Wed, 2 October 2024
Rev. Douglas Clawson considered Matthew 28:20b, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” at the Reformed Forum Annual Theology Conference held on September 28, 2024 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Rev. Douglas Clawson unpacks the profound promise found in Matthew 28:20, where Jesus assures his disciples of His continual presence as they carry out the Great Commission. Rev. Clawson carefully traces this theme of God’s presence from the Old Testament through to its fulfillment in Christ, emphasizing the deep continuity of God’s dwelling with his people. Beginning with the genealogy in Matthew, Rev. Clawson explores how Jesus, as the fulfillment of both the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, is the ultimate expression of “God with us”—Emmanuel. This theme, introduced at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, is powerfully echoed in Christ’s final words to his disciples, promising to be with them “to the end of the age.” Rev. Clawson highlights how this promise of presence goes beyond omnipresence or general providence, focusing instead on Christ’s intimate, covenantal presence with his people. Through a rich biblical theology, Rev. Clawson ties Jesus’ promise to God’s presence with Israel in the wilderness, in the tabernacle, and through the prophets. He draws parallels between God’s extensive and intensive presence among his people in the Old Testament and Jesus’ presence with his disciples through the Holy Spirit. This promise is foundational for the church’s mission, giving believers assurance that they never labor alone, but are always accompanied by Christ. This address encourages listeners to reflect on the deep theological implications of Christ’s presence with his church, both now and until the consummation of the age. It is a stirring reminder that, as the church fulfills the Great Commission, Jesus—the Great “I Am”—is ever-present with his people, empowering and sustaining them. |
Wed, 2 October 2024
Dr. James Cassidy considered Matthew 28:20a, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” at the Reformed Forum Annual Theology Conference held on September 28, 2024 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Dr. Cassidy offers a comprehensive exploration of the central role of preaching and teaching in the mission of the church. Rooted in the Great Commission, Dr. Cassidy emphasizes that the work of the church is inseparable from the task of proclaiming and teaching the Word of God. He challenges the common distinction between preaching and teaching, arguing that both serve the same ultimate purpose: the faithful execution of Christ’s command to make disciples. Dr. Cassidy presents a biblical and theological case for viewing preaching and teaching as fundamentally the same activity within the church’s mission. He turns to the New Testament to show how the apostles, including Paul and Timothy, understood their ministry as both preaching the gospel and teaching the whole counsel of God. In this way, the church is called to faithfully declare not only the imperatives of Jesus but also the entire redemptive narrative of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. This address also covers the broader implications of preaching and teaching, emphasizing that these activities must be biblical, systematic, and polemical. Dr. Cassidy encourages pastors and ministers to preach the whole counsel of God, to structure their sermons with theological coherence, and to boldly defend the Christian faith against false religions and worldviews. In conclusion, Dr. Cassidy underscores that preaching and teaching are the church’s primary tasks in fulfilling the Great Commission, and any other activities must serve or flow from this central mission. This address is a profound reflection on the core identity of the church and its mandate to proclaim Christ to all nations. |
Tue, 1 October 2024
Dr. Carlton Wynne considered Matthew 28:19b, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”at the Reformed Forum Annual Theology Conference held on September 28, 2024 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Dr. Wynne shares the rich theological significance of baptism, tracing its roots through the Old Testament and highlighting its vital role in the church’s mission today. Drawing on vivid biblical imagery and covenantal theology, Dr. Wynne explores how baptism functions as a visible sign of God’s covenant faithfulness, pointing to both the blessings of salvation and the solemn warnings of judgment. Dr. Wynne begins by tracing baptism’s deep well from the creation waters in Genesis to the flood of Noah, Israel’s Red Sea crossing, and the ordination of the priesthood, showing how these Old Testament events foreshadow the New Covenant sacrament. Baptism, as part of Christ’s Great Commission, not only initiates believers into the covenant community but also proclaims the gospel, confirms God’s promises, and sanctifies the church. Furthermore, Dr. Wynne emphasizes the multifaceted work of baptism: it signifies salvation, summons sinners to Christ, seals God’s covenant promises, sanctifies believers, and strengthens the bonds within the church. He illustrates how baptism serves as both a divine declaration and a summons to faith, culminating in the affirmation of God’s grace and the call to live as disciples of Christ. By exploring these “lively works” of baptism, this presentation calls the church to cherish and uphold the sacrament as a means of grace, nourishing faith and encouraging spiritual growth. This is a theologically rich reflection on how the waters of baptism flow continuously through the life of the church, rooted in God’s redemptive plan and vital for the spiritual vitality of God’s people. |
