Mathetes - Kokomo Baptist Church

Join Ian this week as he explores the final verses in Galatians 1, particularly noting Paul's understanding of the uniquely personal role Christ plays in the ministry of his chosen apostle. -------------------- As a teaching ministry of Kokomo Baptist Church in Kokomo, MS, Mathētēs (μαθητής) encounters and explores Bible doctrine, theology, and apologetics as a Christian community learning the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle they require.

This week Ian continues unpacking the writer's purpose in identifying Christ as the fulfillment of the Melchizedekian priesthood. Ian shows how the writer's progression through the letter — from his superiority to the angels and Moses and forward — lead up to the writer's assertion that Christ is superior to the Levitical priesthood. Ian further established the centrality of the new Law that comes with this new priest.

This week Ian begins to explore what it means for Christ to be in the order of Melchizedek. He spends time dealing with Abram's brief interaction with Melchizedek in Genesis 14, and shows how the writer to the Hebrews understands this passage in his explanation of Christ as a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Ian also begins exploring the significance for Christ to be in such a line.

This week Ian addresses the writer's admonitions to the Hebrew church regarding their spiritual maturity. The writer challenges the church to overcome their spiritual sluggishness so that they may not fall into apostasy and will be able to understand and teach the deeper meanings of faith. These deeper meanings, for our writer, are established in the Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ.

Ian takes an explorative dive into history as he examines the history of the High Priesthood in light of the writer's admonitions concerning God's election of the same. He then turns to a discussion of Jesus' qualifications for High Priesthood, and introduces the person of Melchizedek.

The thrust of this week's lesson is found in the idea of "God's rest." Ian continues to explore the ways in which the writer is invoking the Wilderness Generation as a warning to the church. Now, the warning takes an eschatological turn as the writer increasingly begins to identify God's rest with salvation.

This week, Ian continues explaining the writer's use of the Psalms in his exploration of Jesus as supreme. In this section, the writer's quotations invoke Moses and the Wilderness Generation. Ian explains how, throughout this section, the writer is situating Jesus as superior and greater than Moses. Further, he is warning the church against becoming like the Wilderness Generation.

In this lesson, Ian explores the writer's ideas on the humanity of Jesus. In particular, Ian sets up the centrality of God and God's plan to human history, and the role that Christ played in the redemptive apex of the plan. The writer understands that it is through the human sufferings of Jesus that God's plan was fulfilled.

This week Ian continues to unpack the comparisons between Christ and the angels. He also begins to introduce the theme of the priest-king and the introduction of the warning to the church not to fall away from the message delivered in Christ.

In these first verses of Hebrews, Ian tackles the initial statements on the nature of God and Christ. There is an emphasis here on Christ's superiority to angels which Ian spends a good deal of time unpacking and examining as a key element of Hebrews.

As we begin a new study of the book of Hebrews, Ian introduces the book's background, dating, themes, and the ever elusive question of authorship.

In this the final lesson in Ian's series on The Letters of John, Ian explores the idea of victory in Christ- victory that is always already won. Further, Ian discusses John's final explicit realization of Christ as God, and the implications that has for the rest of the letter. Ian also reinforces the points that John has been making throughout his letters on obedience to God, love for brothers, love for God, and respect of the same. Nota bene: For those of you who have listened faithfully, thank you! Our next series will be The Letter to the Hebrews.

In this week's lesson, Ian explores John's treatments of Divine love - that God sent his Son to be the sacrifice for our sins - and shows how John believes that Divine love should impact our love for one another. Ian also explores the ways in which the Old Testament informs John's understanding of love and righteousness. John takes a break from his attacks on the secessionists to encourage the believers to whom he is writing that they are indeed children of God because of they way they enact love in their community.

In this lesson, Ian discusses the ways John prepares his readers to distinguish those who are "of God" and those who are not. He discusses the concepts of "sinlessness" and being "born of God." In this material, Ian finds a lot of common ground between the community John is writing to and the Christian community today.

In this week's lesson, Ian explores John's understanding of the secessionists' teachings in more depth. Particularly John's focus on the secessionists as "antichrists" and how that fits into the Judeo-Christian teaching of an End Times Anti-Christ at that time. Ian also focuses on the idea of being anointed with the Holy One and how that anointing causes the perseverance of believers in the face of heresy.

In this week's lesson, Ian explores the first chapter of 1 John - Fellowship with God. In this lesson, Ian explores some key theological concepts including "walking in the light"; the propitiation vs. expiation debate; and the doctrine of God as it concerns ethics and orthopraxy. Ian also addresses the debate structure of this section of John's sermon, and notes the masterful ways in which John approaches the teachings of the heretical secessionists - that they deny the bodily incarnation of Christ.

In this lesson, Ian explores John's Letter to the Congregation. Ian introduces this letter as a cover letter to 1 John, and shows how it addresses the concerns of both 1 John and 3 John by giving explicit instructions on dealing with false teachers in their communities. Ian also explores how this applies to "walking in the truth" and what that means for the believer today.

In this lesson, Ian explores John's Letter to Gaius which comes in the form of 3 John. Ian explores the ways in which the exhortations to Gaius about Diotrophes and Demetrius are useful to us today, as the Church continues to be influenced by false doctrine like that of John's day.

This is the first week of our new series on John's Letters! This week, Ian tries to clarify the situation John finds the church in when he writes these letters. Ian also gives some insight into the Authorship, Dating, and Theology of John's Letters with an eye toward the Themes of John's other books (the Gospel of John and Revelation).

As part of the continuing excursus on the idea of Predestination and Election, Ian leads us through a study of Romans 9-11. While it is by no means, comprehensive, this overview shows Paul's radical redefinition of Israel according to his expanded views of monotheism, election, and eschatology. In this study, Ian shows how Gentile believers gain their access to salvation through Israel. He also solidifies this notion of Christ as the New Israel and establishes the perfection of God in this divine plan.

