained fully God. He is the only begotten Son of God. He is very God of very God. Jesus subjected Himself to the creation, and dwelt among us. Understanding the humanity of Jesus helps us in our worship services - download the podcast to find out how. In some respects, this perspective has the potential for transforming your worship service, and making it more God-centered. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Incarnation, born of Mary, fully man, fully God, acceptable worship, humanity of Jesus, no Redeemer Broadcasting How does good character intersect with our national leaders? What kind of character should a good leader possess? Did the founders of America say anything about the kind of people who would be necessary for this form of government? Can a person be a good person in public, yet not a good person in private? "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Politics, godliness, character, lying, governing, public life, private life, godliness, office-holder, president, representative government no Redeemer Broadcasting The implications of good character. It seems that character is not discussed much in our day, but as we look back at how the Christian ministry was conducted in the 19th century, we see more than just the therapeutic/motherly qualities - we also see ministry much more directed towards character formation. We mention the McGuffey Readers for example. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and understanding. Discipline in our personal lives is required. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 6 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Christian character, Knowldege of God, Knowledge of Self, Morality, culrture no Redeemer Broadcasting What are Sacraments and why do we need them? What are Sacraments and where did they come from? Were there Sacraments in the Old Testament? What is meant by them being described as visible signs and seals of God's Covenant of grace? How many sacraments are there? What about the differences between the Protestant Reformation understanding and the Roman Catholic tradition? Are the Sacraments of the New Testament efficacious? Participant: Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Sacrament, Sign and Seal of God's Covenant of Grace, Baptism, Lord's Supper, Eucharist, The meal, Covenant children, rites no Redeemer Broadcasting Handling loss of a loved one, and other losses in life What about the Christian and grief? What kinds of emotions are experienced as we go through the grievous losses in our lives? Are there feelings of guilt or regret as we are faced with the finality of our loss? What if you feel like your faith will not be able to survive your loss? Sometimes with the death of a loved one, we feel an almost unremitting sorrow when it sinks in that we can no longer have this person in our lives. For the person who is dying, sometimes there is intense sorrow that they have to leave things undone. What is the dynamic that life in this fallen world "plays" on us? What about the Scripture - how does it provide comfort for the child of God? What about the feelings of loss with divorce, or perhaps a job loss? There is a Pioneer - One who has forged the way, and has defeated death, and has been raised from the dead. Please join us for this honest discussion of a serious topic. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Death, Loss, finality of death, Scripture promisses, resurrection of Christ, Christ has abolished death, real grief, real hope no Redeemer Broadcasting Facing the call of God to go to church, finding forgiveness and assurance after confused by Camping Have you been feeling the tug of God the Holy Spirit on your heart, to return to church? Perhaps you left the church as a result of Harold Camping's false teaching. Now the Lord has been dealing with your heart. Some folks have contacted us and are finding it hard to have an assurance of their soul's salvation and of God's forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Maybe you want to return to church, but the embarrassment seems just too great to allow you to return to the Body of Christ. What about the so called "Christian Sabbath?" How do you treat the Lord's day, which Jesus said was created for man, and yet still holds for us today? All this is discussed in this edition of A Plain Answer. Participants: Dr. Mark Allison, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Harold Camping, The Church, returning to church, guilt, lack of assurance, no hope, forgiveness, fellowship, the Sabbath, Lord's Day no Redeemer Broadcasting The how and why of returning to the Church, after Harold Camping Many folks have left the church due to Harold Camping's false teaching. In this podcast, we discuss this in detail. We base our discussions on actual facebook postings - sincere questions that people have, as they are trying to pick up the broken pieces of their lives after being nearly destroyed by following Harold Camping. Participants: Dr. Mark Allison, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 9 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Harold Camping, End of Church Age, God is done with the church, depart out, Family Radio, false prophet, Church, no Redeemer Broadcasting What is the order of salvation as God saves His people? Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about the "order of salvation?" What about the biblical doctrine of election? We also discuss Harold Camping's false understanding and misrepresentation of this precious doctrine. Does God do all the work in salvation? What is man's part? What does the Scripture teach? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 election, justification, sanctification, glorification, Harold Camping, predestination, ordo salutis no Redeemer Broadcasting Exploring the various experiences of how God saves His people, and assurance of salvation Have you ever felt a little bad that your experience of salvation doesn't seem to measure up to other people's expectations? Some folks have had sincere and dramatic conversion experiences. Others were brought up in a Christian home and heard the gospel from infancy. Maybe your experience was that of the Lord reaching down to you in a very subtle but real way. In this program we discuss the various ways that God comes to people and gives them salvation. We avoid a "cookie cutter" approach that is sometimes used to make people feel guilty that their experience didn't match a particular set pattern. Nonetheless you know you are saved. How about those of you who are not sure? We also make an appeal to simply believe the good news about Jesus Christ. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Born again, Revivalism, From a child thou has known, infant, covenant home, Billy Graham, Bible camps, How to find God, Salvation no Redeemer Broadcasting Pain and suffering and the Providence of God How do you work through the fact that God ordains all things after the counsel of His will, as Ephesians tells us; and yet there are horrible sufferings going on in this world? Participants; Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT 23:18 God's Sovereignty, Providence, Human Suffereing no Redeemer Broadcasting Jesus and His nature, Fully Man and Fully God Harold Camping has taught that Jesus is Michael the Archangel. He seems to teach that Jesus is the Father - the old heresy of Modalism. Harold Camping says that Jesus did not die on the cross for our sins, but it was a mere demonstration. But what does the Bible really say? Did you know that all these assertions of Harold Camping are very old lies that have been around for centuries? The church over the centuries has very carefully articulated creeds and confessions which help us understand the person and salvation work of Jesus Christ. In this broadcast we review the Nicean Creed. We look at the Shorter Catechism. We talk about Modalism (also called Sabellianism). We deal with Ontology as we discuss the nature of Christ's being. We are not inventive in this broadcast, but simply share what is the Historic, Christian faith with respect to the person of Jesus Christ. Participants: Rev. Kevin Chiarot, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Dual nature of Christ, Modalism, Fully Man and fully God, Harold Camping false prophet, Jesus died on the cross for our sins no Redeemer Broadcasting Can we be saved outside of the Church? Has God forsaken His Bride? A facebook posting asked the question: "Can Salvation occur and be maintained, (by the Holy Spirit through the Word), outside of belonging to a physical church, a physical body of believers?" In this broadcast we assemble three pastors who are very experienced and who also are intimately engaged in defending the Christian faith against the claims of "Campingism." What about your own personal salvation? Are you a lone range Christian? Have you left the Church, thinking that all churches were filled with Satan, when in fact, you were mistaken? Can a Christian make it on their own, without the structure that the Epistles give us, of pastors, elders and deacons? