Podcast appearances and mentions of edmund clowney

What makes a long-term pastorate successful? How do internships shape future ministers? And what does it look like to grow as a preacher over decades of ministry? In this episode of the Expositors Collective Podcast, Rev. Dr. Danny Hyde joins Mike Neglia to talk about his journey in ministry—from an eager young preacher to a seasoned pastor who has mentored over 20 pastoral interns and remained in one pulpit for over 25 years.Danny shares his first-ever sermon experience, his training at Westminster Seminary California, and the hard-won wisdom that came from being torn apart in homiletics class by Edmund Clowney,—only to be built back up by a compassionate mentor. He reflects on how becoming a father shaped his approach to pastoring, how relational ministry is just as important as doctrinal fidelity, and why internships are crucial for developing pastors who truly love preaching and love people.Other key topics include:The Cage-Stage Calvinist Years – What he's learned since his early years of ministry.The Role of Internships – How he mentors young men for the challenges of pastoral ministry.Why Long-Term Ministry Matters – The stability and intergenerational impact of staying in one congregation.Simplicity and Clarity in Preaching – Why he's working harder than ever to communicate with brevity and focus.Two Loves Every Pastor Needs – Why loving preaching isn't enough—you must also love your people.Drawing from his Ph.D. research on John Owen, his pastoral ministry, and his experience training future pastors, Danny offers wisdom for both young preachers and seasoned ministers alike. Bio - Rev. Dr. Danny HydeRev. Dr. Danny Hyde is the pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in California, where he has served since 2000. A prolific author and theologian, he holds a Ph.D. from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he wrote his dissertation on John Owen's theology of worship and its political implications. He also earned a Th.M. from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary California, and a B.A. in Religion from Vanguard University.Dr. Hyde has been deeply involved in ministerial training, overseeing numerous interns who have gone on to pastoral ministry, and has taught theology and pastoral studies at institutions like Westminster Seminary California, Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and Greystone Theological Institute. His denominational service includes roles on committees for church planting, digital media in worship, and doctrinal commitment within the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA).As a scholar, he has authored over a dozen books, including This Is the Word of the Lord, Grace Worth Fighting For, Welcome to a Reformed Church, and God in Our Midst. His writing frequently explores Reformed theology, church planting, and worship, and he is widely recognized for his expertise on the theology of John Owen and the Canons of Dort.Beyond his academic work, Dr. Hyde is passionate about mentoring the next generation of pastors, preaching with clarity and simplicity, and staying rooted in long-term pastoral ministry. In this conversation, he shares insights from 25 years of pastoring, the challenges and blessings of long-term ministry, and why loving people is as important as loving to preach.——————For information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollectiveDonate to support the work of Expositors Collective, in person training events and a free weekly podcast: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective

In this episode of The Defender Podcast, co-host Dr. Rick Morton sits down with David E. Prince at this year's 2024 Southern Baptist Convention to discuss the importance of staying grounded in faith by reflecting God's love through action. Together, they explore the call to care for vulnerable children, underscoring how living out the gospel means embodying values like adoption and compassion that mirror God's character and mission. Amid cultural pressures challenging foundational beliefs on family and marriage, they highlight the church's role in supporting and serving others. Through acts of love and grace, Christians can stay rooted in truth and boldly engage with the world around them.GUESTDavid E. Prince is pastor of preaching and vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky and assistant professor of Christian preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of In the Arena and Church with Jesus as the Hero. He frequently writes for The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, For the Church,  the BGEA and Preaching Today.He received his M.Div from Southwestern Theological Seminary and his Ph.D from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.He is married to Judi and they have eight children (three boys and five girls). He is a baseball aficionado and an avid Atlanta Braves fan, but he also enjoys football (#rolltide) and basketball. When he isn't spending time with his family, or playing sports with his kids, he can usually be found reading. His list of influential authors include: Edmund Clowney, Andrew Fuller, George Eldon Ladd, Graeme Goldsworthy, Irenaeus, John MacArthur, John Piper, Tom Schreiner, and Russell Moore.CO-HOSTDr. Rick Morton is the Vice President of Engagement at Lifeline Children's Services.ORPHAN SUNDAYLifeline Children's Services invites churches, pastors, and families to participate in Orphan Sunday, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of the fatherless. Each year, hundreds of churches partner with Lifeline to speak up for orphans and vulnerable children around the world. With resources like videos, prayer cards, sample sermons, and small group guides, Lifeline equips churches to share God's call to care for the fatherless and find practical ways to respond. Though we may not all be able to adopt or foster, Orphan Sunday encourages everyone to take action and support these precious children. Learn more at LifelineChild.org/Orphan-Sunday.LIFELINE CHILDREN'S SERVICESThe mission of Lifeline Children's Services is to equip the Body of Christ to manifest the gospel to vulnerable children. Our vision is for vulnerable children and their communities to be transformed by the gospel and to make disciples. FOLLOW USFacebook, Instagram, TwitterThe Defender Podcast: Subscribe on iTunes | Transistor | SpotifyThe Defender Bible Study: Subscribe on iTunes | Transistor | Spotify

