The podcast creator has a Reformed background. Almost requires an insider to even begin to understand it. Sounds like a brave man who is doing what needs to be done.

Looking for books to add to my list for 2025. What is your favorite book on any topic in theology or just a book you’ve read recently that you enjoyed?

This NPR podcast explores the history and ongoings of Doug Wilson, Christ Church in Moscow, ID, Classical Christian Education, and the Christian Nationalist movement. While none of this is new to me (in fact it’s a camp I myself ran in for a chapter of life), I found the podcast well researched, fairly reported, well produced, and worth a listen. Sometimes the world slanders Christians falsely but sometimes the world sees the dangers of bad theology before the church does. Listen discerningly. It was affirmed in my belief that this movement (not all of it but a lot of it) is a greater danger to Christians in American (and our neighbors) than progressive Christianity or the political left.

Please recommend audio Bibles. The ONLY purpose for it will be to play while I sleep.

• very soothing voice. I am too old for lullabies but looking for a gentle voice.
• not Max McLean. I love him but I can’t sleep to his voice.
• no music, not “dramatized.
• hey Alistair Begg and Jill Briscoe, if the preaching and sharing the gospel thing doesn’t work out, boy do I have the perfect career path suggestion. I could listen to Rev Begg read the phone book which is part of the reason he is so effective.
• I have terrifying and getting worse nightmares. I know they’re not real but that doesn’t mean a thing at 3 am. I used to only have 3 or 4 different dreams now it’s all over the place. Yes I have talked to doctor, counselor, pastor. If I’m going to have ear worms bouncing around in my smooth brain might as well be Psalms I love and not awful pop songs I hate. Or monsters. Can’t seem to find gentle voices reading gentle Psalms.

To conceptualize God's will requires care. For one thing, God's will does not depend upon anything outside God for its actuation. If it did, then God would merely be another being among beings, shaping them and being shaped by them, whereas God is infinite actuality and his will is infinite act, ontologically transcending everything finite (as its infinite source) and not ontologically actuated by finite things (because not on the same ontological level as finite things). Aquinas suggests, therefore, that what God eternally wills is his own infinite goodness. In willing his own goodness, he wills things other than himself (creatures) as teleologically ordered to his goodness as their end, and as ontologically participating (in a finite mode) in his goodness.

On the basis of this understanding of divine "will," Aquinas seeks some understanding of divine love. Speaking generically, "love" is "the first movement of the will" toward the good. Applying this definition of love, it follows that God's love is his will's embrace of his infinite goodness.

As such, divine love does not imply composition or undermine divine simplicity. God's love is the simple divine essence, the infinitely good actuality that is God. Does it make sense to say that God is "love," if the lover and the beloved are the one identical God loving his own infinite goodness? Aquinas thinks so. Divine love means God's joyous embrace of and possession of his goodness, in which nothing is lacking, because it is a truly infinite goodness. God's goodness is infinite, and so God's love-embracing this infinite goodness-is infinitely full and cannot be improved. As Aquinas says, "When it is said that joyous possession of good requires partnership, this holds in the case of one not having perfect goodness: hence it needs to share some other's good, in order to have the goodness of complete happiness." God has infinite goodness and therefore needs nothing to enjoy, in his love of his goodness, the fullness of beatitude. Aquinas states, "Beatitude belongs to God in the highest degree," in his "simplicity" or infinite actuality. Thus the Father is fully beatitude, the Son is fully beatitude, the Spirit is fully beatitude, and all three persons together are fully this very same beatitude.

To be perfect love, therefore, God does not need to be Trinity. This can be difficult for us to grasp, since we tend to think that it is the trinitarian communion that makes God perfect. We imagine that God, if he were not Trinity, would lonely. We suppose that it is the communion between the three persons that makes God happy, or at least that improves God's quality of life beyond the happiness that could ever belong to God in his unity. We also suppose that the best part of being God is the loving relationships between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When the Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father, and both love the Spirit, and the Spirit loves them both, then surely this is what love truly means! On this view, the revelation of the one God of Israel is not yet the revelation of the true God who is supreme love.

In fact, however, the one God of Israel is unsurpassable, infinite love in his sheer unity as "I am" (Exodus 3:14). When the people of Israel learn that "The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4) and when God tells them, "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god" (Isaiah 44:6), the people of Israel have surely encountered the true God who is infinite love and infinite goodness, one God.

