The Three Presbyteers

The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church in Port Orange, FL. Hosted by Teaching Elders Joshua Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Ruling Elder Gabe Williams, The Three Presbyteers discusses church polity, PCA news, theology, Christian living, and current events from a biblical worldview.

Episode 37 - Lost Virtues: Magnanimity 11/03/2025

Episode 36 – PCA TE James Baird author of “King of Kings A Reformed Guide to Christian Government” 10/17/2025

Episode 35 - Unity in Christ 10/11/2025

Episode 34 - Ordo Salutis: Redemption Accomplished and Applied 09/12/2025

Episode 33 - How to Interpret Scripture: Grammar and Syntax 09/05/2025

Episode 31 - Church Planting in Scotland with Pastor Donny Harwood 07/30/2025

Episode 32 - How to Study Scripture: Words and Their Meaning 07/29/2025

Episode 32 - How to Study Scripture: Words and Their Meaning PCA Pastors Josh Owen and Aaron Garriott discuss the importance of semantic studies for reading a text. Topics considered include: · The Popularity of Word Studies o Spiros Zodhiates The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible o The Amplified Bible o Inductive Bible Studies (Kay Arthur’s Precepts) o Vine’s Expository Dictionary · The Pitfalls of Word Studies o Root Fallacy o Anachronism o Etymological Fallacy o Derivative Fallacy o Illegitimate Totality Transfer o Limiting Semantic Range by Extratextual Definitions (Creeds, Confessions, Other Author’s Works) o Theological Bias · The Promise of Word Studies o Clarity o Accuracy o Depth · The Procedure of Word Studies o Identify the word’s part of speech. Is it a noun? If it is a noun is it the subject of the verb? The direct object? Is it the main verb? Is it an adjective? Adverb? o Identify key words in the immediate context. o Make an initial observation about the context. This can be modified as your study corrects initial assumptions. o Concordances and Hebrew/Greek Dictionaries or Lexicons § Note the Semantic Range § Note other words in the same Semantic Range (concepts) § Note the historical and cultural background for a word § Note special meanings for certain contexts § Note historical development of word usage § For NT words, note how they are used to translate Hebrew words § For OT words, note how they are translated by LXX and NT o Narrow word search to the author’s writings you are studying (Paul, John, Peter, Moses, David) o Narrow word search to the writing you are studying o Narrow word search to your text. The words surrounding your word will limit its usage. o Distinguish Sense from Referent. The mental concept is in the mind, while the referent may be an object outside of the mind. “You are the Christ.” The referent is Jesus. But what is the sense? Did the speaker have the same sense of “Christ” as Jesus? o Write out a basic definition of the word limited by the context. o Explain the word’s relationship to the other words in the sentence. o Write out a paraphrase of the sentence, not using the word under consideration, but using its definition. o Does it make sense? How does it fit in the larger context of the paragraph? /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/37595960

