OpenTheo

A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation with Matthew Bingham

Life and Books and Everything — Clearly Reformed

A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation with Matthew Bingham

March 31, 2025
Life and Books and Everything
Life and Books and EverythingClearly Reformed

It is often believed, by friends and critics alike, that the Reformed tradition, though perhaps good on formal doctrine, is impoverished when it comes to spiritual formation. The charge is that the Reformed approach to piety is all about head knowledge, about learning things as brains on sticks. Other Christians may be less critical but simply assume that there is no right or wrong way to do spiritual formation. This often leads evangelical to adopt an eclectic approach to personal growth in Christ. Many Christians in conservative Protestant churches end up adopting Catholic and Orthodox approaches as being more fulsome and effective. But what if there is a Reformed approach to spiritual formation that is rich, deep, historic, and more biblical than the alternatives? That’s what Kevin explores with Matthew Bingham (associate professor of church history at Phoenix Seminary) as they dig into Matthew’s fantastic new book A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation (Crossway).

Chapters:

0:00 Sponsors & Intro

3:27 Tell Us About Yourself

8:16 Spiritual Formation

14:18 A Heart Aflame for God

21:15 A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation

26:53 Sponsor Break

29:44 Biblical Centrality

40:40 The Reformed Triangle of Spiritual Formation

47:24 Quick Takes

1:06:41 Final Thoughts

1:12:14 Until Next Time…

Books & Everything:

ESV New Testament, Share the Good News® Edition

Desiring God | Holy Week

GPTS | A Sacred Calling

WTS | MA in Theological Studies

Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More From Life and Books and Everything

Pastoral Theology with Jonathan Master
Pastoral Theology with Jonathan Master
Life and Books and Everything
April 21, 2025
First published in 1877, Thomas Murphy’s Pastoral Theology: The Pastor in the Various Duties of His Office is one of the absolute best books of its ki
Nicene Orthodoxy with Blair Smith
Nicene Orthodoxy with Blair Smith
Life and Books and Everything
April 28, 2025
Kevin welcomes his good friend—neighbor, church colleague, and seminary colleague (soon to be boss!)—Blair Smith to the podcast. As a systematic theol
The Biblical View of Abortion with Tom Pennington
The Biblical View of Abortion with Tom Pennington
Life and Books and Everything
May 5, 2025
What does the Bible say about life in the womb? When does life begin? What about personhood? What has the church taught about abortion over the centur
On Tyndale House, the Old Testament, and the Promises and Pitfalls of Biblical Scholarship with Peter Williams and Will Ross
On Tyndale House, the Old Testament, and the Promises and Pitfalls of Biblical Scholarship with Peter Williams and Will Ross
Life and Books and Everything
March 6, 2025
Recently, Peter Williams, Principal at Tyndale House in Cambridge, preached at Christ Covenant Church for its missions week. At the end of the evening
Preaching and Pastoral Ministry with John Piper
Preaching and Pastoral Ministry with John Piper
Life and Books and Everything
February 20, 2025
In this wide-ranging interview, recorded live at Christ Covenant Church in conjunction with the Coram Deo Pastors Workshop, Kevin asks John about ever
The Most Influential Family in America with Obbie Tyler Todd
The Most Influential Family in America with Obbie Tyler Todd
Life and Books and Everything
February 13, 2025
Before the Bushes or Clintons, before the Kennedy or Kardashians, there were the Beechers—a sprawling family of preachers, suffragists, abolitionists,
More From "Life and Books and Everything"

More on OpenTheo

Are You Accursed If You Tithe?
Are You Accursed If You Tithe?
#STRask
December 15, 2025
Questions about whether anyone who tithes is not a Christian and is accursed since Paul says that if you obey one part of the Mosaic Law you’re obliga
How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
How Could the Similarities Between Krishna and Jesus Be a Coincidence?
#STRask
October 9, 2025
Questions about how the similarities between Krishna and Jesus could be a coincidence and whether there’s any proof to substantiate the idea that Jesu
Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Life and Books and Everything
November 26, 2025
How should Protestants think about the Catholic Mass? About the Eucharist? About the history and development of the papacy? In this panel discussion,
How Does It Affect You If a Gay Couple Gets Married or a Woman Has an Abortion?
How Does It Affect You If a Gay Couple Gets Married or a Woman Has an Abortion?
#STRask
October 16, 2025
Questions about how to respond to someone who asks, ”How does it affect you if a gay couple gets married, or a woman makes a decision about her reprod
How Do These Passages Fit with Your View on How God Speaks?
How Do These Passages Fit with Your View on How God Speaks?
#STRask
September 15, 2025
Questions about why, if it’s impossible to miss God’s voice, the disciples incorrectly told Paul “through the Spirit” not to go to Jerusalem, people m
How Can I Improve My Informal Writing?
How Can I Improve My Informal Writing?
#STRask
October 6, 2025
Question about how you can improve your informal writing (e.g., blog posts) when you don’t have access to an editor.   * Do you have any thoughts or
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
Why Do We Say Someone Was Saved on a Particular Date If It Was Part of an Eternal Plan?
#STRask
November 24, 2025
Questions about why we say someone was saved on a particular date if it was part of an eternal plan, the Roman Catholic view of the gospel vs. the Bib
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Conservatism and Religious Freedom with John Wilsey
Life and Books and Everything
October 27, 2025
What is conservatism? And why does it go hand in hand with religious freedom? How should we think about the American experiment of ordered liberty? Ha
The Resurrection Standoff: Licona vs. Ehrman on the Unbelievable Podcast
The Resurrection Standoff: Licona vs. Ehrman on the Unbelievable Podcast
Risen Jesus
October 22, 2025
This episode is taken from the Unbelievable podcast with Justin Brierly in 2011 when Dr. Bart Ehrman and Dr. Michael Licona address the question: Is t
After the Crucifixion, was Jesus Resurrected or Rescued? Licona vs. Ally
After the Crucifixion, was Jesus Resurrected or Rescued? Licona vs. Ally
Risen Jesus
October 8, 2025
This episode is a 2016 debate held at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga between Dr. Michael Licona and Dr. Shabir Ally, president of the Islam
Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
Why Would Any Rational Person Have to Use Any Religious Book?
#STRask
December 8, 2025
Questions about why any rational person would have to use any religious book, whether apologetics would be redundant if there were actually a good, un
Lora Ries: Border Security and Immigration Policy
Lora Ries: Border Security and Immigration Policy
Knight & Rose Show
December 7, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Lora Ries to discuss border security and immigration policy. They explore Biden's policy changes, like ending R
Is 1 Corinthians 12:3 a Black-and-White Tool for Discernment?
Is 1 Corinthians 12:3 a Black-and-White Tool for Discernment?
#STRask
October 27, 2025
Questions about whether the claim in 1 Corinthians that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” is a black-and-white tool for disce
Is Doing the Right Thing a Sin If You Truly Believe It’s Wrong?
Is Doing the Right Thing a Sin If You Truly Believe It’s Wrong?
#STRask
September 22, 2025
Questions about whether Romans 14:23 means that doing the right thing is a sin if you truly believe it’s wrong, and how to reconcile Hebrews 10:16, wh
Christmas Cranks and Christmas Blessings with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Christmas Cranks and Christmas Blessings with Justin Taylor and Collin Hansen
Life and Books and Everything
December 17, 2025
If you are looking for a podcast where three friends talk about whatever they want to talk about and ramble on about sports, books, and grievances, th