Mailbag Dec. 2019
It’s time for another mailbag episode where Joe and Jimmy answer listener’s emails about the celebration of Christmas, pornography and marriage, lying, and how we choose “readers” for our worship services at Redeemer Fellowship.
Doctrine and Devotion is a weekly podcast exploring Christian faith and practice from an experiential perspective marked by the fun and humor that characterize real friendship.

It’s time for another mailbag episode where Joe and Jimmy answer listener’s emails about the celebration of Christmas, pornography and marriage, lying, and how we choose “readers” for our worship services at Redeemer Fellowship.
The guys welcome in the holiday season with the 1689 Confession! Today they discuss chapter 22, paragraph 5 on the elements of corporate worship. The reading, hearing, and preaching of the Scriptures, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; as also the administration of baptism, and the Lord's supper, are all essential elements. How does it go down at Redeemer? Tune in and find out. Get all the show notes and links...
Happy Thanksgiving! In light of the American holiday, but because of the biblical call to praise god in thankfulness, Joe and Jimmy read from one of John Flavel’s sermon, The Seaman’s Return. Flavel argues that the thankful person 1) is an observer of the mercies he has received, 2) considers God’s mercies in their natures, degrees, seasons, and manner of conveyance, 3) duly estimates and values his mercies, 4) faithfully records His mercies, 5) is suitably affected with the mercies he receives,...
The guys take on paragraph 4 of Chapter 22 of the 1689 Confession on prayer and worship. What does it mean to pray for all things “lawful,” according the will of God? We are called to pray for all men, living and those yet to be born, but we cannot pray for or to the dead. Plus, Jimmy gets in trouble with his wife, and Joe felt tiny at church today. Our Sponsor All this month, our show is being sponsored by Media Gratiae, a small nonprofit ministry that makes incredible documentaries and multime...
Jimmy is back from sauntering through Europe, and even though Joe is still adjusting to his mourning beard, the guys sit down to talk about church covenants. What is a church covenant? How long have they been around? Are they biblical? Useful? What are the potential dangers of a church covenant? For further reading check out Baptist Church Covenants, by Charles W. DeWeese, and The Baptist Church Covenant: Its History and Meaning, by Marshall Davis. Our Sponsor Doctrine and Devotion is sponsored ...
The guys discuss the 1689 Confession, Chapter 22, paragraph 3 on prayer in corporate worship. What is prayer? What forms should prayer take in the public assembly? And the guys recommend some of their favorite books on prayer like, The Valley of Vision, John Bunyan’s treatise on Prayer, The Bible and the Closet by Watson and Lee, and Praying the Bible by Don Whitney. Plus, Jimmy teaches Joe to speak Canadia. Our Sponsor All this month, Doctrine and Devotion is sponsored by Media Gratiae, a small...
The guys turn around and go back to the subject of Christian liberty to answer some questions sent in by listeners. What happens to Christian liberty when one’s school or employer requires adherence to a covenant that requires abstinence from things that Scripture itself does not forbid. What about loop holes? How does this relate to the ninth commandment? OUR SPONSOR Media Gratiae is a small nonprofit ministry that makes amazing documentaries and multimedia Bible studies. This week we want to t...
Here they go again on their own! Going down the only road they’ve ever known! Jimmy and Joe are back and now they’re talking worship from the 1689 Confession, Chapter 22. What does general revelation have to do with a conversation on worship? How can we know what pleases God in worship? And in what way does Scripture “regulate” our worship of God? Plus, Joe and Michelle Williams are Instagram buddies. Our Sponsor All this month, Doctrine and Devotion is sponsored by Media Gratiae, a small nonpro...
Today the guys discuss “vision casting.” Is it biblical or pagan? How is it helpful? How do Jimmy and Joe seek to do it? Plus, Jimmy insults Russians. Our Sponsor Media Gratiae produces amazing documentaries and multi-media Bible studies. This week we want to tell you about a their documentary Matthew Henry: the Life and Times of the Bible Commentator. This is the first documentary by Welsh filmmaker Dan Pugh, and gives a thorough overview of the man who wrote one of the most helpful commentarie...