Episode 29 - Why Catechize? 07/11/2025

Episode 30 - General Assembly 2025 Update 07/11/2025

Episode 30 - General Assembly 2025 Update The Three Presbyteers—GA 2025 Report (Chattanooga) PCA Pastors Josh Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Ruling Elder Gabe Williams discuss the sermon series through the Gospel of John and the upcoming series through 2 Samuel. Topics considered include: Provisional Stated Clerk John Bise Bryan Chappel retiring for peace of the Church Interview with TGC Kept list of scandalizers of the church which he held up to the camera Said everyone on list had either left the faith, left his family, or committed suicide Initial apology shifted blame to those who took still shot of video Public apology and personal apologies Moderator was Kevin DeYoung Overall good job Question of partiality over TE Timothy Brindle Brindle was making a speech against the actions of MNA director Irwyn Ince DeYoung cautioned him when he made a statement impugning the motives of Ince, something that is not allowed While Doug Wilson cited this as an example of DeYoung’s “progressive gaze” Others have pointed out that Robert’s Rules of Order, which we observe when our RAO does not comment on something, disallows speculating about another’s motives as intemperate speech Reappointment of Irwyn Ince as director of MNA was challenged Reelected with only 62% in favor Immigration Guidance—posted and then removed a webpage with links to information advising illegal aliens how to evade detention by ICE. Ince issued a statement of repentance and apology. Affinity Group Worship—supported and attended services that were exclusively for Black people Budget and Administrative Expenditures—concern that Ince received a 10% raise while giving was down; concern too much money going to administration and not enough to church planting and disaster relief Overture to restrict who can distribute elements of Lord’s Supper to ordained officers failed Overture to appoint a committee to revise the Directory for Worship to something we can agree to as constitutionally binding passed. Overture to appoint a study committee on Christian Nationalism passed Adoption of a Statement condemning racial supremacy That the 52nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America does hereby join with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (221st General Synod) and with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America (193rd Synod) in condemning without distinction any theological or political teaching which posits a superiority of race or ethnic identity born of immutable human characteristics, and does call to repentance any who would promote or associate themselves with such teaching, either by commission or omission. Overtures that Must Pass 2/3 of Presbyteries and then come back to 2026 GA: 8—Officers (Deacons & Ruling Elders) must state differences with standards 32—Those who are suspended from the table may be excommunicated without a full trial 33—Mandates specific things to text children to become communing members Attended GPTS events (social on Tuesday night; luncheon on Wednesday) Attended American Reformer panel discussion Wednesday night Resources: American Reformer: Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Sunday School is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. www.Sprucecreekpca.org /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/37373305

Episode 28 - Preaching Series Update 05/31/2025

Episode 26 - How to Study Scripture Pt. 1: The Big Picture 04/22/2025

Episode 26 - How to Study Scripture Pt. 1: The Big Picture PCA Pastors Josh Owen and Aaron Garriott discuss Part 1 of How to Study Scripture: The Big Picture. Topics considered include: · Metanarrative/Mega-narrative: The Forest o Biblical Theology: The Unity of the Bible § Luke 24:25-27; 44-47 (promise and fulfillment) § Matthew 5:17-20 (fulfillment) § Hebrews 10:1 (shadow and substance) § Galatians 3:24-4:7 (the church underage and the church come of age) o The Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (Goldsworthy) § Canon = the authoritative collection of sacred scripture § Canonical Order = the arrangement of the 66 books of the Bible § Septuagint (LXX) arrangement (Vulgate and English Bibles) § Tanak arrangement (Hebrew Bible) · Torah (Law) · Nevi’im (Prophets) o Former Prophets o Latter Prophets o Kethuvim (Writings) o Redemptive History (Vos) § The Eschatology of Protology (The Goal of First Things) § Creation-Fall-Redemption § Creation to New Creation § Covenant Theology · Covenant of Redemption (Pactum Salutis) · Covenant of Life/Works/Creation · Covenant of Grace o Longitudinal Themes (Greidanus) § Covenant § Kingdom § Temple/Dwelling § Redemption/Exodus/Return from Exile § Adam Redivivus § The Seed of Woman vs. The Seed of the Serpent § Warfare o Typology § People, institutions, and events that prefigure consummate realities such as Christ, the Church, Salvation and New Creation § Type and Antitype · Adam/Christ · Aaron/Christ · Melchizedek/Christ · Paschal Lamb/Christ · Temple/Christ/Church · Flood-Ark/Baptism Resources and comments: Graeme Goldsworthy, According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible. Graeme Goldsworthy, Christ-centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles. Sydney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method. Stephen G. Myers, God to Us: Covenant Theology in Scripture. Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Sunday School is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/36265845