1 Peter 1:13 “To set our hope is to believe the gospel. We cannot first improve our skill in hoping and then direct our more hopeful attitude toward God. Hope moves the other way: it is our response to God's work. We look to God, hear his word of promise, see his salvation in Christ, and fix our hope on him.”Edmund Clowney 1. Therefore 2. Hitch the hips of your mind 3. Sober minded 4. Hope          The post Set your hope fully appeared first on Racine Bible Church.

Make a one-time or recurring donation on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donor Box profile here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us in the mission of introducing Reformed Theology across the world! Please help support the show on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Find Danny's info ⁠⁠here⁠⁠, his upcoming Greystone class ⁠⁠here⁠⁠, and information about Oceanside URC ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Find Peter at Redeemer OPC ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.   SEASON 7 EPISODE 3 Join Nick, Peter, and Danny of the Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast as they continue Season 7, "Jesus in the Whole Bible" as they talk about the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph! Resource(s) mentioned: ⁠⁠The Unfolding Mystery⁠⁠ by Edmund Clowney ⁠⁠Preaching Christ in All of Scripture⁠⁠ by Edmund Clowney ⁠⁠From Creation to the Cross⁠⁠ by Albert Baylis The Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible From Prisoner to Prince by Samuel Emadi The Royal Priest by Matthew Emadi Interested in diving deeper? Listen to Danny's sermon series here: ⁠⁠From Creation to Christ to Consummation⁠⁠ ⁠Opening Up Genesis⁠   Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@guiltgracepod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gggpodcast/support

Este destacado teólogo cristiano reformado dejó un legado duradero a través de su profundo pensamiento, su servicio pastoral y su impacto en la educación. SÍGUENOS Sitio web: http://biteproject.com​​​ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@biteproject Twitter: https://twitter.com/biteproject​​​ Podcast: https://anchor.fm/biteproject TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@biteproject Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biteproject/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biteproject/​​​ Música: Envato Elements. Edición de sonido: Jhon Montaña

