Is Reformed Christianity Dying In America (Part 2)?

In this episode, Rev. Chris Gordon, Rev. Dr. Dan Borvan, and Dr. Jim Cassidy tackle the pressing question: Is Reformed Christianity dying in America? They dive into the challenges of maintaining a confessional Reformed identity in today's American context, where Calvinism is often misunderstood or excluded from common perceptions of Christianity. The discussion explores how America's individualistic spirit and rebellious foundations impact the reception of Reformed theology and practices, which can often be unfamiliar to outsiders. The speakers emphasize that the Reformed church is not dying, highlighting the simple, yet profound, calling of preachers to faithfully administer the sacraments, preach Christ, and open the Word of God. They caution against "creative" innovations that could undermine the Reformed tradition, asserting that the greatest threat to the Reformed church comes from within.

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:50 - Is Reformed Christianity Dying in America?
00:03:20 - Navigating Confessional Reformed Faith in America
00:05:45 - Assumptions About Christianity and Calvinism
0009:10 - American Individualism and Submission to Authority
00:12:00 - The Role of Preaching
00:13:20 - Why Reformed Churches Seem Different
00:18:15 - The Reformed Faith is Not Dying
00:19:00 - The Simple Call of Preachers
00:20:30 - The Danger of Creativity in the Church
00:25:10 - The Greatest Enemy of the Reformed Church
00:27:45 - Legal Spirit vs. Gospel Spirit
00:28:20 - Preaching Against Sin vs. Supporting Individuals
00:29:30 - The Impact of Angry Preaching
00:33:25 - Pastors Preaching the Gospel to Themselves
00:34:20 - Understanding Antinomianism
00:36:00 - Lectio Continua Preaching
00:39:00 - How to Listen to a Sermon
00:42:00 - Addressing Comments on the Reformed Church Dying
00:45:30 - Engaging Younger Generations
00:49:00 - Reformed Christians and Cultural Engagement

#reformedchristianity #calvinism #americanculture #christianfaith #preaching #gospel #theology #churchlife #pastoralministry #confessionalreformed #westminsterseminary #escondidourc #christreformedchurch #southaustinpresbyterian

Dr. James "Jim" Cassidy has been the pastor of SAPC since its inception in July 2014 as a daughter congregation of Providence Presbyterian Church in Pflugerville, Texas.

Jim was raised in a Roman Catholic home in Edison, New Jersey. He was later led to the Lord by a friend in his sophomore year of college. His wife, Eve, was raised in Madison, New Jersey and was led to Christ through the ministry of Grace OPC in Westfield, New Jersey. She is a busy and active mother. Jim and Eve have been blessed with three children: Caitlyn, Ian, and Anna.

Jim previously served in OPC pastorates in Pennsylvania (Johnstown) and New Jersey (Ringoes). In his ministry he has been and continues to be committed to proclaiming Christ and Him crucified from all the Scriptures. Jim earned an MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary as well as the PhD in Historical and Theological Studies, concentrating in Systematic Theology. You can follow him on Twitter at @jjcassidy.