Presbyterian and Reformed Texas

Faith, Politics, and the Kingdom: Navigating Christian Citizenship in a Polarized America with Brian Franklin

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Presbyterian and Reformed Texas, Brian Franklin, Associate Director at SMU’s Center for Presidential History and a ruling elder in the PCA, joins me to discuss the challenges of navigating faith and politics in today’s polarized climate. Franklin emphasizes the importance of maintaining a Christ-centered perspective and unity among believers despite political differences. Franklin offers insights on how Christians can engage in politics with humility and grace while focusing primarily on the kingdom of God rather than earthly political systems.

Guests:

Brian Franklin is a Ruling Elder at New St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church Dallas and Associate Director at SMU’s Center for Presidential History
Brian is @brfranklin4 on Twitter/X

Mentioned

Southern Methodist University
SMU’s Center for Presidential History
Westminster Presbyterian Bryan
New St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church Dallas
Dallas Children’s Theater
Marshall McLuhan's “The Medium is the Message”

Brian’s Favorite Tex-Mex

Rosa’s Cafe
La Margarita (Odessa)

Like and subscribe, rate and review, and spread the word far and wide.

Reformed Texas (@reformedtexas) on Twitter/X
Eric Wallace (@ecrosstexas) on Twitter/X
Eric's site ecrosstexas.com

Soli Deo Gloria

Roctober! Fostering Youth Connections in North Texas with Colton Brewer and Graham Clark

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Colton Brewer and TE Graham Clark join me to discuss youth ministry and the annual North Texas Presbytery Youth Retreat called Roctober now in its ninth year.

Along with photos of our two guests, the cover art features the logo from Roctober IV that faded way too fast on the orange sherbet Comfort Colors t-shirts.

Guests:

Colton Brewer (Youth & Family Director at Trinity Presbyterian Church Plano).
Graham Clark (Assistant Pastor to Youth at Town North Presbyterian Church in Richardson).

Roctober

Roctober IX Registration

Location: Camp Copass (8200 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76208)
Date: Friday, October 18th to Saturday, October 19th, 2024
Cost: $90

Theme: Gospel Friendship

Speaker: Rev. Andy Wood

Andy Wood has served as the Associate Pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth since June 2022.

Deadlines: The last day to register and still receive a T-shirt is Friday, October 4, 2024. All registration closes at 11:59 PM Friday, October 11, 2024

Also Mentioned

Hamid Hatami with Middle East Heritage Reformed (“MEHR”) Ministries
RTS Dallas
Christ the King Midlothian
Crossway
Christ Community Church Frisco
Fred Greco at - Christ Church Katy
Park Cities Presbyterian Church
OPC
NAPARC
Seth Miller at Immanuel Presbyterian Church Post Falls, ID
Redeemer McKinney
Andrew “Tree” Triolo at Westminster Presbyterian Church Bryan
New St. Peters Dallas
Michael W. Smith Friends

“Taking the Gospel to Prison” with Paul Miller (MNA Metanoia Prison Ministries)

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Meet PCA Teaching Elder Paul Miller, the Regional Director for Metanoia Prison Ministries in Texas. He has a deep desire for every incarcerated individual in Texas State and Federal prisons to hear of the glorious gospel of Christ’s saving grace. Paul believes that his life with all of its highs and lows, victories and struggles, has prepared him to minister in the very difficult environment of prisons. It has been exciting to see Metanoia Prison Ministries grow in the Lone Star State over the last five years! God is at work!

Mentioned

Support Paul’s Work

Social Media:

Metanoia TX Facebook Page

Leading a Reformed congregation in Amarillo with Dr. Tyler Taber

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Get to know Rev. Dr. Tyler Taber, the Pastor at Redeemer Amarillo (PCA) and learn about this branch of Christ’s Church in the Panhandle seeks to be faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission.

West Texas Conference on Reformed Theology 2024

When Life Throws a Curveball: The Meaning of the Book of Job with Dr. Derek W. Thomas

5 Sessions working through the Book of Job!

September 21–22, 2024

Mentioned

Please follow Redeemer PCA on social media:

Instagram: @amarillopcaredeemer
Facebook: Redeemer Presbyterian Church - PCA Amarillo
Sermon Audio Archives

"Considering Evening Services" with Mark Trigsted and Matt Wood

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Teaching Elders Mark Trigsted (Redeemer McKinney) and Matt Wood (Grace & Peace Anna) join the show to discuss evening services. The pastors share the experience at their churches and offer advice to churches considering offering them. “So my exhortation is just do it, you know, go for it.” says Pastor Wood.