Tue, 1 October 2024
Dr. Camden Bucey considers Matthew 28:19a, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” at the Reformed Forum Annual Theology Conference held on September 28, 2024 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Dr. Bucey exegetes the core command of the Great Commission, revealing key insights often overlooked in English translations. By focusing on the singular imperative—"Make disciples"—the address clarifies the church’s shared responsibility, guided by the authority of Christ, to bring the gospel to all nations. The theological depth extends to how the covenantal promises given to Abraham are fulfilled through Jesus Christ and now continue through the church’s mission to make disciples of all nations. This address also emphasizes the holistic nature of disciple-making: it is not limited to evangelism but includes baptism, teaching, and nurturing believers into spiritual maturity. Dr. Bucey passionately explains how the church must rely on the power of Christ to carry out this mission, faithfully using the ordinary means of grace—word, sacraments, and prayer—to achieve extraordinary ends for the kingdom of God. Whether you’re a pastor, missionary, or layperson, this presentation calls you to reflect deeply on your unique role in fulfilling the Great Commission and the broader redemptive narrative of Scripture. Join us as we engage in the task Christ entrusted to his church, confident in his empowering presence and his promise to be with us until the end of the age. |
Mon, 30 September 2024
Dr. Lane Tipton considers Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,’” at the Reformed Forum Annual Theology Conference held on September 28, 2024 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Dr. Tipton offers a rich exposition of Matthew 28:18, exploring the divine authority and mission given to the church by the ascended Christ. Focusing on the unlimited dominion of Christ as he reigns from heaven, this presentation intricately weaves together biblical theology and Reformed thought to highlight the present reign of Jesus and his work in the Great Commission. Drawing heavily on the teachings of Geerhardus Vos, the address outlines five key propositions regarding Christ’s kingship, his appointment as mediator in the Council of Peace, and his heavenly rule. Dr. Tipton emphasizes the “two-age” movement of Christ’s kingdom—his current reign through the spiritual kingdom of grace and its final culmination in glory at the end of the age. With clarity and depth, the speaker explains how Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God marked the initiation of the Regnum Potentiae (Kingdom of Power), where he now exercises comprehensive authority over heaven and earth. This address not only unveils the theological significance of Christ’s exaltation but also challenges believers to reflect on their role in the ongoing work of the Great Commission. By exploring Christ’s present unlimited dominion, Dr. Tipton critiques misunderstandings of future millennial reigns, affirming that Christ’s kingship is fully realized now, and He will continue to reign until the last enemy is destroyed. The presentation concludes with an encouragement to the Church to engage faithfully in disciple-making, sustained by the powerful promises of Christ’s authority and his abiding presence. This is a compelling call to embrace the Great Commission with confidence, knowing that Christ’s rule over all creation guarantees the success of the mission entrusted to his church. |
Wed, 14 August 2024
Dr. Lane G. Tipton presents on the profound Christological insights of the book of Hebrews. Dr. Tipton will guide us through the scriptural foundations and doctrinal significance of Christ’s immutability, revealing how this aspect of the Son provides unwavering assurance to believers. This live webinar was recorded on August 14, 2024. Chapters
https://reformedforum.org/event/steadfast-savior-unveiling-the-immutable-mediator-in-hebrews |
Thu, 11 July 2024
We recorded a webinar with Dr. Harrison Perkins, author of Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Academic). This event explored the multifaceted nature of covenant theology, examining how it relates to other branches of exegetical and theological study. Discover how covenant theology is informed by exegetical, biblical, and systematic theology and how it in turn influences other disciplines. Whether you’re a theologian, pastor, student, or simply interested in deepening your knowledge of Reformed theology, this webinar promises to provide valuable insights and foster enriching discussions. Chapters
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Wed, 22 May 2024
Dr. Daniel Borvan traces the tumultuous journey of the French Reformed Church from its formation, through periods of severe persecution, to its current role within the modern Protestant landscape. This session offers a comprehensive look at the church’s theological, cultural, and social contributions over the centuries. This session was delivered at the Reformed Forum Symposium on the Reformation in the Francophone World (https://reformedforum.org/symposium-on-the-reformation-in-the-francophone-world). |
Sat, 9 March 2024
Dr. James Cassidy speaks at the Reformed Forum pre-conference in advance of the Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 2024 Spring Theology Conference.
