The Vicar’s Study: Faith and Hope for an Unsteady World

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Fr. Chris responds to a recent Tik-Tok creator who suggests that Jesus did not have to die for our sins.  By looking at the attributes of God and the true nature of sin, we understand better the divide that existed between us and God.  Not only that, but when we examine the role of the Old Testament sacrificial system, Jesus own death can be viewed in a new light.  When we examine these things we begin to grasp how love and justice, mercy and accountability fit into the economy of God.

The Purpose and Power of the Resurrection

While many people believe in the Resurrection, a study by Lifeway research found that many Christians do not understand why the Resurrection is relevant to their lives.  In this teaching, Fr. Chris, walks through the centrality of the Resurrection to the Christian faith, why the accounts of the Resurrection are reliable, and why the Resurrection is the anchor of life in Christ.

The Abuja Declaration & the Future of Anglicanism

Fr. Chris unpacks the major themes that emerged from the recent G26 meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.  This was a significant meeting that highlighted the major issues facing Anglicanism today and presented a renewed vision for the future of the Anglican Church.  Resources used in this video: The Jerusalem Statement (2008): https://gafcon.org/communique-updates... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmlINHMydGRXYkk2VmRvTEt4aDh5aEI1Y1FvZ3xBQ3Jtc0trYUNqSmFHc2M2Q0g0ZkthRllBd2pQV3kwdUoxaFc0X0xOSG82RnJ6cm92Q3E2M1k3ZV9NTUpfSXk0eGpwVU5kbng1UzFXM25DamNSWS1TT2hZYUlMMEU5Z3BGdndmRGVDNzRoYzN4LXh5cEt6UHF3VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgafcon.org%2Fcommunique-updates%2Fthe-jerusalem-statement%2F&v=KygJ9HNhkCM] The Kigali Commitment (2023): https://gafcon.org/communique-updates... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUw0Q2lFWnNiQXN3M3ZHcmt0RTRIMHlCTFFNZ3xBQ3Jtc0trQjQ4dkEyZ2lvc2FMdWgxM09EeWJzYlBac0QybzZBRldtYldLeUE2YVc2amdQcGtnMlVObU1GX3hWa2lOdFcxLXJTX2xLX1R6cG9XLVpDZ3R3VG5STVlnSlRaYUstQy1nN3FsQlpIRGdjV1VZM3RMVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgafcon.org%2Fcommunique-updates%2Fgafcon-iv-the-kigali-commitment%2F&v=KygJ9HNhkCM] The Abuja Declaration (2026): https://gafcon.org/communique-updates... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEZmeU42MHZnSmUyWFlLZE5JZjdSdGtjVldxd3xBQ3Jtc0tsVHpjOGlYNFcwV0xGS1p0LV9aZ0xjaXVuaUdsRlcxVUs5akIzeFNlTGM3SWtlcGt6NG5VcGhNVDB5X1p0TTRtUUJRMkEyYjM1V1RMZ1Rna1psQzBtUklxUUk5X2RZRVFCYk5DVWJjZ29QaTdwano3RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fgafcon.org%2Fcommunique-updates%2Fthe-abuja-affirmation%2F&v=KygJ9HNhkCM] David Roseberry's Article via "The Anglican" on Substack: https://davidroseberry.substack.com/p... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbFl2UXRIWWZuV3FFSFpHU20xVXpsOWpFSTJJQXxBQ3Jtc0tuWkFIX00tUUVjdjVyYTRUNUNrQ3IyTmFzeUlOckIycjB1R2FKSzB1TkJOU0tyZWYtQ1VMbkFqVldlLS1IaVpzNk5ZR0tlMVZJR19jOUJWSHhKNnNFcVpGVTdCd1dBMzE4TUNKaHJESHZlZ1FNWFZ3OA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fdavidroseberry.substack.com%2Fp%2Fwhat-just-happened-in-abuja-five&v=KygJ9HNhkCM] Ask

Romans 1: Idolatry, Sin, and The Hope of the Gospel

The Gospel will always challenge us and in this day and age few passages challenge modern thinking and culture than Romans 1.  Fr. Chris unpacks this chapter and shows how suppression of the truth leads to the idolatry of self which can't help but manifest in how we conduct ourselves --sexually and otherwise.  But there is great hope for each of us in the Gospel and no sinner is beyond the reach of the mercy and grace of God.

Did Henry VIII Start the Anglican Church?

A common charge made against the Anglican Church is that it began because Henry VIII wanted to get a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.  Henry certainly played a major role, but did he actually start the Anglican Church?  By looking at the history of the Anglican Church, the theology of Henry VIII, and the major themes of the English Reformation, Fr. Chris unpacks this complex time and examines this fundamental question. Sources used for this video: The English Reformation, 2nd Edition, Dickens, A.G. Worship by Faith Alone, Hicks, Zac A History of the Church in England, Moorman, J.R.H. Ye Are the Body, Spencer, Bonnell Emblem of Faith Untouched: A Short Life of Thomas Cranmer, Williams, Leslie