Podcast appearances and mentions of ryan mcgraw

What if the Bible's story didn't start in Genesis, but in eternity past? Discover the eternal covenant between Father and Son that shapes all of Scripture and salvation history. In this episode of Remnant Radio, Joshua Lewis sits down with Dr. Ryan McGraw, professor of systematic theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, to unpack the powerful doctrine of Covenant Theology. But this isn't just about ancient agreements—it's about the eternal plan of salvation crafted before time began. Dr. McGraw lays out the “covenant of redemption,” the intra-Trinitarian agreement between the Father and the Son to redeem a people through the perfect obedience and atoning death of Christ. This covenant provides the foundation for everything that unfolds in redemptive history—from Adam's failure under the covenant of works, to the unfolding covenant of grace that culminates in Christ and continues through the Church.Together, they trace the storyline of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, showing how the theme of covenant brings coherence and clarity to God's dealings with His people. You'll hear how the law reveals not just commands, but the very character of God; how the gospel is embedded even in the earliest pages of the Old Testament; and how the biblical distinction between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent runs throughout all redemptive history. Whether you're new to covenant theology or looking to deepen your theological roots, this episode will help you see that the Bible is not a disjointed anthology—but a breathtaking, unified narrative of God's eternal purpose in Christ. ABOUT THE GUEST:

David Gilbert is the Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Douglasville, GA. He also teaches preaching at GPTS, has written for Tabletalk Magazine and has become a regular on the American Reformed & Presbyterian conference circuit.  You can listen to his sermons here.  Special thanks to Nathan Clark George for our opening and closing instrumental. Nathan serves as the Pastor of Worship alongside Kevin DeYoung at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC. You can access Nathan's fantastic catalog here. Fathers & Brothers is committed to bringing you in-person interviews with seasoned pastors about life and ministry. Special thanks to my alma mater, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, for helping us serve our audience through their generous support of the show.  If you're interested in studying at Greenville Seminary or contributing to their work, check them out at GPTS.edu. - Jim McCarthy Also, be sure to register for GPTS's upcoming Confessional Conference: The Pastor: His Call, Character and Work (March 11-13, 2025). Speakers include Ian Haimlton, Terry Johnson, Jonathan Master, David Gilbert, Jeff Stivason, Ryan McGraw, Carlton Wynne, John Tweedale, and Craig Troxel. Learn more and register here.  

I recently had the privilege of interviewing the author of a new book published by Crossway: "What is Covenant Theology? Tracing God's Promises Through the Son, the Seed, and the Sacraments." Two things make this book review extra special, compared to previous book reviews. First, I get to interview the author himself. Second, the author is also my systematics professor at seminary!Today we welcome Dr. Ryan McGraw to the show to discuss his latest book. Dr. McGraw serves as the Morton H. Smith professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In this episode, we discuss the following questions/topics:Why this book about covenant theology?What is covenant theology? What does covenant theology provide as an interpretive system that other systems can't provide?How is the Trinity central to covenant theology, and how does this play into your working definition of “covenant”?If the Bible is to be understood covenantally, why do we have two “testaments” and how do these relate to the old and new “covenant”?How is covenant theology a profoundly “practical” blessing?Support the showIf you're ready to dive deep with me, consider joining my all-new membership site Better Readers Academy.

Do you think of the gospel as a Trinitarian work? On this week's episode of All of Life for God, Pastor Ryan McGraw challenges Christians to recognize that we are saved by the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. To learn more about this glorious reality, check out Pastor McGraw's book, “A Mystery Revealed: 31 Meditations of the Trinity."Begin your journey into the world of the Puritans here.Pre-order the first set of the 63-volume C.H. Spurgeon Sermons collection here.Pick up William Gouge's Building a Godly Home here. Learn more about the Puritan Treasures for Today here.Check out Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things by Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. Paul Smalley here.Learn more about the Family Worship Bible Guide here. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.

This week on All of Life for God, Pastor Ryan McGraw reminds us that the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to the Christian life. Do you want to go deeper in your study of God's triune nature? Pick up your copy of “A Mystery Revealed: 31 Meditations on the Trinity” by Ryan McGraw here.Begin your journey into the world of the Puritans here.Pre-order the first set of the 63-volume C.H. Spurgeon Sermons collection here.Pick up William Gouge's Building a Godly Home here. Learn more about the Puritan Treasures for Today here.Check out Reformed Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things by Dr. Joel Beeke and Dr. Paul Smalley here.Learn more about the Family Worship Bible Guide here. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.

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 readingJohn Owen, Communion with God. The full title is “Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Each Person Distinctly, In Love, Grace, and Consolation; or The Saints' Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Unfolded.”Augustine, On Christian Doctrine.Herman Witsius, The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man: Comprehending a Complete Body of Divinity.For more on Covenant Theology in Ordained Servant see the following, Gregory Edward Reynolds, “Clarity on the Covenants." Ordained Servant, 15 (2006): 22-27. Available here.Richard B. Gaffin, Jr., “Covenant and Salvation.” Ordained Servant, 18 (2009): 145-49. Available here.

In this episode, I got to talk with Ryan McGraw. Dr. McGraw is a Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He has pastored at many churches all over the country and is the author of over 20 books including The Beauty and Glory of the Holy Spirit and John Owen: Trajectories in Reformed Orthodox Theology.We discussed his new book, What Is Covenant Theology?: Tracing God's Promises through the Son, the Seed, and the Sacraments. Dr. McGraw gave an overview definition to covenant theology and then discussed the specific and technical details within the covenantal theological framework. Finally, we talked about the theological implications of covenant theology in relation to the current working's of the Holy Spirit and the Sacraments. I hope you enjoy! Sign up for an Optiv Network subscription: https://optivnetwork.comFollow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/optivnetworkFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OptivNetworkEmail us at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this video Gavin Ortlund and Fred Sanders discuss the filiioque, the doctrine that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Ryan McGraw's What is Covenant Theology?: https://www.amazon.com/What-Covenant-Theology-Promises-Sacraments/dp/1433592770 Fred Sanders The Deep Things of God: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Things-God-Second-Everything/dp/1433556375/ Fred Sanders' The Holy Spirit: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Spirit-Introduction-Systematic-Theology/dp/1433561433/   Truth Unites exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville. SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunites FOLLOW: Twitter: https://twitter.com/gavinortlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/ Website: https://truthunites.org/

Author and Greenville Seminary professor Ryan McGraw sits down with James and Jonathan today to discuss his latest book, A Mystery Revealed: 31 Meditations on the Trinity. In this book, Ryan offers a fresh perspective on how the Trinity forms the foundation for everything from evangelism to corporate worship. The 31 daily meditations help bring this heavenly doctrine down to earth for the average Christian to experience. Register here for the opportunity to win a copy of Ryan's book, thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books.   Show Notes: Dr. McGraw recommended this book on the Holy Spirit by Fred Sanders: https://www.crossway.org/books/the-holy-spirit-tpb-2/

Right before the pandemic interrupted production our season about "Your Future", we had the chance to interview disability advocate Ryan McGraw about the services and supports offerered at Access Living in Chicago. Access Living provides advocacy, independent living skills, transition support, peer support, information and referrals for people with disabilities. As Access Living's Health/Home and Community Based Services Community Organizer, Ryan facilitates two groups: Taskforce for Attendant Services, and Independent Voices. He moved to Chicago from Michigan in 2008 and received his master's degree in disability and development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since then, he's held several positions in the disability advocacy field. Ryan is passionate about home- and community-based services because everyone should have the right to live in the community with the services they need. Ryan also teaches accessible yoga, and loves to run, bike, and travel in his free time. You can learn more about Access Living at accessliving.org and connect with Ryan there or on LinkedIn. This episode was produced by D'Vonte, Jonas, Joel, Genaro, and Emon. Enjoy! http://www.PowerYourStoryPodcast.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poweryourstorypodcast Instagram: @PowerYourStoryPodcast YouTube: After School Matters - Power Your Story Podcast *** Power Your Story is produced by students in the Podcast Tech & Production programs of After School Matters in Chicago. We represent diverse voices, telling our real life stories through the power of podcasting technology. Each season features a new group of student producers under the mentorship of producer, Andrea Klunder of The Creative Impostor Studios, creating personal journals, interviews, and discussions about the topics that matter most to us. Our theme music is by DJ Sparkz. 