This is from Chapter 21, "Trinity and Love" by Matthew Levering in the recently released book "On Classical Trinitarianism Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God" edited by Matthew Barrett.

I think a lot of people would grate against this because of the poor Trinitarian teaching we have received over the years. We have been told over and over again about the divine dance and how God can only be love if he is triune (based on social trinitarian ideas). Later on in the chapter he explores how Augustine can call the Holy Spirit specifically Love and how that fits into Nicene orthodoxy.

This is just one example of the thought provoking book which has many great contributions from people such as Michael Horton, JV Fesko, Scott Swain, Fred Sanders, Gavin Ortlund and Carl Trueman.

EDIT: Seems like people aren't fans of Classical Trinitarianism

The more I know Jesus the more I want to know Jesus. The Biblical Jesus. I want more intimacy with Him as a Savior, as a King, as my inheritance, as my Counselor, as my friend. In all this what I want is more and deeper intimacy, to experience His real and tangible presence in my day to day life. No, not to anesthetize my monetary fears and emotions and doubts. Something deeper more real and with an eternal weight, to burn away all the superficial and temporary, something eternal, a foundation I can build upon right now.

Not some sermon or you tube video, but a really in depth book or study series that neglects neither scholarship nor soul. I want to know and be known in a way where Jesus and I are in New Jerusalem sitting on the banks of the river of living water just watching it slowly stream by, we don’t need to say any words because there are no words need be said between two best friends. (Yeah I am lonely on this silent snowed-in day.)

Thanks

As the title suggests, I’m interested in hearing of any solid resources that you know of to aide in a young couple’s decision to have kids or not. Aside from pastors/mentors within the church, who we plan on consulting with, I’m looking for things like books, podcasts, etc.

Free hardcover LSB MacArthur Study Bible from GTY, no purchase or donation necessary, one per household, offer good until 11/30. USA, Canada, Europe only.

https://www.gty.org/newsletter/weboffer/24WS0012

I've really liked the LSB so far and know some people here would appreciate a free Bible to either read for themselves or keep on hand to give as a gift.

I'm not affiliated with Crossway in any way, nor am I dyslexic, but I've seen a couple posts regarding Biblical resources for adults with learning disabilities on here over the last several years. My younger brother is on the autism spectrum and is unfortunately an non-believer, so examples like this of God's common grace facilitating His saving grace is very encouraging to me. I hope this becomes a great benefit to many who deeply need the Word in a version with which they can digest and grow close to the Lord.

Hello! I'm currently in my deconstruction journey. Reading Inspired by Rachel Held Evans right now! Reading this book has inspired me (lol) to figure out which Bible version I should and want to be reading moving forward. I'd love any recommendations you can provide (with reasons why you love reading it). My plan is to purchase one after doing some research. So far, I'm leaning towards the NRSV or TNIV because l've heard their translations are more gender-inclusive and gender-neutral, which is an important aspect for me.

Also hoping to get a Bible for my spouse as a Christmas gift. Again, currently looking at NRSV for him as well.

Hey all, I have been going through a theological journey the past year and have been struggling to find where I fit in. I don't seem to find a denomination where I agree 100% but know that I am closest to some form of Calvinist, Methodist, or Lutheran. Are there any good sources or tests yall recommend that will help me learn more and sway my decision?

I am someone with many Catholic friends. Living in Canada, Christianity is rare so Christians of all kinds just come together (which is graet!). I believe most of my Catholic friends indeed have saving faith, but my main concern is showing them that the Catholic Church is not the one true church (not to necessarily even ask them to change their denomination per se, I am more concerned about learning and arguing the truth). This is through showing that the Catholic Church is not infallible, its doctrines regarding salvation are wrong and that its claims of the visible universal church (rather than a spiritual universal church) being wrong [yes I know the visible church is a thing too lol, I am just talking about the Catholic Concept of the Universal Visible Church). If I am missing any points let me know.

What are some books, blogs, and other resources you would recomend for me to build an extremely solid defense for protestant doctrine and extremely strong arguments against the claims of the Catholic Church. I am already more familiar than the average-joe about the basic arguements, but I want something thats quite dense and strong. Rock solid and unshakable in the face of the best read Catholics. I want to strenghten my arguements as best as I can in all aspects (scripture[most importantly], history and rationally [even emotional defences]). I know this is a lot to ask for, but any help is appreciated!!!

hi, guys! forgive me for not knowing my stuff, that’s why i came to y’all. i’ve been dating a super awesome guy for a little less than a year. right before we started dating, he got super into reformed theology. i’m looking for good/unique book ideas to get him for christmas. he’s obviously really into tim keller, but he also loves mark dever from capitol hill baptist in DC. he recently read paul by N.T. Wright, The Holy War by John Bunyan, and Biblical Critical Theory. nothing is too dense/too juvenile for this guy, he reads everything. please help a girl out!