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Rev. Bill Shishko, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 4 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 End of Church age, May 21, May 21 2011, Judgment day, Family Radio, Harold Camping, false prophet, The church, leaving the church no Redeemer Broadcasting May 21 passes: No massive earthquakes, no rapture, but many disillusioned people Where you one of the people who were affected by Harold Camping's false May 21 "rapture" date? Did you notice that there were no earthquakes starting 6:00 PM in New Zealand, like Harold originally said there would be? Were you one of the folks who liquidated your entire bank account, to help "spread the word!" but to no avail? Now you are without cash going forward, but worse, you realize that you were fooled by this man. Lot's of people are in your same position. In this broadcast, we talk about where to go from here. Many people were in contact with Redeemer Broadcasting during this intense period of time. Harold went into hiding for a while, in fact he didn't stay at his own home for one evening. finally he came out of hiding and went on the air live on May 23, only to spiritualize the whole event, and further drive a wedge between him and the Christian faith. Join us for this important discussion as we suggest what you can do, now that you know without doubt that Harold Cmaping is a false prophet. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 28 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 May 21, May 21 2011, Harold Camping, false prophet, 290 Heggenberger Road, Bill Thornton, Sue Espinoza, Tom Evans, Harold Camping, Oakland Headquarters no Redeemer Broadcasting Harold Camping's failed May 21 prophecy and how to handle if you have been fooled by him Have you been fooled by Harold Camping's false date? Many have. We explore the root cause of the problem with Harold Camping. One of the pastors in this discussion met with Mr. Camping in December 1993 in accordance with Mathew 18 and the erring brother. We also discuss "where do you go from here," if you have been duped by this man. Participants: Rev. Bill Shishko, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 May 21, May 21 2011, End of World, Judgment Day, Harold Camping, Alameda, Family Radio, Open Forum no Redeemer Broadcasting Is God done with the church? Is Baptism and the Lord's Supper abolished? Is Christ returning May 21? Harold Camping is in the news lately. He is predicting with 100% certainty that Christ is returning next Saturday, May 21. He denies baptism, denies the Lord's Supper. He says that if you are in a church, you are going to hell. He says that Jesus did not die on the cross for your sins, but did that somehow from eternity past. The bizarre teachings of this man seem to mount as time passes. His followers simply recite the words of their cult leader without understanding what they are saying. Will Christ return on May 21st? We believe He will not. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dr. Mark Allison, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 14 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Harold Camping, Alemeda Christian Reformed, Campingism, Deeper Spiritual Meaning, Judgment Day, May 21 2011, false prophet no Redeemer Broadcasting A followon to the discussion of the War Between the States In our last episode three weeks ago, we addressed the slavery issue. Now we have some comments about States Rights. Also: What structures in our American society today, have we gotten used to, but in fact are actually ungodly structures? How to deal with them? We must maintain cool/level heads as some of these structures cannot be quickly removed. They must be removed however over time. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 7 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 States Rights, War Between the States, Slavery, Social Security, Medicaire, Medicaide, Welfare State, entitlements no Redeemer Broadcasting On what basis do we believe in the resurrection and what hope does it give me today? Last week we talked about the resurrection of Christ from the dead. For those of us who have lost a loved one, the implications of the resurrection are tremendous! We have real hope because of Christ's resurrection. The historical evidence of the resurrection is discussed. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Resurrection, Heaven, hope after death no Redeemer Broadcasting Have you reflected deeply on the Resurrection lately? The most important event in history is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this edition of A Plain Answer, we look at what it means to believe on Jesus Christ. We explore the uniqueness of Jesus and what He accomplished for His people. We talk about the cross and why it is important. This is a wonderful time of year to consider afresh the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the cross of Calvary and Jesus' resurrection from the dead! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Easter, Resurrection, Raise from the dead, the cross, Lift High the Cross, Jesus, Christ died for His people no Redeemer Broadcasting What were the events leading up to the War Between the States? This past Tuesday marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the War Between the States, or Civil War. It is generally agreed that the starting point was the firing on Fort Sumter. However tensions had been rising for decades prior, and reached a powder keg situation just before April 12, 1861, with deadly agitation from the abolitionists, and finally the presidential election of Republican President, Abraham Lincoln. Join us for this brief look at this crucial juncture in our American history. Also find out what huge issue we have today, which needs to be handled with wisdom, as we look at the whole area of human beings made in the image of God. In three weeks from now, we plan to continue our discussion of the War Between the States, and take a look at the issue of States' Rights. We also plan to explore the controversial issue of "entitlements" in our own day. Stay tuned, we hope to discuss these things on May 7. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 16 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 War Between the States, Civil War, War of Northern Agression, War of Rebellion, Abraham Lincoln, States' Rights, 150th Anniversary no Redeemer Broadcasting America's greatness is waining and we are in need of repentance before the Triune God of the Scriptures What was it that made America great? How was it founded? What were the original guiding principles? We just bombed Libya in response to the UN's no fly zone decision. We justify this action in the name of protecting people who are not armed as well as the ruling party in Libya. But what about the most vulnerable among us? The baby in the wombs of thousands of American women, is in more danger than the rebels in Libya. Listen to the statistic that Dr. Vought shares with us regarding the destruction of the African American child with abortion. It will shock you! May God have mercy upon our nation. We believe that if a nation breaks covenant with God and disobeys His precepts, setting up false gods, that we can only expect the negative sanctions (ie, judgment) of God in history. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Abortion, Libya, UN, repentance, American Christian, Christianity in America, Judgment of God in history, negative sanctions, covenant unfaithfulness no Redeemer Broadcasting The UN security council's no-fly-zone over Libya and the US response What was the genesis of the United Nations (UN)? What were the goals and what has this body actually accomplished? The United States recently launched a barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles in response to the UN decision. Was our Congress involved in the decision? On what grounds did we bomb Libya? If it was to stop a brutal killing of a dictator's residents, then why aren't we bombing other nations such as North Korea, where there is horrendous persecution and death? What is going on? How much does the United States spend on the UN as compared to other "states?" Do we really need the UN anymore? Are not its goals steeped in naivite'? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Congress declares war, Obama administration, just war, Libya, Tomahawk missiles no Redeemer Broadcasting How do I find God's will for my life? Ever wonder why you are here? What job does God have for you to do? Who are you to marry? What vocation will you chose? These questions are explored in this week's discussion about your vocation and God's will. Scriptural guidance is provided that will help you sort things out. