The Gospel That Transforms
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
Release Date: 02/05/2025
Demons and the Sovereignty of God
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of the Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony delve into the topic of demons and spiritual warfare, exploring what the Bible teaches about these spiritual entities and their activity in the world. The conversation begins with an examination of Job 1, where Satan appears in the heavenly court to accuse Job, demonstrating how God’s sovereignty encompasses even the actions of the devil and his demons. The discussion emphasizes that while demons are real and dangerous, they operate under the ultimate authority of God, who uses even their actions to fulfill His purposes. The hosts...
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Understanding Spiritual Battles in Daily Life
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb and Tony Arsenal tackle the often-overlooked topic of spiritual warfare, focusing on the biblical truths about angels and demons. The discussion begins by affirming the reality of Satan and his demons as active agents in the world, working to oppose God and deceive humanity. Drawing from both Scripture and personal experiences, the hosts emphasize the importance of being aware of the spiritual battles that Christians face daily and how these confrontations are a central part of our spiritual journey. The conversation highlights the need...
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The Lord’s Day and Its Significance
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this engaging episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb and Tony Arsenal dive into the rich theological and practical significance of the Sabbath in Reformed theology. They begin by discussing the dual aspects of the Sabbath as a creation ordinance and a ceremonial practice, explaining how it is both a moral obligation for all humanity and a type that pointed forward to Christ's redemptive work. The hosts emphasize that the Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden, designed for rest, worship, and spiritual renewal. The conversation explores how the Sabbath transitions from the seventh...
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Capturing Knowledge That Glorifies God
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal takes listeners on a deep dive into the art and purpose of effective note-taking, particularly within the context of Christian living and theological study. With Jesse absent for this episode, Tony explores practical techniques to help Christians retain, process, and apply what they read, whether it be from Scripture, theological works, or even secular writings. Highlighting his own personal process, Tony emphasizes the importance of reading with intention and grounding all study in the ultimate goal of glorifying God and enjoying Him...
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Christian Unity in Action
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony explore Paul’s letter to Philemon, unpacking its rich theological and practical implications. At the heart of the discussion is Paul’s appeal for Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a Christian. Paul’s letter serves as a vivid demonstration of how the gospel transforms relationships, highlighting the themes of forgiveness, restitution, and reconciliation. The hosts reflect on the radical nature of grace, which not only calls for the restoration of broken relationships but also compels believers to go above and beyond in...
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From Slave to Brother
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb and Tony Arsenal delve into the letter of Philemon, focusing on the transformative power of the gospel in relationships. They examine Paul’s heartfelt appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, a slave who has become a believer and is now returning as a brother in Christ. The discussion reflects on the profound theological implications of forgiveness, reconciliation, and Christian unity, as well as the way the gospel subverts societal roles while upholding spiritual kinship. Jesse and Tony explore the delicate yet powerful language...
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The Fellowship of Faith
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode, Jesse and Tony dive into the letter of Philemon, exploring its rich themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and Christian unity. As a follow-up to their study of Colossians, this episode highlights how the gospel transforms relationships and challenges believers to live out their faith in practical ways. Paul’s appeal to Philemon serves as a powerful example of applying theology to real-life situations, emphasizing the importance of love and mutual partnership in faith. The discussion unpacks Paul’s unique rhetorical approach in addressing Philemon. Instead of commanding...
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Lessons from Paul’s Closing Words
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
n this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony dive into the final verses of Colossians 4, reflecting on Paul’s closing words and the rich theological and practical insights they offer. The discussion begins by addressing the significance of these often-overlooked sections of scripture, emphasizing their God-breathed purpose and the enduring lessons they provide for the church today. Paul's ministry partners, including Tychicus, Onesimus, and Luke, take center stage as Jesse and Tony explore how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes in His kingdom. The...
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Prayer as the Christian’s Lifeline
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of the Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony dive into Colossians 4:2–6, unpacking its rich themes of persistent prayer, evangelism, and the importance of gracious communication. They explore Paul's exhortation to the Colossian church, focusing on how prayer, wisdom, and speech are integral to a Christian's life and witness. The conversation emphasizes that prayer is not merely an action but a defining characteristic of the Christian life, reflecting the believer's intimacy with God and reliance on His grace. The hosts examine Paul's request for prayers that his proclamation...
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Understanding Christian Household Ethics
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb dives deep into the rich and challenging teachings of Colossians 3:18–4:1 on Christian household ethics. With Tony absent, Jesse takes the reins to explore the revolutionary and countercultural aspects of Paul's instructions to wives, husbands, children, and slaves. He emphasizes how these teachings, though often misunderstood or misapplied, are deeply rooted in the lordship of Christ and the call for submission, love, and service within the family structure. Jesse begins by highlighting the groundbreaking nature of Paul's...
info_outlineIn Episode 430 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony and Jesse begin their exploration of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, focusing on Colossians 1:1–12. This section introduces the key themes of the epistle, including faith, hope, love, and the transformative power of the Gospel. The hosts emphasize that the Gospel is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, both globally and within the lives of believers, demonstrating the sufficiency of Christ in all things. They also discuss the importance of spiritual wisdom and understanding, which enable believers to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
The episode highlights Paul’s unique relationship with the Colossian church, which he had not personally visited, and how his prayer for the church reflects his deep concern for their growth in faith. Tony and Jesse explore the central message of Colossians: Christ is sufficient for salvation, sanctification, and the restoration of all things. They unpack how faith, hope, and love are interconnected in the Christian life, focusing on how hope in the inheritance laid up in heaven empowers believers to love others and grow in faith.
Listeners are encouraged to trust in the transformative work of the Gospel, which not only redeems individuals but also restores creation. The hosts remind us of the importance of hearing, understanding, and trusting the Gospel, as well as living it out through a life worthy of the Lord. This episode is a rich dive into the theological truths and practical implications of Paul’s opening words to the Colossians.
Key Points:
- The Sufficiency of Christ: Paul’s letter emphasizes that Christ is sufficient for salvation, sanctification, and the restoration of all things. There is no need for anything beyond Christ to save or transform believers.
- Faith, Hope, and Love: These virtues are central to the Christian life. Paul highlights the hope laid up in heaven as the foundation for the Colossians’ faith and love, which are outward expressions of their relationship with Christ.
- The Gospel’s Power to Bear Fruit: The Gospel is described as constantly bearing fruit and increasing, both in the world and in individual believers. This demonstrates the active, transformative power of God’s Word.
- Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding: Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding, which enables them to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and to bear fruit in every good work.
Questions for Reflection:
- How does the hope laid up in heaven impact the way you live your daily life?
- In what ways have you experienced the Gospel bearing fruit and increasing in your own life?
- How can you grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding to better walk in a manner worthy of the Lord?
- What does it mean to you that Christ is sufficient for all aspects of salvation and sanctification?
- How do faith, hope, and love work together in your relationship with God and with others?