To our sister churches in the PCA and throughout NAPARC we welcome your voice and hope you will share your thoughts as we seek to better keep the Sabbath in a world that is openly hostile to the Fourth Commandment.

Links

Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church, Anna, Texas.
Redeemer McKinney (PCA)
Mark Trigsted (@MTrigsted) on Twitter/X
North Texas Presbytery
Justin Andrusk & Matthew Lee’s Morning & Evening in the PCA on PCA Polity
Sunday School - WCF Chapter 21 Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church | Allen, TX
Family Worship Bible Guide - Hardcover
Christ Presbyterian Church - OPC, Flower Mound
Iain Murray’s Revival and Revivalism
Seth Miller, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Post Falls, ID

Churches in North Texas Presbytery (PCA) with Evening Worship

Related

Presbycast: Church Twice on Sunday w/Dr. Duncan Rankin
The Forgotten Gift of Evening Worship by Jim McCarthy
“Top Ten Reasons to Attend Evening Worship” by Danny Hyde
Why I Love the Evening Service (And You Can Too) by Kevin DeYoung

"Grace overcomes Guilt" with Russian-speaking Ukrainian Greg Zhelezny (Trinity Plano)

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Meet Yegor (Greg) Zhelezny a Russian-speaking Ukrainian now living in North Texas. Born in Kiev to parents of an atheistic-jewish background, Greg knew guilt well. Hear the testimony of God’s saving work as the Spirit led a young man to receive the gospel of grace and move to America so he could turn and reach Russians with the Gospel. Greg is a candidate for ministry in the North Texas Presbytery and member at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Plano.

Mentioned:

Trinity Presbyterian (PCA) Plano
North Texas Presbytery
Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) New York City
Tim Keller
Albert Mohler The Briefing: From Peter the Great to Putin the Bully – A Briefing on the Ukraine Crisis and the Russian Threat: History, Empire, Kiev, Moscow, Religion and Worldview
The Stockdale Paradox
Redeemer Arlington
HopeRussia

To reach Greg via email: messiahcame AT yahoo.com

"You're not a Baptist, you're a Presbyterian!" with Victor Martinez

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Teaching Elder Victor Martinez serves as Redeemer San Antonio’s (PCA) Associate Pastor of Mission & Cultural Engagement.

He joins us to today to speak about missions, mercy ministry, and the upcoming Restore 2024: MNA Mercy Conference. We pray that you consider attending the conference.

Mentioned:

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
O. Palmer Robertson’s Christ of the Covenants
Baptist University of the Américas
Rocky Mountain Presbyterian Church, Denver CO
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, San Antonio, TX
Rev. Dr. Thomas Gibbs
Covenant Theological Seminary
Paul Hahn
Matt Beham
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Plano, TX
City to City America Latina
Hispanic Leadership Initiative
Southwest Church Planting Network
Restore 2024: MNA Mercy Conference (April 12–13, 2024)
Rev. Dr. Irwin Ince
Dr. Brian Fikkert
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself
Covenant College
The Chalmers Center
Redeemer’s Conference (March 22–23, 2024): A New Story: Bringing The Hope Of The Gospel To The Needs Of The City
Brian Fikkert and Kelly M. Kapic Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn’t the American Dream
P&R Texas episode with Hamid Hatami

MNA Restore 2024 Conference
A Vision for Kingdom-Centered Mercy Ministry
April 12–13, 2024
Northwest Community Center
Dallas, TX

Speakers
- Irwin Ince
- Brian Fikkert
- Victor Martinez

Details: https://pcamna.org/events/restore–2024-mna-mercy-conference/

Registration: https://brushfire.com/mna/mnamercyconference/568703

Floods, Twisters, and Chainsaws with Mark Becker

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Mark Becker, Ruling Elder, (Christ Church Katy, TX PCA) joins us today where he serves on the Session with Teaching Elder Fred Greco.

Mark came to Christ Church in 2013 and returned from the Beaumont area after living there for a couple of years. He is a former paper mill engineer and now on staff with the PCA’s Mission to North America Disaster Response ministry, and he helps the presbyteries in the Texas and Oklahoma areas to be better prepared for storms by developing Regional Response teams and building Sheds of Hope. He and his wife, Suzan, have 2 children.

The Beckers have been involved with disaster response for nearly 30 years and they helped with numerous storm responses as volunteers including Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey.