Series: A living Hope in a dying worldTitle: How Christians find encouragement in the midst of sufferingScripture: 1 Peter 3:18-22; Romans 8:28 NIVBottom line: SERMON OUTLINENOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSOUTLINESMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroduction“The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most famous battles in history. It occurred on the mainland of Europe on June 18, 1815. It pitted the French army, commanded by Napoleon, against the Anglo-German-Dutch forces led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian forces commanded by General Gebhard Blucher.There is an interesting story about how the news about Waterloo reached England. News was carried first by a ship that sailed from Europe across the English Channel to England's southern coast. The news was then relayed from the coast by signal flags to London. When the report was received in London at Winchester Cathedral, the flags atop the cathedral began to spell out Wellington's defeat of Napoleon to the entire city:"Wellington defeated." However, before the message could be com-pleted, a good old-fashioned London fog moved in, and the rest of the message was hidden.Based on incomplete information, the citizens of London thought Napoleon had won. That would have been a devastating defeat for England. Gloom filled the nation as the bad news quickly spread every-where. But when the mist began to lift, the flags high up on Winchester Cathedral completed the news. The flags spelled out this triumphant message: "Wellington defeated the enemy!" The English fears had been unfounded. Joy immediately replaced the gloom. All over England people danced in the streets, rejoicing at this great victory over one of the most dangerous enemies the nation had ever faced. In like manner, the resurrection and ascension of Christ gives us a certain hope that our own victory has been secured.” -David Helms“If you should suffer .. he writes. The imperial persecutions that would sweep across the Roman world had not yet come. Christians were not yet being compelled to affirm the deity of Caesar. No doubt there were already those who had given their witness as martyrs (see 4:6), but much more was to come. Yet it was already time to prepare. Churches today that experience little persecution need Peter's instruction; in a future nearer than they suppose they may find themselves suffering with the rest of Christ's afflicted church in the world.Peter would prepare the church not simply to endure persecution, but to find in persecution an opportunity for witness. Both the boldness and the humility needed for witness come about through a fundamental exchange. Christians must exchange the fear of others for the fear of the Lord. Peter gives the secret of boldness as one who had found it after failure. Waiting in the courtyard of the high priest's house while Christ was being examined, Peter had failed miserably. Rembrandt's painting captures the scene: Peter has just denied Christ for the third time, swearing with fearful oaths that he was no disciple of Christ, was not with him, did not know him.! In the background shadow stands Jesus. He has just turned to look at Peter.“-Edmund Clowney, pastor, author, professor, and mentor to Tim KellerOpening illustration is Napoleaonic war mistaken messaging storyIn 1807, John Newton, best known as composer of the hymn ‘Amazing Grace', encapsulated the amazing grace of God in some of his last words as he lay dying. He declared: ‘I am a great sinner but Christ is a great Saviour.'Think like a detective. Even though there are some very hard to understand verses in this passage, we can still come away answering the main theme questions from these verses and be encouraged in the midst of suffering.Relying on David Helms' commentary for this outline and looking back to our previous passage:Structure in the passage brings us 2 key ideas:I. A particular word: Submission/Subject2:11-12: Exhortation to honorable conduct and good deeds2:13, 18; 3:1: Three examples on submission: what good deeds look likeRulersMasters/bossesWivesII. A special relationship: Jesus3:8-17, 18-22: Two messages of encouragement, One from the victory of DavidPs 34:12-161 Peter 3:10-12One from the vindication of Jesus In other words, “They inform us that 3:18-22 are not concerned with the arduous task of submission, suffering and death…”“…Rather, this passage is about final victory gained through them…”“…Therefore, we can say that Peter wants to encourage us by lifting our hearts and minds to Heaven where Christ is already seated. In other words, ‘Take heart, you too shall one day win!'”ConclusionBottom Line: Q. What do I want them to know?A. That we win because Christ won.