This week Ian explores St. Paul's Theology of Predestination and Election by examining the whole of Paul's New Testament writings. Ian points out that St. Paul centers these ideas around his expanded understandings of Monotheism, Election, and Eschatology. This lesson comes as a continuation of the previous lesson the concepts of Predestination and Election.

After last week's introduction to God's Providence, one of Ian's class members asked for clarification on the meaning of "predestination." This week begins a multiple part study on the concept of predestination and election which will end with a study on Romans 9-11. Ian spends time contextualizing the thought of Paul as a First Century Jewish Pharisee living under Roman occupation within the abiding influence of Greco-Roman philosophy. Special Listener's Note: This week's audio has been heavily processed in order to make it more intelligible. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will continue to listen.

In conjunction with the Doctrine of Omniscience, Ian introduces the idea of God's Providence. Ian brings to the fore the need to understand God's attributes holistically - that is that many of the previously discussed attributes combine to give greater understanding to this doctrine of Providence. Special Listener's Note: This week's audio has been heavily processed in order to make it more intelligible. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will continue to listen.

This week Ian introduces the idea of God's Omniscience. This lesson, done from home due to a COVID-19 quarantine, does a deep-dive into the concept of God's Omniscience.

Still working on understanding God as the creed describes Him: "God the Father Almighty," Ian introduces God's Personal Attributes. This week, Ian addresses God's Incorporeality. What does it mean for God to be a spiritual being without a material body? How does He relate to His creation? These questions and more are addressed in this week's study.

This week Ian finishes up the Doctrine of God's Immutability. He emphasizes the key point that God is incapable of change in light of His other infinite attributes. Then Ian explains how all of these infinite attributes tie together and begins to discuss how they might influence our understanding of God's personal attributes.

In this lesson, Ian continues to tackle the ideas of God's Omnipresence and introduces the Doctrine of Immutability. Ian spends a good deal of time understanding God as Spirit, then moving to the idea that God cannot be changed because in Him is all knowledge; nothing catches God by surprise! Special Listener's Note: Due to some unforeseen technical difficulties rendering the audio virtually unsalvageable, there is a gap between this episode and the last. We do apologize for the inconvenience, but hope that you will continue to listen.

Continuing our series on Systematic Theology according to The Apostles' Creed, Ian delves into the first stanza "I believe in God the Father Almighty." He discusses the nature of God's Eternity - is God outside of time or inside of time? - and introduces the concept of God's Omnipresence. Special Listener's Note: Due to some unforeseen technical difficulties rendering the audio virtually unsalvageable, there is a gap between this episode and the last. We do apologize for the inconvenience, but hope that you will continue to listen.

As the first in our new series on Systematic Theology according to The Apostles' Creed, Ian tackles the big picture of faith contained in the opening phrase of The Apostles' Creed, "I believe." He discusses the effects of belief on our understanding, and how the Doctrines of General and Special Revelation are contained in this opening phrase as well.

To end our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian tackles the final three chapters of Mark's Gospel by exploring the timeline of the Passion and taking an understanding of Christ's crucifixion on Wednesday rather than the traditional Saturday view. He details the kinds of "trials" Jesus faced, why those trials were ultimately successful, and how quickly they all happened with deference given to Mark, but taking into account the other Gospels where need be. Ian also takes time to discuss the manuscript problem with the end of Mark.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian delves into Jesus' eschatological discourse — the so-called "Little Apocalypse"; the "Olivet Discourse." He summarizes many of the Old Testament allusions made by Jesus and by Mark, and challenges listeners to appreciate End Times discourse, not as an immanent event, but as the reassurance of a promise. In the meantime, we should "Watch!"

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the events leading into Jesus' eschatological discourse found in Mark 13. In particular he notes the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees and Herodians, as well as his interaction with the Sadducees -- three groups united in their plot against Him. Ian ends with a brief statement on the Widow's Offering as compared to the greed of the scribes and priests. All of this leads into the judgment He pronounces in His coming eschatological discourse.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the events following the Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The Withered Fig Tree and Jesus' direct challenge of the Pharisees at the Court of the Gentiles form the focus of this study on the coming judgment of Israel.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the events leading up to and including the Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem. He talks specifically about the prophetic implications of the Entry, and Christ's calculated unveiling of himself as the Messiah.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the teachings of Christ on the way to Jerusalem. Specific attention is given to Christ's teachings on divorce, childlike faith, the Rich Young Ruler, and finally, Jesus' third Passion Prediction.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the teachings of Christ following his descent from the Mount of the Transfiguration. These teachings prepare the Disciples (and us as well) for the events that are to come at the time of His Passion. Ian goes into detail exploring these Death and Resurrection predictions, as well as the recurring motif of the Suffering Servant found in Isaiah.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian leads us through the impact of Peter's recognition of Christ as the Messiah and Christ's subsequent teachings about discipleship and his predictions about his death and resurrection. We also take some time to explore the Transfiguration and its impact, both in its use of the Old Testament and for Christ's eschatological teachings to come.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the last events in Jesus' ministry before Peter's recognition of Christ's Messiahship at Caesarea Philippi.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the last incident between Jesus and the Pharisees as a part of his Galilean ministry. He also introduces Jesus' witness to the Gentiles and the initial narrative of the Syrophoenician woman.

As part of our expository study of Mark's Gospel and our broader study on the Doctrine of Christ, Ian explores the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Jesus Walking on Water, and the Healing Report at Gennesaret. Ian emphasizes the impact of the Hebrew Bible as it informs Mark's Christology while writing to the Church in Rome.