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Sat, 9 March 2024
Camden Bucey presents a biblical theology of the nations during the Reformed Forum pre-conference in advance of the Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 2024 Spring Theology Conference.
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Fri, 1 March 2024
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. This panel discussion featured Alan Strange’s insightful book, Empowered Witness (Crossway). The session examined Strange's exploration of the spirituality of the church doctrine, a pivotal biblical concept developed in the nineteenth century, and its relevance in today's politically charged environment. Emphasizing the necessity for the church to prioritize its spiritual mission over earthly political and social agendas, Strange's work is a clarion call to refocus on the Great Commission. C. N. Willborn, D. G. Hart, and Timon Cline offered their perspectives on the book. Then, Dr. Strange responded and engage with their insights. This panel was an engaging analysis of the historical and contemporary roles of the church, appealing to both thoughtful laypeople and church leaders. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QujQOzuiJR4
Direct download: 2024-02-29_symposium_03_strange.mp3
Category:Special Edition -- posted at: 11:14am CST |
Fri, 1 March 2024
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. In this session Owen Anderson explored the phenomenon of secularization, particularly focusing on the transformative changes that took place at Princeton Seminary and within Presbyterian education. Following Dr. Anderson's presentation, we entertained questions from viewers who submitted questions in our online chat. This discussion was especially timely in light of a growing educational renaissance, driven by parents increasingly concerned about the radical-leftist tendencies in modern education. There is a compelling opportunity to consider the rich Presbyterian history, which could provide valuable alternatives and insights. This topic is not only relevant to our current cultural context but also deeply rooted in our denominational heritage, offering a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of education. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KIK5SNau5Q
Direct download: 2024-02-29_symposium_02_anderson.mp3
Category:Special Edition -- posted at: 11:12am CST |
Fri, 1 March 2024
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. In this session, Joseph Minich presented the primary thesis of his book, Bulwarks of Unbelief (Lexham Press), in which he argues that a felt absence of God, as experienced by the modern individual, offers a better explanation for the rise in atheism. Recent technological and cultural shifts in the modern West have produced a perceived challenge to God's existence. As modern technoculture reshapes our awareness of reality and belief in the invisible, it in turn amplifies God's apparent silence. In this new context, atheism is a natural result. And absent of meaning from without, we have turned within. Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/bvOPzAyfvdE?feature=share
Direct download: 2024-02-29_symposium_01_minich.mp3
Category:Special Edition -- posted at: 11:03am CST |
Mon, 12 February 2024
Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha cover a wide range of topics important to our community, including an in-depth review of the Reformed Academy’s progress, what we've accomplished, the valuable lessons we've learned, and what we have planned for the upcoming year, including new ideas and a proposed schedule. They also dive into our recent and upcoming events and meetups, sharing highlights from our trip to California, details about our visit to Arizona, thoughts about our upcoming symposia, our big pre-conference in Greenville, and our participation in the PCA and OPC General Assemblies. Additionally, they discuss potential future cities for our meetups and events, ensuring our community remains vibrant and connected. Furthermore, they provide an update on the Reformed Forum Magazine, sharing exciting developments and what readers can look forward to. Most importantly, this town hall is an opportunity for us to engage directly with you. Camden and Ryan take questions from our livestream listeners, addressing your curiosities, concerns, and suggestions. Whether you’re deeply invested in the Reformed community or simply curious about what we do, this town hall is a meaningful dialogue about our collective journey and future aspirations. Watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/D_d2Ezs1KwA |
Thu, 26 October 2023
