OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

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OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

a Podcast from the OPC Committee on Christian Education

33 episodes

2 weeks ago

Pastor Shane Lems talks about his recent Ordained Servant review of John Swinton’s book Finding Jesus in the Storm: the Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. (Eerdmans, 2020). Shane is pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, Wisconsin. Read the review and read the book. The review can be found here. The Ruling Elder Podcast on Prescription Medication with Jason Poquette (Season 2, Episode 6, June 2024) is available here. Shane’s book recommendations Los...

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Religion & Spirituality

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Pastor Shane Lems talks about his recent Ordained Servant review of John Swinton’s book Finding Jesus in the Storm: the Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. (Eerdmans, 2020). Shane is pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, Wisconsin. Read the review and read the book. The review can be found here. The Ruling Elder Podcast on Prescription Medication with Jason Poquette (Season 2, Episode 6, June 2024) is available here. Shane’s book recommendations Los...

Show more...

Religion & Spirituality

Episodes (20/33)

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Spiritual Life and Mental Health

Pastor Shane Lems talks about his recent Ordained Servant review of John Swinton’s book Finding Jesus in the Storm: the Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. (Eerdmans, 2020). Shane is pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, Wisconsin. Read the review and read the book. The review can be found here. The Ruling Elder Podcast on Prescription Medication with Jason Poquette (Season 2, Episode 6, June 2024) is available here. Shane’s book recommendations Los...

2 weeks ago

30 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Shepherding Military Families

Ruling Elder Mike Cloy talks about how ruling elders and churches can support and shepherd military families. Mike served in a career of 27 years that included combat commands at the battalion and brigade level, and having served and retired in the rank of full colonel. Mike speaks of the dedication to service and the pressures it places upon those serving, and their families. He speaks of the deep bonds formed in combat and of the importance of elders and churches reaching out to those in mi...

1 month ago

41 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Foreign Missions

Ruling Elder Joe Jager talks to the Ruling Elder Podcast about Foreign Missions. He gives excellent suggestions on how to encourage missions and missionaries. Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Post Production Joe recommends the following books as impactful on his walk as a Ruling Elder: The Elder: Today’s Ministry Rooted in All of Script...

2 months ago

32 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Assurance of Faith

Rev. Andy Wilson and Rev. Russell Hamilton talk about Assurance and how The Marrow of Modern Divinity is helpful in untangling this perennial pastoral issue. They clarify of what, exactly, are we assured, what is the relationship between faith and assurance, and how are ruling elders to help people in the search for assurance? As Donald MacLeod says, "A believer can doubt his faith without doubting the Saviour.” (From the Marrow Men to the Moderates, Scottish Theology 1700-1800, p.99) F...

3 months ago

36 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Mental Health, Faith, and Caring Well (Part 2)

In this episode the Rev. Adrian Crum speaks about mental health and faith with the Rev. John Fikkert, a mental health counselor and Director of the OPC Committee on Ministerial Care, and his wife, Dr. Lindsay Fikkert, a psychologist at Pella Counseling. This episode is the second part of a republication of the recent Reformed Deacon podcast, (with their kind permission). We have divided the original podcast into two parts. Mental health is a tender thing. An episode or a chronic mental ...

4 months ago

44 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Mental Health, Faith, and Caring Well

In this episode the Rev. Adrian Crum speaks about mental health and faith with the Rev. John Fikkert, a mental health counselor and Director of the OPC Committee on Ministerial Care, and his wife, Dr. Lindsay Fikkert, a psychologist at Pella Counseling. This episode is a republication of the recent Reformed Deacon podcast, (with their kind permission). We have divided the original podcast into two parts. Part 2 will be published next month. (D.V.) Mental health is a tender thing. An episode o...

5 months ago

47 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Encouraging Covenant Youth

The Ruling Elder Podcast talks with Roger Wagner and David Winslow about ruling elders encouraging covenant youth. One of the tasks of ruling elders, as set out by BCO X:3, is that ruling elders should "nourish and guard the children of the covenant”. Rev. Roger Wagner, now a retired minister, was ordained to the ministry in 1973, serving ten years at Sonora, then he became pastor of Bayview OPC in Chula Vista, California in 1983 where he served for the next forty years until his retire...

6 months ago

52 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Elders and women's ministry

Anneke Fesko and Laurie Tricarico discuss how elders can encourage women in the church. Anneke currently serves the OPC as Care Coordinator for Ministers’ Wives and works for the OPC Committee on Ministerial Care. (Committee of Walking Hugs) She is married to John, an ordained OPC minister and theology professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. They have three children, two sons in high school and a daughter in elementary school, and live in Madison, Mississippi. La...

7 months ago

42 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Christian Education and Ruling Elders

Danny Olinger, General Secretary of the CCE, talks about ruling elders and Christian Education. The OPC cherished the work of Christian Education and quickly developed specific principles of Christian education and pedagogy to guide its work. Those principles are available here and will provided a stimulating starting point for the continuing importance of Christian Education in the churches. Danny’s three book recommendation for ruling elders are, R. B. Kuiper, The Glorious Body of Christ, (...

8 months ago

43 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Christ Freely Offered

Rev. Andy Wilson and Rev. Russell Hamilton talk about The Marrow of Modern Divinity, an old book that wrestles with the free offer of Jesus Christ to sinners, and questions of law and assurance. This lively old book continues to be relevant to ruling elders in helping people with questions of faith, freedom from the law, legalism, and assurance. Gospel preaching is vital to gospel churches. Further Reading on the Marrow Edward Fisher, The Marrow of Modern Divinity, (Christian Focus, 20...

10 months ago

56 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Encouraging the Pastor's Wife

In this podcast Anneke Fesko talks about how ruling elders can encourage a pastor’s wife. Anneke was hired a little over two years ago for the newly created position of Care Coordinator for Ministers’ Wives and works for the OPC Committee on Ministerial Care. (Committee of Walking Hugs) Anneke is the wife to John, an ordained OPC minister and theology professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. They were married 22 years ago while John was a church planter for the OPC...

11 months ago

59 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Encouraging Congregational Singing

Jonathan Cruse talks about how Ruling Elders can foster and energize congregational singing. Further Reading Resources by Jonathan Jonathan Landry Cruse, What Happens When We Worship, Reformation Heritage Books, 2020.Jonathan Landry Cruse, “What Every Elder needs to Know About Congregational Singing” in Faithful and Fruitful, Essays for Elders and Deacons, Eds. William Boekestein and Steven Swets, Reformed Fellowship Inc. 2019.Books mentioned in the podcast Jonty Rhodes, Reformed Worsh...

1 year ago

53 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Ruling Elders and Better Preaching

What can ruling elders do to promote better preaching? On this issue of the Ruling Elder podcast, John Currie, OPC pastor and Professor and Dean of Pastoral Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, discusses why this is so important and gives practical suggestions on how and when to do it, and, just as importantly, how not to do it. The OPC Form of Government says “[Ruling Elders] should have particular concern for the doctrine and conduct of the minister of the Word a...

1 year ago

50 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Ruling Elder Spotlight: David Watson, EPC (Ireland)

David Watson is a ruling elder in Ballyclare Evangelical Presbyterian Church, in Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. The EPC, (Ireland), is a church with which the OPC has full ecclesiastical fellowship. Stephen Tracey grew up in that congregation and is delighted to talk to this faithful and beloved friend and mentor as he reflects on eighty years of life in one congregation, and current issues in church life in N. Ireland. In the podcast reference is made to a short book, A Good Work, Refl...

1 year ago

42 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Covenant Theology

Ryan McGraw talks about his new book, What Is Covenant Theology?: Tracing God's Promises through the Son, the Seed, and the Sacraments. Ryan is the Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and serves as Teacher at Covenant Community OPC, Taylors SC. Are Israel and the Church Two Distinct Peoples of God? Ryan’s recommended reading John Owen, Communion with God. The full title is “Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Ea...

1 year ago

37 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Prescription Medication

Jason Poquette is a ruling elder in Immanuel Chapel (OPC), Upton, MA. He is a Pharmacist and works in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. In this podcast he discusses how ruling elders can help Christians understand the proper use of medication, its limits, the difficulties of end of life decisions, and the place of Christians in the modern healthcare system. Jason's three book recommendations; John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress. John Calvin, A Little Book on the Christian Life. R. ...

1 year ago

54 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Sanjay Patel: Ruling Elder Spotlight

On Sept. 5, 1986, Sanjay was onboard Pan Am Flight 73. It was hijacked by the PLO in Karachi, Pakistan. Sanjay survived, but was seriously injured, including subsequently undergoing the amputation of a leg. His cousin was the first person killed by the hijackers. 22 people died. Listen to his account of how God worked all things for good and brought new life out of the horror of a terrorist attack. As an elder he now asks people in their suffering to think—what glory will God have from this...

1 year ago

46 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Natural Law and Ruling Elders

Gregory Reynolds interviews David VanDrunen about his latest book, Natural Law: A Short Companion, (B&H Academic, 2023, 160 pages). For more on Natural Law in Ordained Servant see the following; David VanDrunen, “Natural Law in Reformed Theology: Historical Reflections and Biblical Suggestions.” OS 21 (2012): 32-38. Available here. Nelson D. Kloosterman, “A Biblical Case for Natural Law: A Response Essay.” OS 16 (2007): 101-7. Available here. David VanDrunen, “VanDrunen in the Hands o...

1 year ago

36 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Ruling Elders and Faithful Work

Stephen Tracey talks with Joshua Klein about work and flourishing, being faithful and loving in response to God. Joshua A. Klein is a ruling elder in Pilgrim OPC, Bangor ME. He is editor-in-chief of Mortise & Tenon Magazine. He has presented about historic craftsmanship at museums around the United States and has written articles for Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking, and American Period Furniture. Joshua is author of four books, including Joined: A Bench Guide to Furniture Joi...

1 year ago

46 minutes

OPC Ruling Elder Podcast

Ruling Elders and Conflict

Greg Reynolds talks to Stephen Tracey about how ruling elders respond to conflict in the church, whether it is among members, among the session, or with the pastor. More Resources “A Training Program for Elders.” (Greg Reynolds & William Shishko) 10:3 (Jul. 2001): 55-58. Available here. The updated version of this training program titled Let Them Serve is available from Greg upon request. reynolds.1@opc.org Books on Conflict resolution in the church recommended by Greg: Mar...

1 year ago

40 minutes