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because this changes our outlook in the midst of suffering.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Suffer knowing that it's temporary and like in the flood and on the cross.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because God will vindicate you and bring people to God in the process.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Move from complaining to thanking God for Romans 8:28PrayNOTESSeems to be Peter is encouraging believers in the midst of their sufferings that though they are a small remnant (like in the days of Noah), God is faithful and will save them and bring them through it.Question: Why is it better (to suffer for doing good than evil)? In other words, v. 17–why?3 possible answers:Because sometimes it's God's will to suffer for doing good. Or at least he allows it to accomplish his purposes. Ex. Someone runs into a building to save a person and ends up getting burned in the process.Because if you're going to suffer regardless it seems that for good is always better than for evil. Good > evil. It's taking what someone meant for evil and redeeming it for good. Because this is what Christ, our Lord and example, did TO BRING US TO GOD.What did Jesus do as described in 3:18-20?3 possible answers:In time between death and rez, Jesus took gospel to the now dead who had rejected Noah's message.That pre-incarnate Christ was proclaiming gospel through Noah and that's why they're imprisoned. (Rejected Christ's msg through Noah)That then imprisoned spirits were actually fallen angels who'd tried to corrupt humans in Noah's day. (See Gen 6:1-7) Peter sees in the flood a picture of baptism or salvation by the power of Holy Spirit through the cross and rez of Jesus Christ. Water baptism and the flood (water) are both outward symbols of cleansing and deliverance. ApplicationsBe encouraged by embracing the cross & trials of life.Be encouraged by Christ's victory of sin & death in the resurrection.Christ won and, therefore, we win. We see it in historyFlood/ArkCross/RezWe see it in futureChrist as KingRevelation and New heaven/earthWe are encouraged in the midst of suffering when we reflect on the history (past) and conclusion (future) of His Story (History) played out in and through Jesus Christ and his people.DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastOUTLINESII. THE CHRIST OF BELIEVERS (3:18-22): Peter describes a fourfold ministry accomplished by the Savior.A. His death (3:18)1. The permanence (3:18a): He died for our sins once and for all.2. The purpose (3:18b): He died to reconcile sinners to God.B. His journey to the spirit world (3:19-20)1. The transgression (3:19): Jesus preached against the sins of these evil spirits.2. The time (3:20): They committed their wickedness in the days of Noah.C. His resurrection (3:21)1. The salvation (3:21 a): Jesus' resurrection guarantees our redemption.2. The symbol (3:21b): Water baptism.D. His ascension and exaltation (3:22)Clowney's Outline7. The blessing of living with Christian suffering (1 Peter 3:8-22)Response to suffering in a life of blessing (3:8-12)Called to a life of blessingCalled to bless in response to cursingCalled to bless as heirs of blessingThe blessed witness of suffering for righteousness (3:13-22)The opportunity for witness in word (3:13-15)The opportunity for witness in life (3:16-17)The victory of Christ's suffering (3:18-22)Helms' OutlineEncouragement to ContinueI. The Need for Encouragement (1 Peter 3:8-17)A. The Encouraging Phrase: Called to be a blessingB. The Ideal Biblical Reference: Psalm 34C. The Precise Words: Fear and BlessingFearBlessingII. Encouragement in Christ's Victory (1 Peter 3:18-22)A. Detectives in search of meaningB. More clues from the surrounding contextA particular word: SubjectA special relationship: JesusAn encouraging conclusion to our pursuitMAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Peter and Jude,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Tama ang sinabi ni Edmund Clowney, “The story of the church begins with Israel, the Old Testament people of God” (The Church, p. 28). So ang church ay hindi lang New Testament reality. Hindi rin ito bagong plano ng Diyos, o plan B ng Diyos. Ito ay nasa isip na ng Diyos mula sa Old Testament. Sabi ni apostle Peter sa church, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Pet. 2:9). Siksik ‘yan ng Old Testament references. Lalo na yung sinabi ng Diyos tungkol sa Israel noong nasa Mount Sinai na sila, “…you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples…you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exod. 19:5-6). Preached by Derick Parfan on June 25, 2023 at Baliwag Bible Christian Church Full sermon notes here:

