The Westminster Podcast - podcast cover

The Westminster Podcast

Westminster Mediawm.wts.edu
"...to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever." Follow The Westminster Podcast to listen to stories, interviews, and archive audio from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, PA. Featuring interviews and in-depth conversations with renowned authors, theologians, pastors, and historians, The Westminster Podcast is meant to help listeners in deeper exploration of the Christian faith. Visit wm.wts.edu to Read, Watch, and Listen to more content like this.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The Book of James w/ Brandon Crowe pt. 1: James 1

Nate and Dr. Brandon Crowe begin a series on the book of James. Dr. Crowe has not one, but two books on the book of James coming out in the next year. One is a full commentary on the book of James and the other is a popular level book on James. In the coming weeks they will be going chapter by chapter through James discussing the theology and structure of the book, its audience, and what makes it unique. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠wm.wts.edu⁠. If...

Jun 30, 202555 min

The Moral Law w/ Shelby Myers

Nate Shannon sat down to discuss the Moral Law/the Ten Commandments with Shelby Myers who had recently taught a 9 month series on the Moral Law of God at Proclamation Presbyterian Church. Shelby Myers was a current student at the time of this recording but, as of last week, he is now a graduate of the MDiv program. Congrats to Shelby. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠wm.wts.edu⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the b...

Jun 23, 202550 min

Incarnation Anyway? w/ Bryan Selby

In this episode we hear from current Westminster ThM student Bryan Selby as he discusses the centrality of the incarnation in Reformed theology as well as the place of union with Christ in the curriculum at Westminster. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠wm.wts.edu⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠wts.edu/donate⁠. Thanks for listen...

Jun 17, 20251 hr 12 min

Two Decades of Leadership and Legacy w/ Peter Lillback

Peter Lillback has been president of Westminster Theological Seminary for twenty years now. He also has at least that much experience as a pastor. He has a long career of academic accolades as well. Nate sits down with Dr. Lillback to discuss what he has gleaned from his time in leadership and in ministry, what wisdom he can share with us, and also just to hear some great stories. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us...

Jun 09, 202556 min

Jonah and Nahum w/ Dr. Stephen Coleman

This week, Nate is joined by Dr. Stephen Coleman to talk about the books of Jonah and Nahum. Dr. Coleman has a commentary on the post-exilic minor prophets due out in the Preaching The Word commentary series this November. They discuss the complementary ways in which Jonah and Nahum work together in displaying the Lord's mercy for the nations. It's a real deep dive into a fascinating topic of scripture. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at wm.wts.edu. If yo...

Jun 02, 202551 min

The Doctrine of God w/ Sinclair Ferguson

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson has a long history of teaching the Doctrine of God at Westminster and still teaches it in our online programs. While Dr. Ferguson was in town to deliver the 17th annual Gaffin Lecture, Nate sat down with him to talk about the Doctrine of God, how he teaches it, what resources he recommends, and they also take some time to answer actual questions from WTS students that are currently enrolled in Ferguson's Doctrine of God course. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons...

May 26, 20251 hr 5 min

Epistemology and Apologetics w/ Vern Poythress

The difference between a faithful apologetic method and an unfaithful one often lies in your interpretation of Romans 1. What does it mean that the unrighteous "suppress the truth" and yet "what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them"? In this episode Nate and Dr. Poythress look to Romans 1 to answer these questions and discuss the relation between epistemology and apologetics. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If ...

May 19, 20251 hr 2 min

Pastoral Counseling & Sexuality w/ Dr. Alfred Poirier

When it comes to the issues that pastors are forced to deal with, the landscape is quickly changing. In a culture that is obsessed with gender and sexuality, a pastor is often going to be engaging with these issues and ideas. However, there is nothing new under the sun and the Scriptures have much to say on issues of sexuality. Nate sits down with Dr. Porier to discuss how pastors can engage with the the common sexual sins of our modern age. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of cont...

May 12, 202551 min

Theological Education: Past, Present, and Future w/ Dr. Stafford Carson

Dr. Stafford Carson has a long history with theological education and his experience comes from a number of different contexts. So this week we hear about some of the history of theological education from the early modern period as well as some current developments that are happening in theological education today. Most importantly Nate and Dr. Carson talk about not losing sight of the purpose of theological education, preparation for ministry, knowledge of God, and the proclamation of his Word....

May 05, 202542 min

Science and Faith w/ Vern Poythress

Vern Poythress teaches a course at Westminster on the Theology of Science and has a lot of experience in both the fields of science and theology. Nate sits down to discuss science and faith with him and it's implications for theology, apologetics, evangelism, etc. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit...