Links

Christ Church Katy, TX PCA
MNA Disaster Response

Sheds of Hope (click the link to sign up)

Build Days at Dallas Depot:
- April 19, 2024
- April 20, 2024
- October 18, 2024
- October 19, 2024

Chainsaw Training (click the links to sign up)

Riverside PCA in Beaumont, TX (March 8–9, 2024)
Lakewood PCA in Dallas, TX (April 5–6, 2024)
RiverOaks PCA in Tulsa, OK (April 19–20, 2024)

Bobcat Training (click the links to sign up)

Christ PCA in Victoria, TX (May 10–11, 2024)
Covenant PCA in Fayetteville, AR (May 17–18, 2024)

Ways to stay connected

Mark’s MNA support account page (with additional background information)
Facebook
Quarterly Newsletter (Mailchimp)
Email mbecker@pcanet.org
DOT Online Profile (several options including videos)

A First for the Presbyterian Church in America with Hamid Hatami

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600

On Sunday evening, February 11, when most of America was settling in to watch the Super Bowl a historic evening service was taking place in Richardson Texas, in the life of the PCA, and Christ’s church. This ordination and installation service, with over 240 in attendance had prayers, the sermon text, and signing done in both English and Farsi. PCA Stated Clerk Dr. Bryan Chappell delivered the sermon. This night was unique in that Hamid Hatami (RTS Dallas ’22) became the first Teaching Elder of Iranian descent and Muslim background believer to be ordained as a Teaching Elder in the PCA.

Rev. Hatami was installed as the President of Middle East Heritage Reformed Ministries (“MEHR”). MEHR is a reformed ministry training and equipping servants of Christ to plant biblically faithful churches throughout the Middle East.

Links:

Ordination & Installation Hamid Hatami
Middle East Heritage Reformed (“MEHR”) Ministries
Town North Presbyterian Church (PCA), Richardson, Texas
Dr. Bryan Chapell
RTS Dallas
Iran’s Crisis and the Iranian Church Tabletalk magazine article
@RevHamidHatami on Twitter / X

The episode intro/outro is “I Won’t Separate From the Love of Christ” sung in Farsi during the ordination service.

Education should be contextualized with Kyle Oliphint

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Kyle Oliphint (WTS '99) joins this Presbyterian and Reformed Texas episode. Kyle is the Senior Pastor at Grace Community Presbyterian Church Fort Worth, about 15 miles north of downtown Fort Worth. Kyle shares the story of Grace Community and his own story of coming to Christ. We also spend some time talking about education choices for our children. Should we as Christians home school our kids or send them to private schools? Can Christians send their kids to public schools? Is there a one-size-fits-all answer?

Kyle and Eric are married to public school teachers and each sent their children through public schools. Now, their children are teaching in public schools as well.

We also talk sports and celebrate the World Champion Texas Rangers and close the episode talking about evening worship.

Mentioned

Grace Community Presbyterian Church Fort Worth (PCA)
Fort Worth Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Southwest Church Planting Network
K. Scott Oliphint
Kyle’s Testimony
YoungLife
Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church of Amarillo (OPC)
CCEF
Greystone Fort Worth/Dallas
Keller ISD
Grace Community’s Worship Matters series
KyleOliphint.com
@KyleOliphint on Twitter / X

Talking Background Checks within Grassroots Presbyterianism with Joshua Torrey and Jason Piland

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Joshua Torrey returns with special guest Jason Piland to discuss the latest developments within the PCA related to mandatory background checks. Joshua and Jason co-labored to perfect overtures that will be considered by the General Assembly in 2024 requiring background checks of ordained officers. We discuss the grassroots presbyterian nature of these overtures versus a more top-down approach that will also be considered. We also discuss for the need for churches to carry out church discipline.

Mentioned

Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA), Austin, TX
Redeemer Church (PCA), Hudson, OH
Episode 2: I’m not saying Tex-Mex is bad with Joshua Torrey
Scott Edburg AKA Mr. Spreadsheet
2023 BCO Amendments Tracker
Regeneration and Redemptive History: A Biblical-Theological Consideration of Regeneration by Scott R. Wright
PCA’s Book of Church Order (BCO)
The original Overture 6 to the 2023 General Assembly “To Require Criminal Background Checks of all Minister and Officer Candidates”
Overtures to the 2024 General Assembly
Overture 6, Susquehanna Valley Presbytery to the 2024 General Assembly
The Westminster Standard podcast: RE Joshua Torrey talks Background Checks
New Background Check Overture as passed by South Texas Presbytery
South Texas Presbytery, PCA
The Ohio Presbytery (TOP), PCA
PCA Report of the Ad Interim Committee on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault AKA the DASA Report
Polity Matters podcast
@JoshuaTorrey on Twitter / X
@JasonPiland on Twitter / X

Growing Biblical Churches in Dispensational Country with Jim Cassidy

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Sound the Machen-horn, the OPC is here!