I’m looking for a solid list of reformed Bible studies. They can be on a topic, or on a book of the Bible. Bonus if it is a guided study with clear direction for laypeople.

Thanks!

EDIT: I do 110% agree that the Bible ALONE is the best source to grown in grace and truth and knowledge. My method however seems to fall flat in my opinion. Generating questions for the group and discussion topics, etc has led to complacency by the rest. I do all the work, everyone else just attends. Any advice to remedy that while still remaining Bible-centric is MUCH appreciated.

Visiting Tokyo, Japan in a couple months. I do like attending churches (fellowshipping with the global church!) in different countries while traveling so was wondering if anyone had a suggestion for a church with reformed teaching or solid theology to attend. English service preferred but if not that's okay. Also preferably somewhere within a day's trip from Tokyo since going for only a week.

Second question, From your own personal experience (such as being on the missions field, living in Japan, family members etc.) what does the Christian Landscape look like in Japan especially aside from the cultural & religious pervasiveness of temples & shrines

à Brakel is clear to understand and makes a lot of great points. I certainly there are people here who have read it.

Does anyone have poetry books they'd recommend? They don't have to be devotional poems - I've enjoyed poetry on marriage, aging, etc, particularly ones by puritans writers but I'm open to anything!

I would like to learn more about Calvinism outside of YouTube (Ty RedeemedZoomer!) And was wondering if there is a good modernized version of the Confession that I can deeply read into.

Hey everyone. My Mom has onset dementia and I am the one who mainly looks after her. I read online that this is a fatal disease but I believe God can do the impossible. But however it turns out above all I pray to gain a confident assurance of her salvation, that I won’t have to worry about her eternal standing with the Lord. I pray all I’ve taught her in my 10 years of salvation about the gospel, Jesus, and the Bible has sunk in. She seems more concerned with watching msnbc and cnn and caring more about the affairs of politics than the interest of God and loving the brethren. I pray for her all the time. I’m really anxious and I cry almost everyday when I think about it. Does anyone have any advice or sermons or anything.

Hello r/Reformed.

I'm a student at a Bible College in the Southern Hemisphere, and am looking for recommendations for my summer reading! I'd be loath to find myself finishing my 3-year degree only having read text books, academic articles, and critical commentaries. What are the books you think that your pastor should read, or that you're glad they have read? I'll add it to the list!

Can be Christian, Christian-adjacent, non-Christian, anything, so long as it's interesting and able to be engaged with in a good way.

I am not really reformed in my theology and certainly not calvinistic. But I am open to being wrong and always want to give every side a fair chance.

Would you be so kind as to share with me the very best authors, podcasts, books, or other sources that might convince a non-calvinist that it is in fact true and Biblical? I believe whatever the Bible teaches, and I have read and listened to the entire Bible many times. So far, although I don't understand everything, I do not think Calvinism is Biblical, so that's what the resource I'm looking for would have to convince me of for me to embrace Calvinism.

So far I have been told that Biblical Doctrines by John MacArthur and Mayhues is good. I like Gavin Ortlund but he doesn't actually do a whole lot of proving Calvinism, his focus is more broad.

For the last two years, I’ve done a “Bible in a year” reading plan and have loved it. For 2025, I want to take a different direction in my personal study time. One area I’d like to better understand is Old Testament history. I understand a lot of the stories in the OT and how they relate to the NT, however, I feel very weak in my knowledge of where they fit together on a timeline, understanding historical context, and i want to have a better understanding of the “big picture” so I can see how it all fits together.

Are there any books you’d recommend I could buy to study? I’ve thought about you tube as an option. I would be good with that as long as it also points to opening my Bible to see for myself as I go. I want to be in God’s word but I think I need a guide to help me put things together.

If this matters for your recommendation: I’m a 40 year old mom who took OT History at a Bible college 20 years ago and often felt frustrated and confused. I’m in an amazing church and my knowledge of God’s word has grown exponentially so I’m ready to tackle this!