Here they come! Jimmy is in Europe, Joe is all by himself. But they recorded some episodes to drop while Jimmy is taking photos in front of the Eiffel Tower. Today, the guys are wrapping up Chapter 21 of the 1689 Confession on Christian liberty. How do Christians use the idea of Christian liberty as a cover for sin? What is the consequence of abusing Christian liberty? What is the point of Christian liberty? OUR SPONSOR Media Gratiae is a small nonprofit ministry that makes amazing documentaries...
Happy Halloween, everybody! Expecting a Reformation Day episode? Guess again. We cover reformation and reformed theology all the time. The guys are opening up the mailbag to answer a few emails and messages that have come in. This episode: women preaching, secular music, devotional Scripture reading habits, church expenses, and unrepentant friends are all up for discussion. Our Sponsor Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because o...
The guys continue to discuss the 1689 Confession’s treatment of Christian liberty from chapter 21. What is the conscience? How is God the “lord of the conscience?” What is the consequence of acting against conscience? How do some churches bind the consciences of their members? How should we respond to violations of Christian liberty? OUR SPONSOR Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because of how easy they’ve made it to explore the...
The guys sit down to discuss “confessional subscription” in reformed theology. What is subscription, and to what are we subscribing? What are the ways in which people subscribe? Why is subscription important? Should members of a church be required to subscribe to a church’s confession? Exceptions? Scruples? Peaky Blinders? If you want to go deeper check our Gonzales’ article, Confessional Subscription: Its Terms and Types, and Jim Renihan’s A Toolkit for Confessions: Helps for the Study of Engli...
The guys have talked about “Christian liberty” in the past, but today they finally arrive at Chapter 21 of the 1689 Confession on Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience. How did Jesus obtain our freedom? What have we been set free from, and what have we been set free unto? Plus, Joe took dancing lessons. Our Sponsor Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because of how easy they’ve made it to explore the catalog of Holy Scriptur...
A recent panel discussion at the Truth Matters Conference resulted in comments about Beth Moore that many found inappropriate or offensive. Since the guys just held a conference on contending for the Gospel and how to correct erring brothers and sisters, they decided to record a bonus episode sharing their thoughts.
The guys talk about social media: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why does social media bring out the worst in some Christians? The guys offer seven ways to make the best use of social media, and share some of their social media habits. Plus, Jimmy hires a french photographer and Joe blocks someone on Twitter. OUR SPONSOR Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because of how easy they’ve made it to explore the catalog of Holy Script...
The guys are wrapping on chapter 20 of the 1689 Confession to talk about the sufficiency of the word and the efficacy of God grace in converting sinners. When we lose confidence in the word of God what do we often trust in to see conversions? Is Kanye our great hope for reaching the next generation? Plus, Joe got his hands on some photos of Jimmy for all of our enjoyment. See Jimmy pre-military school and mid-military school. #themarmiondifference Our Sponsor Dwell is the most innovative Audio B...
Joe and Jimmy answer a listener’s email about his struggle with doubt and faith. Why doesn’t God always “show up” when we pray? What can we do in our seasons of doubt? Plus, Jimmy wears turquoise, and Joe does math. Our Sponsor Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because of how easy they’ve made it to explore the catalog of Holy Scripture. To download the app and start your 7 day free trial visit www.dwellapp.io. For all the show ...
Jimmy and Joe are dropping a bonus episode to join the freak out frenzy on the Twitter! What happened? Rachael Denhollander said something about the Bible. Then, a number of people gasped passed out. Some attacked Rachel, and others had some thoughtful responses. What is the issue? Did David rape Bathsheba in 2 Sam. 11:2-5 ? Joe and Jimmy break it down and offer their thoughts. For all the snow notes and links visit www.doctrineanddevotion.com/podcast/david-bathsheba
Joe and Jimmy discuss the 1689 Confession, Chapter 20, paragraph 3 and the spread of the gospel in different places and times and why it seems to take root and bear fruit in some areas and not others. Plus, Joe is heckled at church and Jimmy is believed to be Joe’s grandson. Our Sponsor Dwell is the most innovative Audio Bible app available. It is often called "the Spotify of Scripture" because of how easy they’ve made it to explore the catalog of Holy Scripture. To download the app and start yo...
