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This is part two of a three-part series Dr. John Gerstner, long-time professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, gave at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in 1984 on the riches of John 3:16.

In this episode, Dr. Gerstner discusses the need for apologetics, the insult that is evangelism, the condemnation that can come through missions, and how the road to hell is paved with pluralism, gentility, and tolerance.

Dr. Gerstner reminds us that we were there when the Son was crucified. Except He wasn’t our Lord then. He was our enemy. And we weren’t over on the sidelines crying. We were driving the nails, slaughtering Him, committing the crime.

And “God had no obligation to you or to me to present the gospel. We were fit for damnation. Nevertheless, He sent His one and only Son to perish for us.”

Welcome to another episode of The Parrhesian Podcast!

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“I told my doctor he was counting my heart rate incorrectly.”

You ever heard that before?

Yeah, me neither.

People who know, know, and we trust them.

“It’s all about perception.” “Your church is unhealthy.” “We’re just trying to help.”

You ever heard that before?

Yeah, me, too. All the time.

People who don’t know are always vying for your ear.

What does it mean that a church is healthy? What does it look like for it to be sick? When it’s sick, is it flatlining, or does it just need a few days to recover? Does it still have the power of Jesus in its blood? Is it just malnourished, famished, or parched?

In this episode, Peter, Pastor Nate, and Kyle talk about how we measure church health and vitality. Our Triune God likes lines and numbers, but are the lines we are drawing and the math we are doing consistent with His? How do our evaluative measures measure up to His? Maybe our scientific ruler is way sharper or shorter than His?

Perhaps lot of numbers aren’t always a sign of health or strength. One doesn’t seem very much to us, but that’s all it took for a Savior to accomplish redemption. Twelve doesn’t seem like very much, but that’s all it took to spread the gospel across the globe.

Maybe death is actually life.

Welcome to another episode of The Parrhesians Podcast!

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In this three-part series, recorded at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in 1984, Dr. John Gerstner explores the depths of the riches of John 3:16.

But, Dr. Gerstner asserts that this "golden text" of scripture is oft misunderstood. To avoid misunderstanding, we need the whole context.

That's why Dr. Gerstner starts at the end of the story where Jesus answers the "why" question. Why did Jesus come into the world? He came because this is a perishing world.

Dr. Gerstner was a long-time professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, mentor to R.C. Sproul, and a straight shooter. His words were parrhesian then, and they are no less bold today.

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He’s got the whole world in His hands. Your mother. Your girlfriend. Even Kamala. He is the true "Govenator."

And He shares His power. He raises His people up and gives them responsibilities. He passes along His keys and expects His Church to use them (Matthew 18:18).

But the modern church just likes to swing them around her finger. She doesn’t even know which doors they open and close.

In this episode, Peter, Pastor Nate, and Kyle talk about the politics of the local church and using the keys—inside and out.

Christian Nationalism, anybody? Three cheers for excommunication? Or do you think Christ's Church should stick to whispering sweet nothings to fragile souls?

The modern church is afraid to make judgments to the State. To say, “Christ is King, and you will be held accountable . . . oh, and stop mutilating kids.”

She’s even afraid to make judgments within her own walls. To say, “Hey, you’re not acting like a Christian, and you’re poisoning the body—no bread for you!”

Whether they’re atheist politicians or previously ordained elders, it is the Church’s responsibility to name pagan and unfaithful behavior in her neighborhood.

Welcome to another episode of The Parrhesians Podcast!

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Three rogue elders walk into a Session meeting and slap a folder down. “We have concerns.” They leave it to Session to deal with it.

Time passes, and they grow impatient. They escalate their “concerns” to a higher authority and call in reinforcements.

They enlist the Presbytery to do something about it. The Presbytery nominates a few guys with good “intentions.”

Those intentions take on a life of their own. They grow an ill-will, and the next thing you know, those intentions birth bullies.

It all goes nuclear.

What do you do with bullies who call you a bully? What do you do with abusers who claim you’re the abuser?

According to Joe Rigney, you fight them. Tooth and nail. Like a real elder.

Elders aren’t fragile.

Elders aren’t afraid of drama.

Elders are quick to point out that “I’m hurt, therefore, you sinned” isn’t a syllogism.

Elders brush the progressive gaze off their shoulder and put up “no admittance” signs.

Elders redirect the soft hearted who are afraid to lose people and tell them to not be like Lot’s wife.

Elders are not afraid to drive a bus with only a few passengers on it if it keeps the church on mission.

Listen to our Session’s conversation with Joe Rigney on what it takes to be a church and lead in Negative World

(Previously unreleased: Recorded on June 27, 2024).

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You can’t claim to be a Christian if you don't go to church. Likewise, you can't claim to be a member of Christ's Body if you don't read your Bible. Just call yourself a "pagan," have a coke, and smile.

In this episode, Peter, Pastor Nate, and Kyle discuss the political importance of the local church. Specifically, we dive into the topic of membership and what it has to become in Negative World.

The bar for membership has gotten so low it’s like we’re playing Limbo. Anyone and everyone can become a member. All you have to do is say “Jesus” a couple of times and read your Bible once a quarter.

We say “no.”

You wouldn’t sip kerosene or eat wood chips, would you? You wouldn’t willingly put something in your body that is poisonous or harmful, would you? The same goes with the church.

We have to raise the bar of membership. We have to rescue it from its plummet. For the sake of the Body. In the same way that we fence the table, we have to vet our members more rigorously.

For starters, members have to be Christians. They have to believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, not just a ghost. They have to believe that babies are sinners and need to be baptized in Christ.

Stuff like that.

Welcome to Season Two of The Parrhesians Podcast!

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It's been 18 months since the Presbytery of the Alleghenies formed an Administrative Commission to "help" our church secure the peace, unity, and purity of the congregation. But instead of help, our congregation experienced conflict, lawfare, and abuse of power at the hands of EPC leadership.

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, the church voted to disaffiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The vote passed 106 in favor, 13 opposed, with 89% approval. The conflict is over.

Join Nate, Peter, and Kyle in Part Two of this special edition of The Parrhesian Podcast, as they share how it all ended.

Remember, the truth is bold!

https://theparrhesians.com/

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It's been 18 months since the Presbytery of the Alleghenies formed an Administrative Commission to "help" our church secure the peace, unity, and purity of the congregation. But instead of help, our congregation experienced conflict, lawfare, and abuse of power at the hands of EPC leadership.

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, the church voted to disaffiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The vote passed 106 in favor, 13 opposed, with 89% approval. The conflict is over.

Join Nate, Peter, and Kyle in Part One of this special edition of The Parrhesian Podcast, as they share how it's all been going.

Remember, the truth is bold!

https://theparrhesians.com/