Os sermões do saudoso Tim Keller se destacaram não apenas na igreja que plantou capital econômica e cultural dos Estados Unidos, como também no mundo todo, como um exemplo de como pregar a pessoas imersas em uma cultura secular de forma cristocêntrica. Mas com quem ele aprendeu a fazer isso? Venha conhecer hoje aquele que Keller chamou certa vez de "maior pregador de todos os tempos" e com quem aprendeu a teologia bíblica para ver Cristo no Antigo Testamento e pregá-lo a partir dali — e quem sabe ser instruído sobre como pregar a Cristo em toda a Escritura. Veja uma transcrição deste episódio em nosso blog. Na Pilgrim você também pode ler a principal obra de Tim Keller e de Edmund Clowney sobre pregação, os quais inspiraram este episódio. Se você gostou deste episodio, compartilhe o Em Suma, um produto gratuito da Pilgrim, para que possamos continuar financiando este trabalho. _____ PARA SE APROFUNDAR Edmund Clowney. Pregando Cristo em toda a Escritura. Edmun Clowney. The Unfolding Mystery. Collin Hansen. Timothy Keller: His spiritual and intellectual formation. Timothy Keller. Pregação. _____ JÁ CONHECE A PILGRIM? A nossa plataforma oferece acesso a conteúdos cristãos de qualidade no formato que você preferir. Na Pilgrim você encontra audiolivros, ebooks, palestras, resumos, livros impressos e artigos para cada momento do seu dia e da sua vida: https://thepilgrim.com.br/ _____ SEJA PILGRIM PREMIUM Seja um assinante da Pilgrim e tenha acesso a mais de 10.000 livros, cursos, artigos e muito mais em uma única assinatura mensal: https://thepilgrim.com.br/seja-um-assinante Quais as vantagens? Acesso aos originais Pilgrim + Download ilimitado para ouvir offline + Acesso a mais de 10.000 títulos! + Frete grátis na compra de livros impressos em nossa loja _____ SIGA A PILGRIM No Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilgrim.app/ no Twitter: https://twitter.com/AppPilgrim no TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pilgrimapp e no YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy1lBN2eNOdL_dJtKnQZlCw Entre em contato através do contato@thepilgrim.com.br. Em suma é um podcast original Pilgrim. Todos os direitos reservados. O ponto de vista deste texto é de responsabilidade de seu(s) autor(es) e colaboradores diretos, não refletindo necessariamente a posição da Pilgrim ou de sua equipe de profissionais. _____ SIGA-ME NAS REDES SOCIAIS No Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theolo.gui/ No Twitter: https://twitter.com/GCPdf

