It is very easy to get the church fathers wrong. From thinking that their doctrine was better or more pure, or that their proximity to Christ and the apostles gave them greater authority, there are many ways to go astray in considering their proper place in the church’s history. And while Christ has used many men to lead his church, the primary means that He has used to mature and cleanse his bride is the leading of the Holy Spirit working through the power of His Word. One of the central concepts of the church is its corporate nature and that the church is Christ’s bride, who is being made ready for him. But because we are often tempted to focus on individuals and their personal contributions and achievements, the church fathers often become a distraction from the corporate nature of the church and how Christ has made it more mature in both doctrine and practice. In this episode, we try to provide a biblical framework for thinking about God’s love and care for the church without putting the wrong emphasis on the people he used. We also discuss how the church fathers are often used to make bad arguments about the church and its doctrine, particularly by the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Even the term “church father” gets used far too liberally by many, with the Roman Catholic church recognizing people as fathers as late as the eighth century (and, of course, they choose to elevate those whose writings support their favorite heresies).The church fathers deserve honor as the ones whom God used to lead the early church. But they do not deserve greater honor than other leaders who came after them. God has and is using different men to lead his church, but in the end, Jesus Christ is the one who is cleansing his bride. We should not sit at their feet and act as if they were made the ones to finalize the doctrine of the church. That honor belongs to our one true father, God himself, who will mature his Son’s bride, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”Timecodes00:00 Intro05:24 Early Church in the Bible17:14 Who Has Authority?25:01 The Holy Spirit's Plan49:35 Theological Development57:10 Church Father ExamplesProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

One of the most challenging issues for a Christian wife to face is when her husband either is openly an unbeliever or even more difficult when he claims to be a believer but behaves in a way that is betrays his faith. And while scripture gives very clear directions in 1 Peter 3:1, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives”, understanding how to apply it to specific situations can be very complex.In this episode we walk through a number of these complexities and look at how God’s word says to deal with them. Because marriage is an intimate relationship, it can seem like it makes up the entirety of a wife’s life, but in reality, marriage is only one of many authority structures that make up the world. Often because of pride, shame, or uncertainty, a wife may feel unable to appeal to other authorities in her life, but God has created them as a protection for both her and her husband. Please join us as we discuss this complex issue.Thumbnail image by JESUS_is_our_only_HOPE on pixabayProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

When people try to live according to God’s law, they are frequently accused of being legalists, prompting us to ask a startling question: Was Jesus a Legalist? To truly answer this, we must look past cultural definitions and ask from a scriptural standpoint, What is Legalism?In this episode of The Conquering Truth, we dismantle the widespread confusion surrounding what is properly called legalism and examine how the term is routinely weaponized against those who seek to live holy lives. By looking at Christ and the Law, we demonstrate that while the law is NEVER the means of obtaining righteousness, Jesus explicitly demands our total duty to keep and teach it.Unpacking Matthew 5:17-20, we address the severe judgment reserved for those who subtract from God’s commandments—a serious issue confronting many modern "Reformed" churches today regarding doctrines relating to Sabbath-keeping, head coverings, and the second commandment. We also break down Phariseeism vs. Legalism, showing how true Phariseeism actually elevates human traditions over God's statutes rather than faithfully obeying His word. We also discuss how people want scripture to tell us exactly what to do in each situation, but scripture almost always conveys the law through case law and case law needs to be understood and applied to specific situations. This doesn’t mean that truth is relative but rather that, as 1 Timothy 1:5-11 teaches, the law can be applied to every area of life and every aspect of sound doctrine.As a ministry of Reformation Baptist Church, we desire to promote a greater understanding of God’s Word and His law. Join us as we prove once again that theology drives the world and that true love for Christ means keeping His commandments.Playlist on applying God’s lawhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn4FNbOHlBQ&list=PLYj_G2CFyWPl8j2y75I84K2xgCL-xKyN3Timecodes00:00:00 Purpose of the Law00:07:17 Fulfilling the Law00:19:03 The Sabbath Example00:31:15 Adding to the Law00:46:55 Tradition00:54:48 The Charge of Legalism01:09:35 ConclusionProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

