Features
#187: Rent Asunder? Calvin Robinson at Mere Anglicanism
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the recent controversial Mere Anglicanism Conference. They discuss Calvin Robinson’s talk there, what the reaction to it reveals about ACNA, and the idea that a Christian can attend a same-sex “wedding” in good conscience.
Good News Everyone!
You don’t have to be crushed under the weight of other people’s agenda for you, you have direct access to the Lord Jesus. When he gives you a task, you can follow after him and do it, just as Simon and Andrew and James and John. Your life, being saved, is now ordered and shaped by the one who saved you.
#186: Pope on the Ropes: Francis, the Catholic Church, and Recent Controversies
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about three recent controversial actions of Pope Francis: Fiducia Supplicans and same-sex couples, his dalliances with Marxists, and his comments about the potential emptiness of Hell.
Why do “Christians” like Francis “Dialogue” with Marxists?
How should actual Christians respond?
#185: Knowing What Time It Is with Rosaria Butterfield
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk with Rosaria Butterfield about her new book, the doctrine of concupiscence, the importance of repentance, and more. In all of it, they remember the Good News that Jesus Christ is for broken sinners.
That Pitiful Strength
Your sensitivity to beauty becomes so deep that, when you react to something ugly, it might take you a moment to articulate the assumptions that formed your response. You remake, in other words, your emotional and intellectual world long before you ever encounter Wither or the Fairy or the N.I.C.E.
#184: Sermons of Christmas: Nick Lannon
For the last “Christmas Break” podcast, enjoy a sermon preached on Christmas Eve 2021 by the Rev. Nick Lannon. The text for the occasion was Isaiah 9:2-7.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken
So I was quite astonished to be wandering around the lections for this morning, and hear with fresh ears the verse that the current age loves to take and use as a cudgel of affirmation under the guise of unity and togetherness, but serves instead to diminish the close spiritual bond Christians do share, even when they don’t quite know it. I’m sure you’ve heard the verse—how could you not? “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” says Paul to the Galatians, for I can do all things by a verse taken out of context.
#183: Sermons of Christmas: Jady Koch
Enjoy this Christmas sermon preached on Christmas Eve 2021 by the Rev. Dr. Jady Koch at Christ Anglican Church, Mt. Pleasant.
#182: Sermons of Christmas: Matt Kennedy
With the three hosts taking a break from podcasting for Christmas, Stand Firm is excited to repost a Christmas sermon this week from the Rev. Matt Kennedy. Preached in 2022, this sermon took Luke 2:1-14 as its text.
You Needed A Miracle
The cynic in me might think he is just trying not to be canceled, being, at a glance, on the lowest rung of the hierarchy of “miracles.” What does he really have to offer, being a white man and probably cis? What sort of love does he have to give that might transform the darkness into light, the dry stream bed into a river, the hopeless into someone able to laugh at the days to come? If it’s anything like this sermon, I’m sorry to say that the effort falls far short of a “miracle.” What’s the opposite of a miracle? A desolation? Ordinary life? Making things worse?
#181: The Final Countdown: An Eschatology Conversation
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss four major views of the end times and Revelation: full preterism, amillenialism, premillienialism, and postmillenialism. They outline the models and consider some arguments for and against each one.
Please Light All The Candles
Sometimes, truth be told, the darkness is kind of comfortable, easily endured with half lights by feeling around for familiar comforts and existential salve. But sometimes the darkness is so great that it can be felt. I think we are in such a time, where the darkness appears to be overpowering, the shadow has lengthened and stretched as more and more people stumble and grope for themselves.
#180: Moscow Rude? Doug Wilson, Kevin DeYoung, and Christian Rhetoric
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss Kevin DeYoung’s recent critique of the “Moscow mood” and Doug Wilson’s response. They talk about the limits of strong language, the good and bad of Wilson (and co.), and what makes a compelling Christian argument.
When He Came Down
Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash I've noticed a lot of different kinds of Christians talking about Advent in the last week who, I'm pretty sure, weren't contemplating such mysteries about ten years ago. It seems like a sort of social contagion, of the best kind....
#179: The (Advent)ure Begins: Waiting, Hoping, and the Start of the Church Year
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the season of Advent, talk about the whole arc of God’s saving work, and consider the Good News for which we’re asked to wait.
#178: Underwater Assurance: A Baptism Conversation with James Gad
Matt welcomes James Gad to discuss the doctrine of assurance and how it connects to baptism. They talk about the objective nature of Christ’s promises versus our often subjective views of the quality of our faith.
Let Me Tell You About Human Flourishing
But the third one is hunched over in some dark post soviet office block feeling angry. That line, “I knew you to be a hard man,” is so haunting. How did he know? Is that even true? Is the master “hard?” Does he really reap where he doesn’t sow?
#177: Routes to Rebirth: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Conversion, and Evangelism
Matt, Anne, and Nick talk about Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s conversion, discuss what one must know (and believe) to call oneself a Christian, and consider the different ways people can and do come to saving faith.
