Podcast Overview

Author

414: Luther - God is extravagantly rich in His grace

10/31/25

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

An Arm-Twisting Confession. In this episode, we read Martin Luther’s Smalcald Articles on the gospel, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Why did he have to have “his arm twisted” to write them? What is he trying to teach the churches about the gospel? How does the gospel circumscribe and define the Church, worship, and Christian life? Why does something written in the 1530s matter today? We look to answer all these questions and more on this episode of the Banned Books podcast.
The Bondage of the Will: A Simple Overview

10/14/25

5 mins

By Scott Keith | Caleb Keith | Steven Paulson

What led Martin Luther to write The Bondage of the Will? This podcast explores the historical background and central message of one of Luther’s most significant works.
412: Forde - The gospel, and only the gospel, spells the end of the hidden God

10/11/25

12 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

For What It’s Worth. In this episode, we conclude our reading of Gerhard Forde’s "Captivation of the Will." We discuss the conclusion of Luther’s treatise on the bound will, arriving at Christ and election, which reveals Erasmus’s fundamental error — his argument for the human will is actually the original sin, choosing between good and evil.
411: Forde - Are we puppets, being jerked around against our wills by a malevolent puppeteer?

10/04/25

9 mins

By Donavon Riley | Christopher Gillespie

Master of Puppets. In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Bondage of the Will, with Gerhard Forde’s book, The Captivation of the Will. We discuss the human will — what it is, what it does, what it wants — and why we are compelled to insist that we have free choice. We also talk about the two paths: one, the path of forgiveness, and the other, the way of morality. Why do we default to morality in matters of choice, and why is the preaching of God’s grace over against morality so offensive to Christians who confess that our knowledge of good and bad is a direct consequence of the original sin in the garden? We also talk about drunkenness, women’s ordination, the offense of irresistible grace, and what the Holy Spirit is up to amidst the disruption that occurs when he sends his preachers to declare an end to the illusion of free choice and reveal his death sentence to bound wills.
410: Forde - Better not to let the "common herd" in on such lofty and dangerous academic secrets

09/27/25

8 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Have You Herd? In this episode, we continue our reading of The Captivation of Will, discussing the problem of God, the death-ride of morality, scandalous election, the dilemma of sin and freedom and more sin, and the singular calling of Christ’s preachers.
Circumcision Circumstance (Acts 15:1-29)

09/25/25

4 mins

By Daniel Emery Price | Scott Keith

In this episode of Tough Texts, Scott Keith and Daniel Emery Price look into Acts 15, exploring the Jerusalem Council's pivotal role in early church history.
407: Paulson - The free will is demonstrably not Jesus Christ

09/06/25

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley | Steven Paulson

In this episode, we begin our series commemorating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s treatise, de Servo Arbitrio — The Bondage of the Will. We begin by reading Dr. Steven Paulson’s theological analysis of what’s at stake in Luther’s treatise, as well as its sharp-edged consequences for churches today. As it was received then, so it is now by dedicated students of this work: it cleaves those who seek Jesus plus philosophy, ideology, or personal interests from those who insist on Christ alone in all things relating to matters of salvation, faith, etc.
Obey the Gospel AND SUFFER FOR IT

08/16/25

4 mins

By Craig Donofrio | Troy Neujahr

Peter enters into a discussion that doesn't tickle our ears very well, but it still a plain fact of the Christian's life: we will suffer on account of Christ.
Monday, July 28, 2025

07/28/25

12 mins

By Dan van Voorhis

Today on the Christian History Almanac, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about the Virgin Mary in Church history.
- Christian History
- Reformation Doctrine
Luke 10:1-20 – Pentecost 4 (C)

06/30/25

4 mins

By Steven Paulson | John W. Hoyum

On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the sending of the seventy-two preachers.
- Preaching
- Sermons
- Faith
- Gospel
- God's Word
396: Paulson - God's Law, God's Gospel

06/12/25

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

All That and A Bag of Chips. In this episode, we return to Steven Paulson’s book, The Outlaw God. We discuss law and Gospel, why God sends a preacher, why we hate Christ preached, and what therapy can do for the walking dead.
395: Questions Answered

06/09/25

7 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Just Answer the Question. In this episode, we answer listener questions, specifically active and passive choices, active and passive righteousness, election and the bondage of the will, addiction, the limits of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the ultimate Good we all seek, and much, much more.