Captivate & Conform
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.
Before You Vote (From the Archives) | Dan Waterman & Jason Hoy
With the mid-terms tomorrow, we dusted off an episode from the archives on voting. Although this episode was recorded just before the 2024 presidential race, Dan and Jason offer Christian principles that apply to every election.
Read the full article by Dan and Jason “Before You Vote: 6 Things to Consider.”
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Who’s Discipling Your Kids? | Cam Webb & Jules Hull
Each generation encounters the world’s perversions at younger and younger ages. Parents must intentionally build a biblical worldview in their children, or the world will disciple them.
What Do I Say When . . . ?: A Parent's Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children and Teens by Andrew and Christian Walker is a practical guide to navigating cultural issues like human dignity, sexuality, and technology. Each chapter offers biblical, age-appropriate answers and discussion questions for children of all ages.
Pick up November’s #BookOfTheMonth at The Resource Center this Sunday!
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🚨 ⛪ Church Plant Announcement (VIDEO EPISODE)
Nathan (Dir. of Outreach), Chris (Sr. Associate Pastor), and Pete (Elder) announce and discuss the latest outreach initiative: a Cedar Crest church plant in the Fogelsville/Northwestern area.
To learn more, please visit our Church Planting and Revitalization page.
Watch this episode.
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Missions Exists Because Worship Does | Alex Kocman
Alex Kocman offers a different take on John Piper’s famous maxim, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” Although true, he challenges us to consider the fact that missions is also only possible because of worship.
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Noah’s Ark and the Sufficiency of Scripture
Recent headlines claiming Noah’s Ark has been “100% confirmed” have captured the world’s attention.
Without addressing this specific case, Pastor Chris explains how Christians should view extra-biblical evidence. While discoveries that corroborate Scripture are worth celebrating, they should never be the reason we trust the Bible. To do so, as we discuss on the show, diminishes the sufficiency of Scripture.
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Lessons Learned After 4 Years in Matthew | Jason Hoy
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 shares what he’s learned while studying and preaching through this text, along with some his favorite parts from the gospel.
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Culture Roundup: The Death of Dolly Parton and the Tragic Case of Lindsay Clancy
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 justice.
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The Eternal and Incarnate Son of God | Chris Von Holt
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 Revelation—points to Him.
That’s the premise of Pastor Chris’ and Dan Everett’s upcoming class “The Eternal and Incarnate Son of God.”
Discipleship Institute offers 11-week courses on the Bible, theology, and Christian living. Classes begin September 20. Sign up here.
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Work/Life Balance | Rick Whitmire
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 11-week courses on the Bible, theology, and Christian living. Classes begin September 20. Sign up here.
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Your Spotify Playlist Matters | Luke Walters
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 differentiate between secular love songs and CCM (Christian Contemporary Music) to prove a point: many modern Christian song lyrics are so vague and watered down that you can’t distinguish them from worldly music.
Recommended Bands/Artists:
Sovereign Grace MusicThe GettysCityAlightMatt Boswell & Matt PapaPerimeter WorshipShane & ShaneEmu MusicAdvent BirminghamBryan FowlerCitizensCaroline CobbJourney WorshipJohn Van Deusen---
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The Sunday Setlist Matters | Luke Walters
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 process for every Sunday setlist, and why Brandon Lake’s seeker-friendly approach is unbiblical.
Cedar Crest BFC’s Philosophy of Worship
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Serving Without Stumbling | Scott Allen
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 with many challenges like burnout or bitterness.
Scott Allen, an elder and counselor at Cedar Crest, shares how we can avoid these and other common pitfalls while serving.
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7 Keys to Preserving and Strengthening Your Marriage | Dr. Jim Newheiser
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 here.
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Sermon Rewind: Can That Faith Save Him? (Jason Hoy)
“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 gospel. But as Pastor Jason clarified during his first sermon preached at Cedar Crest five years ago, the saving faith that produces good works, which James posits, perfectly harmonizes with the rest of Scripture.
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The Value of Bodily Training | Josh & Victoria Parris
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 professional fitness coaches, help Christians navigate the vices of gym culture and slothfulness by viewing exercise as another way to honor and worship God.
Much of the content discussed on this episode is inspired from A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis.
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Ecclesiastes: Wisdom in a Broken World | Jules Hull
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 wanting.
After conducting an in-depth study of Ecclesiastes, Pastor Jules walks through the main takeaways of this fascinating and often confusing book.
