Conviction of Sin Before or After Regeneration?

Does conviction of sin come before or after regeneration? And how much misery is actually required before someone can come to Christ? In this episode of Ask FGBC, Pastors Jim Butler and Cameron Porter work through a question that touches on the order of sal…

How Necessary is Seminary for Pastors?

How necessary is seminary for a pastor? And does it matter whether he's full-time or serving in a supporting role? Pastor Jim Butler works through the biblical qualifications for eldership, what it means to be "apt to teach," and how formal education fits i…

What Is Faith?

What does it mean to have faith? Is it a feeling? A level of sincerity? A spiritual intensity you can measure? Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter work through what the Bible and the 1689 Confession teach about saving faith - its object, its source, and the w…

How to Start Reading the Bible for the First Time?

How to Start Reading the Bible — Where Does a Beginner Begin? Maybe someone handed you a Bible and you're not sure where to open it. Maybe you've been a Christian for years and still feel lost in the Old Testament. Or maybe you're sharing your faith with …

What Are the Requirements for Church Membership?

What are the requirements for church membership? Is formal membership even biblical? In Ask FGBC #57, Pastor Jim Butler explains why the concept of church membership is necessary from Scripture, even though the word "membership" doesn't appear in the New Te…

When Should a Believer be Baptized?

When should a believer be baptized? Is it okay to wait, or does Scripture call for something more immediate? In this episode of Ask FGBC, Pastor Jim Butler and Pastor Cam Porter walk through the book of Acts to show how the early church responded to the gos…

How Many Valid Interpretations Can A Bible Passage Have?

How many meanings does a Bible passage have? With so many interpretations floating around, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or wonder if Scripture can really have one clear meaning. In this episode, Pastor Jim Butler addresses this important question by walkin…

If My Sins Are Forgiven, What Will I Be Judged For?

If my sins are forgiven and cast into the deepest sea, remembered no more, what will I give account for on Judgment Day? This question addresses the tension between complete forgiveness through justification by faith and the biblical teaching of a coming Da…

Ask FGBC Batch 6: Baptism, Faith, Seminary & More | Reformed Baptist Theology

Welcome to Ask FGBC Batch 6! Pastors Jim Butler and Cam Porter tackle 12 theological questions covering baptism, faith, Bible reading, church membership, seminary training, and more—all from a confessional Reformed Baptist perspective rooted in Scripture …

Why Does The Devil Hate Women So Much?

We see it throughout history and in various cultures. **Burning of widows on funeral pyres, Sati, was legal in India until 1829. **The “Rule of Thumb” was from 1857 and forbid a man from England or Wales from using a rod thicker than his thumb to beat h…

Is It Okay to Have Children’s Bibles With Pictures of Jesus?

As Christian parents, we want to teach our kids about Jesus in ways that are engaging and meaningful — but is it okay to use children’s Bibles that include pictures of Him? In this episode of Ask FGBC, Pastors Cam Porter and Jim Butler join Wim Kerkhoff…

What Does The Bible Mean By The Unforgiveable Sin?

With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded Dec 20, 2024. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and …

Faith vs Trust, Are They the Same?

Why Join a Church?

With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded Dec 20, 2024. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and …

Is Hell Eternal?

With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded Dec 20, 2024. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and …

Believers Baptism Before Communion

Should believers be baptized (by immersion) before taking part in the Lord’s Supper? What is your stance on fencing the table for visitors when it comes to those who are members in good standing at a Christ centered church but were baptized as infants? --…

Ask FGBC - Dec 2024 Podcast with Pastors Butler and Porter, Batch 4

Full recording of questions 34 through 43. With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded December 20, 2024. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask Each video will be separately published to…

How Much Marriage Counselling Should Pastors Provide?

With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Cameron Porter, and Wim Kerkhoff. Recorded Dec 20, 2024. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio…

What about head coverings in church for women?

With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are available on SermonAudio, Youtube and Facebook…

How do I handle family members, friends, etc, not believing?

Question: How do I handle family members, friends, etc, not believing? I have explained the gospel to them but they don’t care and refuse to believe. They are waiting for a divine experience where hell is opened to them and where they have a deep sense of…

What is the difference between saving and common grace?

Ask FGBC: What is the difference between saving and common grace? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anon…

Are there different types of faith?

Question: Are there different types of faith? Ie. temporary, historical, saving With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option…

What does a holy walk look like in a Christian?

Question: What does a holy walk look like in a Christian? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymously.…

How will we see the Trinity in Heaven?

Question: "How will we see the Trinity in Heaven? I understand that “God is spirit”, that he is “invisible”, that we will see his face and we will behold the Lamb but Will we see the three Persons of the Trinity in heaven, or will we only see Jesus …

What is the "day of the Lord"?

Question: What is the "day of the Lord"? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos are avail…

Why the shift from Saturday to Sunday worship?

Question: Why the shift from Saturday to Sunday worship? What is the biblical foundation for the shift from Saturday (7th day) to Sunday (1st day) worship? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see pr…

How to witness to homosexual neighbours?

Question: How can we as believers love those around us while still being strong witnesses to the truth and hope of the gospel? How to offer friendship without condoning a sinful lifestyle? Context: homosexual neighbours "expecting" babies via IVF. This is s…

Why is it important for a Christian to continually confess his sins?

Question: Why is it important for a Christian to continually confess his sins? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option …

Can you forgive someone who has not apologized or asked for forgiveness?

Question: Can you forgive someone who has not apologized or asked for forgiveness? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an opt…

What is the New Covenant in the Reformed Baptist view?