Most of us grew up hearing about the “American Dream” As a political slogan, it’s is useful, primarily because the hearer gets to decide exactly what it means. And politicians on both sides love to argue that they are the ones fighting for the American Dream while their opponents are actively destroying it—but is the American Dream itself just a lie? Coined during the Great Depression by James Adams as a critique of 1920s materialism, the "dream" has shifted from an ethos of freedom and opportunity into a hyper-materialistic checklist: mandatory college degrees, homeownership, and retiring early at 62.In this episode we examine the historical evolution and spiritual danger of the American Dream through a biblical lens. Looking at American history, we unpack how secular definitions look to government intervention or welfare handouts, which actually paralyze economic mobility and strip away the foundational value of productive work. Furthermore, we address how state-sanctioned theft—through inflation and heavy taxation—actively drains the fruit of people’s labor.Ultimately, we expose why equating the American Dream with God's covenantal blessing is a false theology. True biblical dominion isn't about escaping work or hoarding luxury; it is about seeking the Kingdom of God first. Join us as we explore how a faithful hermeneutic frees us from worldly materialism and points us back to Christ as the sovereign King and the only hope we need.Thumbnail by bones64 on pixabayTimecodes00:00 Intro02:09 Defining the American Dream06:44 Not Everyone has the same Dream19:39 Economic Mobility27:39 Sacrificed Opportunity35:01 Sin makes the world unproductive40:01 The difference work makes48:12 Christian work ethic55:57 Taxes01:14:16 False theology ruins the American DreamProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

When confronted with the historical doctrines of grace, Arminians frequently respond by citing popular proof-texts like John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 Timothy 2:4 to deny God's absolute sovereignty over salvation. But are these passages being handled righteously, or are they being ripped entirely out of their biblical contexts?And this question about context matters, because the main problem with the way Arminians handle scripture is that they ignore or twist the context of their proof texts to arrive at the conclusion they desire. This is true whether you are talking about the general context of the harmonization of the Old and New Testaments, where so many Old Testament passages show the weakness and inability of man and are quoted in the New Testament, and Arminians act as if the Old Testament and New Testament have no relation with each other. The other way they do this is by quoting only one or two verses and completely divorcing this short excerpt from the context of the passage it was found in. This second category is where we spend most of out time in this episode.In this episode we break down the most common verses used to defend Arminian theology. By examining the surrounding text, the immediate audience, and the overarching counsel of Scripture, we expose wrong thinking and the poor hermeneutics that drive these misinterpretations—and try to show how ignoring context can pave the way toward serious errors.Thumbnail image by AgnieszkaMonk on PixabayTimecodes00:00 Hermeneutics07:46 John 3:1624:19 2 Peter 3:935:59 1 Timothy 2:451:02 Matthew 23:37Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

Many Pentecostals and charismatics claim that a natural part of the Christian life is to experience a "second baptism" of the Holy Spirit - but is this modern teaching true or is it a form of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Even more importantly, what is the true ministry of the Holy Spirit? Is it to cause men to babble and faint and tell the future, or to make men Holy as God is Holy?In this episode of The Conquering Truth, we trace the roots of Pentecostalism from John Wesley’s Holiness movement through the teachings of Parham and Seymour and examine how the "second work of grace" and "entire sanctification" theories have led to a theology and practice that replaces the Spirit’s work of true holiness with mystical experiences, chaos, and even physical foolishness.By looking at scriptures like Acts 1, 1 Corinthians 14, and John 16, we contrast the "spirit" of the Charismatic movement—which often exalts disorder and pride—with the true Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, Wisdom, and Order. The Holy Spirit was sent to give power to the church for the spread of the Gospel and the work of the ministry, and to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, not to make a mockery of the faith through barking or hysterical laughter.At The Conquering Truth, we believe that theology drives the world. Join us as we dismantle the errors of Pentecostalism and point back to the sufficient, transforming power of God’s Word.Timecodes00:00 Blaspheming the Holy Spirit10:05 Tongues for Unbelievers15:08 Biblical Prophesy21:12 Mocking God34:44 Christ on the Holy Spirit43:47 Running to Destruction52:00 World Transformation01:03:45 Conformed to Christ01:10:15 Bringing into OrderProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

Many people think that effective evangelism begins with proclaiming Jesus’ love for sinners. But there’s the question, and it’s an important one: Has Jesus commanded us to tell unbelievers that He loves them? And when we say those words, do people understand that their most pressing need is to be saved from the wrath of God? When we tell someone that Jesus loves them, we are often encouraging them to think about Christ in ways that are not at all biblical. They may think of him loving them in the way that their mother or father loves them. Because most people do not understand love, if they believe that Jesus loves them, they will be unable to imagine him sending them to hell for their sins. In Matthew 7, when Jesus describes sending false converts to hell, he does not express his love toward them. He tells them He never knew them and condemns them for their love of lawlessness. Throughout scripture, even when Jesus shows kindness to unbelievers, he does not begin by expressing his love toward them. Instead, he helps them to understand that God’s wrath is on the children of disobedience. So here’s a question: When is it appropriate to tell someone that Jesus loves them?Thumbnail image by BunteAufnahmen on PixabayProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

