"Center Conversations" is a podcast celebrating innovative theological study, Biblical formation, and discipleship in the church and for the church, that God’s mission may be furthered through the church.
Dr. Guy Waters is the James M. Baird, Jr. Professor of New Testament and Academic Dean (for both the RTS Jackson campus and the RTS Brazilian partnership). He has a particular interest in the theology of Paul; the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament; biblical theology; and the relationship of the New Testament and Reformed Theology (particularly ecclesiology and the sacraments).
He received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (1995), his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary (1998), and his Ph.D. from Duke University (2002). Prior to coming to RTS Jackson in 2007, he served as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Belhaven University from 2002-2007.
Dr. Waters is the author or editor of numerous books, chapters, articles, and book reviews. He is presently working on a commentary on Galatians in the new Reformed Exegetical and Theological Commentary on Scripture (Crossway), and an introductory biblical theological survey of covenant theology. He is the General Editor of Reformed Theological Review, and an Associate Editor of the Reformed Exegetical and Theological Commentary on Scripture.
Dr. Waters is a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley (PCA), and preaches regularly on top of his teaching.
24 Sept 2024
Theology with Friends, Ep 5, with Sandy Wilson and Israel Mendez
Sandy Willson is a Biblical scholar who loves the Church, serving Christ's Bride as a pastor for multiple decades (Lookout Mtn Presbyterian Church; Second Presbyterian Church were his final two churches). In his years after retiring from senior pastor leadership, Sandy has served as interim pastor for several churches, empowering their leadership during seasons of transition, and now serves in this capacity as the interim president for The
Gospel Coalition. During the interview Sandy mentions James Davison Hunter's new book, "Democracy and Solidarity" (TGC review here), David Brooks' book, "How to know a Person," and the political podcast, “You Might be Right!”
3 Sept 2024
Theology with Friends, Ep 4, with Dr. Guy Richard
Dr. Guy Richard is President and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at RTS in Atlanta, where he has served since 2017. Before moving into his current position, Dr. Richard served as the Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Gulfport, Mississippi (PCA), for 12 years. Dr. Richard has written four books, contributed to several others, written many articles (including several for Table Talk, Reformation21, The Gospel Coalition, and many others and he blogs regularly on his personal website, The Suburbs of Heaven.
22 Aug 2024
Theology with Friends, Ep 3, with Dr. Chaplain Bryant Casteel
Bryant received a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and New Testament Greek from San Diego Christian College where he also played college basketball. Upon graduation, he joined the Shadow Mountain Community Church pastoral staff under Dr. David Jeremiah where Bryant went on to create the Urban Ministries Department. He earned a Master of Arts in Religious Studies, a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and a Master of Divinity from Southern California Seminary and then a Master in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas A&M University Central Texas. He earned his DMin. at Erskine Theological Seminary and is working on a PHD. Bryant Casteel lives on 20 acres near San Antonio, TX, is posted at Fort Bragg, and he with his wife Penny have eight (almost nine) children.
7 May 2024
Season 2, Ep 5, A Biblical Perspective on Human Sexuality & Gender Identity with Dr. Katie McCoy
Dr. Katie McCoy, serves as Director of Women’s ministry with Texas Baptists, an author, social commentator, and contributor to the World News Group (WGN). She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern in Systematic Theology, writing on OT laws about women's personhood and what they can show us about human dignity. She served on South Western Seminary’s faculty for five years and her book is called, “To be a woman, the confusion over female identity and how Christians can respond” ( https://shorturl.at/rV058 ).
You can find her online @blondeorthodoxy and blondeorthodoxy.com.
Other Helpful resources mentioned on the podcast:
Jackie Hill Perry ( https://jackiehillperry.com )
Sam Allberry ( https://samallberry.com ) , especially his booklet “Is God anti-gay?” ( https://shorturl.at/cpvMU )
Rosaria Butterfield ( https://rosariabutterfield.com )
Carl Truman: Rise and Triumph of the modern self ( https://shorturl.at/efGH8 )
18 Feb 2024
Season 2, Ep 4, God’s Perspective on marriage and family with Dr. Greg Smalley
God’s Perspective on marriage and family: Potential, pleasure, purpose, and pain points with Dr. Greg Smalley.
