The Bridge: Finding a Connection through Common Grace | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 7)
Release Date: 07/28/2025
Vos Group #101 — The Essence of the Kingdom
Reformed Forum
In this installment of the Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton continue their deep dive into Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Together they explore Vos’s treatment of the essence of the kingdom of God (pp. 385–387), drawing connections to his “Doctrine of the Covenant in Reformed Theology.” This conversation highlights Vos’s thoroughly theocentric vision—where creation, redemption, and faith all center upon the glory of God. Dr. Tipton unpacks how this framework distinguishes Reformed theology from other traditions, and how the kingdom...
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Genesis 35:19–29 — The Weeping of Rachel
Reformed Forum
Triple tragedies strike Jacob in chapter 35. The death of his beloved Rachel, his firstborn son’s violation reprehensible sin disqualifying him from leadership, and his father Esau’s death. Yet in the middle of this passage is a genealogy signifying the fact that God’s plan of redemption will continue. We learn how important it is to trace important events throughout Scripture, and see how the weeping of Rachel becomes a signpost pointing to God’s work of redemption through Christ.
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What Is Worship? | Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship (Lesson 1)
Reformed Forum
This is the first lesson in Dr. William Wood’s Reformed Academy course, Redemptive History and the Regulative Principle of Worship. This lesson covers the following topics: 0:00 Introduction 10:26 Review of the Literature on Worship 14:43 Broad and Narrow Concepts of Worship 23:41 Definition and Features of Worship 30:28 The Importance of Humility Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-seven additional video courses in covenant theology,...
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Marcus Mininger | Impossible to Be Restored? Temptation and Warning in the Epistle of Hebrews
Reformed Forum
The warning passages of Hebrews, especially Hebrews 6:1–6, have long puzzled interpreters and unsettled readers. Is it a threat to assurance? A theological anomaly? In this episode, Dr. Marcus Mininger, Professor of New Testament Studies at , joins us to explore the redemptive-historical framework behind one of the New Testament’s most debated passages. Drawing on the insights from his new book, (B&H Academic), Dr. Mininger explains how the warning in Hebrews 6 fits not only within the argument of Hebrews but also within the broader flow of covenantal history. We...
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Conclusion: A Vision for Faithful Apologetics | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 12)
Reformed Forum
This is the twelfth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. In the final lesson, we bring the threads together by affirming that faithful apologetics must be rooted in a comprehensive Christ-centered worldview. You will be reminded that defending the faith is not merely about technique but about seeing all of life through the “spectacles of Scripture.” From metaphysics to ethics, Christ’s lordship governs our understanding and our witness. This conclusion encourages you to press on in the calling of 1...
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David Bahnsen | Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life
Reformed Forum
What does it mean to see work not as a curse but as part of God’s original design? In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey is joined by board member Mark Van Drunen to welcome for a rich conversation about his new book, . Bahnsen is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a private wealth management firm managing more than $4.5 billion in client assets. David is the author of Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It, The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a...
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The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church — Chapters 10 and 11
Reformed Forum
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob returns to a reading of Geerhardus Vos’s 1903 book, The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church, chapters 10 and 11, "The Entrance Into the Kingdom: Repentance and Faith" and "Recapitulation"
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Providing Testimony: The Role of Proof and Evidence | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 11)
Reformed Forum
This is the eleventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Does proof have a place in a Reformed apologetic? In this lesson, we explore the proper use of evidence in defending the faith—not as a neutral tool but as a witness to divine truth when interpreted within the framework of Scripture. You will learn how logical arguments and historical evidences can support the gospel without compromising the authority of God’s word. By examining biblical examples and distinguishing between uses of proofs that submit to...
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Vos Group #100 — The Two-Sided Conception of the Kingdom
Reformed Forum
In this milestone 100th installment of Vos Group, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton turn to page 381 of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to explore the “two-sided conception of the kingdom.” Together they unpack Vos’s insights into the already/not yet dynamic of the kingdom of God—its present spiritual reality and its future consummate glory. Along the way, they engage with historical-critical objections, consider the role of John the Baptist, reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ parables, and highlight the religious nature of the kingdom as forgiveness,...
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Standing Firm: Engaging in Spiritual Conflict | Defending Our Hope (Lesson 10)
Reformed Forum
This is the tenth lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Apologetics is not merely intellectual—it’s spiritual warfare. In this lesson, we consider how to stand firm in the face of opposition, clinging to the truth of God’s word and the hope we have in Christ. You will learn how to engage others with boldness and Christlike character, especially in moments of suffering or ridicule. We explore the role of the heart, the importance of gentleness and respect, and the need for readiness to follow conversations...
info_outlineThis is the seventh lesson in Dr. Camden Bucey’s Reformed Academy course, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. Is there any shared ground between believers and unbelievers? In this lesson, we explore the doctrine of common grace—the means by which God, in his goodness, temporarily restrains judgment and bestows non-saving blessings even on those who remain in rebellion against him. You will discover how this temporary, non-saving grace provides space for meaningful interaction, cultural engagement, and the proclamation of the gospel. Drawing from biblical and theological insights, including historical reflections from Calvin, Warfield, Kuyper, and Van Til, we examine how common grace enables communication without compromising the antithesis. Learn how to faithfully build bridges without erasing the gospel’s call to repentance and faith.
- 01:53 The Nature and Scope of Common Grace
- 07:20 Common Grace in Redemptive History
- 09:51 Biblical Foundations of Common Grace
- 20:24 Common Grace and Apologetics
- 27:21 Historical Perspectives on Common Grace
- 35:57 Withstanding Rejection
- 39:11 Summary and Conclusion
Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental resources, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to more than two dozen more video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/def...
Camden Bucey (MDiv, PhD) is Executive Director of Reformed Forum and a minister of Hope Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Grayslake, Illinois. He is the author of Karl Rahner (Great Thinkers) and Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: A 12-Week Study. Your donations help us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you worldwide: https://reformedforum.org/donate/