Rev Jim Cassidy Pastor at South Austin Presbyterian Church joins us today to discuss growing biblical churches in dispensational country. In addition to serving SAPC, Jim serves as President of the Board of Directors and Teaching Fellow at Reformed Forum.

Topics covered:

Jim’s story of how he came to the reformed faith after growing up Roman Catholic.
What makes reformed worship different?
The driving force behind the church’s mission - the gathering and perfecting of the saints.
The history and ongoing work of Reformed Forum.
The OPC–its founding story and growth today in Texas.
The mission field that is the modern mega-church.
The growth of the reformed faith and churches in Texas and the roll the internet has played.
A couple of book recommendations.
Finally, we preview an upcoming “Symposium on the Intersection of Theology and Public Discourse” on February 29, 2024.

Mentioned

South Austin Presbyterian Church
Calvary OPC - Ringoes, NJ
Christ the Center Episode 1: The New Testament’s Use of the Old Testament
Westminster Theological Seminary
Salt Lick BBQ
Reformed Form
Reformed Academy
Reformed Academy: Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Hays County OPC - Kyle, TX
Fairfield PCA - Pensacola, FL
United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA)
OPC Home Missions
Episode 5 with Ryan Denton (Vanguard Presbytery)
Book: Foundations of Covenant Theology: A Biblical-Theological Study of Genesis 1–3
Book: Regeneration and Redemptive History: A Biblical-Theological Consideration of Regeneration
Free Crossroads of Conviction Symposium on the Intersection of Theology and Public Discourse
Reformed Forum Newsletter
Jim Cassidy @jjcassidy on Twitter / X

Reformed Forum: Crossroads of Conviction

A Symposium on the Intersection of Theology and Public Discourse

Join us February 29, 2024 for an online symposium, which is set to be an enriching event, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church.

The event is free to all attendees. All sessions w

Potential pitfalls and dangers for the PCA with Fred Greco

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0600

Mr. Moderator Returns.

Teaching Elder, Fred Greco, of Christ Church Katy, delivered a message today at RTS Dallas' 2024 Spring Luncheon Series on "The Promises and Predicaments of Presbyterianism in the Present Moment."

He touches on three main areas:
1. Concerns about abuse.
2. Concerns about the size of the PCA as we grow.
3. Maintaining Presbyterian convictions in a changing world.

Q&A Follows.

Thanks again for RTS Dallas for allowing us to share this audio.

Links

Fred Greco (@fredgreco) on Twitter / X
Christ Church Katy
Fred Greco's first appearance on the show.
Fall 2023 PCA News Roundup where Synods are discussed.

"Make sure you're bathed in the Word" with Brian Heise

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Man of the people, Ruling Elder, Brian Heise of Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Anna, Texas joins us today.

Learn about the history of Grace and Peace PC and God’s provision for his church. We revisit his appearance on Prebsycast at the General Assembly in 2021. Brian shares his thoughts on the state of the PCA as we talk about the need for churchmen to speak to the issues of the day. We also talk about pressures from both the left and the right on the church's mission. Through it all, Brian shares his love for the Word of God and encourages us to regularly read Holy Scripture.

Mentioned

Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church, Anna, Texas.
Episode 3 with Mark Trigsted.
Presbycast Live from St Louis - It’s Presby Night Live.

Christ from Beginning to End

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0600

It's the start of a new year. Bible reading plans are trendy right now. What should you expect to find as you dive into the Word of God?

Ruling Elder, Eric Wallace had the opportunity to exhort the congregation at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Plano, TX on January 2, 2022. The text of the sermon is Luke 24:13-49 in which Jesus explains that He is the sum and substance of Holy Scripture.

I Grew Up Listening to Talk Radio

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

A Special Edition to end 2023, a brief episode on the "why" behind this podcast with your host Eric Wallace.

