Jon and Justin discuss how the gospel, while unfathomably deep, is beautifully simple, intended to provide peace and hope. They highlight the danger of making it overly complicated, causing doubt and anxiety about one's salvation. The hosts emphasize trusting in Christ's sufficiency for sinners and explain the distinction between initial saving faith and ongoing growth in understanding gospel truths, warning against a "prove-it" mentality.
Justin and Jon love this phrase: All of Christ for all of life. That is what this podcast is about today. The doctrine of Christ is important, and we need to get it right—but it is also for our daily lives. This is where it becomes a balm and a joy. It allows us not only to have rest but also to give rest. So we want to talk about what all of Christ looks like in areas such as relational conflict. How do we apply the wonders of Jesus for us, and how do we use something like the third use of the ...
Something I wish Christianity would address more often is the normal battle with sin. Or, to put it another way: temptation. Temptation is a normal experience. That word "normal" is the key. We tend to think that as we grow in Christ, temptation decreases. But that is not what Paul says about our experience. It’s important to understand that you will not only struggle with sin, meaning you’re fighting it, but the temptation to sin may actually increase as you mature in the faith. Paul gives us s...
When I say the word repent, how do you feel? When I say confess your sins, what does that evoke in you? If repentance feels scary, threatening, or uncomfortable, or if confession feels the same, this podcast is for you. Jon and Justin are going to have a sweet conversation about how good God is to us, how forgiving and merciful He is, and how, since we have been united to Jesus by faith and brought into the family of God, it is actually a joy to live a life of continual repentance and honest con...
This conversation was recorded before the official announcement of Charlie’s death. Our hearts and our prayers are with his family. May the Lord Jesus Christ comfort them now and always. There is so much evil and pain in this world, and in this life. It all just feels too much to bear. We don't just face the evils of men; day by day, we are confronted with truly wicked and demonic powers that look to steal our hope. In our darkest hours, we must remember the light of Christ and His gospel. Jesus...
Expository preaching has been very popular for the last 30 to 40 years, and we are thankful for that. But the Bible actually tells us how the Word is to be explained and expounded, and that is what this episode is about. Jon and Justin are going to make the argument that if Christ is not part of the explanation, then technically it is not a Christian sermon. It is not a biblical sermon. It is not biblical exposition. It is a bold claim, but this conversation really matters. We are going to argue...
Is there a man who sits on the throne of God? And what does that mean for us? Can Jesus identify with us and have compassion on us in the midst of our struggle, our fear, and our discouragement? Does He feel things for us? Is Jesus of Nazareth a man of feeling? The answer to those questions is yes. He is a man of feeling. He is with us, compassionate, merciful, and gentle. This has everything to do with the fact that He is not only God; He is truly human. Jon and Justin are going to have that co...
Jon and Justin address the critical issue of sermons that are exegetically and historically sound but fail to make Jesus Christ their ultimate conclusion, rendering them empty. They argue, based on the teachings of Jesus (Luke 24, John 5) and the apostles (1 Corinthians, Acts, Romans), that all Scripture points to Christ, who is the source of life and the fulfillment of God's promises. The episode advocates for Christ-centered preaching and biblical interpretation that ignites believers' hearts and provides genuine rest and hope in Him.
When you read Genesis or Exodus, the very first books of the Bible, what comes to mind? Do you think of creationism versus evolution? An ark in Kentucky? Or do you think about Christ, how He has been present from the very beginning and is woven through every book of Scripture, including Genesis and Exodus? Jon and Justin are having a conversation today about Christ in the beginning. We’re going to survey Genesis and Exodus and help you see Jesus, not in a strange or forced way, but in a sound, b...
Some of you may feel like your testimony isn’t exciting enough to be worth sharing. Maybe you’ve wondered if you're even saved because you haven’t experienced a dramatic life transformation. Others may think only those who’ve hit rock bottom can truly understand grace. In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about why that’s not true; and why every believer, no matter their story, needs the same amazing grace. 9 Marks Church Matters Journal Giveaway! JUSTIN’S BOOK: MORE THAN FORGIVEN JOIN THE THEOC...