Apr 28, 202538 min

The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox, ep. 2.

Hey everyone. We're back this week with the second episode of The Scottish Tempest. In this episode I'll be covering the period from Knox's conversion to Protestantism until his initial exile from Scotland. There's a lot that happens during that period; his best friend dies, he is the subject of a manhunt, there's an assassination, some people take over a castle, he becomes a pastor at said castle, they try to make alliance with the English and ultimately, they all become slaves to the French. T...

Apr 21, 20252 hr 38 min

God and Country... Music w/ Luke Laird

Luke Laird is a prolific country songwriter. He's written over 20 Billboard number one singles, has won two Grammys, and a handful of CMA awards. He also happens to be a student in the Master of Theological Studies (MATS) program here at Westminster and is set to graduate next month. Brandon McLean Smith sits down with Luke to talk about the MATS program, what brought him to WTS, how his education might impact his career as a songwriter, and also about the country music industry in general. It w...

Apr 14, 202550 min

New Testament Biblical Theology w/ Dr. Brandon Crowe

Hey everyone. Dr. Brandon Crowe is one of the most prolific authors on the faculty at Westminster and teaches several classes here. Nate sits down to talk with him about his approach to teaching New Testament. They cover a lot of topics, but one thing that shines through is how Biblical Theology, Redemptive History, and Systematic Theology are woven together in a way that highlights the interconnected nature of the theological disciplines in the curriculum at Westminster. I hope you enjoy it! If...

Apr 07, 202549 min

Apologetics for Everyone w/ Dr. Mark Farnham

Dr. Mark Farnham graduated from Westminster's PhD program in Apologetics. His book, "Every Believer Confident" was recently released by P&R Publishing. He currently teaches at Lancaster Bible College. Nate sits down with Dr. Farnham to discuss apologetics and how every Christian believer is equipped to do the work of apologetics. It's not just a discipline for those who are trained philosophers or expert theologians. The early Christians didn't get sent off to Athens to learn Aristotelian ph...

Mar 31, 202534 min

Genesis 1 w/ Vern Poythress

Nate Shannon sits down with Dr. Vern Poythress to discuss Genesis 1 and its implications for theology, evangelism, and apologetics. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate. Thanks for listening.

Mar 24, 202553 min

The Scottish Tempest: The Life of John Knox, ep. 1.

Hey everyone. I hope you're enjoying the interviews with Dr. Shannon. We've been having a great time getting this content produced and out for the world to hear. This week we're releasing the first episode in a series on the life of John Knox. Ever since I heard about some of the stories from the life of John Knox in a Church History course on the Reformation at Westminster, I've been fascinated by him. That's why this project is pretty near to my heart. There's a lot of material on John Knox ou...

Mar 17, 20251 hr 44 min

Prison Ministry

In this episode of the Westminster Podcast, Nate Shannon is joined by Luke and Charis Carson to discuss their ministry in the London prison system. Luke works with London City Mission and ministers to those in the prison and with people who have recently been released from prison. Charis also works as a chaplain in the London prison system. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bibl...

Mar 10, 202557 min

Sanctification While in Seminary

When it comes to the Christian life Orthodoxy (right belief), Orthopraxy (right practice), and Doxology (worship) work together like a 3-fold braided cord. If any of the 3 are compromised, the whole cord suffers. So, at Westminster, we don't just commit to theological education in the abstract. Some might be tempted to say "I'm just going to study theology and not worry about my moral life, my personal relationship with God, or the quality of my worship. I'll deal with those things later." To do...

Mar 03, 202536 min

Cultural Apologetics w/ Dr. Bill Edgar

Culture is the air that we breathe. It informs how we view the world around us and is a necessary consideration for any apologetic discussion. Dr. Nate Shannon sits down with Dr. Bill Edgar to discuss culture, apologetics, and cultural apologetics. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the Bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit wts.edu/donate....

Feb 24, 202557 min

Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

Stafford Carson has been associated with Westminster Seminary for nearly half of its existence. He has also had a rather prolific preaching ministry with experience in proclaiming the Word of God in many diverse contexts. Dr. Nate Shannon sits down with Stafford to discuss a range of topics including not just how to preach well but how to listen to preaching well. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content like it at wm.wts.edu. If you would like to join us in our mission to train...