Question: What is the New Covenant in the Reformed Baptist view? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anony…

Is baptism in the new covenant the new circumcision?

Question: Is baptism in the new covenant the new circumcision? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymo…

How can I clearly explain credo baptism to teenager who grew up paedo?

Question: Can you please provide a clear, concise explanation of why we believe in Credo Baptism and not pedo in such a way that it would make sense to a pedo Baptist? (The discussion comes up often and I'd like to just be able to refer this rather than stu…

Should Christians engage in politics?

Question: Should Christians engage in politics? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything There is an option to do it anonymously. Videos ar…

Should churches observe holy days?

Question: Why do Reformed Baptist churches not observe holy days ( holidays) such as Good Friday, Christmas Day, Prayer Day, Thanksgiving Day with a church service? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question a…

What does it mean to repent and believe?

Question: What does it mean to repent and believe? What does it mean to repent – what does that look like? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgb…

What is Free Will?

QUESTION #16: What is Free Will? How do we explain it differently than Arminians? With Pastor Jim Butler, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, and Wim Kerkhoff Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything/ There is an opt…

Is there a difference between our temptations and what Jesus faced

QUESTION: Is there a difference between the temptations that we face and the temptations that out Lord Jesus Christ faced? Full podcast recording with pastor Butler, Dr Jim Renihan and Dr Richard Barcellos: https://youtu.be/B3nxQ2seOec?si=c6CI7XbMBKANL2FN C…

Connecting modern day Israel to Old & New Covenant Promises

QUESTION: With Israel very much in the news these days, can you comment on the position of the nation of Israel, with specific reference to the Abrahamic covenant, the land promise, other Old Testament promises in the prophets, the New Covenant, and special…

How can I be a proper steward of my children, and feel confident they are saved?

QUESTION #15: The biggest fear I have as a born-again Christian is the fear that my children will not be included in God's grace offering. Growing up Hyper-Calvinist, it was implied that children very rarely can be born again. I know that’s not true, but …

Can I apply Old Testament promises to my life? Jeremiah 29:11-13

QUESTION: Can I apply Old Testament promises to my life? Sometimes, a verse is meaningful to me, although it seems that I took it out of context (for example, Jeremiah 29:11-13). Full podcast recording with pastor Butler, Dr Jim Renihan and Dr Richard Barce…

Ask FBGC #11: What will our days in heaven look like?

QUESTION: Often I struggle with the idea of eternity in Heaven, that there is nothing we graduate from or too. What will our "days" in heaven look like; aside from singing the praises of our God? Full podcast recording with pastor Butler, Dr Jim Renihan and…

Why should only believers be baptized?

QUESTION: How do the reformed baptists, from scripture, in light of their covenantal theology, arrive at the conclusion that only a believer should be baptized? Outline: - Pastor Jim Butler and Dr. James Renihan discuss the distinction between moral law and…

How is Jesus the greater fulfillment of the Old Testament Israel?

Full podcast recording with pastor Butler, Dr Jim Renihan and Dr Richard Barcellos: https://youtu.be/B3nxQ2seOec?si=c6CI7XbMBKANL2FN Confessing the Faith Conference – April 2024 recordings: https://www.confessingthefaith.ca/2024 Submit your own question a…

Ask FGBC - Podcast with Jim Butler, Dr James Renihan, Dr Richard Barcellos

Recorded April 25, 2024. Themes discussed: • Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about Israel • The distinction between moral and positive law in the Old Testament • The definition of baptism in light of the New Covenant • The natur…

How could one man pay for the sins of the world in 18 hours?

Question: If we deserve an eternity in hell as a just punishment for our sins, how was Christ able to pay the punishment for billions over a period of 36 hours? It was after all, Christ according to His humanity that died for our sins. Submit your own quest…

Is pouring or sprinkling water sufficient for Baptism?

Submit your own question: https://forms.gle/goquHQpmde7CVZqf6 There is an option to do it anonymously. FGBC website: https://www.freegrace.ca Transcript: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-2-is-pouring-or-sprinkling-sufficient-for-baptism Ask Anything #2 - I…

How do you explain that God is real to an athiest?

Question: How do you explain to a die-hard non-believer how and why you believe God is real? A person who has read all sorts of books discrediting the truth of God. Submit your own question and see previous topics: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything…

Why is historical confessional Christianity important?

Question: How should I communicate the importance of historical (confessional) Christianity to non-denominational friends/family who have a superficial understanding of the faith ("no creed but Christ")? Submit your own question: https://www.freegrace.ca/as…

Are people who “chose” for Jesus actually saved?

Question: In the greater rounds of Christian conversation, I hear a lot “When I chose Jesus” or “When I accepted Jesus as my Savior” or some such language as they decided to be a Christian…. Are those people so fundamentally flawed as to be not sa…

Is accepting salvation a choice?

Question: Is accepting salvation a choice? I know we can't merit salvation by works, and I know salvation is by grace but is that offered to all of us or can only the elected/predestined accept it. Transcript: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-4-accepting-s…

What is Hyper-Calvinism?

What is Hyper-Calvinism, how does it impact the preaching and listening, and how is it fatal? Submit your own question: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-anything/ There is an option to do it anonymously. FGBC website: https://www.freegrace.ca

What is a Reformed Baptist?

Submit a question: https://forms.gle/goquHQpmde7CVZqf6 There is an option to do it anonymously. FGBC website: https://www.freegrace.ca Transcript: https://www.freegrace.ca/ask-fgbc-1-what-is-a-reformed-baptist/ Reformed Baptist theology at a church. 0:06 Re…