Pastor Jules’ Sermon - “Consider” (Eccl. 7:13-18)
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Not One Saved Sinner Lost: Perseverance of the Saints
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 one’s salvation.
The doctrine of “Perseverance of the Saints” goes by many names, but it essentially means that only true believers, those united with Christ, will ultimately persevere to the end unto salvation.
Previous C&C episodes on TULIP:
T - Total Depravity (Part 1, Part 2)U - Unconditional ElectionL - Limited AtonementI - Irresistible GraceP - Persev...🇺🇸 AMERICA250: A Christian Heritage | Dan Waterman (VIDEO EPISODE)
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 “character of Christian,” the soil that the American Experiment sprouted from is undeniably Christian.
On this in-depth conversation with special guest Dan Waterman, he sets the historical record straight on the biblical justification for the American Revolution, the faith of our founders, and the Christian ideals set forth in our founding.
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“Best Of” Past 150 Episodes
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, December 20, 2023 (Dr. Mark Farnham)Law-Keepers & Spirit-Walkers, March 6, 2024 (Cliff Boone)Biblical Counseling (Part 2), April 3, 2024 (Scott Allen)Karmic Christianity, May 26, 2025 (E.D. Burns)---
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“Bright Hope” for Tomorrow | Jen Davies & Dave Block
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) share the heart behind Bright Hope and current challenges the ministry faces in a pro-choice state like Pennsylvania.
BABY BOTTLE CAMPAIGN
Grab a bottle on Sunday mornings from one of the cribs, fill it with your donation, and return it by Father’s Day (June 21). Or give online here.
Sign up to receive prayer requests.
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How to Live a Christ-Centered Life | Mark Crocco
Mark Crocco, Director of The Rephidim Project, shares what it means to live a Christ-centered life.
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Takeaways From the 143rd BFC Conference | Randy Grossman
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
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Happy Belated Earth Day! | Cliff Boone and Paul Younger
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 God’s given us—including the world we inhabit.
Further listening: “The Christian and Creation”
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Culture Roundup: Trump Commits Sacrilege, OnlyFans Owner Dies at 43, and the Chicago Bulls Punish Christian Speech
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason respond to some of the biggest headlines on this edition of “Culture Roundup.”
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A Theology of Gender: Roles in Society
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 directly, guiding principles—such as the gender roles established in Genesis and the broader biblical pattern—help inform how men and women can honor God in the public square.
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Sermon Rewind: Law and Gospel (Cliff Boone)
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 right understanding of how they harmonize paints a clearer picture of the Christian life, the saving message in Scripture, and the God we serve.
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What’s So Good About Good Friday?
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 our salvation.
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Just War Theory | Dan Waterman
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 think through these questions.
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In Memory of Tealson Herrlin
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.
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A Theology of Gender: Roles in the Church
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 crossed at the expense of biblical faithfulness.
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Marriage Conference Panel Q&A | LIVE SHOW
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 included Dr. Jim Newheiser, Scott Allen, and Jason and Jennifer Hoy.
Watch here.
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Answering the Big Questions | Dr. Mark Farnham
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, register for Answering the Big Questions conference on March 7, 2026 in Ephrata, PA.
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A Theology of Gender: Precious in God’s Sight
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 call husbands and wives to embrace God’s design for the household—not because either spouse is particularly worthy but because God is pleased by it.
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A Theology of Gender: Roles in the Home
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 audience on singleness and infertility.
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The Promises and Perils of Digital Technology | Dr. Mark Farnham
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 when it comes to engaging with the digital world that inundates us.
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Marriage: Faithfulness in a Fallen World | Dr. Jim Newheiser
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, 2026).
Register for the conference.
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A Theology of Gender: Examining Genesis
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 ideas and affirm God’s creation of male and female, many churches stop short of addressing God-designed roles.
Pastor Chris and Pastor Jason return to Genesis to explore a biblical theology of gender roles rooted in creation, not cultural trends.
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Welcome, Pastor Cam!
Get to know Cameron Webb, the new Assistant Pastor over Student Ministry.
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See You in 2026!
We’re taking a break until 2026! Have a merry Christmas and see you next year 🎆
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A Health Update | Pastor Jules
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 him practically immobile and in chronic pain.
In this episode, he takes time to bring our listeners up to speed on this health event and the lessons God has taught him along the way.
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