Captivate & Conform is a weekly podcast of Cedar Crest BFC that discusses theology, Christian living, missions, and more from a reformed, baptistic perspective. We seek to have conversations that captivate every thought and conform every affection to the beauty and lordship of Jesus Christ.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 45:06
Our church has been faithfully trekking through the Book of Matthew for nearly four years. Our journey concludes this Sunday. In anticipation of his final sermon, Pastor Jason…
Sep 21, 2026 · 46:06
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jules sift through some the biggest headlines. They discuss the passing of a cultural icon and how Christlike sympathy does not nullify the need for…
Sep 14, 2026 · 38:38
The church has raised Christians who can rattle off facts about Jesus. But it has often failed to help believers see how the Bible’s grand story of redemption—from Genesis to…
Sep 7, 2026 · 48:00
On this Labor Day special episode, guest Rick Whitmire shares how Christians can strike a healthy work/life balance, starting with how we rest. Discipleship Institute offers…
Aug 31, 2026 · 41:11
On this episode we turn to what we listen to in private—in the car, on your morning jog, around the house. Pastor Chris then quizzes Luke and Loren on how well they can…
Aug 24, 2026 · 35:40
Song choice, both in corporate and private settings, matters. Luke Walters, Director of Worship Arts, joins the show to discuss the purpose of worship in song, his selection…
Aug 17, 2026 · 48:43
Christians are fundamentally servants. We are called to serve just as Jesus Christ came into the world not to be served, but to serve. Yet, in this fallen world, serving comes…
Aug 10, 2026 · 43:07
This recording is a session from Marriage: Faithfulness in a Fallen World . Dr. Jim Newheiser walks through seven principles of a godly marriage. Access all conference sessions…
Aug 3, 2026 · 43:32
“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” - Martin Luther Luther struggled with the book of James at first, for he felt it taught a works-based…
Jul 27, 2026 · 51:20
While bodily training is only of “some value” (1 Tim. 4:8), Christians should not overlook it altogether. Josh and Victoria Parris, both former D1 athletes and current…
Jul 20, 2026 · 46:21
The world encourages us to withhold no pleasure from our hearts. King Solomon, the wisest and wealthiest man up to that point in human history, did just this—and found it…
Jul 13, 2026 · 47:50
Maybe you’ve heard the common refrains “once saved, always saved” or “eternal security.” Although technically true, these pithy sayings can muddy the theological waters regarding…
Jul 1, 2026 · 1:17:48
From the rigorous theological wrestling around separating from the crown to the “Indispensable Man” of George Washington who declared that the highest glory of a Patriot is the…
May 25, 2026 · 48:24
In honor of Captivate and Conform’s 150th episode, we reflect on some of our favorite episodes. Degrees of Sin (Part 2) , November 22, 2023 (Jess Miller) Ask Dr. Farnham ,…
May 18, 2026 · 50:34
Bright Hope is a pregnancy support center in the Lehigh Valley that Cedar Crest partners with. Jen Davies (Interim CEO) and Dave Block (Communications and Development Manager)…
May 11, 2026 · 45:25
Mark Crocco, Director of The Rephidim Project , shares what it means to live a Christ-centered life. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review and share…
May 4, 2026 · 46:29
Randy Grossman, longtime BFC pastor and moderator of BFC conference, joins the show to recap the noteworthy items of the 143rd BFC Conference. Making Room on the Millennium ---…
Apr 27, 2026 · 44:01
In this special “Earth Day” episode, Cliff Boone and Paul Younger, both Christians serious about caring for creation, discuss how believers are called to be good stewards of all…
Apr 20, 2026 · 50:38
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason respond to some of the biggest headlines on this edition of “Culture Roundup.” --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review…
Apr 13, 2026 · 46:53
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason conclude our ”Theology of Gender” series by discussing God’s design for men and women in society. While Scripture does not address this topic…
Apr 6, 2026 · 46:40
The modern church is confused by relationship between God’s law and his gospel. Many Christians view them as opposites, with the former rendered obsolete by the latter. But a…
Mar 30, 2026 · 40:38
As we prepare our hearts for Good Friday, Pastor Jason explains what makes it so good: Christ’s obedience to the Father, Christ’s atonement for our sin, and Christ’s purchase of…
Mar 23, 2026 · 51:55
As the Iran war continues, Christians should pause before reacting and consider: (1) what makes a war just, and (2) how to wage war justly once engaged. Dan Waterman helps us…
Mar 16, 2026 · 1:27
With the sudden passing of one of our members, Tealson Herrlin, Captivate & Conform is pausing the release of our episodes as we lament the loss of a son and brother. --- If you…
Mar 9, 2026 · 44:58
Gender roles in the church is the type of stuff that splits entire denominations. In a culture that prizes personal calling above all, it’s no surprise that boundaries are often…
Mar 3, 2026 · 46:24
A panel was posed questions on marriage, parenting, and singleness at the recent conference, Marriage: Faithfulness in a Fallen World . Here are their responses. Panelists…
Feb 23, 2026 · 48:27
Dr. Mark Farnham joins the show to tackle the big questions, including evolution, AI, and the problem of evil and suffering. For more information and answers to these topics,…
Feb 16, 2026 · 24:30
Pastors Chris and Jason continue their discussion of complementarianism in the home, turning to women’s roles. They address cultural misconceptions about work and children and…
Feb 9, 2026 · 35:46
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason continue unpacking a biblical theology of gender, focusing on complementarian roles in the home. They also answer questions submitted by the…
Feb 2, 2026 · 46:11
This special episode features the closing session given by Dr. Mark Farnham at Christian Ethics in a Post-Christian World . He urges biblical prudence, wisdom, and moderation…
Jan 26, 2026 · 52:39
Special guest Dr. Jim Newheiser joins the show to give a preview into what he’ll be teaching on at our upcoming conference Marriage: Faithfulness in a Fallen World (February 28,…
Jan 19, 2026 · 46:34
Modern culture seeks to erase distinctions between men and women, seen in trends like transgenderism and terms such as “birthing people.” While most evangelicals reject these…
Jan 12, 2026 · 46:24
Get to know Cameron Webb, the new Assistant Pastor over Student Ministry. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review and share it with a friend! If you…
Dec 10, 2025 · 4:05
We’re taking a break until 2026! Have a merry Christmas and see you next year 🎆 --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review and share it with a friend! If…
Dec 2, 2025 · 42:29
For the past several months Pastor Jules has been suffering from somewhat of a mystery ailment (although the doctors’ original hypothesis was correct from the start) that left…
Nov 26, 2025 · 42:10
Whether the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean, New England’s winter, or rampant starvation and disease, the Pilgrims endured extreme trials and yet epitomized Paul’s command to “give…
Nov 24, 2025 · 54:16
It is becoming increasingly difficult for students and teachers alike to maintain exclusive Christian convictions within the pluralistic environment of the public school system.…
Nov 17, 2025 · 49:35
The state’s role in God’s world is to promote the good and punish evil. The Christian is to pray for and submit to their government, but also disobey if necessary. BFC Principles…
Nov 10, 2025 · 1:15:06
In this special episode, we partnered with The Missions Podcast to interview Dr. Donald Fairbairn on the transcultural nature of Christianity represented by The Nicene Creed. Dr.…
Nov 3, 2025 · 50:44
Scott Allen observes 10 takeaways from Proverbs 31, a passage famously applied to wives, on what makes a godly husband. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a…
Oct 27, 2025 · 52:35
In his lecture at this year’s Equipping Believers Conference ( Christian Ethics in a Post-Christian World), Dr. Justin Hawkins spoke on bioethics specifically applied to people…
Oct 20, 2025 · 56:56
Dr. Donald Fairbairn is a distinguished professor in Early Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. During GO Conference, he sat down with Outreach Pastor Nathan…
Oct 13, 2025 · 51:35
During GO Conference we hosted a panel of current and former missionaries in Africa. Drawing from their collective experience and knowledge, they share about what God is doing on…
Oct 6, 2025 · 51:02
Pastor Chris’ mother-in-law Beth Stobbe joins the show for a special occasion—she recently finished 27 years of homeschooling! Beth shares some lessons learned along the way. ---…
Sep 29, 2025 · 48:07
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason break down Ligonier’s 2025 State of Theology , a survey of 3,000 US evangelicals on their theological beliefs. --- If you enjoyed this episode,…
Sep 22, 2025 · 47:36
A full week later, Pastor Chris reflects on the public murder of Charlie Kirk and offers key takeaways Christians should have on the tragedy. --- If you enjoyed this episode,…
Sep 15, 2025 · 44:11
This year marks the 1,700 anniversary of the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church that produced what we call The Nicene Creed. This…
Sep 8, 2025 · 49:00
Glenn Felty served as a pastor at Cedar Crest BFC for 15 years. Even in retirement, he stayed active in the church as a regular teacher and lay elder until the Lord called him…
Sep 2, 2025 · 47:19
If anything can be learned from the history of mankind, it’s that our ardent resistance of God’s grace is relentless. So how do Calvinists still hold to the doctrine of…
Aug 25, 2025 · 53:00