Dr. D. G. Hart lectured at the Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 7, 2023. The conference theme was “100 Years of Christianity and Liberalism: J. Gresham Machen’s Theological Legacy.” The occasion was the one-hundredth anniversary of the publication of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Conference speakers Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and D. G. Hart took the opportunity to consider Machen’s unique contributions by exploring several covenantal, eschatological, and historical themes that intersect with his work. Visit https://www.reformedforum.org/rf23 for more information about the event. This lecture is made available for free through the generous support of Harvest USA. Harvest USA’s purpose is to partner with and equip the Church in bringing the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. Please visit https://harvestusa.org/ for more information. |
Wed, 25 October 2023
Dr. Lane Tipton lectured at the Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 7, 2023. The conference theme was “100 Years of Christianity and Liberalism: J. Gresham Machen’s Theological Legacy.” The occasion was the one-hundredth anniversary of the publication of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Conference speakers Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and D. G. Hart took the opportunity to consider Machen’s unique contributions by exploring several covenantal, eschatological, and historical themes that intersect with his work. Visit https://www.reformedforum.org/rf23 for more information about the event. This lecture is made available for free through the generous support of Harvest USA. Harvest USA’s purpose is to partner with and equip the Church in bringing the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. Please visit https://harvestusa.org/ for more information. |
Tue, 24 October 2023
Dr. Jim Cassidy lectured at the Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 7, 2023. The conference theme was “100 Years of Christianity and Liberalism: J. Gresham Machen’s Theological Legacy.” The occasion was the one-hundredth anniversary of the publication of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Conference speakers Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and D. G. Hart took the opportunity to consider Machen’s unique contributions by exploring several covenantal, eschatological, and historical themes that intersect with his work. Visit https://www.reformedforum.org/rf23 for more information about the event. This lecture is made available for free through the generous support of Harvest USA. Harvest USA’s purpose is to partner with and equip the Church in bringing the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. Please visit https://harvestusa.org/ for more information. |
Mon, 23 October 2023
Dr. Camden Bucey lectured at the Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 7, 2023. The conference theme was “100 Years of Christianity and Liberalism: J. Gresham Machen’s Theological Legacy.” The occasion was the one-hundredth anniversary of the publication of J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Conference speakers Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Lane Tipton, and D. G. Hart took the opportunity to consider Machen’s unique contributions by exploring several covenantal, eschatological, and historical themes that intersect with his work. Visit https://www.reformedforum.org/rf23 for more information about the event. This lecture is made available for free through the generous support of Harvest USA. Harvest USA’s purpose is to partner with and equip the Church in bringing the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform the lives of those affected by sexual sin. Please visit https://harvestusa.org/ for more information. |
Tue, 9 May 2023
Camden Bucey and Ryan Noha discuss the work of Reformed Forum and the generous supporters that have partnered in our mission to present every person mature in Christ (Col. 1:28). This month, we have prayerfully set a stretch goal to add 25 new monthly donors toward a combined $1,000 of additional monthly support for our mission. With your help, we're already on the precipice of achieving this goal. Listen as Camden and Ryan explain how you can help and as they explain our organizational history, business plan, financial health, and needs. Reformed Forum relies on the generous support of our community to endeavor after our mission. Your donations help us to keep our content available around the world for all who are interested in learning more about Reformed theology. Donate now at https://www.reformedforum.org/donate
Direct download: 2023-05-09_development_report.mp3
Category:Special Edition -- posted at: 12:39pm CST |