This week's Event Friday message is from the Alliance's 1979 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology: The Names of Christ. What's in a name? Do the names and titles of Jesus have any significance? Why are there so many different names and titles for Jesus? Those names and titles serve as a description of who Jesus is and how He works in the lives of individuals. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

This week's Event Friday message is from the Alliance's 1979 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology: The Names of Christ. What's in a name? Do the names and titles of Jesus have any significance? Why are there so many different names and titles for Jesus? Those names and titles serve as a description of who Jesus is and how He works in the lives of individuals. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

This week's Event Friday message is from the Alliance's 1979 Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology: The Names of Christ. What's in a name? Do the names and titles of Jesus have any significance? Why are there so many different names and titles for Jesus? Those names and titles serve as a description of who Jesus is and how He works in the lives of individuals. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

You are surrounded by witchcraft every day, but in a much more subtle form than in previous centuries.  Find out how you can learn to "spot it in the wild."  Our hosts will also provide media recommendations for those searching for thought-provoking content:"Christ in All the Scriptures" - podcast by Dr. Edmund Clowney"Baptist Covenant Theology" - conference video series by Founders Ministries"NET Bible" - physical book and online resource"Shakespeare the Puritan" - audio book by Douglas Wilson (on Canon+)

John 12:9-19 May 8, 2022 preached by Pastor Chris Audino Download Time of Reflection Quotations “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment.” ~ Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), Presbyterian theologian “It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. […]

Is the Pope the "head of the church"? Does Matthew 16 teach apostolic succession or doctrinal succession? Should there be an earthly man at the top of the church? In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss the Reformed view of church polity as compared to the Roman Catholic view.  For more information, see:  Was Peter the First Pope (Matthew 16)? by Cincy Reformed  Belgic Confession, Art. 27-31 Canons of Dort, 1.7 The Church by Edmund Clowney, ch. 14 Institute of the Christian Religion by John Calvin, Book 4, ch. 2-11. How Jesus Runs the Church by Guy Prentiss Waters Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism by R.C. Sproul  Far From Rome, Near to God: Testimonies of Fifty Converted Catholic Priests by Richard Bennett  A Reformed Catholic by William Perkins