Episode 25 - How to Study Scripture: The Forest and the Trees 04/11/2025

Episode 25 - How to Study Scripture: The Forest and the Trees PCA Pastors Josh Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Robert Rothwell discuss How to Study Scripture: The Forest and the Trees. Topics considered include: · Metanarrative/Mega-narrative: The Forest o The Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (Goldsworthy) o Redemptive History (Vos) o Longitudinal Themes (Greidanus) o Typology · Exegesis: The Trees o Authorial Intent § What did the author intend? § Who was the original audience? o Genre Analysis: Kind of Text (Proverb, Parable, Historical Narrative, Letter, Psalm…) o Background Analysis: Historical and Cultural Context o Intertextual Analysis: Quotations, Allusions, Echoes of Earlier Writings o Semantics: Word Studies o Grammar and Syntax: Sentence/Paragraph Studies o Logical Analysis: Tracing the Flow of Argument in Didactic Passages o Plot Analysis: Tracing the Flow of Story in Narrative Passages · Interpretation: Meaning and Application o What does the text mean? o What part of the text is historically/culturally conditioned? o What does the text teach about God? Christ? o What does the text teach explicitly or by implication about our duty to God, neighbor, and our souls? Resources and comments: Louis Berkhof, Principles of Biblical Interpretation. Graeme Goldsworthy, Christ-centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles. Sydney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method. Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Sunday School is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/36091400

Episode 24 - Sphere Sovereignty and Conflicting Duties 04/08/2025

Episode 24 - Sphere Sovereignty and Conflicting Duties PCA Pastors Josh Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Robert Rothwell discuss Sphere Sovereignty and Conflicting Duties. Topics considered include: · What is sphere sovereignty? o Must know authority in each sphere o Must know duty in each sphere: “The moment duty calls, desire and inclination must be silenced” (Bavinck, Ethics, 2:77). o “Every violation of duty tries to cover itself with another duty” (Ibid). · The Family Sphere—Father; Honor, obedience, submission, in the Lord · The Civil Sphere—Magistrate (King, President, Governor, etc.); taxes (Matt. 22:17-22) · The Church Sphere—Elders; honor, obedience, submission · Christ’s Dominion over All Spheres—The Conscience, Natural Law, and Biblical Law · Respect of Boundaries—Undermining the authority in one sphere undermines authority in all spheres. · Spheres Overlap—Authorities in overlapping spheres must cooperate for the good of those under authority. · Every Square Inch—No Human Authority Should Usurp God’s Authority over Individuals (Violation of Conscience) · Bavinck discusses conflict of duties (Ethics 2:80ff.) o Duties toward God that can come into conflict with those toward people § Duties of the first table take precedence over second table (see Matt. 10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.”) § Duties of the second table of the law · Duties to self can conflict: preservation of life vs. martyrdom; preservation of honor vs. preservation of life · Duties to self and to civil authority can conflict: conscientious objection to unjust war · Duties to self and to family: personal health vs. health of family · Duties to family and to country: Should a son report on a father who is committing treason? Should a parent report a child who has stolen or murdered? · Duties to family and to church: “In the case of a minister who no longer agrees with the church’s confession, should the minister injure his name, family, and so on or neglect duties toward the church and dishonestly remain in the church?” § Duties to soul above all material concerns: I may not commit an immoral act for the advancement of my bodily prosperity, my family, my country. § Broader duties over narrower · Family duties over duties to self: father dies for wife/children · National duties over family duties: report of treason Resources and comments: Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism Abraham Kuyper, “Sphere Sovereignty” Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Sunday School is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/36055435

