Mid-America Reformed Seminary

In this opening episode of a three-part series, host Jared Luttjeboer sits down with Dr. Marcus Mininger, New Testament professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, to explore the story behind his new book Impossible to be Restored? in the landmark New Studies in Biblical Theology series. Before delving into the rich and sometimes perplexing theology of Hebrews, this conversation takes a step back to explore the personal journey that led Dr. Mininger to one of Scripture's most challenging texts. From classroom beginnings to years of writing and reflection, he shares how wrestling with the book of Hebrews has shaped his scholarship and his life as a teacher, husband, and father. This conversation serves as an introduction that sets the stage for a deeper exploration of why Hebrews continues to captivate—and unsettle—Christians today.

In this episode of MARSCAST, we feature Rev. Paul Murphy's plenary address from the 2024 Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference. Speaking on what R. B. Kuiper once called "the forgotten office of the believer," Murphy addresses how Christ not only rescues us in our brokenness but also calls every Christian into the mission of witness. Drawing on John's account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, he shows how the gospel quenches parched lives and equips ordinary believers to embody grace in a cancel culture of unforgiveness.

This episode features a message from our 2023 Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference, part of a special series leading up to the ⁠2025 CME Conference on October 3–4⁠. Dr. Marcus Mininger challenges us to see Paul's letter to the Romans not only as a masterpiece of theology but also as a missionary manifesto. Written to prepare the Roman church to become a sending base for Paul's mission to Spain, Romans calls us to recognize that deep theology and faithful mission are not rivals but partners. As you listen, you'll be reminded why the health of the church and the spread of the gospel depend on holding both together. Mark your calendar for October 3–4, 2025, and join us at the CME Conference as we continue to equip the church for the task of gospel proclamation. Learn more and register at ⁠https://www.midamerica.edu/cme/conference⁠

This episode features a message from our 2022 Center for Missions and Evangelism Conference, where Dr. J. Mark Beach explores what it means to love both "likely" and "unlikely" neighbors. Drawing from John 3 and 4, he contrasts those who seem most like us (the "likely neighbors") with those on the margins (the "unlikely neighbors"). Through the example of Jesus, who ministers to both with gentleness and compassion, we are reminded that the church today is called to embody the same heart of the Shepherd: one that welcomes, embraces, and seeks out all who are lost. To register for our 2025 CME Conference, visit https://www.midamerica.edu/cme/conference

In this episode of MARSCAST, Dr. Andrew Compton joins Jared Luttjeboer to explore the deep ache of homesickness. We tend to think of homesickness as a fleeting emotion, but our hosts go deeper. For Christians, could it be something more, perhaps a deep spiritual longing? Building on earlier conversations about the biblical story of home, they consider what it means to live faithfully in the tension of the "already and not yet." Together, they reflect on how homesickness can shape us, challenge us, and ultimately draw us closer to Christ, who Himself knew what it meant to be without a home. With pastoral wisdom and practical insights, this conversation encourages us to see our longings not as weakness, but as reminders of the true home God has prepared for us. How have you dealt with homesickness?

In this second installment of our series on a biblical theology of home, Dr. Andrew Compton joins Jared Luttjeboer to trace how the prophets and the New Testament deepen and fulfill the story of God's dwelling with His people. From Ezekiel's visions to Christ as the true temple, Scripture unfolds a beautiful story of how God Himself makes His home with us in Christ, and by His Spirit builds us together into His dwelling place. This conversation reflects on the "already and not yet" of our life in Christ, and points us toward the ultimate homecoming promised in the new creation.

In this opening episode of a three-part series, Dr. Andrew Compton joins Director of Marketing, Jared Luttjeboer, to explore the deep biblical theme of home. From Eden to exile, from the Tabernacle to the temple, Scripture tells a sweeping story of God's dwelling with His people, a story that speaks directly to our own longings for belonging and stability. In a world often marked by uncertainty and upheaval, this conversation will invite you to reflect on how God's presence shapes what it truly means to be at home.

