Bob Hiller

Episode 1624 Aired Today

Sometimes the church hinders our experience of the good life by packing our schedules, heaping on burdens, or trying to be cool and relevant. But the church can also help us cultivate the good life by pointing us to a kingdom that we receive—not build. In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, and Bob Hiller celebrate the ordinary ministry of Word and Sacrament that leads to rest and flourishing, and they unpack how the gifts of justification and union with Christ contribute to our experience of the good life now.

Episode 1623 Aired May 15, 2022

This series has helped us to see that we can enjoy God’s creational gifts without guilt. But God also gives us eschatological gifts that prepare us for our heavenly home. So what happens when we have an over-realized or under-realized eschatology? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, and Bob Hiller talk about life between the “now” and the “not yet,” considering the role of virtue in the Christian life and how the law gives shape to the good life as we’re conformed to the image of Christ.

Episode 1622 Aired May 8, 2022

In a life filled with suffering, is a good life truly possible? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, and Bob Hiller ask the hard questions about sin, suffering, and real life. Just because this life can be hard doesn’t mean that we should embrace a dualism that places the body and soul in opposition to each other. Instead, we need to acknowledge a certain realism about how the world functions on this side of the fall, being honest about what is evil—and even just disappointing. We can do so by clinging to God’s sovereignty in the midst of our suffering, his creativity to use it for our good, and his kindness to give us tangible good gifts even now, while we look with hope towards the future glory that awaits.

Episode 1621 Aired May 1, 2022

Do you ever feel behind in life? In a culture that endlessly calls us to hustle, climb, and improve, we’re bound to feel guilty for settling with “ordinary.” But is the good life built from all that striving? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, and Bob Hiller consider what kind of lives we should expect according to Scripture. How is our experience of the good life shaped by our own experiences as sinful humans who now live under God’s benediction in Christ? They examine goodness as something received from God, how the good life can be the given life, and how this all relates to loving God and our neighbors.

Episode 1620 Aired April 24, 2022

If Christ really rose from the dead, then it must have major ramifications for our lives. So how does the resurrection shape us? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Doug Powell discuss the impact of Christ’s resurrection at the cosmic level, institutional level, and personal level. They consider what it means that Christ is victorious over Satan, sin, hell, death, and the grave; they unpack what it means to say “Jesus is Lord”; and they celebrate our ultimate comfort and hope found in the risen Christ.

Episode 1619 Aired April 17, 2022

What kind of sermon did you hear today? In this episode of White Horse Inn, seasoned pastors Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, and Bob Hiller are joined once again by apologist Doug Powell to discuss the essential elements of an Easter sermon—and describe some of the “misses” you might have experienced. This Easter, they hope you heard a sermon that was historical, preaching good news from outside of you; that was grounded in the Scriptures, showing Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament; that was applicable, demonstrating how Christ’s resurrection is for you; and that mirrored Christ’s loving accommodation for skeptics and doubters.

Episode 1618 Aired April 10, 2022

Having established the minimal facts of the resurrection, how do we respond when people suggest alternative theories for explaining the missing body, the empty tomb, and Christ’s post-resurrection appearances? Did Jesus simply faint on the cross? Was his body stolen? Did the women go to the wrong tomb? Did the disciples make up the resurrection story, or did it grow and develop over the years? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Doug Powell evaluate these common objections and more, helping you prepare for discussions around the table this Easter.

Episode 1617 Aired April 3, 2022

“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,” writes the apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15:14), situating the resurrection as the central claim of Christianity—the foundation for the entire biblical worldview. But why is it so important? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Eric Landry, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Doug Powell discuss Christ’s resurrection as a unique claim among world religions. They also work through “The Minimal Facts” put forward by Gary Habermas, equipping listeners with an agreed-upon baseline for proving the historicity of the resurrection and evaluating objections.

Episode 1614 Aired March 13, 2022

When it comes to discussing our differences, there is a lot of value in a genuine conversation. Rooted in humility, we have much to learn from each other, and we may find we have more in common than we realize. In this episode of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton interviews Pastor Bob Hiller about the distinctives within the Lutheran tradition. As they discuss the great debates that often arise between Lutherans and Presbyterians, they also explore the pastoral nature of Lutheran theology. Holding firm to the promise of Christ’s forgiveness, the Lutheran tradition aims to combat theological systems threatening to destroy the Christian’s comfort—an endeavor esteemed by all Reformation traditions and joined by all who sit around the White Horse Inn table.

Episode 1612 Aired February 27, 2022

The famous “Hall of Faith” is found in Hebrews 11, but how did these heroes possess such great faith? And what exactly is faith? How is it related to obedience and endurance and fruitfulness? In this final episode of our White Horse Inn series examining the book of Hebrews, Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Nick Brennan look at the last few chapters of the book and its call for perseverance. They consider the role of suffering and discipline in believers’ sanctification and reflect on our role as priests, offering our whole lives to God as a sacrifice of praise.

Episode 1611 Aired February 20, 2022

The Book of Hebrews contains some of the most difficult passages in Scripture—warnings that cause people to feel fearful and lack assurance. How—in the face of such grave warnings—is Jesus our hope? In this episode of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Nick Brennan look closely at two particular warning passages in Hebrews 5–6 and 10, considering what the writer intended and what implications these passages have for the church today. In the process, they discuss some differences between the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, our shared commitment to the gathered assembly of God’s people and the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and the need we all have for the gospel of Christ.

Episode 1610 Aired February 13, 2022

Why would you want to go back to types and shadows when the real thing is here? The author of Hebrews poses this question as he highlights Jesus’s work as our great high priest—a priest who passed not just through an earthly curtain but through a heavenly one, who descends from the line of Melchizedek, who far surpasses the priesthood of the Jerusalem temple. In this episode of White Horse Inn, Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Bob Hiller, and Nick Brennan continue their discussion of the book of Hebrews, grounding our confidence in Christ’s work on our behalf, by which we’re able to draw near to God’s throne of grace.