In this episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy sat down with Graeme Goldsworthy in his home in Brisbane, Australia, to talk about biblical theology and how it affects our understanding and teaching of the Bible. Goldsworthy has written many books, including the popularAccording to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible, one of the best and most accessible overviews of the Bible's basic plot. Over the course of our conversation, we discussed how this approach to the Bible was lost and found, how his approach to biblical theology differs from that of Geerhardus Vos and Edmund Clowney, and how to trace themes throughout the Scriptures as he demonstrates in his newest book, The Son of God and the New Creation in Crossway's Short Studies in Biblical Theology book series. Books by Graeme Goldsworthy:The Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel and Kingdom; Gospel and Wisdom; The Gospel in RevelationGospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical InterpretationChrist-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and PrinciplesMentioned in this podcast:Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus VosThe Unfolding Mystery by Edmund ClowneyPreaching Christ in All of Scriptureby Edmund Clowney

People are longing to rediscover true community. We have had enough of loneliness, independence, and competition. - Vanier The brother is a burden to the Christian, precisely because he is a Christian. For the pagan the other person never becomes a burden at all. He simply sidesteps every burden that others may impose upon him. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer Christians in community must again show the world, not merely family values, but the bond of the love of Christ. - Edmund Clowney

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “It is fatal to let people suppose that Christianity is only a mode of feeling; it is vitally necessary to insist that it is first and foremost a rational explanation of the universe.” “None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can't teach people that – they have to learn by experience.” “If men will not understand the meaning of judgement, they will never come to understand the meaning of grace.” ~Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957), English writer and poet “The more affected we are with our misery, the fitter for Christ's mercy." ~Thomas Manton (1620-1677), English Puritan clergyman “There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” ~Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), English theologian “The prize of your faithfulness is your God. He is what you will get, he is preparing himself as the reward of his worshippers… He it is who is the reward of your faith and fidelity.” ~Augustine, North African church leader (Carthage, A.D. 419) “My evidence that I am saved does not lie in the fact that I preach, or that I do this or that. All my hope lies in this: that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I am a sinner, I trust Him, then He came to save me, and I am saved.” ~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher “…he would go to Jerusalem not to wield the spear and bring the judgment, but to receive the spear thrust and bear the judgement.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), theologian and educator, on Jesus SERMON PASSAGE Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV) 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

—Full quote from the sermonThe gift of God's love, the blood of Jesus Christ, has redeemed Christians from the corrupt and empty lifestyle of their pagan past; that grace now unites them in fervent love for one another. They serve and help one another, using the rich spiritual gifts with which God's grace equips them. Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd of the flock of God, watches over his people. He calls undershepherds to serve him in guarding his sheep. The victory of Jesus Christ over all the powers of darkness frees his people from the power of Satan. They can repulse the roaring lion; in the fires of trial their faith will not be destroyed but purified like gold in the furnace. They may cast their cares on God, knowing that he cares for them. The grace that already fills Christians with joy will be brought to them fully at the appearing of Jesus Christ. The Lord, whom they love but have not seen, they will see and adore. Knowing well the doom and darkness from which they were delivered, the new people of God sing forth his praises. Their hallelujahs ring from their assemblies, their homes, and even from the prison cells, where their fear of God has set them free from the fear of man. Their witness is a witness of praise. Nourished by the unfailing Word of God they taste already the goodness of their Savior. The true grace of God has called them to his glory: everything, even their sufferings, will serve his purpose who redeemed them at such a price.– Edmund Clowney,The Message of 1 Peter: The Way of the Cross—Sermon text:1 Peter 1:3–9 Download the discussion guide for this sermon here (coming soon)

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “There is only one Lord of the Ring, only one who can bend it to his will. And he does not share power.” ~Gandalf, Lord of The Rings “Human beings are hope-shaped creatures. The way you live now is completely controlled by what you believe about the future.” ~Tim Keller, NYC-based pastor and author “What would it mean for Christians to give up that little piece of the American Dream that says, ‘You are limitless'? Everything is not possible. The mighty kingdom of God is not yet here. What if ‘rich' did not have to mean ‘wealthy', and ‘whole' did not have to mean ‘healed'? What if being the people of ‘the gospel' meant that we are simply people with good news? God is here. We are loved. It is enough.” ~Kate Bowler, Canadian academic and writer “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” ~Hebrews 11:9-10 (ESV) “Jesus did not come with sword in hand, but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment, but to bear judgment.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), Presbyterian theologian “...and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud... [generations later] and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” ~Matthew 1:11-13a, 16 (ESV) SERMON PASSAGE Haggai 1:12-13, 2:1-5, 20-23 (ESV) Haggai 1 12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” Haggai 2 1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.'” 20 The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, 22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. 23 On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.”

