Features
#145: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 3)
Matt, Jady, and Nick are joined by David Ould to discuss the third day of the 2023 GAFCON Conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
#144: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 2)
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the second day of the 2023 GAFCON Conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
#143: On Location at GAFCON23 (Day 1)
Matt and Jady discuss the first day of the GAFCON conference from Kigali, Rwanda.
Stand Firm in Kigali
We’ve committed ourselves to churning out at least a half-hour Stand Firm Podcast each day of the conference
What Did the Risen Jesus Do?
“He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
Alleluia, He Is Risen
Is it any wonder, then, that as soon as you get to the edge of the Sea and stare out over the vast expanse of deep water, you easily join your neighbor’s querulous bitter question– ”Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have brought us out into the wilderness?”
#142: What Dreams May Come: GAFCON23 and the Worldwide Anglican Communion
Jady and Nick have a conversation about their upcoming trip to Rwanda, their hopes and dreams for the GAFCON gathering, and how encouraging it is to be in a communion so committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
What Do You Have To Lose?
What is a person? Someone who was made by a good and merciful God to be satisfied and happy by—something. Not anything, but something, or someone, in particular.
On Palm Sunday
A jarring Sunday
#141: “Liberal” Education and Hillsdale College with Dr. Jonathan Mumme
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Dr. Jonathan Mumme about the current educational climate, discuss what Christian parents can do in the face of it, and highlight the things that Hillsdale is getting right.
Genesis, Joseph and the Passion of Christ
The Gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection to defeat sin and death for us is not the invention of man; it is the loving act of God Almighty that He foretold for centuries before.
Can This Church Live?
The first is that this blog—Stand Firm—came into being almost twenty years ago during a time when a once grand and faithful church was formally and institutionally committing its way to apostasy. For—and let me be very plain about this—to become “affirming” of that which the scriptures, which are understandable and clear on this issue, condemn is to reject the faith once delivered to the faith. It is to cease to be within the bounds of the visible church. True believers may not any longer call you “Christian.” You, as an “affirming” person, may be angry about this, but that doesn’t change the reality that what God has said in the scriptures is the basis upon which our faith rests.
#140: It’s Reigning Men: Rick Warren, Women in Ministry, and the SBC
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the upcoming debate in the Southern Baptist Convention about the ministry of women, consider the stance and state of the ACNA, and hope that all such discussions will be based on Scripture.
Live Not By Lies. Be James Reimer.
Don’t wear the jersey.
The Greatest Love of All
How do they know? Why is that the thing that they know? That’s the trouble—the tangled knot of belief and knowledge rests, so treacherously, on what you already know. And what you already know is that you are basically right and good and everyone else, even God, should be held under suspicion.
#139: Heresy and Fidelity: A Conversation with Calvin Robinson
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk with the Rev. Calvin Robinson, UK TV presenter and Free Church of England deacon. They discuss the state of Anglicanism in England, how the faithful might deal with opposition, the power of the Gospel proclaimed, and more.
On Squeamishness About Enemies
Liturgical Wimpiness Begone!
Aspirational Possibilities
We are in the middle of Lent, and you may be feeling the grime of failure, shame, and discouragement overshadowing all your promises to yourself and Jesus. Many long days still stretch out before the Paschal feast. The path is littered with tasks yet to perform, with feelings to examine, sins to confess, food to avoid, and vices to let go.
Every Man’s Burden
The reality is that human beings indwelt by the Spirit will continue to sin.
#138: Let’s (Not) Talk About Sex: Bridal Mysticism and the Limits of Metaphor
Matt and Jady talk about the recent uproar over Josh Butler’s book “Beautiful Union,” wonder why all the same people get upset about the same things all the time, and discuss the value of cancel-proof spaces under good bishops (and editors).
Podcast
#75: The Bible (Still) Tells Me So
Matt and Jady talk about the Bible, discuss its purpose, and consider how the church can and should use it, both in preaching and in ministry.
#74: Protestant Word Games: A Reformation Day Glossary
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss some of the terms associated with the Reformation. They talk about “Protestant,” “Calvinist,” “reformed,” and review some of the differences between Luther and Calvin.