Dr. Smalley serves as Vice President of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family (who is opening the "Hope Restored" center in Wimberley https://hoperestored.focusonthefamily.com/ ).
Dr. Smally has served as president of the National Institute of Marriage, written 17 20 books! Including he and his wife, Erin, co-creating “Ready to Wed,” a complete premarital curriculum for engaged couples and the online Focus on Marriage Assessment ( https://www.focusonthefamily.com/themarriageassessment ). Dr. Smalley has a doctorate from Rosemead school of Psychology from Biola University in Southern CA and a degree from Denver Seminary. He is a joyful and authentic communicator who vulnerably shares from experience, and continues to grow by studying a marriage book with Erin every Christmas- well done! This is a fun interview you will enjoy and desire to share.
*Please note when editing- Zach got a bit excited and started questions before I did the introduction- just a few minutes in. Should not hard to find or difficult to edit.
7 Feb 2024
Center Conversations Season 2, Ep 3: Thinking theologically about poverty & wealth Dr Michael Rhodes
Michael is the lecturer in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College and recently released a new book: Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World ( https://www.ivpress.com/just-discipleship ). Michael is also the author of Formative Feasting, Practicing the King's Economy (with Brian Fikkert and Robby Holt) along with numerous articles in popular outlets such as Christianity Today and The Biblical Mind. Rhodes has spent more than fourteen years involved in community development and urban ministry work, and is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
Buckle up- This episode is powerful.
17 Jan 2024
Center Conversations Season 2, Ep 2: Dr. Ingrid Skop, God’s Perspective on LIFE
This interview will both challenge and inspire as we journey together to understand God’s heart for LIFE. Joining Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell is Dr. Ingrid Skop, a good friend and a true inspiration for many. Dr. Skop currently serves as Vice President and Director of Medical Affairs, Charlotte Lozier Institute. She is Board-certified obstetrician & gynecologist who practiced in San Antonio for decades, now giving her full focus to the pro-life movement in multiple capacities including serving on the medical board of Save the Storks and as medical director of AWC Centers (both key partners for FPC as we plan for a mobile unit that will be wheels down in Spring, 2024, able to serve women all over town).
Links:
Charlotte Lozier Institute: https://lozierinstitute.org
Save the Storks: https://savethestorks.com
AWC Centers: https://www.awccenters.com/
13 Jan 2024
Center Conversations Season 2, Ep 1: A Theological Understanding of Beauty with Dr. Jonathan King
Welcome to a new season of Center Conversations! The next few months we will dive deep into a theological perspective on several contemporary hot topics: Wealth / Poverty, Technology, Human sexuality, Family, Life, Justice, and Beauty. This interview begins with beauty! And is one worth savoring and sharing. We are excited to interview Dr. Johnathan King:
Dr. Jonathan King serves as the International Pastoral Training Director at Family Discipleship Ministries and Executive Director of FDM Institute. A Graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary (CA), JK has a PhD in Systematic Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). Before joining FDM, King served as a missionary in Indonesia and a Lecturer in Theology at the Universitas Pelita Harapan. Dr. King is married to Sharm and they have two young children, Liam and Eleanor.
Dr. King’s book The Beauty of the Lord, a Theology of Aesthetics ( https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Lord-Theology-Aesthetics-Systematic/dp/1683590589 ) and several of his articles (including this one https://shorturl.at/dhmP3 ) are worth reading!
7 Dec 2023
Center Conversations Ep 6: Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright
Christopher J. H. Wright was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and taught high school there for some years after graduating from Cambridge in 1969. After obtaining a Cambridge doctorate in Old Testament economic ethics, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1977 and served a curacy in an Anglican parish.
In 1983 he went with his family to India and taught a variety of Old Testament courses at the BD and MTh levels at the Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, for five years. He also contributed in other ways to theological education in India.
In September 2001 he was appointed to be International Ministry Director of the Langham Partnership International (https://us.langham.org/), a consortium of trusts founded by John Stott, committed to the strengthening of the church in the developing world through fostering leadership development, biblical preaching, literature and scholarship. Now Chris is the “Global Ambassador” for Langham partnership. Chris’ own podcast, “On Mission” (https://au.langham.org/global-resources/podcast/), features conversations with Christian leaders around the Majority World. Chris is a scholar with multiple publications, most of which can be found here (https://langhamliterature.org/online_resources/chriswright/index.html).
2 Nov 2023
Center Conversations Ep 5: Dr. Richard Pratt, President of Third Millennium Ministries
Dr. Richard Pratt is the pioneer and president of ThirdMill Ministries, an organization providing Biblical education to the world- for free. ThirdMill Ministries offers world-class seminary class content to the world, now with more than 1.8 million students in 176 (of 196) nations. Their content was translated into 25 languages! Dr. Pratt taught at Reformed Theological Seminary for 21 years before beginning ThirdMill. He has authored several books and we recommend you begin with Designed for Dignity or He Gave Us Stories.
This interview was recorded during a community Reformation celebration that included six congregations. We hope you enjoy the show!
25 Oct 2023
Center Conversations Ep 4: Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi
Rev. Dr. Mehrdad Fatehi is the Founder and Executive Director of Pars Theological Center, a pastor, professor, and prolific writer. After fleeing Iran in the 1980’s, Mehrdad has given his life for the education and equipping of Iranian Christian leaders through innovative and creative methods. Mehrdad has authored three books, more than 35 articles, translated 7 theological textbooks, and has countless other contributions to education and equipping Iranian Christians around the world.
For more about PARS Theological Center: https://parstheology.org
To support a PARS Student specifically or the ministry generally: https://parstheology.org/region-selector/
8 Oct 2023
Center Conversations Ep 3: Dr. N. Gray Sutanto
Dr. N. Gray Sutanto helped plant Covenant City Church in Jakarta, Indonesia, through a theology study group. Gray now serves as the assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Washington D.C. campus. Gray focused his PhD work on the 19thcentury Dutch Reformed theologian, Herman Bavinck and you will discover in this interview that his research interests are broad.
Gray’s article we discuss from The Keller Center can be found HERE (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jakarta-western-judgments/) and a more full Bio can be found HERE (https://rts.edu/people/dr-n-gray-sutanto/), including a list of his publications.
You will be inspired by this episode!
20 Sept 2023
Center Conversations Ep 2: Dr. Ligon Duncan
Dr. Ligon Duncan is celebrating his 10th year as Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). God has given tremendous fruitfulness to his leadership, extending the campus of RTS beyond Jackson, Orlando, and Charlette to New York City, Dallas, Atlanta, and Washington DC. Dr. Duncan served as a pastor at FPC Jackson for years before joining RTS as Chancellor, continuing to stay in touch with pastors through teaching systematic and historical theology.
Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell may have had too much fun doing this interview! And we hope you enjoy learning from a global best practice leader like Dr. Duncan as much as they enjoyed interviewing him.
For more on RTS: https://rts.edu
For more from Dr. Duncan on Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives.
5 Sept 2023
Center Conversations Ep 1: Dr. Greg Perry of Thirdmill Seminary
In this episode Pastor Izzy and Pastor Mitchell interview Dr. Greg Perry, President of Thirdmill Seminary and author of the book: The Drama of Discipleship. Settle in to enjoy this spirited discussion celebrating innovative theological training around the world and how the American Church must adapt to cultivate an innovative culture of theological and leadership development and deployment for a thriving future.
Dr. Gregory R. Perry is a scholar with a pastor heart, gifted by God to lead and communicate. President of Thirdmill Seminary and Vice President of Strategic Projects at Third Millennium Ministries, Greg recently published The Drama of Discipleship [https://a.co/d/5AeEkSj], a book to equip people to follow the ways of Christ and His Kingdom in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and churches- making disciples in the everyday tasks of being human.
For more on ThirdMill Seminary: https://www.thirdmillseminary.org
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Contact Center Conversations
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Center Conversations?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
