loader from loading.io

Prayer as the Christian’s Lifeline

Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love

Release Date: 05/07/2025

Pop Culture and Piety: Living for God in a Media-Saturated World show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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 show art 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_outline
 
More Episodes

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 of the gospel might be clear and effective, noting that clarity is essential in ensuring the message of Christ is understood fully by its hearers. They also discuss the relationship between wise conduct, gracious speech, and the ability to answer others with the truth of the gospel. The importance of integrating faith into everyday interactions is highlighted, particularly when engaging with non-believers in ways that reflect Christ's love and wisdom.

The episode also delves into how Christians can faithfully live out their faith in a world of challenges, particularly on platforms like social media, where speech often lacks grace and wisdom. Jesse and Tony remind listeners of the high calling to let their words always be seasoned with salt, ensuring that every interaction serves as an opportunity to glorify God and share the gospel.

Key Points:

  1. Persistent Prayer as a Lifeline: Christians are called to devote themselves to prayer, not just as an occasional act but as a continuous lifestyle that reflects intimacy with God.
  2. Clarity in Gospel Proclamation: Paul’s request for prayer highlights the importance of presenting the gospel clearly and cogently, ensuring its full understanding by hearers.
  3. Gracious Speech and Wise Conduct: Walking in wisdom and letting speech be gracious and seasoned with salt are essential for effective evangelism and maintaining a Christian witness.
  4. Faith in Everyday Interactions: Integrating faith into daily life involves speaking and acting in ways that reflect Christ’s love and wisdom, especially in challenging environments like social media.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. How does your prayer life reflect your relationship with God, and in what ways can it become more consistent and intentional?
  2. In what areas of your life can you work to make your speech more gracious and seasoned with salt?
  3. How can you integrate faith into your daily interactions with non-believers in a way that reflects Christ’s love and wisdom?
  4. Are there specific people or ministries you can commit to praying for, as Paul asks the Colossians to pray for him?