437: John of Damascus - Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough! In this episode, we continue our conversation about repentance, reading Rev. Dr. James Nestingen's article on the Gospel and Repentance. We discuss Luther's view of the Gospel's relationship to repentance, preaching a doable law, and what awaits those who leave the Church in a state of unrepentance. This and much, much more on this week's episode of the podcast. SHOW NOTES: The Essential Nestingen https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419121-the-essential-nestingen

In this episode, we sit with Rev. Dr. James Nestingen's writing on the gospel and repentance. We talk at length not only about law and repentance, but also about the consequences of therapeutic culture for the preaching and reception of calls to repent in the churches. If the law is known by its uses, who is the user? What is it to have a God? What do you have if you have one? How does it work? How does the law summarize the non-negotiables of creaturely life? Can the devil use the law? What is the preacher's use of the law? How does this lead us to the topic of repentance? All this and much, much more on this week's podcast. SHOW NOTES: The Essential Nestingen https://shop.1517.org/products/9781964419121-the-essential-nestingen

Let's Stay Together. In this episode, we sit with Werner Elert's study of Eucharist & Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries. We discuss ecumenism, fellowship, communion, church polity, and what constitutes "koinonia" in the New Testament and the early church. This and much, much more on this week's episode of the podcast. SHOW NOTES: Werner Elert - Eucharist & Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries https://amzn.to/46CbotJ

The Cost of Discipline. In this episode, we sit with St. Athanasius and his writings on the life of St. Antony. How did Christians in the 4th century view spiritual warfare and affliction? What is the relation of discipline to prayer, piety, and resisting temptation? What did 4th century Christians think about virtues and vices, and whether they were (or weren't) related to the Christian life? Is it better for Christians to seek a place of solitude or community when focusing on heavenly things versus worldly things? How does Mammon factor into this? What does Scripture teach about the evil one, demons, dark powers, and evil spirits? Do we as modern Christians agree with Athanasius and Antony's views about spiritual warfare, and if not, why? This and much, much more on this week's episode. SHOW NOTES: Athanasius - The Life of Saint Antony https://stjohnmiami.org/sites/default/files/book/55/life-st-anthony-st-athanasius.pdf

Are You More Spiritual Than a Medieval Peasant? In this episode, we sit with The Book of the Craft of Dying to discuss how medieval spiritual warfare was explained in the 1415 text Ars Moriendi. What temptations do Christians experience in the midst of death? How do temptations to desperation, impatience, complacency, and concern about worldly matters seduce Christians? How do we distinguish between divine actions and nefarious powers at work? How many times can Gillespie interrupt and contradict Riley before he goes apoplectic? Are there patterns Christians can look for to recognize when temptations are approaching? Is there anything we can do to avoid temptations? Is being tempted the same as sinning? Why is so much of medieval piety and discipline no longer taught by the churches? This and much, much more on today's episode of the podcast.