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 God's will, God's calling, vocation, who do I marry?, what is God's will for my life?, how to glorify God?, What is the chief end of man? no Redeemer Broadcasting The tsunami in Japan causes us to pause and consider that God is all powerful, but how to handle this? The news footage of the Japan tsunami has reminded us of the terribly tragic events in that country. In this discussion we consider the age-old problem of suffering. Paul told the Ephesians that God "works all things according to the counsel of His will." How is suffering part of the plan of God? How can God permit such things? We take a pastoral look at human suffering. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 God's sovereignty, tsunami, Japan, God's plan, God all powerful, Deists, no Redeemer Broadcasting There are two aspects to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ What is the difference between the visible and invisible church? The Apostle Paul's statement: "Christ gave Himself for the body;" Reminds us that there is both an individual dimension and a corporate dimension in the atonement of Jesus Christ. So the early Christians could say that if you reject the body of Christ, you have rejected the head. It is an anomaly to claim that you are related to the head and not the body. Towards the end of our discussion we again look briefly at the bizarre and dangerous teachings of Harold Camping. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 The Church, Christ Head of the Church, Harold Camping no Redeemer Broadcasting Refuting Harold Camping's view of the Church We open our discussion with a review of Harold Camping's false position that "God is done with the church." While he is clearly wrong in this assertion as well as his "deeper spiritual meanings," and his "date setting," etc....While he is clearly wrong in these things, nevertheless sometimes it is very hard to find a good church! Many churches have abandoned the gospel of Christ. Some have embraced practices that are contrary to the plain word of Christ. So what to do, if you find yourself in a situation where there is no good church around? Does this prove Harold Camping is right? No it doesn't, but it does show that we need Revival in our land! In this broadcast we talk a little about what you can do if you face such an unfortunate situation in your town. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT 25:21 Harold Camping, Campingism, The Church, Church, fellowship, Bible studies, End of Church age, Depart out, Latter rain, wecanknow, ebiblefellowship no Redeemer Broadcasting Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? We are dealing with a seething pot of rage in the world today. But what does God have to say about it? In this discussion we take a closer look at Psalm 2. How does Jehovah God deal with the rulers of nations who curse His holy name and his laws? Is there hope for us? Indeed there is! Listen, and find out why. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:42 Nations rage, riots in Egypt, riots in Libya, growth of Christianity, Coptic Christians, Christian persecution, Psalm 2, no Redeemer Broadcasting What is the gospel? But first, what is the BAD news? The gospel is central to our faith, but what is it? Why is it the good news, and why is it needed? We take some time and look at man's sinful condition before a holy God. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:40 gospel, receiving Christ, God's holiness, Christ no Redeemer Broadcasting Does politically correct speech hamper the preaching of the gospel? Suppose your pastor decided to preach a sermon that is based on Romans 1:18-32. In that chapter the Lord mentions specific sins. Our societal milieu tends to prohibit our free speech regarding specific sins that God Himself mentions. We assert that political correctness cuts off debate as well as prohibits free speech. We need debate in our society. Political correctness is a political instrument used by some to enhance their power. It is an age old problem, just as paganism is an age old problem. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT 26:10 Political correctness, free speech, founding fathers, Bible informing culture, founding of America, encouraging debate, hate speech, speech that leads to violence no Redeemer Broadcasting What are the basic practices of the Christian life? We are one month and a week into the New Year, and sometimes Christians have a Bible reading plan they follow. There is a rhythm to life and Bible reading plans can assist in a natural sort of way. Regarding worship, it is a very important activity which we are called to, both privately and corporately. We are told by our Lord that He seeks our worship. We also look at the model prayer that our Lord gave to us. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EDT 24:07 Book of Common Prayer, Daily Office, Bible reading plans, rythym to life, no Redeemer Broadcasting The prosperity of the wicked troubled the Psalmist and it often troubles us today What is God like in His justice, and why would He allow the wicked to prosper? In this discussion, we step back and look at this probing question, which was suggested by a listener in response to last week's broadcast. What is God's "Common Grace?" We touched upon it last week and discuss it a little more in this broadcast. Towards the end of our discussion is a gospel invitation. We invite you to listen closely if you are being drawn by God and are interested in His salvation plan for you. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:50 God's justice, good things happen to bad people, Psalm 73, no Redeemer Broadcasting Maintaining peace in the midst of tragedies and personal trials In the news there was a shooting in Arizona. In our own personal lives, we may have a loved one who has cancer - or we may have cancer ourselves. There are many "bad" things that happen to us in this world. We enter into the problem in this discussion and provide in part at least, a pastoral answer. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Personal suffering, God's Sovereignty, Pain and suffering, why bad things happen to good people no Redeemer Broadcasting What do we mean by catholic? The word catholic is a rich word but can also be confusing. The Nicene Creed uses the word as an adjective when it says "one holy catholic and apostolic church." Historically, we see ethnicity passing into catholicity. We talk about another word, and that is repentance. What does that mean? And when we repent, what has happened with respect to God towards us? Tune in to find out more. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT 26:39 catholic, apostolic, Nicene Creed, repentance, regeneration, repentance unto life no Redeemer Broadcasting Has God abandoned the Bride of Christ? Is God done with the Church? We are increasingly hearing of the anti-church teaching of Mr. Harold Camping. He teaches that Satan is in all the churches. He thereby ascribes to Satan, the works of the Holy Spirit. He says that all Christians should leave their churches ("depart-out"), and meet as fellowships, tuning into Mr. Camping's program and sending their donations to him. It is quite a mess. Some churches have lost members over this emphasis. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Harold Camping, Depart Out, Family Radio, The church no Redeemer Broadcasting A Closer look at what Islam teaches On Christmas Eve in Nigeria, Christians were apparently targeted with four deadly bomb blasts. Islamic militant groups routinely use "the sword" as they spread their world view. In this discussion we take a look at what Muslims believe and what their source of authority is. What is Sharia? What is the difference between Christianity and Islam? Is Christianity a political movement? Why are there by and large, no reported attacks of Christians against Muslims, and yet numerous attacks of Muslims against Christians? We end our discussion with the hope and assurance of Muslims coming to faith in Jesus Christ - Who alone can change the heart of man, and bring true peace. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 1 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Muslim, Islam, Jihad, bombings, hatred, persecution, Sphere sovereignty, Christian persecution, Islamic hatred of West, Sharia Law no Redeemer Broadcasting Lessons and Carols for Christmas This is a special edition of A Plain Answer. Enjoy word and music as we tell the Christmas story within the milieu of Scripture, quotes from the church fathers, and Christmas carols. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Lessons and Carols, Christmas, Incarnation, Christmas carols, The Church Fathers, Advent, Music no Redeemer Broadcasting What can I do when feeling very down at Christmas time? Are you feeling down this Christmas? You may have have lost a loved one recently. You may have just found out that you have cancer. There may be family stress and trials. People around you are happy but you are sad. Join us for this podcast as we look at this important and very real issue that you face this Christmas. You are not alone - there is help. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Depression and Christmas, Feeling alone, feeling down at Christmas, depression, lonely, loss of loved one no Redeemer Broadcasting Jesus came to earth, but what was his mission? During this season of Advent we continue to think about Jesus' first coming and consider the real meaning of Christmas. Why did Jesus come to earth? We note that some Christians don't celebrate Christmas because of the worldliness that has crept into the modern celebration. We also spend some time considering the estate of fallen man, and how Adam's guilt has passed on to all mankind. We talk about Jesus and how He took on the sins of His people. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich and Dan Elmendorf Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Christmas, Lectionary, Pilgrims, Celebration of Christmas, Christmas readings, church calendar no Redeemer Broadcasting As we celebrate Advent, we take time to ponder the events leading up to Jesus' birth This world of ours is one of turmoil. It was full of problems and madmen at the time of Christ's arrival. We pause to take a look at the history that is recorded for us just prior to that very first Advent. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 4 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 History prior to first advent, Herod, Jesus' birth no Redeemer Broadcasting The Beginning of the Christian New Year In this edition of a Plain Answer, we discuss a tradition of the Christian church and why it is appropriate for Christians today, to mark time using the Christian calendar. We also note that there is no obligation to do so, and that churches and individuals have complete freedom to chose not to observe the times. We also point out that inevitably, we will be marking time, so why not use a calendar such as the Christian calendar which has been carefully prepared for us over the course of many centuries of Christian experience. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Advent, Candles, Liturgy, Church calendar no Redeemer Broadcasting Would the Pilgrims in 1621 have considered their gathering a 'Thanksgiving meal?' Was there such a thing as a first Thanksgiving? There was a harvest party in the Fall of 1621. English colonists had arrived here in 1620. About 1/2 of the original colonists had died during that first year. We review a quote from Mort's Relation - which is a first hand account of that first "Thanksgiving." We wish all of our listeners a joyous and blessed Thanksgiving, as you acknowledge God and his kind benefits to all of us. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Thanksgiving, Weekly Sabbath, Humiliations and fasting, Thanksgiving and praise, Separatists, Pilgrims, Puritans, 1621, English Calvinists, Covenant no Redeemer Broadcasting What is the sufficiency of Scripture? What is the sufficiency of Scripture? This program does not mention Harold Camping specifically, but deals with assumptions that are necessary to read and interpret the Bible properly. We do not add to the Scriptures. The Scriptures challenge us at every point in terms of what we believe and what we are to do. When we disobey, we are rebuked by the Scriptures. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Harold Camping, Sufficiency of Scriptures, Old Testament, Law, Prophets, Writings, Literature types, Torah no Redeemer Broadcasting Why does Harold Camping reject the historical grammatical method of Bible interpretation? Harold Camping attacks the conservative and historical, objective method of Bible interpretation known as the Grammatical Historical Hermeneutic. In so doing he rejects all churches, all seminaries, and all other Bible teachers in the world. It is hard to believe, and yet his followers parrot his teachings in perfect lock step as they ascribe to Satan the works of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ, the Church. Only Harold Camping has the correct answers. This is nothing short of cult-like teaching. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 6 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Harold Camping, closed Canon, Biblical hermeneutic, historical grammatical method, cult, Mormans, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mary Baker Eddy, Family Radio, Oakland Headquarters, Hegenberger Road no Redeemer Broadcasting Why Harold Camping's hermenuetic of deeper spiritual meanings is severely flawed and essentially anti-Christian Harold Camping has been in the west coast news recently, mentioned on various web postings and heard each day and night over his radio stations. Bill boards, park signs, leaflets are seen proclaiming the date of May 21, 2011 as the "rapture." In this edition of a Plain Answer, we discuss the severely flawed hermeneutic of Harold Camping and why this man must be avoided and not believed. His teachings fall outside the pale of orthodox Christianity. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Harold Camping, Campingism, Deeper spiritual meaning, May 21 2011, May 21, false prophet no Redeemer Broadcasting Is the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ spreading worldwide? The Bible speaks of the spread of the gospel in history. In this broadcast we discuss the Biblical texts, as well as give historical examples of the stunning advance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in history. We look at a number of nations around our globe. The Christian is encouraged to take heart - because even though there is intense persecution, there is also tremendous advance, even in some Muslim countries. Jesus Christ powerfully reigns from His heavenly throne. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Spread of Gospel, persecution, history of advance of gospel, Christ reigns, missions, succes of gospel no Redeemer Broadcasting A look at Christian persecution taking place worldwide What kinds of persecution to Christians is taking place in this world? Which countries are at the top of the list in terms of severe persecution? We look at one of the early martyrs of the faith, namely Stephen in the book of Acts. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Persecution, Christian Persecution, worst countries for persecution no Redeemer Broadcasting Would the heavy bureaucracy we see today exist if we really followed our US Constitution? The US Constitution is an important document and was created in the Providence of God, but it is not on the same level as the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The Bible stands alone in terms of its verbal plenary inspiration. However that being established, the US Constitution is a marvelous document. If however we followed the constraints that are stipulated in the US Constitution, our government would look different than it presently does. We would have more freedoms as well as more personal responsibilities. We first talk about what happens to a land when God moves in revival and reformation. Our nation currently has a big problem with discerning between right and wrong. We desperately need another great awakening. We then look at what happens when we implement the US Constitution using its own words and constraints. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 9 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:45 Revival, reformation, constructionist interpretation, 10 commandments, abortion, no Redeemer Broadcasting What would America look like if we really implemented the US Constitution? The unalienable rights are gifts of God and are part of being made in His image. We look at the US Constitution and how it basically "ties" the hands of the government so that they cannot violate the unalienable rights given to the people. We are concerned about a government which appears to be out of control as seen by the normal man on the street. The founding fathers if they saw our nation today would be appalled by the size and power of the Federal government. "That government is best which governs least" - Thomas Jefferson. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:39 US Constitution, taxation, representation, no Redeemer Broadcasting What are the limits to our Government that the Constitution sets in place? Has the Constitution always guided our country? Does the Constitution allow the Supreme Court to make law? Does the Constitution empower the President to make law? What about the field of education - does the Constitution give any power to the Federal Government in this area? The answers may surprise you. Finally, does the Constitution allow a president the power to take a nation into war? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:46 Strict Constructionism, Constitution, Constitutional process, Education, War no Redeemer Broadcasting Are there limits to tolerance? We continue our discussion from last week. Are there limits to tolerance? The twin towers in Lower Manhattan were a symbol of American capitalism. They were destroyed, and nearly 3000 people were murdered. Technically, the mosque is allowed to be built on Ground Zero strictly on the basis of the first amendment - however there are other factors; factors relating both to wisdom, and to the notion of not offending others. It is clear that such a mosque being constructed on Ground Zero would not be reaching out as a unifying action. We study the case of Christian freedom as balanced with offending others, and encourage Muslim sympathizers to take a lesson from it. We review what has happened to Christian aid workers who go to Muslim countries - it is not a pretty picture. We close considering what is the best response to the Muslim in our land. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 18 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:47 Islam, Muslims, Mosque, Tolerance, Evangelism, no Redeemer Broadcasting How does a Christian relate to other faiths, particularly ones which are mutually exclusive to ours? Today our nation looks back nine years ago and thinks about one of the worse attacks on our soil in our nation's history. Nine years ago today, Muslim terrorists hijacked civilian planes and used them as tools of destruction on our people. Ground Zero is the area in lower Manhattan where the twin towers once stood - symbols of American capitalism. The terrorists struck at these as well as the governmental seat (Pentagon and would be Capital). Instead of honoring this hallowed ground, there are some who now want to build a mosque at Ground Zero. This offends many, many people. We discuss the limits of tolerance. We come to the general conclusion that tolerance has its limits in society if that "tolerance" is taken to extremes. Some extremes which would be unacceptable, would cause societal suicide and be unconstitutional. Tolerance cannot be promoted when it becomes antithetical to our whole way of life. Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 Cordoba Mosque, Islam, Muslim, Jihad, holy war no Redeemer Broadcasting A deeper look at the environmant including the lack of objective information on global warming This is a follow-on discussion from last week. We talk about the environment and the Christian responsibility in caring for this earth. God gave His people dominion over the earth and it's animals. We discuss forest fires, global warming, the Hudson River - a variety of practical areas. We end our discussion with an explanation of the evangelical necessity of repentance and rebirth. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 4 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:44 Global warming, environment, Hudson River, forest fires, righteousness of Christ no Redeemer Broadcasting What is the Christian's proper response to the environment? We look at the environment and "environmentalism" from a Biblical perspective. What is pantheism? How do we look at God's earth? Is it to be protected to the point of no development, and no experimentation? What is the difference between conservation and preservation? What about the worldview which says: "Leave only footprints, take only pictures?" Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:40 Environmentalism, environment, conservation, preservationism, pantheism, books on conservation no Redeemer Broadcasting The contrast between Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Worship and its implications When President Obama addressed the victims of the Fort Hood shooting, he used the phrase Freedom of Worship, but not Freedom of Religion. We are concerned about the marginalization of religion and the privatization of it. We are concerned about breaking the cultural influence of Christianity upon American society. Even the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has noted this shift in phraseology, as noted in their 2010 annual report. They say this could well be viewed by human rights defenders as "having concrete policy implications." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Freedom of Religion, Obama administration, Hillary Clinton, Barach Obama, Homeschooling, Freedom of Worship no Redeemer Broadcasting What is the difference between Freedom of Reigion and Freedom of Worhsip? We take a look at the distinctions between Religious Freedom in America (as guaranteed by our Bill of Rights) and as carried out in our nation's history. We then compare that with a mere "Freedom of Worship." The current administration repeatedly uses the phrase freedom of worship in their general communique's and speeches - we find this troubling. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:40 Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Worship, President Obama, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Washington Administration, Russia, Communism, China, persecution, no Redeemer Broadcasting Every republic in history has failed; are we close? What we can do as we wait on God. If Congress was filled with Godly representatives come November - representatives who respected state's rights and the Constitution, would that change us substantively? The answer may surprise you. Was the Christian faith front and center in the minds of our Founding Fathers? What is the difference between group rights and individual rights? Elected officials are supposed to be "dis-interested" and put aside their own interests for the sake of the people whom they serve. We review the fact that public worship and the chaplaincy were encouraged by the Founding Fathers. Christianity was assumed in the minds of our Fathers. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT 17525345 Constitutional Republic, Voting, Great Awakening, State's Rights, God's Law, Democracy no Redeemer Broadcasting How does our current governmental situation compare to the original founder's idea of a constitutional republic? In talking with people we repeatedly find a general unease regarding the lack of limits the current government in America is exhibiting. As opposed to a sphere sovereignty as espoused by Abraham Kuyper, where there are boundaries as to the legitimate role of government, we are seeing a massive government takeover of many areas which formerly were not run by the federal government, and further would not have been seen as appropriate by our founders. We look at the original intent of our founders as well as what is prescribed Biblically. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:51 no Redeemer Broadcasting Reasons why we need a Great Awakening in our own day, and some pitfalls to avoid America is in trouble. We have drifted away from God as a nation. Would to God that He would grant us a Great Awakening in our day. However, as we pray for such an awakening, we want it real, sincere and not man-made. In this broadcast we cover some of the excesses which were evident in the Second Great awakening. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:48 Revival, cults, orthodox Christianity, Second Great Awakening, Shakers, Mormans no Redeemer Broadcasting An Historical look at the Second Great Awakening and what could happen today by God's grace We look at the Second Great Awakening historically. We ask, what would a national revival look like should it occur in our day? What were some of the attitudes of the people leading up to revival? How did the Second Great Awakening contrast with the First Great Awakening? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:49 Revival, Second Great Awakening, Deism, Orthodox Christianity no Redeemer Broadcasting There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spriit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory We continue last week's discussion about Jesus Christ, that He is God. We explore the teaching of The Trinity. It is a word that does not occur anywhere in the Scriptures, but is clearly taught. We also look at some of the creeds of the church. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT 28:10 Trinity, Nicean Creed, Jewish, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Godhead no Redeemer Broadcasting What the Bible teaches about the deity of Christ A listener asked us to cover this subject because he had a co-worker who was asserting that Jesus was not God, but only the "son of God." This term is a Hebraism. We discuss what is meant by Son of God, in terms of the ancient Greek. We talk about how to read and interpret the Scriptures as a whole. We examine any number of verses which clearly show that Jesus is God. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:27 Deity of Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus is God, no Redeemer Broadcasting A calm assurance that God has saved you Can I really know that I am saved and that I'm right with God in Christ? Some groups say that we cannot know that we are going to heaven. The Bible says that we can know. Our assurance is grounded in the character of God and His Word. We need to take God at His word, and trust who He is! Peter preached on the day of Pentecost a marvelous sermon which included the statement: "I will be a God to you and to your children." This was a covenant promise, and we are to take God at His word and stand on it. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:17 Assurance, Preservation of the saints, Salvation no Redeemer Broadcasting Does the Bible teach unconditional election? A listener asked that we discuss election. In this podcast we approach this subject from a Biblical and pastoral perspective. Is there really election as taught by the Bible? What are the pastoral concerns attended with some explanations of election? How does this teaching tie into our assurance of salvation? What did Jesus say about this subject when he was here on earth? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 Election, predestination, chosen by God, God's decree no Redeemer Broadcasting How did the USA become involved in WWII? What led the United States ultimately, into WWII? What were the sentiments among the populace, just prior to entering the war? Before actually declaring war, how did the United States become involved in terms of helping supply our allies? What were some of the costs involved in this war? In particular, how many people died from the various nations involved and what was the total worldwide. A reminder about our brief lives is included at the end of this discussion, and how important it is to know that your soul is right with God, through Jesus Christ. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:01 WWII no Redeemer Broadcasting We should remember the dangers that led to a Hitler coming to power We review some of the events leading up to D-Day. How was it that Hitler could come to power so thoroughly? What were some of his beliefs that drove him to such evil behavior? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:40 Adolf Hitler, Naziism, The Jews no Redeemer Broadcasting Podcast A continuation of this very important discussion, and this week we cover the work of Jesus Christ. How does God deal with our sin? What is Justification? Is Justification an act or a process? What is the gospel? God has done something for us in and through the Person of Jesus Christ. This work is something that we could not do ourselves. We are saved in Jesus Christ. What is the role of good works? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 salvation no Redeemer Broadcasting Why does mankind need to be saved, and how can he be saved? The question "What must I do to be saved?" actually begs another question, and that is, why do I need to be saved in the first place? We discuss the fall of man into sin originally in Adam. All mankind descending from Adam by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression. What is the substitutionary atonement? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:42 Salvation no Redeemer Broadcasting Is the Law gracious? We begin our discussion this week, answering the question of how are the 10 commandments parsed in several Christian traditions: Reformed, Lutheran, Catholic. Is the law gracious? Does the law function as an accuser? Is the law a standard for the Christian life? Is grace evident in both Testaments, or only the New Testament? We also touch upon the 4th commandment in particular. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT 23:24 no Redeemer Broadcasting How the Law of God still applies today as we live under grace What do some people mean when they say "I'm not under law, but grace?" What does the Bible mean by that statement? Is the moral law of God applicable to us? We discuss the moral law and how it is a reflection of the character of God. It also tells us what love is. How do we live the most fulfilling life that we can? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT 25:43 no Redeemer Broadcasting The marriage covenant Marriage is under assault in our world, and we discuss the grace aspect as it relates to existing as well as broken marriages. We discuss the spirit of forgiveness. What are the reasons for divorce and what are the Biblical requirements allowing for remarriage? Who is the covenant between in marriage? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 1 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:49 no Redeemer Broadcasting An institution of God from the early days of creation itself Where does marriage originate? What does the Bible have to say in both Old and New Testaments? We discuss the sacredness of marriage and how it has been instituted by God in creation. It is an ordinance of creation to be honored by all. It is not a temporary arrangement. We review the cultural mandate and its implications regarding children. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:44 no Redeemer Broadcasting A discussion of various schools of thought within the camps of those who hold to creation We discuss various schools of thought regarding creation, all of which maintain the authority of Scripture. Basic areas of agreement are that all things are created by God, and He is transcendent over all things. There are areas of disagreement in terms of "how" God created our universe. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:31 no Redeemer Broadcasting God created all things out of nothing Today on a Plain Answer we have kicked off a discussion of Biblical creation. The subject was huge and we hope there will be followup sessions. On today's program we read the creation account from Genesis 1, we discuss the concept of "ex nihilo," the Latin phrase meaning out of nothing - and that is applied to the Biblical record of creation. We discuss light and its origin. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT 24:40 no Redeemer Broadcasting Christ's resurrection is the basis for future hope The resurrection was a real bodily resurrection, not merely a resuscitation (or a reincarnation). Christianity arose out of historical facts with eye witnesses. The resurrection is the basis for the Christian's future hope and that we too, look forward to our own resurrection someday, with glorified bodies. Jesus reminds us of this when He says: "I am the resurrection and the life..." We also discuss the origin of Sunday worship and how God has changed the Christian sabbath to now be on Sunday rather than Saturday. We call it the Lord's day. It was the day upon which Pentecost came, and was also the day upon which John was "in the spirit." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:20 no Redeemer Broadcasting If Christ were to divorce His church, then there is no Christian faith! Has the "Church age" ended? That's the assertion of one Bible teacher today. In this discussion we look at what he Bible itself has to say about this assertion. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:37 Harold Camping no Redeemer Broadcasting Is it OK to translate the Bible? There are many translations of the Bible, but is it "OK" to translate the Bible? What was the practice of Jesus Himself with respect to one of the translations of His day? What are the two basic categories of Bible translations? We close discussing some historical examples of Bible translations and the penalties that some men had to endure for their labor of love. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT 28:14 no Redeemer Broadcasting How were these books recognized as canonical? Where does the Bible come from? In this discussion we review that it is God-breathed, and how many men were moved by the Holy Spirit to record the library of books which comprise the Bible. Are there different genres to be observed? How were these books recognized as canonical? What was the role of the church in all this? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:06 no Redeemer Broadcasting If we have godly laws, how will that affect our immigration policy? What are some Biblical examples of the proper treatment of aliens? What are some of the legal aspects? We share some examples of questions asked on the US naturalization test. What should our policies be if we try and implement godly laws in our land? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:30 no Redeemer Broadcasting How should we treat those who immigrate to our land? What is a Christian perspective of immigration? How should we as Christians treat those who immigrate to our land? What is the roll of individuals and what is the role of government in a godly land? Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT 24:32 immigration no Redeemer Broadcasting Free offer We continue last week's discussion on creeds and confessions. First we review some basic creeds as listed in the Bible. We move to exploring some of the confessions of the Protestant Reformation, with a closer look at the Westminster Confession and the Shorter Catechism. ONLINE OFFER: If you download and listen to the podcast, you may order a free copy of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Just email us that you listened, and request a free copy today! Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:18 Free Shorter Catechism no Redeemer Broadcasting The beauty of creeds and their historical necessity Why has the Christian church through the years felt it necessary to document the faith using Creeds and Confessions? Is there an advantage to it, and does it have Scriptural precedence? What are some early Christian creeds which we find from the Scriptures themselves? We begin to look at some of the confessions which came out of the Reformation. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT 24:52 no Redeemer Broadcasting When life begins, eugenics and selective breeding We continue to delve into this topic, discussing when life begins, and the whole eugenics area and selective breeding. In the early days we find that the first feminists were actually against abortion, and a "woman's right to her body" is a relatively new argument. We look at the statistics of who in society has abortions, and find that the poor are three times more likely to have abortions. 37% African Americans, 22% Hispanic and 34% Whites have abortions, so the scale is tipped heavily in the direction of people of color having abortions. We address the myth of over population and briefly discuss the problems that Japan and European countries are facing due to declining birth rates. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 6 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EDT 25:59 no Redeemer Broadcasting On what moral basis is abortion wrong? Is Abortion wrong? If so, on what moral basis? When does life begin? We also discuss modern technology and how it helps us to see what is in the womb. We also discuss the great hope that there is for women facing the decision of an abortion, and the solution that God gives. We provide numbers of where to call in Ulster County if you need help. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT 27:42 no Redeemer Broadcasting A Christian calendar can be a great aid to help edify us and help us to remember those things that God has done for us in Christ. What about objections to a Christian calendar? Our culture has been so highly secularized that we start to think nothing of celebrating Mother's Day, birthdays, etc, and yet if a church starts to make mention of the Christian calendar events such as Advent, or Epiphany, or Lent, then some become shy for fear of looking like "Roman Catholics." We discuss the Puritans and their stricter practice in this area. We conclude that a Christian calendar falls into the category of "Adiaphora" - a concept used in philosophy to indicate things which are outside of moral law - that is, actions which are neither morally mandated nor morally forbidden. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT 25:45 no Redeemer Broadcasting Early events in the life of Jesus An interesting discussion on Epiphany. Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6? We take a look at some of the early events in the life of Jesus, including the visit of the Magi, His presence in the temple, and His baptism. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:32 no Redeemer Broadcasting A listener asked us to cover the case of Rifqa Bary, and her running away from home, and how she was afraid that she would become a victim of an "honor killing" as imposed by her family. We discuss the larger topic of Islam, and delve into two main sects within that religion, as well as discuss Sharia law. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 9 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT 24:56 Muslim no Redeemer Broadcasting Is it OK to sign it? A listener asked us about The Manhattan Declaration, and if this declaration is worthwhile. The declaration was released on November 20, 2009 and there are a number of Christians who have signed the declaration. It deals with the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage between husband and wife, and the rights of conscience and religious liberty. It was Rev. Harry Reeder who pointed out that: "while being a call to unified Christian action in the engagement of the cultural issues of the day, this declaration does not purport to be a confessional or an ecclesiastical statement of theological unity." Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 2 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EDT 26:11 no Redeemer Broadcasting The timing of His second coming is secret, but the future event is certain The Second Coming of Christ is the "Blessed Hope" of the Christian. We must be ready for this event, and yet we understand that the Son of Man comes at an hour when we don't expect Him. We discuss the inappropriateness of setting dates for the return of Christ. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:59 no Redeemer Broadcasting And is it OK to celebrate Christmas? How did the first coming of Jesus affect this world? Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th? We review some of the sentiments of some Christians in the 1600's regarding the celebration. How has the spread of the Gospel influenced people? We review the words to the carol "Joy to the World," by Isaac Watts. Finally, Why did Jesus come into the world and what His life means to you personally, today. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EDT 28:09 no Redeemer Broadcasting Including Herod the Great We look at the actions of Herod the Great, and the times of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. We discuss how scripture talks about the coming of the Lord - both first and second comings. What does the word Advent really mean? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:47 no Redeemer Broadcasting Some real history prior to Christ's first coming What were the times like prior to the first advent of our Lord Jesus Christ? What were some of the historical events that we see occurring during the 400 year intertestamental period? What was Herod the Great like? Listen as we discuss these and other events during this time of Advent. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 5 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:43 no Redeemer Broadcasting That sounds too Roman Catholic! (or does it?) What is the Reformational view of Sacrament? Where did the term sacrament come from and is it legitimate to use the term? How many sacraments are there? What if a pastor becomes apostate, are the previous sacraments administered by him still valid? What does it mean that the sacraments are a sign and seal? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:17 no Redeemer Broadcasting Is the Bible God's inherent word, and are any new revelations to be added to it? A Pastor is a minister of Word and Sacrament. We continue exploring two major distinctives of the Reformation, namely Word and Sacrament. The topic was so large, that this program is dedicated to the Word. What is meant by the assertion "sola scriptura" as heard from the Reformation onward? How do we look at Scripture - is it God's inherent word? What of continuing revelations, now that the canon of Scripture is complete? Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT 28:18 no Redeemer Broadcasting Why is missions necessary and why continue to translate the Bible into many lanuages? We continue to discuss the need for missionary endeavor. We discuss the cultural and evangelical mandates. We discuss the necessity of translating the Bible into the native tongue of tribes and nations. We review more accounts from the field as related by a missionary pilot. We also talk about how cultures have been transformed by the gospel of Christ. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Jeremiah Diedrich (pilot), Dan Elmendorf Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT 28:08 Bible Translations no Redeemer Broadcasting Including an interview with a missionary pilot Don't we have so many problems in our country, that we need to focus here first? Why missions? We review some missionary accounts from the field as related by a missionary pilot. What is the extent of the evangelistic mandate which Christ has given to His people? Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Jeremiah Diedrich (pilot), Dan Elmendorf Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:34 no Redeemer Broadcasting Including the Five Solas A lively discussion on Martin Luther, and continuing the theme this month of Reformation. The Augsburg Confession, the five Solas, Bible translation and more are discussed. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich and Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:03 no Redeemer Broadcasting His life We take a deeper look at indulgences in this edition. Also a more in depth look at the life of Martin Luther. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT 20:29 no Redeemer Broadcasting What were some of the abuses in the medieval church prior to Luther? What were some of the abuses seen in the medieval church in the late 1400's and early 1500's, leading up to the time of Martin Luther? We discuss immorality in the church and it's affect upon society. We briefly discuss penance, purgatory, and indulgences. We address the often corrupting influences of wealth and power. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT 21:36 no Redeemer Broadcasting Including a discussion of original sin -vs- Palagianism Why was a reformation of the medieval church needed? We also discuss the Biblical concept of original sin -vs- Palagianism. Participants: Rev. Mark Diedrich, Jeremiah Diedrich joins us on the side, and Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT 25:58 no Redeemer Broadcasting What happens worse case, when churches remain true and government become oppresive and evil? What happens when a government heads in a wrong direction, and the church must take a stand for righteousness? What was the role of the church during Nazi Germany and how did the confessing churches take a stand? We look at the Declaration of Barmen. What is Sphere Sovereignty? We quickly address the Chinese Three Self Church. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 3 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:05 no Redeemer Broadcasting What role does the church have in political involvement? A listener raised the question: What role does the church have in political involvement? We explore the two church/political extremes as we see them in history. We note that according to Calvin, that politics can be a sacred profession. We note the importance that religion plays in politics. We discuss the difference seen in political involvement by Reformational Christianity as opposed to other forms of government under other systems, such as Islamic-run governments. What did Jesus mean when He said "My kingdom is not of this world?" Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT 25:34 no Redeemer Broadcasting God still has His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it! We have received various emails from folks who have been concerned with, and/or confused by, a popular teaching that says that the "end of the church age" has arrived. The assertion that we deal with, teaches specifically, that God has left all the churches and that now, Satan rules in all churches! This false teaching also asserts that we are no longer supposed to be baptized or have communion. What does the Bible really have to say about this, and how does the history of the church mitigate against such a view? We deal with this topic carefully and without casting stones or mentioning who this "popular" false teacher is. The Bible is full of passages which mitigate against this false teaching of the "end of the church age." There are also boundary conditions which exist concerning the very nature of Christ, such that a view like this cannot possibly be true. We discuss the visible church, the invisible church and show if we dissect these and throw one out while retaining the other, we encounter an impossible scenario with respect to the incarnation of Christ and with respect to His Person. Other questions surface as we probe this question. For example, what are the marks of the church? We also delve into churches which indeed have left the faith once delivered to the saints. We explore the definitions of heresy and schism. While some groups go all the way and deny the basic essentials of the Christian faith, our Lord promises us that He will continually be with His people and will preserve those that are His and that He will preserve the true church. The teaching that Christ is "no longer using the church," is another way of trying to kill off the work and ministry of Christ on earth through His church. We note that it is incomprehensible that we would have this kind of teaching. It is an attack upon the Bride of Christ. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:37 no Redeemer Broadcasting When did compulssory public education begin? We continue answering the listener's question of "What was the progression of education in the American family since colonization?" As history progresses, the Industrial Revolution played an important part of the educational model. Immigration also affected education as the country needed to turn immigrants into "good" American citizens. By 1918, all the states in the Union have compulsory public education. Private schools continue, but parents who exercise that option, start paying "double." They have to pay their school taxes, as well as for private education. By the late nineteenth century, the Christian church lost control of education in this country. Losing control of higher education meant losing control of curriculum, teacher training and eventually we see Christianity "eased" out of the public schools. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:01 no Redeemer Broadcasting Including how the Reformation changed education The listener's question is: "What was the progression of education in the American family since colonization?" We discuss what an education is, and how we inherited our current educational model. We also probe other questions prompted by this original question. What was the purpose of a liberal arts education, and how did the Reformation change education? Also where were the first public schools established? Cotton Mather's quotes are explored. We also consider a quote from Cornelius Van Til (contained in Foundations of Christian Education - Addresses to Christian Teachers). Thomas Aquinas is also briefly mentioned, as well as the Belgic Confession. Since the topic of education is so large, we continue into the following week. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 5 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT 25:37 no Redeemer Broadcasting There is victory in Jesus Christ - that is the norm A follow-on discussion including the distinctions between possession and oppression. The believer is exhorted to keep our eyes on Jesus, and not dwell on satanic activity. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT 24:38 no Redeemer Broadcasting Our victory is in the reigning Christ We discuss the limitations of the role of Satan in the believer's life. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT 23:15 Satan no Redeemer Broadcasting What was intended and what is not The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." We discuss the establishment clause, the free exercise clause and how these came about. What were the ramifications of these in American History? The amendment specifically restricts the Federal Government, but what happened in the 1940's when the Supreme Court applied the first amendment to the states? The so called "Wall of Separation" is dealt with. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:54 no Redeemer Broadcasting When is it morally right to go to war? What is the Just War tradition? When is it right for a Christian to go to war? Was the American Revolution a "just war?" These question and others are dealt with. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf Sat, 8 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:03 no Redeemer Broadcasting We investigate a quote from the Pope's recent pastoral letter, Caritas in Veritate, where he writes that there is a "strongly felt need" for a reform of the United Nations and of "economic institutions and international finance..." "There is," he says "urgent need of a true world political authority" with "effective power." We tackle this dangerous assertion with Biblical exposition, and with a perspective in history. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 1 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT 27:03 no Redeemer Broadcasting We can be saved as individuals even as God works in covenant communities We investigate a quote from the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of America - Rev. Katharine Jefforts Schori. In speaking of the crisis in her own church she says: "the overarching connection in all these crisis has to do with 'the great Western heresy' - that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in a right relationship with God." This assertion is challenged using the plain teachings of Scripture. The individual is saved by God's free grace, i.e., by grace through faith alone. Participants: Dr. John Vance, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:39 no Redeemer Broadcasting More insights on John Calvin's influence upon government A continuation of last week's session, with a look at man's total depravity, and how this conviction got fleshed out in the way government is structured with checks and balances. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT 24:35 no Redeemer Broadcasting Would there even be an America without John Calvin's thoughts? Celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin (July 10, 1509), this program looks at the thoughts of Reformer John Calvin. His thinking has dominated Western culture throughout the modern period, and in particular profoundly affected the thinking leading up to the American Revolution. Participants: Dr. Hans Vought, Rev. Mark Diedrich, Dan Elmendorf. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT 26:54 no Redeemer Broadcasting EDT no