Show Notes: The future of solid-state batteries could be 3D-printed | The Verge (01:11) Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere: in your phone, car, camera, and more. One major flaw: safety.  Lithium-ion batteries have a tendency to catch fire, especially when damaged or at high temperatures.  Solid-state batteries replace a flammable liquid electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries with a more stable solid one.  Potential solutions for many problems of liquid Li-ion batteries, such as flammability, limited voltage, unstable solid-electrolyte interphase formation, poor cycling performance and strength. Additionally providing more power, faster charging, and a longer lifespan. California-based startup Sakuú, and it's taking on an even bigger task: 3D-printing these next-gen batteries.  Claims that 3D printing allows it to fit more battery layers in the same amount of space, boosting the capacity of its batteries compared to those made by traditional manufacturing.  Dave Pederson, vice president of marketing and business development at battery technology company Sakuu, explains that has validated its 3D printing processes and materials, and is currently formatting them for a production environment.   “We've proven all of the steps in the lab, and now we're in the process of connecting them in an automated fashion,”  In theory, 3D printed batteries could take on more customized shapes, which could change how batteries are integrated into product design. Sakuu is bullish on this technology, this past August they opened a state-of-the-art multi-faceted engineering hub for its battery platform printing initiatives in Silicon Valley. 79,000 square feet  A floating wind platform has been installed in Spain 50 meters into the water | Interesting Engineering (07:15) A floating wind platform has been successfully installed at the PLOCAN test site in the Canary Islands of Spain. X1 Wind, the firm behind the platform. Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) Connected the fully-functional floating wind prototype to the mooring system and dynamic cable pre-installed last June. The benefit of offshore floating wind turbines is they can take advantage of the strong winds blowing in the deeper areas, which improves energy efficiency. Can manufacture and then tow them out into deeper waters. The new wind platform has been fitted with a Vestas V29 turbine and stationed at a 50 meter water depth in a downwind configuration. 225 kW turbine Enable the firm to provide platforms for the 15MW scale turbines and beyond and to deploy them at very deep sites.  X1 Wind CEO and Co-Founder Alex Raventos explains the importance of this milestone: “This is a key milestone for our company and for the floating wind sector in general being able to install a floating wind platform using a TLP mooring system and requiring only small vessels. This reduces not only the costs but also the impact on the seabed. Data obtained from the X30 will contribute to de-risk the technology, improve the design, and obtain the certification of our commercial-scale platforms in preparation for upcoming tenders in Spain and other countries worldwide.” After its installation is completed, the new project will be tested in fully operational conditions until March 2023 while continuing to feed the electricity it generates to PLOCAN's smartgrid. Scientists Astonished by Strange Material That Can Be Made Like Plastic but Conducts Like Metal | SciTechDaily (12:13) University of Chicago scientists have discovered a way to create a material that can be made like a plastic, but conducts electricity more like a metal. goes against all of the rules we know about conductivity—to a scientist According to John Anderson, an associate professor of chemistry, “this opens up the design of a whole new class of materials that conduct electricity, are easy to shape, and are very robust in everyday conditions.” If you're making any kind of electronic device, conductive materials are absolutely essential.  Metals, such as copper, gold, and aluminum, are by far the oldest and largest group of conductors. 50 years ago, scientists were able to create conductors made out of organic materials, using a chemical treatment known as “doping,” which sprinkles in different atoms or “impurities” throughout the material. Both organic and traditional metallic conductors share a common characteristic: They are made up of straight, closely packed rows of atoms or molecules.  Scientists thought a material had to have these straight, orderly rows in order to conduct electricity efficiently. With this new way to create the material, the scientists saw that the molecular structure of the material was disordered.  Anderson said it should not be a metal and there is not a theory to explain this After tests, simulations, and theoretical work, they think that the material forms layers, like sheets in a lasagna.  Even if the sheets rotate sideways, no longer forming a neat lasagna stack, electrons can still move horizontally or vertically—as long as the pieces touch. The scientists are excited because the discovery suggests a fundamentally new design principle for electronics technology.  Explaining that conductors are so important that virtually any new development opens up new lines for technology. The new material has no such restriction because it can be made at room temperature Can also be used where the need for a device or pieces of the device to withstand heat, acid or alkalinity, or humidity has previously limited engineers' options to develop new technology. Stratolaunch's Roc, the world's largest plane, aces 1st flight carrying hypersonic prototype | Space.com (18:57) Stratolaunch, builder of the world's largest airplane, flew a prototype of its planned air-launched Talon hypersonic vehicle for the first time on Friday (Oct. 28). wingspan longer than a football field Stratolaunch's Roc took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port carrying the 28-foot-long (8.5 meters) Talon prototype vehicle attached to a pylon at the center of the giant plane's 385-foot-wide (117 m) wings. flight lasted just over five hours maximum altitude of 23,000 feet (7,000 m), This test proves this huge plane can indeed carry an experimental hypersonic vehicle it's designed to launch from mid-air.  Stratolaunch CEO and President Zachary Krevor told reporters: “I was ecstatic seeing those two vehicles combined as they lifted off the runway and into the sky … Seeing our flight products operating together represents a significant step towards regular and reusable hypersonic flight." The company is developing a series of Talon vehicles as testbeds for hypersonic flights that can reach speeds of up to Mach 6, or six times the speed of sound. First flight for the Roc with the vehicle attached If December's drop test is successful, Stratolaunch aims to test its first hypersonic vehicle, the Talon-A TA-1, in 2023.  Utility Explores Converting Coal Plants into Nuclear Power | Scientific American (22:53) One of the largest utilities in the Western United States, PacifiCorp, announced Thursday they were launching a study to determine if up to five coal plants could be equipped with advanced nuclear reactors. A move further cemented the relationship between TerraPower, a nuclear developer, and PacifiCorp The pair agreed last year to build a 345-megawatt Natrium nuclear reactor at the site of a retiring coal plant in western Wyoming. Signals a new energy transition strategy in the West The first reactor at the Naughton Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyo., where the two companies hope to demonstrate that a coal-to-nuclear conversion is viable. Yet to have its design approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission  Is projected to cost $4 billion.  The plan to convert the Kemmerer plant into a sodium-cooled Natrium reactor has been embraced by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. A recent Department of Energy study found that siting advanced reactors at old coal sites can decrease costs by taking advantage of existing transmission and interconnection infrastructure.  Additionally, nuclear reactors have the added benefit of more jobs than other renewable energy plants. TerraPower estimates its facility will require a workforce of 250 people. Ryan McGraw, vice president of project development at Rocky Mountain Power, a PacifiCorp subsidiary talks on the challenges of this study: “While there are a number of hurdles to overcome prior to commercialization of any new technology, this joint study with TerraPower will help us to understand those challenges and frame a path forward with the best interest of our customers in mind.”  

In this Season 2 finale, Amber and Jivana discuss: Their lives and current challenges How our activism and practice is showing up for us in this moment Amber's bike reels on instagram Themes from Season 2: Community Care/Sharing Power/Community Collaboration Shift from top down teaching to community led Jivana's remixes on instagram The current contemporary yoga world is complex, shifting to local Not getting caught up in a binary of “advanced” vs gentle How Accessible Yoga is often misused to make us fit in rather than to celebrate our differences and individuality Encouraging students to find individuality in community Marginalized folks are some of our greatest innovators Your difference is your superpower Safety and inclusion in yoga Be sure to visit past episodes with our amazing guests like: Matthew Sanford, Nischala Devi, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Octavia Raheem, Jacoby Ballard, Marlysa Sullivan, Reggie Hubbard What Accessible Yoga Association is up to: New online Accessible Yoga Community, ambassadors get first access (join here) Accessible Yoga Community Studio - online studio where people can study with teacher leaders from the AY community, dedicated AY content Conference coming up, Moving from Me to We, October 14-16 Pre-conference intensive on Increasing Accessibility - Matthew Sanford, Natalie Tabilo, Ryan McGraw, Donna Noble, and Jivana Upcoming monthly themes: August: Yoga & Environmental Justice, September: Yoga & Cancer Amber's term as President of AYA's board of directors is up, Anjali Rao stepping up as our new president

In this Season 2 finale, Amber and Jivana discuss: Their lives and current challenges How our activism and practice is showing up for us in this moment Amber's bike reels on instagram Themes from Season 2: Community Care/Sharing Power/Community Collaboration Shift from top down teaching to community led Jivana's remixes on instagram The current contemporary yoga world is complex, shifting to local Not getting caught up in a binary of “advanced” vs gentle How Accessible Yoga is often misused to make us fit in rather than to celebrate our differences and individuality Encouraging students to find individuality in community Marginalized folks are some of our greatest innovators Your difference is your superpower Safety and inclusion in yoga Be sure to visit past episodes with our amazing guests like: Matthew Sanford, Nischala Devi, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Octavia Raheem, Jacoby Ballard, Marlysa Sullivan, Reggie Hubbard What Accessible Yoga Association is up to: New online Accessible Yoga Community, ambassadors get first access (join here) Accessible Yoga Community Studio - online studio where people can study with teacher leaders from the AY community, dedicated AY content Conference coming up, Moving from Me to We, October 14-16 Pre-conference intensive on Increasing Accessibility - Matthew Sanford, Natalie Tabilo, Ryan McGraw, Donna Noble, and Jivana Upcoming monthly themes: August: Yoga & Environmental Justice, September: Yoga & Cancer Amber's term as President of AYA's board of directors is up, Anjali Rao stepping up as our new president

In episode 75 of Civilly Speaking, host Sean Harris and guests Konrad Kircher and Ryan McGraw with Rittgers & Rittgers discuss the Brandt case and recent developments in representation of sexual assault survivors.

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel Maine coastal and ocean issues: Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock Today, we venture out to the most remote of all of Maine's islands, Mount Desert Rock, an exposed ledge, barely 3 acres in size, that emerges from a remarkably productive patch of ocean about 22 nautical miles south of Mount Desert Island. Since the early 19th century the island has had a light tower to assist mariners, and various buildings to house light-keeper families. In the mid-20th century, the island was occupied by the United States Coast Guard. And since the 1990's, after the Coast Guard automated the light station, Mount Desert Rock has been the home of the Edward McC. Blair Marine Research Station, operated by College of the Atlantic out of Bar Harbor. On our show today, we'll start our exploration with a history of Mount Desert Rock with Olivia Jolley, one of this summer's station managers and a recently graduated senior at College of the Atlantic whose final project was to develop a comprehensive timeline of the island through interviews and archival research. We'll then hear about life on the Rock and the rhythms of the daily research tasks, like tower watches, where all wildlife and vessels spotted from the lighthouse are documented, in an ever growing, decades old data set. We'll learn about the scientific, logistical and artistic work happening at Mount Desert Rock this summer, from interviews with a number of this summer's undergraduate residents. And then we'll wrap it up with a conversation among those residents about the ethical questions they are grappling with related to science and the impact of humans on Mount Desert Rock's wildlife, from sharks to seals, to gulls, the omnipresent gulls, and even down to the microscopic plankton species that drive this complex oceanic food web. Tune in August 27, 2021 to learn all about Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock. Only on WERU Community Radio, 89.9 FM and streaming online at WERU.org. The voices on today's show are all members of the 2021 College of the Atlantic Mount Desert Rock crew, all of whom, including station managers, are either current students or '21 graduates of COA, including: Olivia Jolley, station manager Nathan Dubrow, station manager Jasper White, station manager Ryan McGraw, buildings and grounds staff Tess Moore Kiernan Crough Baily Tausen Zach Aiken Annika Ross Izzy Grimm Em Comeaux Abby Jo Morris Thomas Gonye Levi Sheridan Thanks also to Galen Koch of The First Coast and her intern Camden Hunt for their help gathering audio and brainstorming story lines. Thanks to the behind the scenes Mount Desert Rock support crew from COA who helped us get out there, including Toby Stephenson, Ela Keegan, Dan Den Danto, and Sean Todd. And thanks especially to Olivia Jolley, whose passion for this strange rocky oceanic ledge inspired this episode of Coastal Conversations. About the host: Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation's since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland's Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio. The post Coastal Conversations 8/27/21: Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel Maine coastal and ocean issues: Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock Today, we venture out to the most remote of all of Maine's islands, Mount Desert Rock, an exposed ledge, barely 3 acres in size, that emerges from a remarkably productive patch of ocean about 22 nautical miles south of Mount Desert Island. Since the early 19th century the island has had a light tower to assist mariners, and various buildings to house light-keeper families. In the mid-20th century, the island was occupied by the United States Coast Guard. And since the 1990's, after the Coast Guard automated the light station, Mount Desert Rock has been the home of the Edward McC. Blair Marine Research Station, operated by College of the Atlantic out of Bar Harbor. On our show today, we'll start our exploration with a history of Mount Desert Rock with Olivia Jolley, one of this summer's station managers and a recently graduated senior at College of the Atlantic whose final project was to develop a comprehensive timeline of the island through interviews and archival research. We'll then hear about life on the Rock and the rhythms of the daily research tasks, like tower watches, where all wildlife and vessels spotted from the lighthouse are documented, in an ever growing, decades old data set. We'll learn about the scientific, logistical and artistic work happening at Mount Desert Rock this summer, from interviews with a number of this summer's undergraduate residents. And then we'll wrap it up with a conversation among those residents about the ethical questions they are grappling with related to science and the impact of humans on Mount Desert Rock's wildlife, from sharks to seals, to gulls, the omnipresent gulls, and even down to the microscopic plankton species that drive this complex oceanic food web. Tune in August 27, 2021 to learn all about Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock. Only on WERU Community Radio, 89.9 FM and streaming online at WERU.org. The voices on today's show are all members of the 2021 College of the Atlantic Mount Desert Rock crew, all of whom, including station managers, are either current students or '21 graduates of COA, including: Olivia Jolley, station manager Nathan Dubrow, station manager Jasper White, station manager Ryan McGraw, buildings and grounds staff Tess Moore Kiernan Crough Baily Tausen Zach Aiken Annika Ross Izzy Grimm Em Comeaux Abby Jo Morris Thomas Gonye Levi Sheridan Thanks also to Galen Koch of The First Coast and her intern Camden Hunt for their help gathering audio and brainstorming story lines. Thanks to the behind the scenes Mount Desert Rock support crew from COA who helped us get out there, including Toby Stephenson, Ela Keegan, Dan Den Danto, and Sean Todd. And thanks especially to Olivia Jolley, whose passion for this strange rocky oceanic ledge inspired this episode of Coastal Conversations. About the host: Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation's since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland's Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio. The post Coastal Conversations 8/27/21: Life and Science on Mount Desert Rock first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Dr. Ryan McGraw preaching from Matthew 3 on the topic The Trinity, the Christ, and the Christian.

This morning we're returning to our study in the book of Hebrews and we'll be considering Hebrews 4:1-13. So, if you if you have your Bibles, I'd invite you to turn with me to that passage right now. Hear now the word of the Lord from Hebrews 4:1-13 as always, I'll be reading out of the English Standard Version. 4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,'” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:1-13, ESV This is the word of the Lord. For many of us, and I would suspect for many of our neighbors, we tend to have an uneasy relationship I think with rest. Statistically there was a study that was conducted a few years ago that found 55 percent of Americans, more than half, didn't take advantage of all of the paid time off they could have used in a given year. That amounted to something like 65 and a half billion dollars effectively left on the table when the whole pot of unused time off was considered together among Americans. Then in another separate study on another rest related issue, it was found that 36 percent of Americans just don't get enough sleep in a given night. Now, leaving aside the variety of reasons that probably account for those two statistics, it would seem that statistically speaking rest is elusive for many Americans. Statistics aside, I know that many of us have experienced that rest problem too, even if we're among the minority of those in America who happen to use all of our paid time off in a given year. How many of us have returned from a week off or a week of vacation if only to remark or at least think in our minds, “Boy I need a vacation from that vacation?” How many of us, even if we take physical time away from work, just can't seem to shake the demands of work even if those demands are only self-imposed demands? Where we just can't seem to shut off our minds from thinking about work. I'm sure many of us can agree then based on our own experience that rest is very often elusive. In the Bible we find that, particularly among the wilderness generation, rest was elusive for them too. Recall that after God delivered his people out of slavery and captivity in Egypt, all the way back in the book of Exodus, he held out for them the promise of rest in Canaan. Yet as we saw last week, and we're reminded, that promise of rest eluded so many among the wilderness generation because of unbelief. In the words of Hebrews 3:19, they, the wilderness generation, were largely unable to enter into God's rest in Canaan because of unbelief. If you remember last week that the vast majority of those who left Egypt and started out. Well, 602,548 eventually fell dead in the desert. They didn't reach God's promised rest in Canaan and the reason for that was because of their sin, rebellion, and hardness of heart. For them that promised rest in Canaan was ultimately elusive. For us this historical example of the wilderness generation, an example that we find pronounced in the book of Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers, is once again the basis for our author's appeal to you and me to not let God's promised rest elude us. To even as many of us find, I think, rest to be such an elusive concept in our own lives, more elusive than we'd like. The exhortation of our passage is, don't miss out on God's better rest, the rest that's held out for us in Jesus Christ. Instead aim for that better rest, labor for that better rest, pursue above all the various kinds of rest that we could pursue in our lives, God's rest. That's our big idea this morning. Pursue God's rest above every other kind of rest that we could pursue in this life, pursue God's rest. To give us a roadmap for where we're going three points. 1. A Parallel Predicament 2. A Promised Rest 3. A Powerful Word A Parallel Predicament First, a parallel predicament. Now you may remember, if you were with us last week, that that when we studied Hebrews 3:7-19, the passage that precedes the one we're looking at this morning. We saw how our situation in the New Covenant church, at several points, parallels that of the wilderness generation. The wilderness generation, I've used that term a number of times and if you weren't with us, to remind us of what the wilderness generation was, the wilderness generation were those people of Israel that God delivered out of Egypt, led into the wilderness, but because of their sin and rebellion died in the wilderness. For 40 years they spent time in the wilderness before the second generation was able to enter into the Land of Promise. We mentioned last week that at several points our situation parallels their situation. So, what are some of those parallels? To remind us well for one thing, just as the wilderness generation was in the wilderness, so too we talked about last week how the Christian life is often imaged in the Scripture as a wilderness sojourn or pilgrimage too, where we're making our way towards our celestial homeland in Jesus Christ. Additionally, just as the wilderness generation was hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, well so too we can be deceived in our own sin. Just as the wilderness generation anticipated a future rest in the land of promise, so too we in the New Covenant church anticipate a future heavenly rest. We'll talk about the character of that future heavenly rest in our second point. So, with some of these parallels between us and them in mind, when we come to verse 2 in our passage, we learn of yet one more parallel between their situation and ours. In verse 2 we read, 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. Hebrews 4:2, ESV Now literally the Greek tells us that they in the Old Covenant were gospelized, they were evangelized. That's the Greek word behind good news. Just as they had been gospelized in their context, so too we have been gospelized. We've heard the good news of the gospel in our own context too. To qualify that statement for a moment, the comparison here between them and us as it relates to what we have heard doesn't imply that the message we've heard is identical in every respect. After all the wilderness generation, for them Jesus Christ hadn't come at that point, he was only held out for them in promises, and prophecies, and sacrifices, and especially in the blood of the sacrificial lamb that was spread on the lintel and doorposts of their homes back in Egypt on the night on which they made their great trek out of Egypt into the wilderness. All of those means were instituted in the Old Covenant church to build up the faith of the wilderness generation in the promised messiah to come. Yet for us in the New Covenant we see not the promised Christ or the prophesied Christ, and the elaborate trappings of the Old Covenant bloody sacrificial system. We look upon the resurrected and ascended Christ in the simple and ordinary means like the preached word and in sacraments, things like bread and wine. While the church of the Old Testament, including the wilderness generation, then looked forward to Christ crucified, we look back upon Christ crucified who's now resurrected and ascended and reigning in the heavenly places. Yet even with these important distinctions in view, our author can still say as he tells us in verse 2, that both of us received the good news. Good news came to them and good news has come to us. Just as they had the responsibility in light of what they heard to respond in faith, well so too that's our responsibility to what we've heard, to respond in faith. However, here's the problem, the wilderness generation, as we learned last week, they heard the good news in many ways and in many forms. Yet according to verse 2, the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith with those who listened. Now this is admittedly somewhat of an oddly worded verse, but what it probably has in view is the failure among most within the wilderness generation to respond to God's word with the same faith that other people in the wilderness generation responded to God's word, with people like Joshua and Caleb. In other words, it's not only that the majority of the wilderness generation disbelieved and disobeyed God's word, that was in itself bad enough, but it's also that they disbelieved and disobeyed God's word. In a context where there were in fact some, a few mind you, but some who exercise genuine saving and justifying faith. Bear in mind that all the wilderness generation all 602,548, who came out of Egypt in the original exodus, all of them received the exact same benefits. All of them experienced the great deliverance out of Egypt, all of them participated in the covenant ratifying ceremony at Mount Sinai in Exodus 20. They all receive the miraculous provisions of bread and water along the way. Yet the majority of those in the wilderness generation who received all of these gracious things were you not united in faith with those among the covenant community who actually did respond in faith. For the author of Hebrews, this predicament among the wilderness generation is an example and more than that it's a warning to you and me. Again, among the wilderness generation there were members of the covenant community, people like Joshua and Caleb and later people like Phineas. Those who trusted in the Lord, who leaned on his promises, and who weren't continually looking back towards Egypt for what they lacked in the wilderness but were instead looking forward to the promised rest in Canaan. Yet among the wheat, to borrow language from Jesus's parable, among the wheat of people like Joshua, Caleb and the like were also plenty of weeds. People who may have received the same external benefits, but who didn't share in the same faith. Unfortunately, brothers and sisters, the same predicament hangs over the church today. Know that there are great advantages in being part of the body and hearing the word preached and partaking of bread and wine in the Lord's Supper and partaking of fellowship as well. Yet if we're really not united with those in the church by a true and vibrant, living, justifying faith in the promises of God, well then, we'll find ourselves in the same position as the more than six hundred thousand found themselves who ended up dead in the wilderness and failed to enter God's rest. In short, this is a warning not to allow external church membership, as beneficial and as critical and as indispensable as that is, prevent us from responding individually and personally to what you have heard in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In my church experience, and nearly every church I've been in, there have always been people in the church whose ministries and whose lives have been exemplary. People who I've really come to admire in a whole number of ways, and I'm sure the same can be said of you too. As we admire the various ministries and lives of godly people in the church, do we also share in the same faith that animates their lives and ministries? Do you respond to what you've heard in the same way that those people who you admire in the church are responding to what they're hearing? Friends, the way we respond to the good news that we've heard individually and personally determines whether or not we'll also enjoy the promised future rest held out for us in Jesus Christ. Now that our author has pressed each of us individually and personally in this covenant community to respond by faith to what we've heard, then he next moves on and tells us a little bit about the promised future rest that will one day enjoy should we respond to faith in the present and persevere by faith along the way. A Promised Rest Now notice that when we turn to the end of verse three, our author begins to unpack for us the character of this promised rest that we anticipate in the Christian life. It's a promised rest that awaits all of those who respond in faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, if the promise of entering God's rest is a promise that still stands today, according to verse one that means it's still a promise that awaits ultimate fulfillment and realization in our lives. Well, the obvious implication then is that this rest our promised rest has to be something different than a physical plot of land somewhere in Canaan. After all Joshua led the second generation of Israelites into Canaan after 40 years and after the first generation fell dead in the wilderness. So, the promise of entering into Canaan had already been fulfilled well in advance of when Hebrews was written in the first century A.D. So, the rest we anticipate, if this is a promise that still stands today, has to be something different than that, something different than a physical plot of land somewhere in the Middle East. Yet the first thing that we read about this rest in verse 3 may initially appear to have little or nothing to do with the rest that we look forward to because our author begins to describe for us the rest that God himself entered into after creation. Notice in verses three through four that our author briefly transitions, and he looks back to the book of Genesis. Specifically, he looks back to Genesis 2:2, where we learn that after God created the world in six days and said it was very good, then on the seventh day he rested from all the work that he had done. God completed all he had to complete in creation. There was no work of creation undone that had to be done, and so as a result God rested. I'm sure many of you know that creation account and what's articulated for us there. Yet the question that remains then is what does God's rest, important as it is, have anything to do with our rest, our promised rest? Well notice in verses 8, we learn some of the answers of this. We learn that this rest, God's rest, is important because God's Sabbath rest was ultimately the rest that the people of Israel in the Old Testament anticipated too. In other words, though the wilderness generation looked forward to the promise of rest in the land of Canaan, that was never meant to be the final answer. We see this explicitly in verse 8 where we read, 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. Hebrews 4:8, ESV Now the implication of that is that Joshua had in fact not given them rest. Yes of course it's true that he may have led the people of Israel into the land of Canaan ,but Canaan was never meant to be the final resting place for the people of Israel. They may have built houses and eventually built a temple in Canaan, but Canaan was always just a picture or a type of a future better heavenly rest with God. This shouldn't have come as a surprise, if it did, to any of the readers of Hebrews in the first century A.D. Nor should this come as a surprise to us. Guess what, the patriarchs, people like Abraham and Isaac and Jacob all the way back in the beginning of Genesis, they understood this too. In fact, later in Hebrews chapter 11 our author is going to tell us that the patriarchs didn't look forward to an earthly country or an earthly city to be the final answer. No, instead we learned in Hebrews 11 they were looking forward, through and through, to a heavenly city. They were looking forward to something far greater than just a plot of land somewhere, they looked forward to participating one day at the end of the age in God's Sabbath rest. The rest that God has been in ever since the creation of the world. They looked forward to participating in that one day themselves. Friends this is the promised rest that we anticipate too. It's a rest from all the toil and burdens that we carry with us in our wilderness sojourn and this life under the sun. It's a rest that's permanent and eternal. It's a Sabbath rest where we join in with God to do what we were created and designed to do, that is worship the Lord in communion and perfect fellowship for all eternity. This is a rest, a promised rest, that's made possible for us to one day enter into because of Jesus Christ our Lord, who when he ascended on high, entered into that Sabbath rest too. Notice again in verse 8 we read explicitly that Joshua he was unable to give the people of Israel this kind of rest, and yet Joshua's namesake Jesus Christ does. Understand that in the New Testament the name Jesus, when we encounter it, is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew name for Joshua. When we read in verse 8 the name Joshua, if we were to take a look at the Greek underneath this, we would see that actually this is the same Greek name that everywhere else in the New Testament is translated as Jesus. I even think the King James Version translates this in verse 8 as Jesus not Joshua. I don't think the King James Version is right on that point, but all of that illustrates the fact that when we read about the historical Joshua and all about what he did, well we can't help but also think about Jesus Christ. There's a tight connection between those names where as soon as we start talking about Joshua, we can't help but think about the better Joshua, Jesus Christ. After all, while Joshua couldn't deliver his people the rest that they really desired, the rest that they really need. Well, Jesus Christ gives us a taste of that rest today. Bear in mind in the Gospel of John, what were Jesus' final words as he hung on the cross getting ready to die? Well, he declared it is finished and, in that declaration, Jesus signaled that all the work necessary for our redemption was finished, just as God finished all the work necessary for creation and rested. Jesus finished 2000 years ago all the work necessary for our redemption and then 40 days later he entered into God's Sabbath rest, the same Sabbath rest that we look forward to. He entered into it so that we could one day follow in his reign. Our hope of an eternal heavenly rest is bound up through and through in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Such that even today when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus himself promises that we will find rest for our souls in Christ. Only through faith in Christ do we find relief from the burden of the guilt of our sin, as that sin is placed upon Jesus and we receive in turn his perfect record of righteousness. So, when God looks upon us, he would see Jesus Christ and we would live. In Christ, and only through faith in Christ, do we have hope that this promised Sabbath rest with God will be our inheritance too. A Powerful Word So then with that future hope in mind, that the character of that future hope shapes a little bit what do we do in the meantime. What do we do in the meantime as we look forward to the promise of entering God's Sabbath rest? Well, this leads to our final point where we're exhorted to hear and heed in the present God's powerful word. Look with me again at verses 11 through 13 and let me read it. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:1-13, ESV Now recall again that our author's goal throughout all of Hebrews, and especially in this passage, is for his Christian readers, including you and me, to persevere in the Christian life. To keep pressing forward until we reach our promised heavenly rest, held out for us at the end of our sojourn. To reach that end in the future, well God graciously provides his church with his powerful word in the presence so that we would strive not according to our own wisdom, but we would strive according to the promises and commands found in God's powerful word. What's interesting about the metaphor that our author uses to describe the word of God is that he calls the word of God a sword. Now that's not an uncommon metaphor, we find that metaphor elsewhere in the New Testament too. Yet we might miss the fact, because this is such a popular verse that we come back to over and over and read again and again, we might miss the fact that our author here is associating something that brings life and perseverance with a sword. After all we don't think about life and perseverance, we don't associate being penetrated with a sword with life and perseverance. We associate being penetrated with a sword with death. That's usually something that we don't associate with life and yet when the word of God penetrates us, well it helps us put to death things that we have to put to death. It helps us put to death our sin nature and the unbelief that grips our hearts so that we could truly live in the present and eventually enter into God's rest in the future. In other words, God's word is a sword that works in us and on us for our ultimate good, when we receive it as we should by faith. So, let's look real briefly at what our author tells us about the word and the effect it has when it penetrates us for our good. First, we learn that this is God's living and active word, just as the content of the word is living and active. David's words in Psalm 95 that are cited again and again in our passage were just as relevant and just as alive 3,000 years ago as they were 2,000 years ago when Hebrews is written, as they are today. So too when we receive God's word, the spirit also works on our hearts and minds to bring us alive too. Then we learn that God's word also penetrates to the division between the soul and spirit, of joints and marrow. In doing so it discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The word, in other words, is the most ableist of heart surgeons. It's able to get into the most remote recesses of our heart to make sense of things that we would otherwise be incapable of making sense of. It provides us with the kind of self-knowledge that no self-help book could hope to achieve. Then finally we learned that God's word exposes us before God. We read it again in verse 13, 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13, ESV Now in case you're interested, there's a vigorous debate out there in the literature about what this word we have translated in the ESV “exposed” really gets at. All are agreed that this is a metaphor that has something to do with the throat, but that's where agreement ends. Some see in this a reference to a wrestling move, and I won't demonstrate that up here, but a wrestling move where the throat was held back by an opponent. Others see in this in this word “exposed” a metaphor to a sacrificial victim, where a sacrificial victim's neck was held back to do, well you can imagine to do what with. Whatever we make of this metaphor, the point seems to be that the word of God leaves us vulnerable. Just as having your neck held back in a precarious position puts you in a quite a vulnerable position, well so too when the word of God pierces us it leaves us vulnerable and exposed. It exposes the things that we really love. It doesn't let us lie to ourselves, nor to God, about the conditions of our heart. Understandably that might seem somewhat intimidating when we think about all the various ways that the word of God pierces us and exposes us. Yet when we receive it by faith and we let the word of God cut into us like a warm knife through butter, well God's word works upon us for our ultimate good. When we receive it by faith it becomes for us and for our salvation, paradoxically, a life-giving weapon. Yet by the same token, it's also true that if we fail to take the word of God seriously, if we fail to hear it and heed it for what it is, it's still a sword. The nature of what this is doesn't change regardless of our response to it, but in that case rather than penetrating us to bring about life it will be a sword that penetrates us to judge us and condemn us in our sin. Now last week you may remember that we saw one of the primary Old Testament stories that lies behind this section of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 3 and 4 is the story out of Numbers 14. I know some of you might not have been here last week, so to review real quickly; in Numbers 14 we heard the story of the 12 spies. God and Moses had sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan to spy it out and then they returned. When they returned, they gave their report and as a result of their report while the whole camp of the Israelites erupted in rebellion against the Lord and against Moses. In view of that the Lord issued his judgment that none of those among the first generation of the Israelites would be able to enter into the land of Canaan, instead they would fall dead in the wilderness for 40 years. In the aftermath of that judgment that the Lord pronounces upon his people in Numbers 14, well we find that the people of Israel are somewhat distressed by God's judgment that he just issued. They were all the while looking back to Egypt hoping to return back to Egypt, but when God issues his judgment, and he says you're going to fall dead in the wilderness. Well, they immediately reverse course, and they begin saying that we're going to go into the promised land anyway, we're going to go take Canaan by force. When they attempt to do that, which they do, God judges them for doing that. We read explicitly in Numbers 14 that when they do that they were driven back by the sword of the Amalekites and the Canaanites. In view of that story, again a story that so permeates Hebrews 3-4, it's no coincidence why God's word here is referred to as a sword. Because if we fail to listen to God's word, we'll be in the same place as the wilderness generation was, it'll be a sort of judgment that condemns us in our sins so that we never reach the promised rest held out for us. I like the way John Calvin describes this point. Calvin uses the metaphor of the word of God as a hammer. A hammer that hits away at us in order to bring about life and to mold and to shape us. Then he mentions that unfortunately, some among God's covenant people have hearts like an anvil. If you don't know what an anvil is, an anvil is one of those big metal things that Wiley Coyote always tries to drop on the roadrunner. The point of that metaphor is that when the hammer strikes an anvil, it doesn't matter how powerful that hammer is, the anvil is always going to repel the hammer, time after time, without making a dent in the anvil once. So let me ask you this, is your heart more like an anvil? Is it staunchly resistant to what God's word proclaims, at every turn ready to fight against God's word or to cherry-pick what we like from it while leaving away the rest? Or do you receive the word of God, the entirety of it, as we should by faith? Brothers and sisters know that as we labor by faith, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to enter God's Sabbath rest in the future, which all of God's elect most certainly will, there is a powerful word. The word of God given to us for our sanctification in the present, so listen to that word. Let the word of God be as a knife that peels back the layers of our heart to expose sin, as painful as that might be at times, to drive us to repentance and then to drive us to faith in Jesus Christ. Application So in view of these things, how should we pursue this rest today? Well, let me leave us with two applications. 1. The first is this; keep the Sabbath. Again, bear in mind how our future heavenly rest is described in our passage, it's not just a generic rest, it's described as a Sabbath rest. A rest that God first entered into after his work of creation, when after laboring for six days he rested on the seventh. Now it's true that for us this Sabbath rest that we look forward to is something that's entirely future. We rest in Jesus in present, yes, but we haven't yet entered into this future Sabbath rest described in our passage. Yet there's also a sense in which we receive a foretaste of this future eternal Sabbath rest when we're commanded to observe the fourth commandment, that is to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Friends, on the Sabbath we get to lay aside the laborers that that naturally occupy us every other day of the week and come before the Lord in the context of the church and do what we were created to do, what we get to do for all eternity. That is commune and worship and fellowship with the Lord. I think New Testament scholar Ryan McGraw is right when he says that on the Sabbath Day God has commanded us to spend the whole day in heaven, so to speak. Understand that the weekly Sabbath is intended to be a picture, an incomplete picture yes, but still a picture of heaven. A picture of what real, true, rejuvenating rest, that we so often find fleeting in our lives, really looks like. The Sabbath isn't merely a time for us to set aside our labors and it's not as if we stop working and we cease from all work during the day. No, it's a day for us to set aside our weekly labor so that we can be preoccupied with another work, that is the work of worship worshiping the Lord. It's a day for us, an invitation for us, to set aside those things that naturally occupy us every other day of the week so that we can come into the Lord's presence as his body and worship him in spirit and in truth. There are many other things that could occupy us on this day, other good things, entertaining things that we could enjoy, but because this day primarily pictures the heavenly Sabbath rest that we will one day enter into, make worship on this day a priority. Make fellowship with the body a priority. Prioritize those things that help us appreciate the picture of heaven that this day is intended to be. So that's the first application, keep the Sabbath. 2. Second application is this receive what you have heard by faith. Once again there is a future heavenly Sabbath rest held out for us a promise that should we persevere in Jesus Christ, which God's elect most certainly will do. We'll also participate one day in God's rest, but until we get there, until we finish our course, have you received what you have heard in the present by faith? Understand that nothing less than justifying faith in Jesus Christ will do. So, what does that involve? I've used this term justifying faith or saving faith a couple times in the sermon. What is that? What does that involve? What does that mean? Well, the Bible teaches us that saving faith or justifying faith consists in three things. First it requires that we know the claims of the gospel, after all we can't believe in that which we do not know. Second it requires that we also affirm or assent to those claims as true. Yet, as James tells us, even the demons do that. Even the demons know the gospel claims and even the demons assent to those claims as true. So, third saving faith also requires that we trust, that we rest the entirety of our lives on the only person who can ultimately give us rest, on Jesus Christ our Lord. So let me ask you this, do you know what the gospel claims? It claims that we're dead in our sins and trespasses and that apart from being found in Jesus Christ, and him alone, we too will fall dead in the wilderness just like the wilderness generation. Do you believe those claims? Do you receive those claims as true? Then more than that, are you resting on the person and work of Jesus Christ in the present? Perhaps as a good litmus test that we would all do well to ask ourselves is whether or not we have a healthy fear? We're commanded in verse one of chapter four, “let us fear”, which is a command to take these things seriously. Take the matter of God's holiness seriously. Take his word seriously. Take the issue of human sin and rebellion seriously. Take the matter of perseverance in the Christian life seriously. Do you take those things seriously and does the quality of your life reflect that you do? Friends while rest can so easily slip from the from our grasp in this life, keep your eyes fixed on the only one who can give us true rejuvenating rest in the future, Jesus Christ. He who offers us rest now and who holds out for us the promise of an eternal Sabbath heavenly rest in the future.

To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29 On this Podcast Wednesday, James and Jonathan welcome special guest Ryan McGraw to Theology on the Go. Ryan is academic dean and professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His book,By Good and Necessary Consequence,is the topic of todays conversation. It is part of the seriesExplorations in Reformed and Confessional Theologyby Reformation Heritage Books.The phrase by good and necessary consequence appears in theWestminster Confession of Faith:Chapter 1, paragraph 6. What does this phrase mean, and why has Ryan written a book about it? How do we guard against abusing the principle by taking it too far and deriving whatever we want from any text of Scripture?

By Good and Necessary Consequence James and Jonathan welcome special guest Ryan McGraw. Ryan is academic dean and professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His book, By Good and Necessary Consequence, is the topic of today’s conversation. It is part of the series Explorations in Reformed and Confessional Theology by Reformation Heritage Books.   The phrase “by good and necessary consequence” appears in the Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter 1, paragraph 6. What does this phrase mean, and why has Ryan written a book about it? How do we guard against abusing the principle by taking it too far and deriving whatever we want from any text of Scripture?   Register for the opportunity to win a free copy of “By Good and Necessary Consequence.” The books are a generous gift from our friends at RHB.  

Sabbath School lesson in Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.- In Chapter 9, we consider what legalism is and what legalism isn't.

Sabbath School lesson in Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.- In Chapter 8, we consider some practical observations... general principles that come from the nature of the commandment and must guide specific applications, along with some example applications that are consequently necessary inferences from these principles.

In this edition of Confessing Our Hope, Zachary Groff interviews GPTS Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Ryan McGraw on the subject of Pneumatology, the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. For more information about GPTS, please visit gpts.edu.

In this edition of Confessing Our Hope, Zachary Groff interviews GPTS Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Ryan McGraw on the subject of Pneumatology, the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. For more information about GPTS, please visit gpts.edu.

Sabbath School lesson in Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.- In Chapter 6, we consider that the Sabbath combats our worldliness by presenting to us a full day of that which is missing from the worldly -Christian's- life.

Sabbath School lesson in Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.- In Chapter 5, we consider how our worldliness shapes what we view as restful and joyous.

In this episode of the podcast, Zachary Groff interviews Dr. Ryan M. McGraw (Academic Dean and Morton H. Smith Professor of Systematic Theology, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary) about the recently republished Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Banner of Truth, 2020). For more information about the set, or to purchase the set, please visit https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/collected-workssets/the-works-of-thomas-manton/

Sabbath School lesson in Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.- In Chapter 4, we revisit Isaiah 58, to look especially at how the prohibitions of the chapter redirect us from a day for what pleases us to a day for what God has been pleased to set it apart for.

We continue through Ryan McGraw's helpful little book, -The Day of Worship,- by considering those presuppositions with which the Spirit-inspired prophet expects us to read Isaiah 58-13-14. We find that a well-kept Sabbath is a special indicator of the gospel age, in which God's people know Him to be One Who loves to give joy -as opposed to demanding or enjoying our misery-

Sabbath School lesson in chapter 1 of Dr. Ryan McGraw's -The Day of Worship.-

Carl rushes in to introduce today’s guest…lest he, once again, forget the man’s name! Jonathan Master is a friend of The Spin and the co-host of Theology on the Go, another Alliance podcast. Just a few days ago, Jonathan officially took the reins as president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, so we brought him back into the bunker to gain some inside info about what the future holds. What is it like to step into a new position of leadership during a time of so much instability? What are some of the main challenges Jonathan might encounter ahead? If you’re considering going to seminary, you’ll be interested in hearing what Jonathan has to say about GPTS and its distinctives. You’ll also pick up on Carl and Todd’s obvious bookcase ladder envy! We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to win a free copy of a great book titled Knowing the Trinity by Ryan McGraw, who is a GPTS faculty member. 

This week, we talk about the variety of ways that children are affected by the opioid crisis. Also, Stephanie has a breakdown because it’s hard to accept the things you cannot change. In this episode, she sits down with Peter who describes the process of adopting three kids born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; The Seattle Times’ Claudia Rowe who gives an overview of how this epidemic is impacting kids in the foster care system; and Kendra Cram and Ryan McGraw from Minford Elementary in Ohio, who have created a program that addresses social and emotional learning for kids who have been impacted by trauma.  Continue the conversation on your phone at https://flick.group/lastday. Last Day contains strong language, mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all listeners.  Transcriptions available shortly after air date at https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/last-day/. Last Day is presented by www.newchapter.com. Claudia Rowe for the Seattle Times New York Times story on Minford Elementary Casper.com/lastday (promo code LASTDAY) hellofresh.com/LASTDAY80 Talkspace (promo code LASTDAY) Good Kids: How Not to Raise An A**hole An Arm and A Leg Dopey