Many of you have probably prayed the prayer of Paul: “Lord, please take this away from me.” Not just once, but many times. It can become exhausting, frustrating, and even lead to doubt. That’s why today’s podcast is so important. We need to talk about trials and God’s grace, and how the two go together. What promise do we actually have from God? We dive deep into the reality of His love for us, especially how it’s not transactional, even in the midst of our suffering. We hope this encourages you...
In this life, we’re offered all kinds of reasons and purposes to live. But when you try them, you often realize that, in the end, you’re still weak, still unsatisfied, and still not measuring up. Then comes the question: “What is the purpose of my life? Why am I even here?” That’s a really tough place to be. This episode connects closely to last week’s: “Jesus Knows You’re Tired.” So what now? Do we just give up? Is that the message of Christ? No. He gives us new hope, a new identity, and a new ...
Maybe you’ve heard the term arrival fallacy; the idea that once we reach a certain point in life, things will finally get easier. We can fall into the same mindset in the Christian life, believing that one day suffering will lessen, trials will be lighter, or the battle with sin won’t be as intense. Some even think that if we just get church and doctrine right, the problems will go away. But that’s not biblical. In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about the ongoing reality of weakness, struggle...
James 4 gives us an interesting warning: Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. In Ephesians 4, Paul talks about not giving the devil a foothold—don’t give him room in the congregation. What we want to talk about today is this: What does that actually look like, and what is Satan after in both of those contexts? We would argue that, throughout the New Testament, the writers are trying to protect something specific from Satan—and it’s vitally important that we understand what that is. Why? ...
Should we be brute-forcing sanctification? Are we relying on our own strength to produce holiness? The American church often places heavy emphasis on the growth of the Christian—living each day simply to behave better than the day before—instead of emphasizing trust and rest in the finished work of Christ. It becomes more about avoiding sin than clinging to Jesus. In today’s episode, Jon and Justin are joined by a panel of pastors from the recent Grace Reformed Network 2025 General Assembly conf...
In Reformed circles, we can be wary of the word experience —often for good reason. Emotional manipulation and manufactured moments have led many to question what’s truly spiritual. But Scripture is clear: God promises His supernatural presence in the gathering of His people. Church is an encounter with the living God—a true spiritual experience where our souls are fed and refreshed. In this episode, we explore how God meets us in real, tangible ways and why we should expect to walk away encourag...
Today, Justin and Jon want to cover two passages that often confuse or even hurt people. One is Jeremiah 29:11—about your future. You might be wondering how that verse applies to you, especially if everything is going horribly—or even if everything is going great and you're attributing it to that promise. We’re going to talk about that verse, and also Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Our goal is to help you read these passages properly—and more importantly, to see Christ in them and ...
"Examine yourselves to determine whether or not you are in the faith." Have you ever heard those verses raised? We have here at Theocast—especially because of how we talk about Jesus, His sufficiency, and the reality that He has done everything necessary for us to have peace with God. People sincerely ask, “Brothers, what about the call to self-examination?” Jon and Justin are going to have that conversation today. Self-examination is good, but what we’re examining might be different than what y...
Throughout the years, Theocast has received all kinds of messages and emails. At times, you ask us to address certain topics, and while we can’t respond to everything, we do our best to select a few. This is one we wanted to talk about. We love our dear brother Costi, and in this sermon, he’s expressing a concern about Christian hypocrisy—people who claim to believe while showing no obedience. Jon and Justin want to reflect on this sermon, share our thoughts, and point out where there may be som...
Many evangelicals are drawn to Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism due to a longing for sacredness, spiritual experience, historical grounding, and objective truth in their faith. This episode critiques how Enlightenment rationalism, revivalism, and modern pragmatism have de-supernaturalized evangelicalism, leading to an earth-bound focus. The hosts contend that the Reformed tradition, with its robust understanding of sacraments, the Holy Spirit's work, and Christ's objective grace, already provides the spiritual depth and assurance people seek, without needing to turn to other traditions.
