Founders Baptist Church

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.

This episode explores the tension between modern cultural empathy and biblical compassion. We discuss whether empathy can become sinful when it is untethered from the truth of Scripture, effectively affirming people in destructive behaviors. Using examples like the gender identity craze and the woman at the well, we define true Christian love as that which is tender hearted yet unwavering in speaking the truth. We conclude that genuine love warns of danger and calls for repentance rather than simply validating feelings that contradict God's Word.

Modern skepticism often leads readers to dismiss miraculous Old Testament accounts like Jonah and the Flood as mere allegories or myths. However, this episode argues that the literal grammatical-historical method is not merely the best way, but the only right way to interpret Scripture. By examining how Jesus and the Apostles treated these narratives as real historical events, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot demonstrate that true biblical authority rests on accepting God's Word as written. They further clarify that while biblical typology exists, it must be grounded in textual indicators provided by the biblical authors, rather than the subjective imagination of the reader.

In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot explore the biblical doctrine of the Millennium found in Revelation 20. They discuss the differences between premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism, arguing that a consistent, literal hermeneutic leads to the premillennial view. Dr. Caldwell explains the purpose of the thousand year reign, the binding of Satan, the restoration of ethnic Israel, and the two resurrections. This study affirms the faithfulness of God in keeping His covenant promises and the ultimate glory of Christ's victory on earth.