Much is made of prayer in the Christian walk, and rightfully so. But with that being said, much is also made of prayer that is unhelpful or even downright unbiblical. With the…
Aug 18, 2025 · 38:40
What would you like on your tombstone once you have left this world? Glenn Felty begins his sermon with this provocative question and asks us to consider a man named Enoch for…
Aug 11, 2025 · 49:11
The death of a child is perhaps the hardest trial a person can ever face. This grief is often compounded with a question almost too difficult to ask: “Is my child in heaven?” As…
Aug 4, 2025 · 52:12
🎉 WE’RE BACK! 🎉 To kick off a new season of Captivate and Conform, Pastor Jason and Nathan Trommler, Director of Outreach, recap their recent tour of South Asia with the…
Jul 17, 2025 · 34:07
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason reflect on the direct and indirect influence of John MacArthur, whose life and ministry touched millions of souls. --- If you enjoyed this episode,…
Jul 8, 2025 · 50:18
This special sermon rewind episode comes to you from the archives. In 2012 former CCBFC senior pastor Cliff Boone preached through the Book of Job. Here is his introductory…
Jul 2, 2025 · 6:50
📣 Captivate & Conform is taking a break during the month of July. Keep an eye out for some big projects in the works 👀 Catch ya in August 👋 --- If you enjoyed this episode,…
Jun 30, 2025 · 45:23
Nelson Randolph recounts his unlikely story of how a country boy turned metropolitan businessman wound up on scores of missions trips to some of the most dangerous parts of the…
Jun 23, 2025 · 51:24
After nearly 8 years, Adam Crain has stepped down as Shepherding Pastor at Cedar Crest BFC. He reflects on his time serving here and shares about his future. Adam is the founder…
Jun 16, 2025 · 54:47
In his famous teaching, Jesus using money as the alternative master to God was a deliberate choice. Money matters. It can grow into a vice for greed or a virtue for generosity.…
Jun 9, 2025 · 54:30
Who did Jesus die for? At first glance, the answer to this classic Sunday school question seems like it would come straight from John 3:16. However, the whole of Scripture gives…
Jun 2, 2025 · 44:42
In this first show-and-tell video format episode, the pastors share their five favorite Christian books, along with some honorable mentions. Put a few on your reading list this…
May 26, 2025 · 59:53
You’ve likely heard the adage, “Do good things and good things will happen to you,” or karma. Although Christians reject karma, we can still fall prey to a karmic way of thinking…
May 19, 2025 · 50:20
Pastor Jason and Pastor Chris tackle the news cycle, discussing top stories and how the church should respond to them. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive…
May 12, 2025 · 45:44
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason share three significant updates from the recent 142nd BFC Annual Conference. Watch the full conference livestream here. Study Committee reports on…
May 5, 2025 · 54:35
Is all quieting down on the sexual revolution front? Dr. Sam Andreades, a former pastor and current scholar on gender, warns that the battle over gender and sexual identity is…
Apr 28, 2025 · 42:23
Food, drink, and sex are often considered as the objects for sins of indulgence. Rightfully much ink has been spilled, many sermons preached and even podcasts recorded on the…
Apr 23, 2025 · 2:24
📣 IMPORTANT PODCAST ANNOUNCEMENT 📣 Release date change: Starting next week, April 28, Captivate & Conform will release episodes every Monday instead of Wednesday. Follow us on…
Apr 16, 2025 · 53:25
Using the book Gentle and Lowly, we reflect on Christ's heart for sinners and what led him to the cross. --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review and…
Apr 9, 2025 · 58:37
With the Trinity being central to the Christian faith, one shouldn't be surprised by the litany of heresies that have been lobbed at it over the centuries and millenniums. On…
Apr 2, 2025 · 53:52
Mankind is commanded to subdue the earth and have dominion over it (Genesis 1:28). But the prevailing cultural attitude seems to be divided into two camps: a harmful aloofness of…
Mar 26, 2025 · 52:20
We walk through a basic introduction of the Trinity: definitions, doctrinal origins, and how each of the divine persons relates to one another. --- If you enjoyed this episode,…
Mar 19, 2025 · 50:14
Statistics indicate that men of Generation Z, as opposed to their female counterparts, are disproportionally reclaiming conservative perspectives on marriage and…
Mar 12, 2025 · 47:27
We drill deeper into some of the themes from Pastor Jason’s latest sermon (Matt. 16:13-20): The Messiah’s Identity & Mission . --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a…
Mar 5, 2025 · 49:54
Scripture commands unswervingly that parents are to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, but what about children who aren’t saved? Are Christian…
Feb 26, 2025 · 57:15
At Christian Ethics in a Post-Christian World, a panel of experts were asked tough questions on a variety of moral issues. Here are their responses. --- If you enjoyed this…
Feb 19, 2025 · 45:15