Tue, 29 November 2022
Give now to double your impact! Gifts up to $75,000 will be matched through the end of the year. Christian education is one of the core activities of the local church. In addition to preaching, healthy local churches develop mature members of Christ’s body through Sunday school courses, Bible studies, and discipleship groups. But given their many other ministerial duties, pastors and ruling elders often lack the adequate time and energy to develop and teach new lessons each week. Local churches often rely on supplemental resources, such as Bible study books and video courses. But many have run out of available options suitable for congregations seeking rich, confessionally Reformed teaching. There is an even greater need in non-English-speaking contexts. The confessionally Reformed resources necessary to aid in their Spiritual growth simply do not exist. In the rare cases that they do exist, accessing them is often cost-prohibitive. Reformed Forum produces resources that benefit local churches at home and around the world. And we seek to come alongside local churches by providing these resources in English, Spanish, and Chinese for free. Our mission is to support the church in her charge of presenting every person mature in Christ (Col. 1:28). We continue to advance this mission as more than 4,000 students throughout 84 countries have already accessed our growing online curriculum. The Goal In order to reach the next wave of Reformed Christians, we have launched the Every Person Mature campaign. Our goal is to raise $150,000 by the end of 2022 so that we may continue to provide free theological resources for your congregation and others like it around the world. The good news is that we are nearly halfway there! A generous donor has committed to match all donations toward this cause up to $75,000. By donating to the Every Person Mature campaign, you will fund essential resources for believers who are hungry for confessionally Reformed resources. Give before the end of the year, and our generous matching donor will match your gift to double your impact. Thank you for partnering with us. Donations to Reformed Forum are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. To make a donation, please visit reformedforum.org/donate. You may also mail a check payable to Reformed Forum, 1585 N. Milwaukee Ave, Ste 113, Libertyville, IL 60048. |
Fri, 2 September 2022
On September 1, 2022, Lane Tipton fielded questions on his book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til. Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987) offered a confessionally Reformed doctrine of the Creator-creature relation that stands out as distinct in contrast to both traditional Roman Catholic and contemporary Barthian alternatives. His Trinitarian theology of the Creator-creature relation supplied a pioneering enrichment of Reformed theology in the traditions of Old Princeton and Old Amsterdam. In the book, Lane G. Tipton interprets Van Til in his own historical and polemical context and demonstrates how the immutably dynamic life of the self-contained Trinity bears upon God’s relation to Adam in the work of creation, the act of special providence in covenant, and the person and eternal Son in the event of incarnation. Tipton argues that Van Til’s Trinitarian theology deepens confessionally Reformed Trinitarianism and federalism in contrast to medieval Thomistic and modern Barthian theological alternatives. In a period marked by theological decline, he strives to clarify and extend confessional Reformed Trinitarian and federal theology in the service of the church’s union and communion with the immutable person of the crucified and ascended Christ of Scripture. |
Tue, 22 October 2019
Jeff Waddington, Lane Tipton, Glen Clary, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey answer questions at the Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois on October 12, 2019. |
Sun, 20 October 2019
Dr. Jeffrey C. Waddington delivers a plenary address at the 2019 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. |
Fri, 18 October 2019
Dr. Lane G. Tipton delivers his first plenary address at the 2019 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois.
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Fri, 18 October 2019
The History of Heaven: Paul's Christological Interpretation of the New Beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Dr. Lane G. Tipton delivers his second plenary address at the 2019 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. In this address, he discusses Paul's Christological interpretation of the new beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:45–49.