Episide 23 - The Patriarchy 03/05/2025

Episide 23 - The Patriarchy PCA Pastors Josh Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Robert Rothwell discuss biblical patriarchy. Topics considered include: · Down with the Patriarchy! The Battle Cry of Feminism and Egalitarianism · Patriarchy Is a Given: God’s Design o 1 Timothy 2:11-15 Paul’s Argument from Creation & Fall o 1 Corinthians 11:3 o Household Codes (Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Peter 2:18-3:7) o Deborah & Barak (Judges 4-5) · Biblical Patriarchy Not Roman Pater Famlias o Stewardship Not Ownership o Delegated Authority Not Absolute Authority o Discipleship to Christ Not Subjection to Father’s Fancy o Discipline Not Denigration or Demoralization · Biblical Patriarchy & Sphere Sovereignty o What is sphere sovereignty? o The Family Sphere—Father o The Civil Sphere—Magistrate (King, President, Governor, etc.) o The Church Sphere—Elders o Christ’s Dominion over All Spheres—The Conscience, Natural Law, and Biblical Law o Respect of Boundaries—Undermining the authority in one sphere undermines authority in all spheres. o Spheres Overlap—Authorities in overlapping spheres must cooperate for the good of those under authority. o Every Square Inch—No Human Authority Should Usurp God’s Authority over Individuals (Violation of Conscience) · Biblical Patriarchy & Complementarianism o Defining complementarianism o Thorough/Broad Complementarianism vs. Soft/Narrow Complementarianism o God’s High/Primary Calling to women in the home and family (Prov. 31) Resources and comments: Abraham Kuyper, Common Grace Michael Foster, It’s Good to Be a Man Rick Philips, The Masculine Mandate C. R. Wiley, Man of the House, Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord's Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Sunday School is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/35538245

Episode 22 - Paedocommunion 02/21/2025

Episode 22 - Paedocommunion PCA Pastors Josh Owen, Aaron Garriott, and Robert Rothwell discuss Paedocommunion. Show notes are included below after the credits. Produced by: RE Gabe Williams Music by: RE James Powers Logo design: Beth Cragg The Three Presbyteers is a ministry of Spruce Creek PCA in Port Orange FL. If you're in the area, please join us for worship every Lord’s Day morning at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM and in the evening at 6:00 PM. Education Hour is at 10:00 AM and we have a church planting prayer meeting every Lord's Day at 4:30 PM. www.Sprucecreekpca.org Paedocommunion: Why address this topic at all? Isn’t it a matter settled in the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition that covenant children receive baptism, they are reared in the Christian religion and catechized, and once they reach a point of discretion and profession, they are admitted by the shepherds of that church to the Table? Well, this question rises at certain points at times in the church due to a good problem. Many wouldn’t see it as a good problem, but I do. Let me explain: Many Christians in the Western church have been leaving a more baptistic and Dispensational reading of the Bible, and they have come to understand the covenantal structure of the Bible that is consistent with the Reformed and Presbyterian church. As a result, what happens is an over swing: Many of the Christians once believed that their children shouldn’t be baptized or communed (take the Supper). Once they come into the beautiful world of covenant theology, many now believe that their children should be baptized and communed. Whereas the sacraments were once naked symbols that did nothing more than remind us of something, now they believe that since the sacraments confer real grace, their children should get the sacraments as early as possible and as often as possible. So, I say this is a good problem because we rejoice when Christians understand the glorious unity of the Bible and its application to the family and the church. We rejoice in the resurgence of interest in raising our children covenantally. We love the place that has been given to the sacraments in the life and piety of the church. These are all good things. This swing in the opposite direction, however, does betray a misunderstanding of a few things and a departure from Reformed orthodoxy, which we hope to address in this podcast by explaining the Reformed church’s understanding of the Bible’s teaching that the Lord’s Supper is to be administered to baptized persons who have been admitted to the table by the elders on account of a credible profession of faith. In this episode, we’ll show why paedocommunion is erroneous from three angles: (1) Biblical (2) Theological (3) Historical First, it’s important to briefly define what we mean by paedocommunion, because there is a spectrum. Some paedocommunion advocates think that children should be served the Lord’s Supper as soon as they’re weaned. Others believe that children who can give some sort of acknowledgment of wanting to receive the elements, whether it is a raising of the hand or saying “Jesus” or something of the sort. The latter position is a bit closer to Reformed orthodoxy, but both seem to stem from the same misunderstandings of the biblical data, the nature of the sacraments, and the historical consensus of the church. /episode/index/show/dd86c1a4-828a-4bda-a9c7-da0e77d5da1b/id/35381940