Founders Baptist Church

The recent tragedy in British Columbia highlights the devastating consequences of a culture embracing what Scripture calls earthly, natural, and demonic wisdom. The transgender movement is an anti-God ideology that demands the rejection of one's God-given identity, leading to disorder, despair, and violence. While believers must abhor this sin and recognize its spiritual roots, we are called to have compassion for those enslaved in darkness. The only true solution to gender confusion and cultural chaos is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which offers redemption and deliverance to sinners.

Today, cultural movements fueled by social media frequently level accusations of spiritual abuse against church leaders. This episode addresses these claims by examining the crucial need for a faithful, biblical ecclesiology. While there are instances of poor shepherding and leaders who wrongfully domineer their congregations, many accusations stem from a misunderstanding of God-ordained pastoral authority and church discipline. Believers are called to distinguish between abusive behavior and the faithful, sometimes firm, correction provided by loving under-shepherds. By anchoring our understanding in 1 Peter 5 and the broader testimony of Scripture, we can navigate these difficult cultural conversations with wisdom, protecting the purity of the church while honoring true pastoral care.

This episode explores the true definition of evangelism and how believers can faithfully fulfill the Great Commission. Instead of treating the lost as projects, Christians are called to proclaim the message of the cross with clarity and genuine compassion. While many fear sharing their faith, you do not need to be a trained apologist; knowing the Word of God and sharing your testimony is enough because the gospel has power all by itself. Furthermore, the church must correct the modern model by gathering for corporate worship and dispersing to share the gospel, equipping believers through prayer, scripture saturation, and a willing heart.

Introduction: Death to the law meant life to God (vs.19). The day that Paul died to the law as his means of righteousness — his imagined means of salvation — and looked to Christ by faith, he knew the liberating power of a relationship to the law of God that exists under the law of Christ. The law is good, but it must be used lawfully. NAU 1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. It's a new man who has a new relationship to the law. NAU Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present

I sometimes wonder if we recognize all that comes to nothing if we get the gospel wrong. TAKE AWAY ONE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE GOSPEL AND YOU FORFEIT EVERYTHING. This is a point that Paul emphasizes elsewhere in the New Testament. He takes the truth of the gospel and points out what happens if we deny even one essential element of it. You remember that he did this with the doctrine of resurrection. Will the dead be raised? There were professing believers denying the future resurrection of the dead. Paul points out the obvious relationship that doctrine has with the gospel. NAU 1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. NAS 1 Corinthians 15:29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32

In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Josh Philpot discuss the subtle dangers of spiritual drift. They explain how believers can maintain outward religious habits while their hearts grow indifferent toward God. The discussion highlights warning signs such as a lack of affection for Christ, cynicism, and isolation from the church body. Dr. Caldwell emphasizes that the root of this apathy is often a loss of eternal perspective and forgetting the gospel. He calls believers to examine their hearts, remember their first love, and live in light of their future glorification to combat spiritual stagnation.

Paul's testimony is all about the gospel. He has declared what is true about the content of the gospel, and now he is in the midst of declaring the truth about his own experience with the gospel. His experience demonstrates and illustrates everything that he has declared about its content. His story has illustrated the heavenly origin of the gospel. It is not according to man or owes its origin to man. His story has illustrated the exclusivity of the gospel — there is only one and he and the other apostles therefore agree in their message. But now he wants to remind them of an encounter that he had with one of the most prominent leaders in the Lord's church. The encounter is shared for two reasons. ONE — IT DEMONSTRATES THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOSPEL. TWO — IT DEMONSTRATES PAUL'S LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY AS AN APOSTLE. Both points are being impressed on the Galatian believers because they are being unsettled by a false gospel, by the influence of a works righteous group of Jewish religionists.

Paul's personal testimony now takes a new direction. It is still an account of his own life and ministry, but now it involves information that demonstrates three very important things. One, the legitimacy of his own apostleship. Two, his relationship to the other apostles. And three, that they all preach the same gospel. There are places in Galatians where the errors and the activities of the Judaizers are clear. We know what they were saying and we know what they were doing. In other places, we are trying to piece together elements of their false influence by what Paul is contending and emphasizing. In other words, we hear Paul and we get a sense of what he's battling. We know in general terms what he is having to fight against, even though some of the details aren't clear.

A biblical response to the Canada school shooting tragedy is necessary as believers seek to understand the violence and evil we see in the world. This episode examines the recent tragedy in British Columbia, where a young man identifying as a female committed a horrific act of violence. Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot discuss how a culture that embraces gender ideology and rejects God's design is embracing what James 3 calls earthly, natural, and demonic wisdom. They explore the connection between this delusion and disorder, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the Christian duty to hate sin while offering the Gospel hope to sinners.

In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot address the difficult biblical instruction regarding separation from professing believers who live in unrepentant sin. They explore key passages such as 2 Thessalonians 3 and 1 Corinthians 5, discussing how to apply these commands to long-term friendships and family dynamics. Dr. Caldwell clarifies that while Christians must not withdraw from the world, they cannot maintain casual fellowship with a "so-called brother" who walks in open rebellion. The discussion provides practical wisdom on handling holiday gatherings with sinful family members and dealing with those who leave the church in anger. Ultimately, the goal of this separation is not punitive but restorative, aiming to shame the sinner into repentance while maintaining the purity of the church.

Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot introduce The Pastors Seminary, a new ministry initiative at Founders Baptist Church designed to train men for pastoral ministry within the local church context. Joined by Academic Dean John Anderson, they discuss the limitations of traditional and online seminary models, specifically addressing the dangers of individualism and anonymity in theological training. The episode outlines the vision for a Master of Divinity program that combines academic rigor, including biblical languages, with life-on-life mentorship and character evaluation by qualified elders.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpott discuss the practical application of waiting on the Lord. They clarify that biblical waiting is not a passive state but a dynamic exercise of faith involving active obedience and trust in God's sovereignty. The conversation addresses how believers should navigate major life decisions, such as marriage or employment, when specific Scripture verses do not dictate the outcome. Dr. Caldwell emphasizes that if a believer is submitted to Christ and saturated in the Word, they can trust their desires to align with God's will. The episode also touches on the tension between human responsibility and trusting God, illustrated by the necessity of providing for one's family while waiting for better opportunities, and concludes with an exhortation to leave justice in God's hands.

In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot explore the biblical distinction between the terror of God's wrath and the reverent fear of the Lord that characterizes the believer. While the natural man should tremble at the power of God's anger, the Christian is called to a different relationship defined by adoption and assurance. Discussing key passages like Psalm 90, 1 John 4, and Hebrews 10, they explain how the finished work of Christ removes the dread of final condemnation while establishing a healthy respect for God's fatherly discipline. They also address how a proper fear of God liberates the believer from the enslaving fear of man.

In this episode, Dr. Josh Philpot and Dr. Richard Caldwell discuss how Christians can deal with anxiety regarding politics and the constant drama of the news cycle. Examining 1 Thessalonians 4 and John 16, they explore the biblical command to live a quiet life while remaining responsible citizens. They address whether the perceived chaos is real or amplified by technology and emphasize that true rest is found in the sovereignty of God and the victory of Christ, not in temporal political solutions.

Revelation 22:6-12

While the world focuses on temporal self improvement, Christians are called to a higher pursuit. In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Josh Philpot discuss how to approach the New Year with biblical wisdom. They explore the dangers of presumptuous planning as warned against in James 4 and the supreme value of knowing God as described in Jeremiah 9. The discussion highlights the importance of daily Bible reading, finding purpose in mundane obedience, and leaving a spiritual legacy for the next generation.