Understanding Spiritual Battles in Daily Life
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
Release Date: 06/25/2025
Blessed Eyes That See: How Parables Transform Our Understanding of God's Kingdom
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this introductory episode to their new series on the Parables of Jesus, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb explore the profound theological significance of Christ's parables. Far from being mere teaching tools to simplify complex ideas, parables serve a dual purpose in God's redemptive plan: revealing spiritual truth to those with "ears to hear" while concealing these same truths from those without spiritual illumination. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how parables function as divine teaching devices that embody core Reformed doctrines like election and illumination. As the...
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Beyond the Paycheck: Finding God's Purpose in All Seasons of Labor
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
n this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb dives into a theological exploration of work as an extension of Christian calling that extends far beyond paid employment. Building upon their previous discussion about vocational choices for Christians, Jesse addresses the question: "Does a Christian's work ever cease?" Through careful examination of Ephesians 2:8-10 and other passages, he argues that while the nature of our work may change through different seasons of life—including retirement, caregiving, or illness—God has prepared good works for believers to walk in...
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Sacred Priorities: Rethinking Christian Influence in Career and Calling
Reformed Brotherhood | Reformed Theology and Brotherly Love
In this thought-provoking episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony and Jesse explore the complex relationship between Christian vocation and professional ambition. Moving beyond the obvious prohibition of inherently sinful professions, they examine whether certain legitimate careers might still be inappropriate for Christians if they compromise our responsibilities to family and church. The hosts challenge the common assumption that Christians should seek maximum worldly influence, suggesting instead that faithfulness in our threefold calling—to work, family, and church—should guide our...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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_outlineIn 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 for a balanced approach to understanding demonic activity—avoiding both sensationalism and denial. Jesse and Tony explore the biblical descriptions of angels and demons, noting their similarities and differences while pointing out the limitations of demonic power under God’s sovereignty. They also discuss how demons often operate through deception, appearing in forms meant to confuse or distract, and how believers can recognize and resist these schemes.
This episode encourages Christians to take spiritual warfare seriously by relying on the supremacy of Christ, equipping themselves with the armor of God, and remaining vigilant against the enemy's tactics. Whether you're new to the concept of spiritual warfare or looking to deepen your understanding, this conversation offers practical insights and theological depth to help you stay rooted in faith.
Key Points:
- The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Satan and demons are real, active forces working to oppose God and deceive humanity. Christians must take this reality seriously while remaining grounded in Christ's supremacy.
- Biblical Perspective on Angels and Demons: Angels and demons share the same origin as created beings, but their purposes and moral alignments differ significantly. Demons often use deception to lead people astray.
- Practical Steps for Spiritual Readiness: Christians are called to be vigilant, equipping themselves with the armor of God and staying rooted in Scripture to recognize and combat demonic influence.
Questions for Reflection:
- How does understanding the biblical reality of angels and demons change the way you view spiritual warfare?
- What steps can you take to better equip yourself for spiritual battles in your daily life?
- In what ways can the church help believers remain aware of and prepared for the reality of spiritual warfare?