Feb 14, 202538 min

Apologetics and Exegesis

Many of Cornelius Van Til's critics claim that Van Til did not sufficiently base his apologetic method on Scriptural exegesis. Van Til himself acknowledged that robust exegesis wasn't as prominent in his work as it could have been. That was not, however, an admission that his method was not built on exegesis, just that it's exegetical foundation was assumed more than it was argued. The second generation of Van Tilian scholars (Gaffin, Edgar, Oliphint, Tipton, Poythress, etc.) filled what Van Til...

Feb 07, 20251 hr 14 min

Bonus Ep. C Van Til Goes Pop

With the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics now available, we figured giving you a taste of the audiobook would be a great companion to this podcast. So enjoy chapter 2: Van Til Goes Pop. If you enjoy what you hear, check out wtspress.com to grab yourself a hard copy and/or and audio copy of The Future of Reformed Apologetics.

Aug 31, 202445 min

It's Personal

With no "Oliphint in the room," Brandon goes it alone for a long form, free ranging interview with Nathan D. Shannon (The Great Thinkers series). They touch on Nate's essay in the book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics, as well as his monograph Absolute Person and Moral Experience.

Aug 08, 20241 hr 23 min

Down the Rabbit Hole

Mr. Anderson punches a plot-hole through simulation theory... In the final episode of this book companion podcast series, Brandon and Scott don't go as all-in on The Matrix references as the guy who wrote this description has. Instead, they follow the white rabbit down Greg Bahnsen Lane as Scott discusses how to interpret one of Van Til's foremost interpreters. Read James Anderson's essay "Van Til versus The Matrix" in The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-...

Jul 25, 202422 minSeason 6Ep. 5

Disillusioned With The Fact That They Can't Change The World

You couldn't ask for a better guide through The Future of Reformed Apologetics than Dr. Strange (No, not that Dr. Strange). Brandon Smith (No, not that Brandon Smith) and Scott Oliphint (Yes, that Scott Oliphint) take us back to Rust Auditorium in the Winter of '23 and review Dan's rousing lecture titled "Van Til Goes Pop." To enjoy Strange's essay in another dimension (print), visit Westminster Seminary Press to order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/p...

Jul 11, 202422 minSeason 6Ep. 4

A Bracing Single Malt (Feel the Burn)

Brandon and Scott sample a draught of Christopher Watkin's cask strength "Van Til's Two-Handed Apologetic." While some claim that Van Til's original malt was tainted with notes of idealism and even (shriek!) "biblicism," Scott suggests that when it comes to the good stuff there's only one ingredient that matters... For a full pour, check out the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics and enjoy Christopher's essay with a tumbler of islay: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apol...

Jun 27, 202428 minSeason 6Ep. 3

Cowboy? Yes.

Episode II: There is unrest in the theological senate. . . Brandon and Scott revisit Brian G. Mattson's lecture "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit." They get into Van Til's criticism of Herman Bavinck and then into some criticism of Van Til's criticism of Bavinck. If you ride with Bavinck and want to size up this Van Til fellow, please visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and lasso yourself a copy of the book to read the full essay "Attributes, Roots, and Fruit" by Brian G. Mattson: https://wts...

Jun 13, 202423 minSeason 6Ep. 2

Poor Das

BONUSODE! Enjoy an extra slice of Reformed apologetics as Brandon and Scott go off script and talk about Van Til's friendship and theological affinity with J. Gresham Machen, as well as the early days at Westminster Theological Seminary. Visit Westminster Seminary Press's website and order a copy of the book The Future of Reformed Apologetics: https://wtspress.com/products/the-future-of-reformed-apologetics-collected-essays-on-applying-van-til-s-apologetic-method-to-a-new-generation. Also availa...

Jun 06, 202412 min

Enough!

Scott Oliphint has had enough of the bad caricatures of Cornelius Van Til. . . but a brand new book is on the way that might change things. The Future of Reformed Apologetics gathers nine essays from the eponymous 2023 conference, and addresses the state and future of the Reformed apologetic that Van Til developed. In this first episode of our podcast companion series, Brandon McLean Smith and K. Scott Oliphint reflect on the conclusion of Scott's lecture titled "The Sensus Divinitatis." Visit W...

May 30, 202423 minSeason 6Ep. 1

The Future of Reformed Apologetics – Trailer

COMING SOON: Author and apologist K. Scott Oliphint joins host Brandon McLean Smith to discuss a new book, The Future of Reformed Apologetics. Addressing current debates and controversies within theological apologetics, Scott and Brandon review highlights from the eponymous 2023 conference at Westminster Theological Seminary and preview the thought provoking collection of essays from Scott, Vern Poythress, Christopher Watkin, James Anderson, Daniel Strange, Brian G. Mattson, David Owen Filson, a...

May 09, 20241 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast