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The Heart of the Cross with Phil Ryken

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

The Heart of the Cross with Phil Ryken

May 17, 2022
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

Kevin welcomes Phil Ryken, President at Wheaton College, to the podcast to talk about “The Heart of the Cross,” a newly reissued book comprised of sermons from Dr. Ryken and James Montgomery Boice. But before they get to the book, Kevin and Phil talk about preaching, the challenges of higher education, Tenth Presbyterian Church, the ministry of James Boice, and a little bit about pickup basketball.

Timestamps:

Intro and Sponsor [0:00-1:39]

Guest: Phil Ryken [1:40-10:43]

The Merits of Guest Preaching [10:44-13:50]

What Makes for Good Preaching? [13:51-20:50]

Reading When Busy [20:51-22:55]

Issues with Higher Education [22:56-28:38]

Who was James M. Boice? [28:39-38:40]

The Heart of the Cross [38:41-43:32]

The Simplicity and Profundity of the Cross [43:33-52:43]

The Merits of Provocative Advertisements [52:44-56:15]

The Merits of Expository Preaching [56:16-58:41]

The Lack of True Discipleship [58:42-1:01:12]

Why Continually Focus on the Cross? [1:01:13-1:06:52]

Books and Everything:

Freakonomics Podcast Episode on Higher Ed 

The Heart of the Cross  

The Cross of Christ  

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