Hidden with Christ in God
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
Release Date: 04/09/2025
Pop Culture and Piety: Living for God in a Media-Saturated World
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dive deep into the intersection of pop culture, entertainment, and the Christian life. They explore how Christians can engage with leisure and media in a way that glorifies God, applying biblical principles like those found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Ecclesiastes 3. The hosts emphasize the importance of balancing Christian liberty and holiness, while also recognizing the practical role of rest and recreation in human flourishing. Through personal anecdotes and theological insights, they provide listeners with a...
info_outline
Remembering God's Faithfulness
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb delve into the profound significance of sharing personal testimonies as a way to reflect on God’s providence and glorify His work in our lives. Through their own faith journeys—Tony’s teenage conversion and Jesse’s early life in a faithful Christian household—they explore the transformative power of the gospel and the beauty of childlike faith. Along the way, they discuss how testimonies encourage others, strengthen the church, and remind us of God’s unchanging faithfulness across every stage of life....
info_outline
Law, Gospel, and the Righteousness of God
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb takes listeners on a deep theological journey into the distinction between law and gospel. Drawing from Martin Luther's theological insights, Jesse explores how these two words from God—the law and the gospel—reveal His righteousness and intersect with Christian living. He reflects on the ways the law exposes sin and reveals the justice of God, while the gospel offers the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. This timely discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding how God's law and gospel work in harmony to declare...
info_outline
The Cross and True Christian Power
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of the Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony dive deep into Martin Luther's contrasting theological concepts: the Theology of Glory and the Theology of the Cross. Beginning with a reflection on how the Theology of Glory prioritizes human strength, reason, and achievement, they explore how this perspective can mislead Christians into seeking God through displays of power and visible success. Instead, they emphasize that Luther's Theology of the Cross reveals God's power most profoundly in weakness, suffering, and humility. The conversation highlights how the Theology of Glory...
info_outline
Theology of the Cross and Suffering
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony delve into Martin Luther's concept of the Theology of the Cross, a foundational idea in Reformation theology. Rooted in the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518, this theological framework challenges believers to see God's power and purpose in human suffering and weakness. The hosts explore how the cross is the ultimate revelation of God's nature, subverting traditional human expectations of power and glory. The discussion highlights the stark contrast between the Theology of the Cross and what Luther termed the Theology of Glory. The former...
info_outline
Self-Examination in the Christian Life
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this episode of the Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse and Tony delve into the crucial Christian discipline of self-examination. Grounding their discussion in Scriptures like Psalm 139:23-24 and 2 Corinthians 13:5, they explore what it means to test and examine oneself in the faith. They emphasize that self-examination is not about undermining assurance but rather about deepening a believer’s trust in Christ while fostering spiritual growth and humility. The conversation highlights the necessity of prayer as the starting point for self-examination. Jesse and Tony remind listeners that asking God...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb dives into Colossians 3:1-11, exploring the profound theological truths about our union with Christ and how it transforms our identity, behavior, and perspective. Jesse emphasizes the Apostle Paul's call for Christians to seek the things above, set their minds on heavenly matters, and put to death earthly desires. With Tony absent this week, Jesse unpacks the richness of this passage solo, offering practical insights and reflections on living a Christ-centered life.
Jesse begins by discussing the "two addresses" believers inhabit: their earthly location and their heavenly citizenship in Christ. He highlights how our identity in Christ secures us in the heavenly realm, hidden with Christ in God, and how this truth should inform and shape our daily lives. Through Paul's words, Jesse emphasizes the tangible newness believers experience in Christ—new priorities, a new culture, and even a "new wardrobe," symbolizing our transformed life.
The episode also touches on the practical implications of this passage, including putting to death sinful behaviors, embracing Christian community, and living with a heavenly-minded focus. Jesse encourages listeners to meditate on their identity in Christ, love their church family deeply, and live out the gospel transformation in every area of life.
Key Points:
- Union with Christ and Heavenly Citizenship: Believers are hidden with Christ in God, granting them a secure and unshakable identity in the heavenly realm.
- The Call to Put Sin to Death: Paul lists specific sins to abandon, emphasizing the transformation that comes from being united with Christ and living out the gospel truth.
- Heavenly-Minded Living: Christians are encouraged to set their minds on things above, focusing on eternal treasures rather than temporary earthly desires.
- The Role of Christian Community: Jesse highlights the importance of the local church as a place where believers grow together, bear with one another, and display the unifying power of Christ.
Questions for Reflection:
- How does the reality of being "hidden with Christ in God" shape your daily perspective and priorities?
- What earthly desires or behaviors do you need to "put to death" in light of your identity in Christ?
- How can you better love and serve your local church community as an expression of your union with Christ?
- In what ways can you focus more on heavenly treasures and less on earthly concerns?