Links

"I didn't want to be a cage stage paedobaptist" with Ryan Denton

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

A historic podcast with members of the Vanguard Presbyterian Church and the PCA. Ryan Denton is an open-air preacher and evangelist. He also serves as the organizing pastor of church plants in Lubbock, Midland, and coming in March 2024 San Angelo. We talk about Vanguard, church planting (especially in more blue-collar areas), the need for robust theology, and open-air preaching.

Ryan is the author of five books on evangelism as well as numerous articles. He has graduate degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, St. John’s College, and a Th.M from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He lives in Lubbock with his wife and 3 sons.

Mentioned

Ryan Denton @ TexasPreacher on Twitter / X
Ryan’s website ryandenton.com
Vanguard Presbyterian Church
Al Baker on leaving the PCA
Church planting meme featuring Ryan.
Lubbock Reformed Church (Mission)
Midland Reformed Church (Mission)
San Angelo Church Plant Information Meeting
Ryan's book A Certain Sound: A Primer on Open Air Preaching
Ryan's research on Richard Denton The Arrival of American Presbyterianism: We’ve Been Dating It All Wrong
Seeking a Better Country: A Primer on Open Air Preaching
From Seminary President to NFL Head Coach

"The Elders work for Jesus" with Fred Greco

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Why is it good to be a member of a Presbyterian Church? Teaching Elder, Fred Greco, of Christ Church Katy, joins us today to answer that question and discuss Presbyterianism.

We walkthrough:
1) Why be a member of a church?
2) Brief overview of the models of church government.
3) Why choose a presbyterian church? (particularly conservative, confessional ones in NAPARC)
4) How to serve Jesus in your local church.

Links

Fred Greco (@fredgreco) on Twitter / X
Christ Church Katy
Fred Greco Elected Moderator of the 50th PCA General Assembly
Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)
RTS Jackson
Birmingham Theological Seminary
PCA Book of Church Order (BCO)
Guy Waters' How Jesus Runs the Church
Fred Greco on Reddit's /r/Reformed Ask Me Anything
RTS Houston Church Polity Class w/ Fred Greco Jan 5-6
RTS Dallas Church Polity Class w/ Fred Greco Jan 15-16
God Bless the PCA by Zack Groff

"Myself, Neil Lomax, and some other guy" with Mark Trigsted

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Mark Trigsted, Associate Pastor at Redeemer McKinney (PCA) joins us to talk about worship in the PCA and the recent online dustup over the Directory of Public Worship. We also talk about the Dallas Cowboys, Mark's football career, Thai food, and get a review of the Lakewood's conference that we heard about in Episode 1.

Links:

Mark Trigsted (@MTrigsted) on Twitter/X
Mark on Presbycast
Scott Edburg's tweet that started the commotion.
PCA's Book of Church Order
Photo Mark mentioned from PCAGA50
Overture 3: Grant Constitutional Status to BCO 53 re Preaching
North Texas Presbytery
Women Serving in the Ministry of the Church, Ad Interim Report (2017)
Ligonier Ministries
Mark's favorite restaurant: Best Thai
Lakewood Conference: What Can the Righteous Do?

"I'm not saying Tex-Mex is bad" with Joshua Torrey

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Get to know Joshua Torrey, Ruling Elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Austin, Texas.

We talk hockey, life in Austin, spreadsheets, BCO overtures, Tex-Mex, and more!

Links:

Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA), Austin, TX
Texas Stars
Keep Austin Weird
Scott Edburg AKA Mr. Spreadsheet
2021 BCO Amendments Tracker - the original spreadsheet
2023 BCO Amendments Tracker
PCA's Book of Church Order (BCO)
Overture 6 to the 50th General Assembly "To Require Criminal Background Checks of all Minister and Officer Candidates"
Joshua Torrey's An Overture Toward Better Protections at SemperRef
Joshua Torrey's Should the PCA Require Background Checks at Presbyterian Polity
Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage
PCA Report of the Ad Interim Committee on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault AKA the DASA Report
William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, and Andrew J. Miller's Glorifying and Enjoying God
@JoshuaTorrey on Twitter

"I'm try-vocational, I guess" with Brad Denton

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0600

Get to know Teaching Elder Brad Denton, Senior Pastor of Dallas' Lakewood Presbyterian Church (PCA), and hear about their upcoming conference "What Can the Righteous Do?" November 17-18, 2023. Registration closes on November 12.

Conference Details & FAQ | Registration

Mentioned:

Brad's Recommended Books:

Teaser

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:00:00 -0500

Just a quick teaser.