Check out Part 1 of this discussion on Sola Media’s YouTube channel! On today’s special episode of Theocast, Jon and Justin are joined by Adriel Sanchez of Sola Media to continue a thoughtful conversation on the differences between baptizing believers only and baptizing infants. This isn’t a debate but a dialogue between three Reformed brothers who share a deep love for Christ and his church. We explore key theological distinctions in covenant theology, union with Christ, and the role of baptism...
New Calvinism, while it has some good aspects, has also caused a lot of problems for many people today. Jon and Justin are going to have a conversation about how historical Reformed theology differs from New Calvinism—a movement that has really taken shape and gained a lot of traction over the last few decades, particularly in America. There are good things about New Calvinism, which we discussed a few weeks ago. But there are also key differences—differences we believe are vital for the clarity...
Today's episode is a special recording from the 1517 Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jon and Justin are joined by Bob Hiller, senior pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, California, and a valued member of the 1517 family. In this episode, we explore the challenges of balancing grace and law, emphasizing that the Christian life is about receiving Christ's work rather than striving for perfection through self-effort. We discuss the freedom found in the gospel, encouraging each ot...
Recently, a video clip from the Coram Deo Conference began circulating online, featuring John Piper making comments about falling away from the living God—and how that warning needs to be preached. The message that one can fall away must be clearly communicated, with no punches pulled. Theocast was brought into the online conversation surrounding this video, and we've received a number of questions about our thoughts on what Piper said. Today, we aim to charitably engage with John’s comments and...
Today’s episode is a special live podcast recording from our 2025 Law & Gospel Conference! Jon, Justin, and our special guest, Chad Bird, discuss their theological journeys that led them to understand the importance of the law and gospel distinction and what it means for the Christian. After the discussion, the guys hold a Q&A with the audience! CHECK OUT CHAD BIRD’S RESOURCES JUSTIN’S BOOK: MORE THAN FORGIVEN JOIN THE THEOCAST COMMUNITY! FREE EBOOK PARTNER WITH THEOCAST OUR WEBSITE YOUT...
As Christians, we often say we know God loves us and that Jesus died for our sins so we could be forgiven and accepted in Christ. But when asked how we think God really feels about us, we tend to get uncomfortable. If we're honest, many of us quietly wonder if God truly delights in us or if His grace was more of a reluctant necessity. Maybe He saved us, but does He actually enjoy us? Today, Jon and Justin are joined by Dan Cruver, author of Love Indeed , to talk about the deep, assuring love of ...
New Calvinism: The Young, Restless, and Reformed Movement. This has been a significant movement—a major groundswell—in recent decades within the American and Western Church. What’s good about it? What’s maybe not so good? That’s the conversation Jon and Justin are going to have today from our typical confessional and Reformed perspective. There is much to celebrate, but there are also aspects where we might say, "Maybe not the best." JUSTIN’S BOOK: MORE THAN FORGIVEN JOIN THE THEOCAST COMMUNITY!...
If I asked you, "What is the glory of God?" how would you answer? The glory of God is a central focus in the evangelical church, and rightly so. It is a wonderful reality that must be understood biblically to avoid misrepresenting His character. God is glorified in creation, in executing justice, and above all, in saving His people. He has always loved us, bound His heart to us, and takes the greatest joy in our redemption. Jon and Justin will discuss how separating God's glory from Jesus and th...
If you're like us and were raised in the church, you probably chuckled when you first learned that the Israelites carried around small idols in the desert—almost like little good luck charms. They had the power of God on their side, the One who split the sea, provided them with food, led them by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day. Yet, they still clung to these idols. How foolish those Israelites must have been, right? But that’s not quite how the story goes. Idolatry and idol worship ...
If I had to pick one person from the entire Bible and give him the title of "righteous" based on his actions, it wouldn’t be Lot. I’m sorry, but what that man did is not the definition of righteousness. Yet, that’s often how we think about godliness—righteousness as a comparison of who obeys the law. "I didn’t do these things; therefore, I’m righteous. You did those things; therefore, you’re unrighteous." But that’s not the definition used in the books of Hebrews and 2 Peter. They present a diff...
