Christ the Center

General Assemblies, Rome, and Artificial Intelligence

In this free-for-all episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Derrick Brite, Lee Hutchings, and Dan Borvan for a wide-ranging conversation following the summer season of Presbyterian and Reformed assemblies. They reflect on the PCA General Assembly, the OPC General Assembly, and the URCNA Synod, considering overtures, church order, the spirit of deliberation, and the practical realities of Presbyterian polity. The conversation also turns to Reformed witness in Italy, Roman Catholicism, and the need to speak the truth clearly and charitably. Camden previews upcoming discussions on Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Catholic social teaching, artificial intelligence, human dignity, and the need for a sound Reformed anthropology in an age of rapid technological change. Links Magnifica Humanitas Antiqua et Nova: Note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence Davidoff of London | A Collector’s Conversation Savile Row Surprise Bespoke Commission Participants: Camden Bucey, Dan Borvan, Derrick Brite, Lee Hutchings

Meeting God in His Means of Grace

In this episode we speak with Harrison Perkins about his book Meeting God in His Means of Grace: How Word, Sacrament, and Prayer Help Us Encounter Christ. Perkins argues that the Christian life is fundamentally receptive: We do not invent our own paths to God but meet him where he has promised to be present and active for the good of his people. The conversation explores the ordinary means of grace—Word, sacraments, and prayer—as Christ’s appointed instruments for strengthening faith, assuring believers, and shaping the church’s worship. Perkins discusses the reading and preaching of Scripture, baptism as a covenantal sign, the Lord’s Supper as communion with Christ and a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb, prayer as a means Christ uses to sustain his people, and congregational worship as active participation before God rather than religious spectatorship. Participants: Camden Bucey, Harrison Perkins

Lively Truths of the Puritans

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey welcomes Stephen Yuille, director of Puritan publishing at Reformation Heritage Books, for a conversation on Puritan spirituality and the devotional series 90 Days with the Puritans. Yuille reflects on his work with Puritan writings, the relationship between the mind and the affections, and the way the Puritans seek to move biblical truth from mere cognition into doxology, repentance, obedience, and perseverance. The discussion centers on five “lively truths” that recur throughout the Puritan tradition: the majesty of God, the beauty of Christ, the severity of sin, the mystery of providence, and the hope of glory. Along the way, Camden and Stephen consider biblical meditation, Thomas Manton, holiness as divine beauty, beholding Christ through Scripture rather than mysticism, affliction as fatherly discipline, and the believer’s blessed hope in the face of death and suffering. Resources Mentioned Reformation Heritage Books Thomas Manton, Holy Meditation Stephen Yuille, The Sight of Christ Stephen Yuille, The Heart Taken Up Stephen Yuille, The Fullness of Grace Participants: Camden Bucey, Stephen Yuille

Heaven Opened: Biblical Theology in the Gospels and Acts

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey welcomes Adam York and Randy Lee back to the Reformed Forum classroom for the second part of a conversation on global theological education and OPC foreign missions. Whereas the previous discussion focused especially on Uganda and faith-centered finance, this episode turns to York’s recent teaching trip to Ethiopia and the biblical-theological material he taught on the Gospels and Acts. The conversation traces major themes from John 1:51 and Jacob’s ladder to Matthew’s genealogy, Jesus as true Israel, the Sermon on the Mount, the parables of the kingdom, Peter’s confession, Matthew 24–25, the Great Commission, and the book of Acts. Along the way, York shows how the hope of heaven opened in Christ, the end of exile, the gift of the Spirit, and the church’s missionary calling all belong together in the unfolding work of the risen and ascended Lord. Watch on YouTube Chapters 0:00 Introduction from the Reformed Forum classroom 0:57 Review of OPC foreign missions and the previous conversation 1:51 Focusing on Adam York’s Ethiopia teaching trip 3:32 Christianity and the Reformed church in Ethiopia 5:36 Ethiopian Mercy Reformed Church and local pastors 7:08 Joyful worship with few earthly comforts 9:09 Travel, Addis Ababa, and cross-cultural observations 10:35 Teaching the Gospels and Acts 11:20 John 1:51 and heaven opened in Christ 13:39 Why begin with Nathaniel and Jacob’s ladder? 15:24 Heaven, creation, exile, and the hope of God’s presence 18:47 Matthew’s genealogy and the fulfillment of Jubilee 21:02 Teaching biblical theology through translation 26:02 Jesus as true Israel in Matthew’s temptation narrative 30:21 The Sermon on the Mount and access to God’s presence 31:57 The Transfiguration and mountain theology 33:30 Parables, mystery, judgment, and the two-age structure 38:04 Peter’s confession and the keys of the kingdom 42:14 Matthew 24, partial preterism, and biblical prophecy 45:17 Watchfulness, imminence, and the blessed hope 47:25 Heaven opened, the Great Commission, and Christ’s authority 49:17 The Spirit, Acts, and embracing the cross 50:15 Teaching Acts while serving in Ethiopia 52:13 Praying and serving in foreign missions 53:31 Reformed Forum resources and upcoming events Resources mentioned Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church OPC Foreign Missions OPC Short-Term Missions Reformed Academy Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Randy Lee

Global Theological Education and the Biblical Foundations of Finance

In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey welcomes Randy Lee and Adam York from Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois, to discuss recent teaching trips connected with OPC foreign missions in Uganda and Ethiopia. Lee, a ruling elder, reflects on teaching personal finance at Knox School of Theology in Uganda, while York, pastor of Hope OPC, describes his work teaching and training pastors in Ethiopia. The conversation explores the global need for theological education, Reformed Academy’s role in serving the church worldwide, and the biblical doctrine of stewardship. The discussion turns especially to Biblical principles of finance: why money must be brought under the lordship of Christ, how Scripture and the Reformed confessions shape our view of possessions, how prosperity theology distorts Christian hope, and why work, generosity, contentment, and vocation all belong to faithful stewardship before God. Watch on YouTube Chapters 0:00 Introduction from the Reformed Academy classroom 0:39 Global theological education, Uganda, and Ethiopia 1:21 Prayer for Peter Stafford and missionary medical work 3:21 Reformed Academy and the global need for theological education 5:09 Randy Lee’s call to teach personal finance in Uganda 6:24 Adam York’s trip to Ethiopia 7:28 OPC foreign missions and theological training 10:58 Preparing to teach faith-centered finance 13:25 Randy’s business background 15:26 Biblical and practical resources for finance 18:21 Teaching finance and stewardship in the church 21:42 Stewardship beyond money 26:13 Reformed confessions and finance 29:11 Manifesting, prosperity theology, and biblical worldview 36:45 Five uses of money 40:14 Cultural differences and family obligations in Uganda 44:16 Need, want, generosity, and work 49:37 Lessons learned in Uganda 52:24 Opportunities to serve in foreign missions 53:47 Closing resources and Reformed Forum updates Resources mentioned Reformed Academy OPC Foreign Missions OPC Short-Term Missions Ron Blue Institute Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Randy Lee