#73: Home Sweet Rome? Why We (and You) Should Still Protest
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss Michael Nazir-Ali’s defection to Roman Catholicism, consider the Protestant distinctives, and talk about how crucial it is to stand up for the truth.
#72: Courting the Cultured Despisers: Elites, Evangelicals, and the Struggle for Status
Jady and Nick discuss several recent articles on the so-called “evangelical elites,” consider their attempt to appeal to the broader culture, and talk about what kind of culture a Gospel Christianity would produce.
#71: Unrest Down Under? COVID, Government, and Church in Australia
Matt and Nick are joined by David Ould to discuss the situation on the ground in Australia. They talk about the lockdowns, how churches are dealing with them, and the Christian way to submit to authority.
#70: Salvation Issues? Bishops, Discipline, and Unity
Matt, Jady, and Nick continue to talk about what makes an Anglican an Anglican. They discuss what keeps us together, what’s worth splitting over, and consider what “salvation issues” might be.
#69: A Gentleman’s Agreement: Kenya, GAFCON, and the Tenuous Compromise
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the recent consecration of a woman to the episcopate in Kenya, wonder about its affect on the ACNA’s global relationships, and discuss GAFCON’s middle ground on women’s ordination.
#68: This Bishop was Wrong: John Shelby Spong and Cultural Christianity
Matt, Jady, and Nick reflect on the life and ministry of Bishop John Spong, his efforts to make the church relevant, and the Good News of culturally discordant Christianity.
#67: Expert Witness: Dr. Gillis Harp
Friend of the show Ethan Magness interviews historian Dr. Gillis Harp about the “three streams” of Anglicanism.
#66: The River Wild: Three Streams, Evangelicalism, and Anglican Identity
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about what everyone’s talking about: evangelicalism. They discuss what it really means, its place in Anglicanism, and why preserving such an identity is crucial to the proclamation of the Good News.
#65: Same Old Lies: Neo-Pelagianism, Original Sin, and Being Right with God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about new forms of an old heresy: Pelagianism. They also discuss the importance of the doctrine of original sin and explain why Good News can only come from a God who justifies on his own.
#64: Afghanistan, Mission, and the Sovereignty of God
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the Taliban’s retaking of major Afghan cities from a Christian perspective, the longstanding friction between Christianity and Islam, and how God is at work even in the midst of such profound suffering.
#63: Stand Firm Movie Club: Pray Away
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the new Netflix documentary, “Pray Away.” They talk about the valid criticisms the film makes about evangelical “ex-gay” ministries, what the movie gets wrong, and what the Good News of Jesus is for sexual strugglers.
#62: A Stand Firm Conversation: Dr. Owen Strachan
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Owen Strachan about wokeness and trace its development, examine different kinds of postmodernity, and consider how the church can fight this anti-Gospel.
#61: A Stand Firm Conversation: The Making of a Discipleship Curriculum
Jady and Nick are joined by Michael Neal and Alonzo Crawford to discuss their student discipleship curriculum, To Be a Disciple: Foundations of the Christian Life.
#60: Actually, We DO Need Education: Discipleship, Catechesis, and Anglicanism
Matt, Jady, and Nick react to a recent article by Bishop Ray Sutton about Christian education, discuss the formation and raising up of disciples…and especially the development of clergy.
#59: A Stand Firm Conversation: Andrew Pearson
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk to Andrew Pearson. They discuss ministry, the revisionism of the Episcopal Church, and the future of the ACNA.
#58: Plagiarize This Podcast: The Authoritative, Can’t Miss, Guaranteed-to-Wow-Them Stand Firm Guide to Preaching
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about preaching, how they prepare their sermons, and what they’re trying to accomplish from the pulpit.
#57: Radical, Dude: Vocation, Priesthood, and Calling
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the “radical vocation” of ordained ministry, whether or not the priestly calling has changed over the years, and the possibility of mutual ministry between ACNA and the Episcopal Church.
#56: Strong Words, Strong Leadership: Foley Beach on CRT and Our Online Discourse
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Archbishop Beach’s recent comments to Provincial Council, the SBC’s election of a new president, and how grateful they are for strong and godly leadership.