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jules address questions submitted by registrants for the upcoming equipping conference, Christian Ethics in a Post-Christian World (Saturday, February…
Feb 12, 2025 · 43:00
Dr. Lee shares how the Bible is distinct from other sacred writings, and why we can trust it and set our lives upon it. This audio comes from last year’s equipping conference on…
Feb 5, 2025 · 55:48
Former senior pastor Cliff Boone returns to the show to share what he’s learned about the current season of retirement he’s in. We discuss the definition of retirement, where…
Jan 29, 2025 · 53:14
What’s in a name? Well, according to Scripture, a lot. But in 21st-century America, names don’t necessarily tell us much about a person, but simply distinguish one person from…
Jan 22, 2025 · 50:14
To ring in 2025, we embarked on a series to read and reflect on the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. On this episode, we conclude his resolutions by studying his thoughts on…
Jan 15, 2025 · 39:17
To ring in 2025, we embark on a series to read and reflect on the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. On this episode, we walk through his resolutions on Suffering and Character,…
Jan 8, 2025 · 45:29
To ring in 2025, we embark on a series to read and reflect on the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. On this episode, we walk through his resolutions on Good Works, Time…
Jan 1, 2025 · 24:33
To ring in 2025, we embark on a series to read and reflect on the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards. Throughout these episodes, we will walk through each of Edwards’ resolutions by…
Dec 25, 2024 · 1:35
Merry Christmas! Here’s a short message from Captivate & Conform. We’ll see you next week! --- If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a positive review and share it with a…
Dec 18, 2024 · 42:01
Luke Walters (Director of Worship Arts) and Jules Hull (Student Ministry Pastor) put their Christmas hymn knowledge to the test in this first ever FACE-OFF episode! --- If you…
Dec 11, 2024 · 57:41
Paul’s words in Colossians 4 offer a guide to evangelism for the everyday Christian. We are to be praying, to be watching, to walk in wisdom, and to season our speech with grace.…
Dec 4, 2024 · 48:35
On this third installment on the Doctrine of God, we return to two attributes of classical Christian thought on God’s unity: divine singularity and divine simplicity. --- If you…
Nov 27, 2024 · 51:36
“Church planting” is a term often thrown around but never mentioned in the Bible. So, what exactly is it and why should every church participate in it? David Gundrum, Director of…
Nov 20, 2024 · 30:44
Dr. Mark Farnham returns to the show to explain why Christians must be prepared to face the ethical issues of our day. But to do this well, Christians must stand on a biblical…
Nov 13, 2024 · 1:03:08
Research shows Gen Z (14-27-year-olds) is leaving the church at alarming rates. Why is this? Curt Cutler, Director of Victory Valley Camp, joins the show to share how the church…
Nov 6, 2024 · 57:11
Does God change? Does he depend in any way upon humans, creatures that he created? How is God beyond comprehension, yet still knowable? All these questions interact with God’s…
Nov 2, 2024 · 46:04
Dan Waterman is a former elder and current teacher at Cedar Crest who is experienced in political theology and philosophy. He joins the show to give a few final reminders to…
Oct 30, 2024 · 54:21
Most Christians know of Martin Luther, the legendary Augustinian monk who sparked the Protestant Reformation. But what of the other reformers who paved the way before him? Does…
Oct 23, 2024 · 49:32
As goes a marriage, goes the family. And as goes the family, goes the church. With this in mind, it’s vital that the church protects this sacred and increasingly attacked…
Oct 16, 2024 · 44:03
Last week during GO Conference, we hosted our first live recording with an audience! Take a listen as we interview a veteran panel on translation and missions. After this…
Oct 9, 2024 · 55:19
Lifting your voice in song isn’t optional for Christians. In fact, we’re called to “make a joyful noise” unto the Lord (Ps. 98:4). Since singing is an integral part of the faith,…
Oct 2, 2024 · 57:35
“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” These words from Charles Spurgeon ring true, but why is that if Scripture alone is sufficient? Guest Dave Almack from P&R…
Sep 25, 2024 · 53:28
One of the most fundamental features of being human is a longing to be known and also to know someone. That is what we find in God, the Creator who knows us better than we know…
Sep 18, 2024 · 1:04:05
More than a week has passed since the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and less than 50 days remain until the general election. It’s time to help…
Sep 11, 2024 · 57:29
On previous episodes, Scott has emphasized the importance of biblical counseling in the church. On this episode, he returns to the show to share how he developed a passion for…
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