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Thu, 17 October 2019
Camden Bucey speaks at our 2019 Theology Conference held at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. The theme of the conference is “The Law Is Spiritual,” which is a phrase that comes from Romans 7:14. This is a verse that has been a perennial challenge for interpreters. What does it mean for the law to be “spiritual”? In this opening lecture, Dr. Bucey offers several exegetical, hermeneutical, and biblical-theological suggestions for approaching this difficult verse and its immediate context, namely Romans 7. This is a sketch of what could be developed in due course. There is a typological and eschatological difference post-Pentecost. This is a fundamental point of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians. There is deep congruence between Galatians’ structure and that of Romans. It is interesting to compare the flow of Paul’s argument in Galatians with that of Romans. If that is true, you should be able to look to one letter for assistance when the other is particularly difficult to understand. Romans 7 is one of those chapters, particularly with regard to the so-called “schizophrenic I.”[1] When Paul uses the first-person singular pronoun, what does he mean? The ancient We will [1] See Dennis Johnson’s chapter in Resurrection and Eschatology: Essays in Honor of Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. |
Wed, 24 October 2018
Rev. Danny E. Olinger lectures on the connection Geerhardus Vos and J. Gresham Machen. This lesson was taught at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois as part of the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference. [embed]https://youtu.be/5fon82fe0u8[/embed] |
Mon, 22 October 2018
Camden Bucey delivers the concluding address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. [embed]https://youtu.be/TvmdnQyaAII[/embed] |
Sun, 21 October 2018
Glen Clary delivers a plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the handouts. [embed]https://youtu.be/7KHYPVMhBWE[/embed] |
Wed, 17 October 2018
Jim Cassidy delivers a plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the handout. [embed]https://youtu.be/k1Ih83fw4h4[/embed] |
Tue, 16 October 2018
Jeff Waddington spoke at the fifth annual Reformed Forum Conference, which was held October 5–7, 2018 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. The theme of the conference was “Seeing God: The Deeper Protestant Conception.” The speakers addressed important theological challenges and controversies facing the contemporary Reformed church by exploring the theologies of Thomas Aquinas, Karl Barth, and Geerhardus Vos on the beatific vision and glorification of man. |
Mon, 15 October 2018
Lane Tipton delivers the first plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the lecture notes to follow along. |
Sun, 14 October 2018
Camden Bucey delivers the opening and introductory address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Watch on YouTube |
Tue, 26 June 2018
The fifth annual Reformed Forum Conference will be held October 5–7, 2018 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Our theme will be, “Seeing God: The Deeper Protestant Conception.” We will address important theological challenges and controversies facing the contemporary Reformed church by exploring the theologies of Thomas Aquinas, Karl Barth, and Geerhardus Vos on the beatific vision and glorification of man. The beatific vision captures the glorious reality believers will experience when Christ returns. “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). This presents an important theological question: How shall we be like him? Is it by participating in the divine essence? Is it by being identified with God in a revelatory Christ-event? Does God change his being in some manner to accommodate this new relationship?
Reformed orthodoxy demands a deeper conception.Our conference theme may sound esoteric, but these are critically important matters facing the Church today as an age-old theological controversy is rising once again. We seek to present a clear thesis that Vos offers the biblical way forward between two forms of divine-human univocism. These are represented by consistent Thomism and modernist Barthianism. Ostensibly, these systems are diametrically opposed to one another, yet Vos’s insights will help demonstrate how Thomism and Barthianism eventually converge in what Cornelius Van Til termed the “Aristotle-Christ-Kant Synthesis.” Through the biblical doctrines of divine immutability, covenant, and the image of God, Vos demonstrates how God enters into a glorious communion bond with his people without deifying them or becoming a creature himself. We plan to devote several episodes of Christ the Center to this subject leading up to the conference and develop a pre-conference reading list for those who want to get the most out of their experience. We look forward to seeing you in October. Register Now |
Wed, 11 October 2017
The adult Sunday school lesson from the Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) |
Wed, 11 October 2017
The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #5 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) |
Wed, 11 October 2017
The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #4 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) |
Wed, 11 October 2017