Pope Francis, Bishop Strickland and the Limits of Tolerance
There are times to tolerate, but there are times to fight.
Podcast
#178: Underwater Assurance: A Baptism Conversation with James Gad
Matt welcomes James Gad to discuss the doctrine of assurance and how it connects to baptism. They talk about the objective nature of Christ’s promises versus our often subjective views of the quality of our faith.
#177: Routes to Rebirth: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Conversion, and Evangelism
Matt, Anne, and Nick talk about Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s conversion, discuss what one must know (and believe) to call oneself a Christian, and consider the different ways people can and do come to saving faith.
#176: Pulling the Lever for Jesus? Politics, Abortion, and the Morality of Voting
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the results of the 2023 election, talk about the moral weight of casting a vote, and consider abortion as a voting issue; past, present, and future.
#175: A Covenanted Communion: A Conversation with Phil Ashey
Matt, Jady, and Nick welcome the Rev. Canon Phil Ashey to the show, and discuss the possibility of covenanted Anglican Communion with mutual accountability, interdependence, and discipline at the global level.
#174: OK Zoomer: Reconquista and Recovering the Mainline
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about the Reconquista Movement, a strategy to rescue mainline churches for orthodoxy. While there are some exciting and noble aspects to the plan, there are serious theological and ecclesial problems with it.
#173: Yearn and Burn: Desire, Sex, and Marriage
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss recent online conversations about “same sex attracted” people and marriage, talk about God’s power to change us, consider biblical reasons for singleness, and remember that, in Christ, we are promised redemption.
#172: An Existential Crisis: Terrorism, Israel, and Biblical Israel
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent atrocities perpetrated by Hamas in Israel. They talk about the clash of cultures involved, look at the biblical right of nations to wield the sword, and consider God’s on-going relationship to his chosen people.
#171: Who We Say That We Are: Identity and the Bible
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, the hosts step away from the mic again. In their place, enjoy a lecture by our own Nick Lannon on identity and the Bible.
#170: The People Under the Stairs: Evangelicals, Culture, and Elite Embarrassment
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss prominent evangelicals distancing themselves from their former fellows, talk about the drive for—and the costs associated with—cultural acceptance, and remember that friendship with the world is enmity with God.
#169: (Mis)Uses of the Law? Preaching, Gospel-Centeredness, and the Third Use
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss God’s law. They begin by reflecting on the waning influence of the “Gospel-Centered” movement and then talk about preaching and how the law works in a Christian’s life.
#168: Showing Their True Colors: ACNAtoo, Affirmation, and LGBTQ+
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss the recent statement from ACNAtoo. They talk about the morphing definitions of terms, the anonymity of the leadership, and the anti-Christian nature of the organization’s promises.
#167: Shepherds Lost and Found: Ministry, Hope, and Preaching Jesus
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about a pastor’s essay about leaving the ministry. They discuss expectations, the difficulties of parish ministry, and the consolation they find in Christ.
#166: Modern Families? Morality and Procreation in the Technological Age
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss modern family planning: abortion, sperm donation, IVF, “snowflake” adoption, surrogacy, and more. They talk about the moral implications of these technologies, adoption in Christ, and hope in the Gospel.
#165: Essay Does It: Global Anglicanism and the Archbishop’s Essay Contest
Matt, Jady, and Nick discuss Archbishop Beach’s summer essay contest: a sermon on what it means to be a global Anglican today. They discuss that topic, applicable biblical texts, how such a sermon might go…and what they’ll do with their winnings.
#164: Unashamed: God’s Word, Eternal Truth, and Changing Churches
Jady and Nick discuss a Christianity Today article about recently departed ACNA churches. They wonder if clergy and congregation knew what they were joining, reflect on their own past hesitancies, and reaffirm the goodness of God’s Word…no matter what.
#163: Girls Rule Boys Drool? Barbies, Boys, and Future Men
Matt and Jady talk about the Barbie movie, gay Boy Scouts, masculinity, trail life, and Matt and Anne’s workouts.
#162: Another Stand Firm Mailbag
Matt, Jady, and Nick tackle some more listener questions. This time: whether or not Anglicanism is Calvinist, female deacons, regenerate church membership, and becoming an involved layperson.
#161: I Am Become Death: Just War Theory and the Morality of Atomic Bombs
Matt, Jady, and Nick talk about Just War Theory, discuss the difference between making war and turning the other cheek, and consider the history of the atomic bombings on the occasion of the release of the film OPPENHEIMER.
#160: No Thanks: A Response to Some Theses on Anglican Reunification
Matt, Jady, and Nick react to a recent article calling for ACNA and TEC to reconcile. They remember (again) the reasons for the “schism,” clarify (again) the severity of TEC’s offense, and say (again) that only repentance can lead to reconciliation.
#159: How to Read the Bible: The Unknown God Made Known
On this episode of the Stand Firm podcast, the hosts take a vacation! In their place, enjoy a lecture given by our own Jady Koch on how to read the Bible.