Today we get to hear Jimmy and Joe recap the West Coast Conference that went down last weekend. Spoiler: The conference was great, the hotel was terrible. Then the guys share the live recording of Doctrine and Devotion on the subject of friendship. The specific question is, “Can men and women be friends?” Be sure to check out Can Christian Men and Women Be Friends? by Paul Maxwell and The Church Needs Men and Women to Be Friends by Jen Wilkins. For all the links and show notes visit www.doctrine...
Jimmy and Joe share the ten books they encourage new calvinists to read in the first year or so of their investigation of Reformed Theology. Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 in Louisville, KY. Registration is open, and our listeners have been given a special discount code. Enter “doctrine” as a promo code on checkout and save $10. Get all the details at T4G.org. For all the books, links and show notes visit www.doctrineanddevotrion.com/podcast/creating...
Joe and Jimmy open up the 1689 Confession, Chapter 20 to talk through paragraph 2 on the extent of grace and the limits of general revelation. Why can’t general revelation lead someone to Christ? And how should this small paragraph move us as Christians? Our Sponsor Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 in Louisville, KY. Registration is open, and our listeners have been given a special discount code. Enter “doctrine” as a promo code on checkout and save $10. Get all the detail...
Jimmy and Joe step into the subject of suicide, asking what qualifies as suicide, and why should we take it seriously? What does the Bible say about suicide? Is suicide a sin? Is it “the unforgivable sin”? Plus, Jimmy hangs out with Tom Ricketts and Joe sets off alarms at the hospital. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts please talk to your pastor, your family, or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Our Sponsor: Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 ...
The JoFo is back talking The 1689 Confession, Chapter 20, paragraph 1 on The Gospel and The Extent Thereof. Following the Covenant of Works God offers the “promise of Christ” as “the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance.” Plus, newcomers lunch at church, Joe slept at church, and Jimmy stirs the pot. Today, the guys are recommending R.B.C. Howell’s, classic The Covenants. Our Sponsor: Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 in Louisville, KY. Regi...
Sit down and get comfortable, or uncomfortable, as three friends talk about some sensitive issues. Joe and Jimmy are joined by Travell Rounds for an hour long episode where Travell shares his recent run-in with the cops, and this becomes the start of a conversation on differing experiences of blacks and whites within the same city. Conversations like this can help us learn how to listen to each other and understand one another’s experiences. Joe predicts 1.2% of our audience will unsubscribe hal...
Jimmy and Joe are chaperoned on this episode by Travell Rounds. Travell is a member of and frequent preacher at Redeemer Fellowship. The guys get into the final paragraph of Chapter 19 of the 1689 on God’s law, and discuss the relationship between law and gospel, and how God uses the law in our dailty Christian lives for our spiritual growth. Our Sponsor Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 in Louisville, KY. Registration is open, and our listeners have been given a special di...
The guys are back and decide to talk through the issue of miscommunication. Where do we typically fail in communication in the church and ministry? How does it happen, and how can we do better in our communication? Our Sponsor Together for the Gospel is going down April 14-16, 2020 in Louisville, KY. Registration is open, and our listeners have been given a special discount code. Enter “doctrine” as a promo code on checkout and save $10. Get all the details at T4G.org. For all the links in our s...
Joe and Jimmy are back to talk about the Law of God from the 1689 Confession (Chapter 19, paragraph 6). What does it mean when we say we are “not under law but under grace,” and how does this relate to the use of the law in the life of the Christian? Does a Christian have to keep the law? Plus Joe doesn’t know how to do Labor Day. To get into the Ten Commandments we encourage our listeners to check out Thomas Watson treatment of the Big Ten here. Our Sponsor Together for the Gospel is going down...
Jimmy is back from Jamaica, and Les Lanphere is back on the mic with the guys to talk about his upcoming documentary, Spirit and Truth. Joe and Jimmy ask Les about “Reformed worship”, the problems in many evangelical worship services, and a lot more. Plus, Les looks like Kirk Cameron, and Jimmy gets water in his ear and is rushed to the hospital. If you haven’t seen his first documentary, be sure to check out Calvinist. And as we wait for his new doc, Spirit and Truth, to be released sign up for...