The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #2 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) |
Wed, 11 October 2017
The Reformation of Apologetics, Session #1 Reformed Forum 2017 Theology Conference Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) |
Wed, 11 October 2017
VIP dinner lecture from Market House on the Square in Lake Forest, Illinois. |
Tue, 20 June 2017
Reformed Forum is pleased to welcome Theology Simply Profound. Rob McKenzie and Bob Tarullo address issues of Reformed theology in an accessible manner. If Christ the Center is an advanced course, this is your prolegomena. Think of it as Reformed meat and |
Sun, 2 April 2017
This week we’re at The Gospel Coalition 2017 Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. We’re meeting a ton of new people and telling them about our mission to assist the Church in her call to discipleship. With a host of new listeners, I wanted to release a special welcome episode into our podcast feed and provide a short introduction to what we do here at Reformed Forum. We’ve been podcasting since January 2008. Our flagship program, Christ the Center has released a new episode every Friday since that first episode was released over nine years ago. We’ve just published our first book No Uncertain Sound, which plants a flag for our distinctive confessional Reformed theology. We are unabashed in promoting historic Protestantism in the tradition of the Westminster Standards and the three forms of unity: the Canons of Dort, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism. We believe this important, since we live in an age of broad and often pragmatic evangelicalism. We’re promoting something substantial and enduring. But even beyond our confessional tradition, we specifically advance theology in the tradition of Geerhardus Vos and Cornelius Van Til. We’ve detailed all of this in our book No Uncertain Sound. We hope you pick up a copy and fall in love with this rich theology arising from a redemptive-historical hermeneutic. At the end of the episode, we include a portion of Christ the Center episode 378 with Dr. Carl Trueman. In this episode, we speak about Dr. Trueman's book Luther on the Christian Life, in which he paints a portrait of Martin Luther through his historical context, theological system, and approach to the Christian life. Luther is often treated in a black-and-white fashion or exclusively through his succinct theological quips and mottoes. Trueman helps us to see the practical and pastoral context in which Luther lived and ministered and thereby grants to us a better understanding of both the man and his theology. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
Camden Bucey speaks at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
Lane Tipton speaks at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
The Image of God and Imaging God: A Plea for Including the Ontological and Ethical Preconditions of the Function of the Image in Our Understanding of the Image of God
Jeff Waddington speaks at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
Glen Clary speaks at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
Jim Cassidy speaks at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Thu, 13 October 2016
Lane Tipton delivers his first address at the 2016 Reformed Forum Theology Conference held at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois on October 8, 2016. |
Mon, 2 May 2016
Dr. James J. Cassidy delivers the first plenary address from our Austin Theology Conference at Pflugerville, Texas on April 30, 2016. |
Mon, 2 May 2016
Dr. Camden M. Bucey delivers the second plenary address from our Austin Theology Conference at Pflugerville, Texas on April 30, 2016. |
Mon, 2 May 2016
Dr. Lane G. Tipton delivers the first plenary address from our Austin Theology Conference at Pflugerville, Texas on April 30, 2016. |
Tue, 1 December 2015
Lane Tipton teaches from the book of Hebrews during the adult Sunday school class as part of the 2015 Reformed Forum Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. |
Tue, 1 December 2015
We are pleased to announce the paper selections and program for the Covenantal Apologetics Colloquium, which will be held online on Saturday, December 5th, at 7pm (Eastern Standard Time). We’ll be streaming the event live through Google Hangouts On Air. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. preaches during the morning service at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Jeffrey C. Waddington delivers his breakout session at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Lane G. Tipton fields questions during his breakout session at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Lane G. Tipton delivers his second plenary address at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. delivers his second plenary address at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. James J. Cassidy delivers a breakout session at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Camden M. Bucey delivers a breakout session at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Lane G. Tipton delivers his first plenary address at the 2015 Reformed Forum theology Conference. |
Tue, 17 November 2015
Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. delivers his first plenary address at the 2015 Reformed Forum Theology Conference. |
Mon, 31 August 2015
We take a break from our regular theological programming to listen as Camden Bucey shares several podcasting tips and tricks. |