What do you really know about the reformer of Geneva? In this conclusion to our series on the reformers, Dr. Alan Strange returns to explore the remarkable legacy of John Calvin. In this episode, we learn how Calvin's reluctant return to Geneva after three years in Strasbourg shaped not only his theology but the very foundations of Reformed Christianity. Dr. Strange unveils Calvin's greatest contribution to the church - his understanding of the Holy Spirit's work - and explains why B.B. Warfield called him "the theologian of the Holy Spirit." From his struggles with opposition in Geneva to his influence on everything from our understanding of the eucharist to the formation of Western civilization, this episode reveals how one man's theological insights continue to endure today.

What drives a brilliant 27-year-old humanist scholar to abandon his promising legal career and pen one of history's most influential theological works? Join Dr. Alan Strange as he unravels the early life of John Calvin and explores the unexpected twists that led from French nobility's secretarial service to revolutionary religious thought. We'll learn how a father's excommunication, a sudden conversion, and a chance encounter in Geneva shaped the man whose theology would "exalt God and abase man" like no other system before it. From his humanist education alongside future Jesuits to his reluctant partnership with the fiery reformer Guillaume Farel, this episode reveals the human story behind the formidable intellect.

What happens when three brilliant minds clash over the meaning of Christianity's most sacred meal? In this episode, Dr. Strange and host Jared Luttjeboer examine one of the Reformation's most heated theological debates: the Lord's Supper. From Rome's doctrine of transubstantiation to Luther's mysterious "in, with, and under," from Zwingli's memorial view to Calvin's real spiritual presence—discover how these competing interpretations shaped Protestant thought on the sacrament. As you listen, you'll hear Dr. Strange comment on the surprising agreements hidden beneath fierce disagreements, learn why Luther accused Zwingli of rationalism while Zwingli fired back with charges of mysticism, and explore Calvin's ingenious solution that sought to honor both Christ's ascension and His real presence. We'll be taking the month of July off, but join us again in August as we return with more of Dr. Strange and church history!

In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of Huldrych Zwingli—a Renaissance-trained scholar who transformed worship, challenged papal authority, and sparked a movement that would shape Protestant Christianity for centuries to come. Dr. Alan Strange guides us through Zwingli's journey from peasant origins to becoming the people's priest in Zurich, where his bold biblical preaching ignited sweeping reforms. We'll uncover how this musical prodigy turned iconoclast approached Scripture differently than his German contemporary, Martin Luther, and why their famous meeting at Marburg in 1529 ended in disappointment despite remarkable theological agreement. From the first Zurich disputations to the development of what would become the regulative principle of worship, this episode reveals how one man's commitment to "Scripture alone" created ripples that continue to influence churches today.

Was Martin Luther right to compare the Roman Catholic Church to the legalistic Judaism of the Pharisees? In this episode of MARSCAST, Dr. Alan Strange and Jared Luttjeboer examine whether Luther's assessment was fair—or even accurate. From the theological foundations of the Old Testament to the modern "New Perspective on Paul" movement, this conversation uncovers the complex relationship between law and grace that shaped both first-century Judaism and medieval Christianity. Dr. Strange reveals how Luther's understanding of justification by faith alone emerged from his study of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, and explains why this doctrine became, as Calvin puts it, the "main hinge upon which true religion turns." But Luther's story isn't without its shadows. We'll also learn how the reformer's initial openness toward Jewish conversion shifted dramatically after 1525, and why understanding this history matters for Christians today.

Step into the world of late medieval Catholicism and discover the spiritual crisis that shaped one of history's most influential reformers. In this episode, Dr. Alan Strange takes us through Martin Luther's early years—from his tormented life as an Augustinian monk to his life-changing encounter with Romans 1:17. We explore the complex religious landscape Luther inherited, where salvation seemed locked behind a system of sacraments, purgatory, and papal indulgences. In Luther's life, we see the internal struggle of a man so desperate for righteousness that he nearly destroyed his health through extreme ascetic practices, only to discover that the righteousness God requires, He freely gives as a gift received by faith alone.

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer finishes the conversation on the papacy with Dr. Alan Strange and Dr. Andrew Compton as they unpack the significance of the newly elected Pope, who, for the first time, hails from just down the road from Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Their conversation explores how this moment intersects with centuries of Reformed thought (from the fiery language of the Westminster Confession to the more nuanced tone of today), and looks at the symbolism behind the Pope's chosen name, Leo XIV, and what it signals about his vision for the Church. The episode also explores the evolving dynamics between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, the role of social media in shaping perceptions of religious leaders, and the enduring theological divides that remain.