Christian celebrity culture gets rightly criticized for its worldliness, its elevation and celebration of men and their achievements, and its tendency to create apologetics for all types of unbiblical behaviors. But there is also a tendency to divorce celebrity culture from the culture of our local churches, its many congregants, and the pastors that lead them. So, in the wake of Sam Allberry’s resignation, we thought it was worth taking the time to look at what Christian celebrity culture says about the rest of us, and the leaders we choose. Fundamentally, those who follow sound doctrine understand that sin is progressive by nature. So, if the “wordly” churches are tolerating sins among their leaders that are blatantly obvious to us, we have every reason to believe that there are sins, which seem much less offensive to us, but to which we are turning a blind eye. Celebrity culture exists because we desire to follow a man. That desire wars against our willingness to live and die for the truth. So let’s start with a question: How does blindness come upon churches? And how do we open our eyes to the truth?Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

There's been a lot of talk in the past few years about how young men are leaving Protestant churches for the Roman Catholic Church. It's easy to forget that the Roman Catholic Church, like all other cults and false religions, uses carnal means and methods to cause those who are dead in their sins and trespasses to feel as if they are spiritually alive unto God. And because the RCC has been practicing and perfecting these techniques for over a thousand years, it is easy for people to forget that they are a corrupt institution through and through. In this episode, we want to focus on the many carnal means and techniques that the Roman Catholic Church uses to make its followers feel spiritual. Because the carnal man does not believe in an invisible God they give him a man who sits on a throne and wears a robe and a mitre and that is something the carnal man can believe in. Because the carnal man cannot imagine the glory of God they have built cathedrals so that a man can see the architecture and hear and feel the music and believe in the strength of man's hand instead of having to believe in The Invisible God. Because they cannot believe in the invisible work of prayer, they give you beads to hold in your hand and set prayers to pray over and over to make you feel spiritual. Instead of being able to approach God or their brothers and sisters in Christ and confess our sins they set up a confessional where you confess before a priest or an icon. Because they cannot believe in the spiritual nature of the church as the mother of us all, they give you Mary to worship as a mother, because people cannot believe that God is their father they tell them to call men their father which Jesus expressly forbade. Because they cannot understand God neither can they know him they give you a pantheon of saints you can choose to relate to and pray to instead of relating to the God you cannot see. They use every sense and artifice of man to create false worship, from images to incense to relics to holy places to icons. Because they have nothing but carnal means, they use every carnal method they can think of. The Roman Catholic Church is not unified, it is not holy, it is not spiritual. What it is great at, and what it has perfected over 1600 years, is making carnal men feel spiritual when they are truly headed to hell.Thumbnail image by Leonhard NiederwimmerTimecodes00:00:00 Appeal of Catholicism00:16:28 Corruption of Catholic Church00:28:25 Syncretism00:31:34 Schism00:34:56 Carnality00:48:59 Idolatry00:54:51 Vain Repetition01:04:27 Incense01:08:39 God's Word01:27:50 Church Fathers01:39:47 Sacred Secular01:57:17 ConclusionProduction of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson

There has been a big shift in America in how men and women decide to get married. In early America, parents had a very high level of authority and responsibility over who their children married. This was partly driven by economic and social factors, where the parents were more concerned about continuing the family line and ensuring that their children and grandchildren would not starve to death than whether the two getting married were emotionally compatible with one another. As time went on and America became wealthier, engagement and marriage became less about financial stability and more of a courtship arrangement. The parents were not arranging the marriages as much as they were overseeing the interests of their children. As we lost our understanding of a biblical worldview, and focused on pleasure rather than duty and obligation, the marriage process has become more about the emotional and physical response to the relationship rather than establishing a productive home where both could safely establish their future. And while some may disagree, we would argue strongly that this modern approach to marriage has failed dramatically. In response, many are choosing to never get married or cohabitating for years, but behaving as if they are married to see if the emotions last, but none of this solves the underlying problems. For the last fifty years, about half of marriages end in divorce, people are not happier in their relationships and their families, and marriage rates have declined significantly. So let’s start off with a question: why is dating such a terrible way to establish marriages?Thumbnail image by Jack Pearce under CC BY-SA 2.0Production of Reformation Baptist Church of Youngsville, NCPermanent Hosts - Dan Horn, Charles Churchill and Joshua HornTechnical Director - Timothy KaiserTheme Music - Gabriel Hudelson