This week, we talk about the variety of ways that children are affected by the opioid crisis. Also, Stephanie has a breakdown because it’s hard to accept the things you cannot change. In this episode, she sits down with Peter who describes the process of adopting three kids born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; The Seattle Times’ Claudia Rowe who gives an overview of how this epidemic is impacting kids in the foster care system; and Kendra Cram and Ryan McGraw from Minford Elementary in Ohio, who have created a program that addresses social and emotional learning for kids who have been impacted by trauma.  Continue the conversation on your phone at https://flick.group/lastday. Last Day contains strong language, mature themes, and may not be appropriate for all listeners.    Transcriptions available shortly after air date at https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/last-day/. Last Day is presented by www.newchapter.com. Claudia Rowe for the Seattle Times New York Times story on Minford Elementary Casper.com/lastday (promo code LASTDAY) hellofresh.com/LASTDAY80 Talkspace (promo code LASTDAY) Good Kids: How Not to Raise An A**hole An Arm and A Leg Dopey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discern Daily Ep. 19 - The Whole Trinity Saves Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone is not a work accomplished by the Son of God alone — the entire Trinity is involved in every salvation. On this episode, we are learning from an article by Ryan McGraw, published on Tabletalk magazine, titled, "For Whom Did Christ Die?" Let's seek the truth together. [embed]https://youtu.be/YTjCaKxf9-Y[/embed] Quotes By Ryan McGraw “I came to Christ by understanding that God counted our sin to His Son in order to count His incarnate Son’s righteousness to us (2 Cor. 5:21). As soon as someone pointed out that all people must be saved if Christ did these things for all people, I was sold on limited atonement." "We can best understand the fact that Christ came to save His people, and them only, from their sins (Matt. 1:21) by rooting Christ’s death in the saving work of the whole Trinity, and by answering two common questions." "Why, then, do some passages of Scripture seem to universalize Christ’s death (e.g., 1 John 2:2)?" "Does limited atonement limit the gospel offer to the elect only?" “The united work of the Trinity shows clearly why Christ died for the elect only. The Father chose believers in Christ before time began (Eph. 1:4–5). The Holy Spirit is the Father’s seal of ownership on the elect (vv. 13–14). No one receives the things of God or confesses that Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10–16; 12:3). The Father calls His elect to Christ by His Word and Spirit (2 Cor. 3:16–18; James 1:18). The Trinity is undivided and indivisible. Christ’s death extends as far as the Father’s electing purpose (Acts 2:23) and the Spirit’s effecting power (13:48)." “It is not that the Father chose some and the Spirit changes some while Christ died for all. The Father saves by particular election, the Son by particular redemption, and the Spirit by particular calling." “God is triune, and the atonement is a unified Trinitarian act in purpose, production, and perfection.” Episode Highlights A true salvation is a work accomplished by the entire Trinity, not just Jesus Christ. Someone has to pay for the consequences of our sin. The payment is needed once — either Christ pays the debt for our sin or we pay the debt. Limited atonement is a doctrine worth studying, related to our discussion. To better understand what limited atonement is all about, you can view a great resource by R.C. Sproul, for Ligonier, here. There's great encouragement to be found in learning about the work of the entire Trinity in our salvation. The Father chooses us, the Son dies for us, and the Spirit fills and empowers us. Share Your Thoughts Follow @DiscernDaily on Twitter and share this episode on social media. What are your convictions on limited atonement? How does it change things for you knowing the entire Trinity, not just the Son, is involved in your life?

Dr. Ryan M. McGraw steps into the studio to discuss his book "The Ark of Safety" (2018), published by Reformation Heritage Books in the Explorations in Reformed Confessional Theology series. In it, he explains, defends, and applies the doctrine expressed in Westminster Confession of Faith 25.2, which states that outside of the visible church there is "no ordinary possibility of salvation."

Introduction to Ryan McGraw and Access2yoga 2:10 When Ryan started yoga he did the maximum expression of the pose, because he wasn’t given modifications. He met a teacher who showed him modifications for the poses using a chair, the wall, and props for supporting his body. It brought a new level of understanding and brought more peace to the body. He could more easily bring in the breath to the pose 4:50 He developed an Adaptive Yoga Manual for yoga teachers. It is available on his website (www.access2yoga.com) for everyone. He teaches Adaptive Yoga workshops and contributed a chapter to Yoga and Body Image (2015) that tells the stories of 25 yogis who don’t look like the public perception of yoga. 6:30 In the last 10 years, adaptive, accessible yoga had become mainstream due to the efforts of Mathew Sanford and Jivana Heyman. They are talking and writing about making yoga more accessible. More teachers are becoming interested in accessible yoga as more demographics learn the about the benefits of yoga and want to participate. 1 in 5 people have a disability and others have injuries that need modifications, others are curvy and all may need some modifications. 10:00 Teachers in workshops need to know that yoga can be inclusive. Can adapt poses and still receive benefits. For instance Tadasana (mountain) pose can be done in a chair and the upper body receives the same benefits as if the pose was done standing. 13:25 The accessible yoga ambassadors program came from the Accessible yoga  concept to make yoga inclusive. Ambassadors work to make the public aware that yoga can be inclusive. A recent review by Yoga Alliance included people from Accessible Yoga. Ryan was on the Teacher Qualifications workgroup and he hopes that accessible yoga ideas are included in teacher training requirements as a result of this review. 16:34 Three things that a yoga teacher should do to make sure his/her class is inclusive? Greet the student and ask them what modifications, if any, they might need Don’t leave the student out, but don’t needlessly point the student out either Offer modifications if they are struggling. Most importantly make them feel safe and welcome in class. Contact details: www.access2yoga.com FB: access2yoga    

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob had an opportunity to sit down with the Rev. Dr. Ryan M. McGraw to talk about John Owen and his major writings. Following this interview Rob and Bob take a few minutes to talk about their appreciation of Owen. Dr. McGraw serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary,  as well as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is the author of several books including The Foundation of Communion with God: The Trinitarian Piety of John Owen.

Ryan McGraw was recently teaching a course on John Owen at Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Bill took the opportunity to interview him about John Owen, the Trinity, and the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Because knowledge of the Trinity is the foundation of Christianity we've invited Dr. Ryan McGraw in to discuss with us this important truth. You will not want to miss this special episode. Also, tune in to find out how you can win one of Dr. McGraw's newest books, Knowing the Trinity. … More Special Episode: Interview with Dr. Ryan McGraw

On this episode, we are joined by Ryan McGraw, who speaks about the foundational role and practical significance of Trinitarian theology to John Owen. Dr. McGraw is Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Caroline. His article, "Trinitarian Doxology: Reassessing John Owen's Contribution to Reformed Orthodox Trinitarian Theology" was published in The Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 77, No. 2. Dr. McGraw joined us on a previous episode of Christ the Center to speak about the meaning of the phrase "good and necessary consequence" in the Westminster Confession of Faith 1.6.

In this edition of the podcast, Greenville Seminary professor Dr. Ryan McGraw discuss the doctrine of the trinity and its practical importance in the life of the Christian.

Join Dr. Ryan McGraw and I (Josh) as we discuss the sovereignty of God from a Biblical perspective.

Dr. Pipa and special guest Dr. Ryan McGraw sit down and answers questions submitted by the listeners.

Dr. Ryan McGraw was our guest as we discussed a book he edited, The Foundation of Communion with God: The Trinitarian Piety of John Owen.

Dr. Ryan McGraw is our guest as we discuss a new series on the subject of "cultivating biblical godliness".

Ryan McGraw was our guest as we discussed his book "Christ's Glory, Your Good".

A discussion with Rev. Ryan McGraw on his book "By Good and Necessary Consequence".

This week, we welcome back to the program Ryan McGraw, author of the book Christ?s Glory, Your Good: Salvation Planned, Promised, Accomplished, and Applied. Ryan is Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Conway, SC. Ryan holds a a BA in history from California State University Fullerton, a MDiv and a ThM (in Reformed worship) fromGreenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is working on a PhD through the University of the Free State (South Africa). He is the recent-past president of the GPTS Alumni Association, and is also the author of the book By Good and Necessary Consequence.

We welcome to the program Ryan McGraw, author of The Day of Worship: Reassessing the Christian Life In Light of the Sabbath. Ryan is Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Conway, SC. Ryan holds a a BA in history from California State University Fullerton, a MDiv and a ThM (in Reformed worship) from Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and is working on a PhD through the University of the Free State (South Africa). He is the recent-past president of the GPTS Alumni Association, and is also the author of the book By Good and Necessary Consequence.

What happens to a pastor when he believes that God is calling him to leave one congregation to pastor another congregation? What are some of the pitfalls and problems associated with it? Are there any fundamental processes that a pastor can use to help him determine if this is the will of God? In this broadcast we examine these questions, and many more, with a man who labored over this exact issue. Our guest is Rev. Ryan McGraw.