How do Word and Sacrament bring comfort to the doubting heart? In this final installment of our series on assurance, Dr. Cornelis Venema explores how God's appointed means of grace provide concrete reassurance amid life's uncertainties. Dr. Venema unpacks how gospel-centered preaching—proclaiming what Christ has done rather than what we must do—serves as the foundation for genuine assurance. He particularly emphasizes the often-neglected role of the sacraments, showing how Baptism and the Lord's Supper are not empty rituals but visible seals of God's promises meant to strengthen our wavering faith. Whether you struggle with legalistic tendencies, feel trapped on the "anxious bench," or simply desire deeper confidence in God's love, Dr. Venema helps us see that assurance comes not through extraordinary experiences but through ordinary means God has graciously provided.

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer continues the series on the papacy with Drs. Alan Strange and Andrew Compton. As news breaks of a new Pope's election, the professors look closely into Rome's promise of certainty—examining why this intellectual security draws some Protestants to Catholicism, while revealing how these claims ultimately unravel under scrutiny. Against this backdrop, they candidly evaluate Pope Francis's controversial legacy, exploring how his unpredictable leadership and statements often undermined the very certainty that seekers were pursuing. The conversation thoughtfully balances critique with genuine hope, asking what meaningful reform within Rome might look like and how Protestants should respond to papal succession.

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer sits down with church historian, Dr. Alan Strange, and OT Professor, Dr. Andrew Compton, to explore the evolution of the papacy throughout church history. While this episode was being recorded (May 8, 2025), the College of Cardinals was meeting in conclave to elect a new Bishop of Rome. In the episode, the professors unpack the historical foundations of papal authority, from its contested early church origins to modern claims of papal supremacy. They examine how the office transformed from a regional bishopric to the powerful position we know today, discuss the theological foundations of the Reformation's challenge to papal authority, and reflect on why some modern Protestants still find themselves drawn to Rome. With historical insight and personal anecdotes—including Dr. Strange's encounter with future Pope Benedict XVI—this episode offers a thoughtful Reformed perspective on one of Christianity's most influential institutions while setting the stage for a future dis

Can Christians truly be sure of their salvation—and if so, on what basis? In this episode of Marscast, host Jared Luttjeboer welcomes back Dr. Cornelis Venema to explore the doctrine of assurance through the lens of the Reformed confessions and pastoral wisdom from the church's history. Far from being a modern dilemma, the struggle for assurance has deep roots in the life of the church, and our theological forefathers left us language and categories deeply embedded in a Christ-centered hope. From the debates of the Reformation to the pastoral tone of the Canons of Dort and the Westminster Confession, this conversation sheds light on how assurance was understood as something deeply connected to faith in Christ, the witness of the Spirit, and the fruit of new life. Whether you're new to this topic or have wrestled with it for years, this episode invites you to rest more deeply in God's promises, to understand the role of self-examination without falling into despair, and to see how the Reformed tradition has lo

In this episode, host Jared Luttjeboer sits down with Dr. Cornelis Venema, President Emeritus of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, to explore the doctrine of assurance. Dr. Venema challenges the common misconception that assurance is merely a fluctuating feeling dependent on our spiritual performance. Instead, he reveals how assurance is fundamentally rooted in God's unshakable promises rather than our own efforts. Drawing from scriptural passages in Romans 8 and various Psalms, Dr. Venema explains how the Holy Spirit witnesses to believers' spirits, confirming their adoption as God's children. This conversation offers a refreshing perspective for those who struggle with doubt, reminding listeners that assurance isn't earned but freely received through faith.

In this episode, we wrap up our series on common grace with Dr. Andrew Compton, Rev. Steve Swets, and Dr. J. Mark Beach. They begin by revisiting the controversial 1924 debate that split the Christian Reformed Church and discuss Emeritus Professor at Calvin Theological Seminary John Bolt's recent analysis that questions whether this division was truly necessary. They'll also explore how common grace applies to our everyday lives as Christians. How does this doctrine help us navigate cultural engagement, education, politics, and our work lives while maintaining our distinct Christian identity? So, whether you're wrestling with how to live faithfully "in but not of" our increasingly secular world, or just curious about balancing theological principles with practical realities, you'll find plenty to reflect on in today's conversation.