In Episode 3, Justin, Nathan, and Garrison turn to one of the most critical questions in ecclesiology: How can we recognize a true church? Moving beyond feelings, cultural trends, or institutional labels, this episode examines the classic biblical “marks” that distinguish a faithful church from a counterfeit one. First, we explore the pure preaching of the Word, considering why faithful, doctrinally sound exposition is the lifeblood of the church’s health and unity—and what is lost when novelty or pragmatism replaces the ministry of Scripture. Next, we reflect on the right administration of the ordinances, showing how baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not optional symbols but Christ-ordained means that visibly proclaim the gospel and shape our communal identity. Finally, we address the often-misunderstood practice of loving and biblical church discipline, arguing that far from being harsh, faithful correction is an expression of Christ’s shepherding care for His people. Together, these marks reveal that the true church is not defined by size, style, or influence, but by its fidelity to Christ’s Word, Christ’s ordinances, and Christ’s loving rule over His people.

In an age where “church” is often reduced to a building, a brand, or a weekly event, Episode 2 of Sola Veritas asks a foundational question: What is the Church — and what is it not?

In this episode, Justin, Nathan, and Matt challenge the common assumption that the Church is merely a man-made institution or a voluntary religious community. Instead, we recover the biblical vision of the Church as God’s covenantal people, grounded in Scripture, shaped by history, and ruled by Christ Himself.

We explore the distinction between the visible and invisible Church, asking why believers must belong to the imperfect visible church even though salvation belongs to the invisible body of the elect. From there, we examine the Church as a covenantal community, confronting the modern impulse toward isolation, consumer Christianity, and casual commitment.

Finally, we center everything on Christ as the Head and Cornerstone of His Church — not a distant figurehead, but the living King who actively rules, sustains, and governs His people today. By rooting ecclesiology in Christ’s kingship, we show why the Church’s identity must be shaped by Scripture and history, not cultural trends or institutional innovation.

In a cultural moment marked by confusion, compromise, and spiritual disconnection, few doctrines are more neglected—or more misunderstood—than the doctrine of the Church.

In this opening episode of Season 2, Justin, Matt, and Nathan make the case that the Church is not a religious accessory, a social organization, or a tool for personal improvement, but the blood-purchased people of Christ. As secular pressure and theological drift continue to reshape modern Christianity, the need for a clear, confessional, and biblically grounded vision of the Church has never been greater.

We discuss:

• Why cultural definitions of “church” are insufficient • What is lost when church becomes optional or individualized • The biblical purpose of the Church—worship, Word, ordinances, and discipleship • The danger of replacing exegetical preaching with therapeutic or pragmatic substitutes • How confessions and creeds guard the Church from compromise disguised as progress • Why a high view of Christ necessarily demands a high view of His Church

This season is not about reinventing the Church—it’s about recovering her.

Join us as we begin a season devoted to the glory of Christ and the good of His people.