About Us​

Established in 2019 by Jordan Steffaniak and Brandon Ayscue, the London Lyceum has grown from a weekly podcast to the premier center for Analytic, Baptist, and Confessional Theology. By retrieving the wisdom from analytic philosophy, the Baptist tradition, and classical Protestantism as confessed in the confessional documents of the Reformed tradition we seek to promote serious thinking for a serious church. Our name truly encapsulates our own mission and confessional commitment. “London” refers to our confessional Baptist crown jewel–the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. “Lyceum” refers to a place of learning, debate, and thinking, made famous as Aristotle’s “academy.”

The London Lyceum seeks to foster serious thinking for a serious church.

Charity, Curiosity, Critical Thinking, and Cheerful Confessionalism.

We pursue our mission by creating an intellectual culture of charity, curiosity, critical thinking, and cheerful confessionalism. We do this by three primary means:

 

We do this by publishing and promoting original research. For example:

  • We publish online essays, book reviews, and book recommendations.
  • We publish an annual print academic journal.
  • We publish a podcast dedicated to talking with experts in their fields of research.
  • We host various events.
  • We cultivate and provide an intellectual community through an online society of virtuous truth-seekers

We pursue virtue by:

  • Ingraining the meekness of wisdom exemplified in James 3:17 into our hearts and minds.
  • Encouraging differing viewpoints in our podcast interviews, essays, and online society.
  • Prioritizing friendship in our thinking since our goal is not to win arguments but to encourage virtuous thinking.
  • Requiring love and respect for everyone and everything. Everyone, regardless of view, deserves both

We do this by:

  • Publishing and promoting material that encourages classical Protestantism and Reformed catholicity
  • Forming the John Gill Project

The Founders

Jordan Steffaniak

Founder, President, Editor

Jordan Steffaniak is the President of the London Lyceum. He fulfills several roles, including host and producer of the podcast, editor of the website and journal Theologia Viatorum and more. He was raised in the St. Louis area and has lived in central Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky, and now Raleigh, North Carolina. He is a research fellow for the Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaches as an adjunct for several institutions. He also works full-time in the finance industry as a business intelligence manager. He was married to his wife Sarah in June of 2015 and they have three sons.

Jordan has an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Th.M. in Philosophy from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. While at Southern he learned of the wonder of historic Reformed Baptist confessions like the Second London Confession of Faith and also fell in love with philosophy and analytic theology thanks to one of his pastors. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy at the University of Birmingham (UK). He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles as well as a book chapter. You can find links to most of these below. He also is currently writing two books and serves on the editorial board of the John Gill Project. You can find his CV here. He loves to read, write, podcast, weightlift in his garage gym, and play outside with his family. He also has a love-hate relationship with sports, loving the Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Cardinals, and Carolina Hurricanes.

Twitter

Modern Reformation

 

The Gospel Coalition

 

The L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture

 

The London Lyceum

The Davenant Institute

 

Doctrine and Devotion

 

The Reluctant Theologian Podcast

 

Christ and Culture Podcast

 

Parker’s Pensées

 

Nicholas Noyola: Theology, Apologetics, Ministry

 

Covenant Podcast

 

Two Age Sojourner

 

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Brandon Ayscue

Vice President & Assoc. Editor

Brandon Ayscue is the Vice President of the London Lyceum and the Associate Pastor at Harriett Baptist Church in Henderson North Carolina. Brandon was born and raised in Henderson. He was married to his wife Caitie in November 2015 and they were blessed with their first son, Coley, in March 2017. Their second son, Haddon, was born in August 2019. Their third, Winston, was born in August 2022.

Brandon holds a BA from Campbell University. He is also a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, completing two Master’s Degrees (Master of Arts in Apologetics & Christian Philosophy and Master of Divinity). His hobbies include reading, hosting the London Lyceum, and playing sports. He also loves to talk sports, especially Panthers football and Hurricanes hockey. Brandon’s favorite bible verses are Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 34:8.

Twitter

Endorsements

"In our day it can be difficult to find a space for substantive and charitable discussion of serious theological topics.  Happily, the London Lyceum aims to go against that current by providing resources for an intellectually robust Christian faith.  Wherever you land on a particular topic, you can expect to find here a thought-provoking and multi-faceted engagement that will press you to flesh out your own thinking more precisely."
Steve Duby, PhD
Steve Duby, PhDAssociate Professor of Theology, Phoenix Seminary
"The London Lyceum provides a forum for rigorous and substantive dialogue regarding a broad range of theological and philosophical questions. This dialogue is crucial for the future of ecumenically informed Christian theology. The project has a broad reach and enables those who might not be reached otherwise to engage with theological problems with depth, clarity, and charity."
Paul L. Gavrilyuk
Paul L. GavrilyukFounding President, REBUILD UKRAINE; Founding President, Intl. Orthodox Theological Assoc.; Aquinas Chair in Theology & Philosophy, University of St. Thomas
"London Lyceum is one of my favorite podcasts. Listeners are exposed to important  topics and scholars in church history, theology, biblical studies, and philosophy. The discussions are accessible but also educational. It is free from the kind of polemics that inform too much of our discourse today, and scholars are featured from a variety of perspectives."
Thomas R. Schreiner
Thomas R. SchreinerJames Buchanan Harrison Professor of NT Interpretation & Professor of Biblical Theology, SBTS
"In an increasingly dark cultural and ecclesial landscape, one of the brightest spots of recent years has been the astonishing revival of historically-engaged, philosophically-serious Reformed Baptist theology. The London Lyceum has quickly established itself at the forefront of this retrieval movement, as a center for confessionally-anchored but authentically catholic Baptist theology. I heartily commend their resources to anyone, Baptist or otherwise, seeking to wrestle deeply with the riches of the Christian theological tradition."
Brad Littlejohn
Brad LittlejohnPresident, The Davenant Institute
"In a culture that sneers at the possibility of divine revelation, a saving knowledge of God, and absolute truth, true believers need to cultivate the art and grace of celebrating their commonly held doctrines. The tension comes in embracing happily these broad areas of agreement without appearing to compromise distinctives believed to be important and true. The London Lyceum is working toward creating that culture within the realm of mere Christianity. Their mission will help us in hearty appreciation of each other and with our witness to the culture. "
Thomas J. Nettles
Thomas J. NettlesSenior Professor, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Conversations with Jordan and Brandon sparkle with the freshness drawn from the Biblical wellsprings because of their devotion to confessing our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a delight to trade ideas with them in an interview because they have mastered the formulating of penetrating questions that lead their conversation partners and their hearers to search the Scriptures and there find the Lord of life as he has been given it to us for living in our time.  Time spent with them profits much!"
Robert A. Kolb
Robert A. KolbEmeritus Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary
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