Northwest Bible Church - March 21, 2021 - 1 Peter - Alan Conner 1 Pet. 1:1-2 Chosen Pilgrims Intro A. ELECT ALIENS. 1. “Chosen” is first description of the readers (1 Pet. 1). 2. Used of Israel in the O.T. - Deut. 7:6 3. Used of N.T. believers. a- individual and unconditional - Rom. 9:11 b- eternal - Eph. 1:4 c- unto salvation - 2Th. 2:13 4. Peter teaches faith is a gift of God. 2 Pet. 1:1; Acts 5:31; 11:18 B. THE SOURCE OF ELECTION: GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE (1 Pet. 2). 1. Two views: Arminian view - conditional election. Reformed view - unconditional election. 2. Two kinds of divine knowledge - a- Omniscience - God's knowledge of all things b- God's special knowledge of certain people He has chosen - Jer. 1:5; Amos 3:2; Mt. 7:23 3. The meaning of divine “foreknowledge” in the N.T. 1 Pet. 1:20 Acts 2:23 Rom. 8:29; 11:2 4. The view of leading Greek dictionaries. 5. Other Bible translations. Applications 1Pet. 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you. NIV “chosen”; NKJV and KJV “foreordained”. This verse refers to Jesus Christ who was foreknown by God before the foundation of the world. The Arminian view would be that the Father didn't know about the coming and mission of His Son Jesus Christ until He looked down through the corridors of time to see and learn about it. This is contrary to the clear Scripture that the Trinity pre-planned all of redemption before the foundation of the world. There is no looking down through history for God to learn when Christ would appear or what was going to happen. God foreknew that Christ would come because He foreordained that Christ would come. Christ was “sent” by the Father. It hardly depends on man's choices foreseen by God. Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. Acts 4:27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. If foreknowledge is the Arminian view that God had to first look down through the halls of history to learn that Jesus was going to be delivered over by sinful men and nailed to the cross then it blatantly contradicts the fact that it is the PREDETERMINED PLAN. This occurs first so that you we must conclude that God foreknew that Christ would be delivered over to the cross because He foreordained that Jesus would be delivered over to the cross. So in this verse His foreknowledge of omniscience is based on His foreordination (or predestination). So again, the Arminian view does not make sense at all. Here in 1 Peter. 1:1 the “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God” includes the idea of foreordination/predestination but not of Christ but of His chosen ones. The idea of God choosing based on looking down through history to see who first chooses Him does not fit the meaning of this word in Peter's writings. Paul would agree. Rom. 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, Rom. 11:2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Here of His special knowledge of people chosen by His covenant love. Notice “For those whom He foreknew” not facts that He knew about them but that HE KNEW THEM, PEOPLE WHOM HE PREDESTINED. The leading Greek lexicons agree: BAG, p. 710 translates 1 Pet. 1:2 chosen “according to the predestination of God the Father” TDNT, 1:715, says of the word “foreknown” in Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:20 God's foreknowledge is an election or foreordination of His people or Christ. 1 Pet. 1:1-2 “foreknowledge” of the chosen Moffatt - “whom God the Father has predestined and chosen” Goodspeed - “whom God the Father has chosen and predestined.” Wuest - “chosen-out ones, this choice having been determined by the foreordination of God the Father” Williams - “who was foreordained” New English Bible - “chosen of old in the purpose of God the Father” 1 Pet. 1:20 “foreknown” of Christ KJV - “who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world” NIV - “He was chosen before the creation of the world” Moffatt, Goodspeed, Wuest, Phillips, Williams, NEB - translates “foreknown” with “predestined, foreordained, chosen.” SUMMARY - God's foreknowledge is a synonym for His foreordination/predestination of either EVENTS or of His ELECT, either His Son or redeemed people with whom He has a special, loving and covenant relationship. Again, the Arminian view fails to explain the verses. APPLICATION 1. It gives us a clear understanding of HOW we should live based on WHO we are. We have been chosen by God for God. We are “in the world but not of the world”. We are citizens of heaven and our lives should reflect that. We are loved by God and we should live that out: Col. 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Col. 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Undeserved election unto salvation provides the incentive, motivation, gratitude to live a God-honoring life. Our destiny is to become like Christ, the elect are predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son. “Lord make me more like the Savior.” 2. The doctrine of election is a great comfort to believers in times of trouble, persecution, suffering and afflictions. It anchors the soul in security of knowing that God has set His eternal love upon us and nothing that this world throws at us can take us out of God's hands. It gives stability to our life. Safe and secure from all alarms Leaning on the everlasting arms Election is a manifestation of God's sovereignty in salvation. It is God's sovereign control over all things and God's promise to work it for GOOD in the life of His chosen ones, that give us such a great comfort. John Piper, “The sovereignty of God is the strong wood of the tree that keeps our lives from being blown over by the winds of adversity. It is the rock that rises for us out of the flood of uncertainty and confusion. It is the eye of the hurricane where we stand with God and look up into the blue sky of his mastery when everything is being destroyed.” William Cowper, in his hymn, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” Judge not the Lord by feeble sense But trust Him for His grace Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face Spurgeon, “There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all.” 3. Peter in his second letter will exhort his readers, 2Pet. 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; Are you trusting Jesus alone to forgive you of all your sins? And do you see any evidence of grace in their lives. Not perfection but direction. Faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. We are not saved by these things but this is the direction that true faith seeks to go. Do you want to grow in these? In your struggles are you asking God to help you increase? THE MEANS OF SAVING THE ELECT 1. “by the sanctifying work of the Spirit” There seems to be a progression of thought here. The sanctification is often used for the gradual work of the Spirit to make us more like Jesus Christ throughout our Christian lives. Here the focus is on the initial beginning of that process where the Spirit begins His work of drawing us to Christ. It probably refers then to His preparatory work where He begins His work of bringing us into the kingdom and into a state of holiness in Christ. This would be the Spirit's work of conviction, drawing and eventually regeneration which gives us a new heart. This sanctifying work of the Spirit results in saving faith. 2. “to obey Jesus Christ” The “obedience of faith” since the gospel is a command to “repent.” 1John 3:23 ¶ This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, Rom. 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, Rom. 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; This is the result of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. 3. “and be sprinkled with His blood” The obedience of faith results in the application of the blood of Christ in forgiveness and salvation. Sprinkling of Christ's blood is a symbol for being purified from our sins. PRAYER FOR THE ELECT “grace and peace” - In light of their persecution and abuse by the world around them they will need much grace to live godly before them, even before their persecutors. Edmund Clowney recounts the testimony of Armando Valladares who spent 22 years in Castro's prisons in Cuba who recalled one of his most profound memories as he was being released: In the midst of that apocalyptic experience of the most dreadful and horrifying moments of my life, in the midst of the gray, ashy dust and the orgy of beatings and blood, prisoners beaten to the ground, a man emerged, the skeletal figure of a man wasted by hunger, with white hair, blazing blue eyes, and a heart overflowing with love, raising his arms to the invisible heaven above and pleading for mercy for his executioners. “Forgive them, Father for they know not what they do”. And then a burst of machine gun fire ripping open his breast.” (p. 25) Peter will write of truths that can impart such courage, faith and love to the people of God which is powerful to sustain them even in the fiercest times of persecution and trials. We need this book. But in light of Peter's failures in life, he also knew how much he needed daily grace from God to live the Christian life. He stuck his foot in his mouth more than a baby does cooing on their back.

Peace. It's elusive. Especially when life is hard. We start our study in Peter's letter to a group of believers spread across areas that make up modern-day Turkey. Six verses into the letter we find out that these believers are being grieved by various trials. They are feeling the effects of living for the kingdom in a world that isn't always friendly to that. Peter writes to them, reminding them of who they are, where their citizenship ultimately resides, and most of all, he reminds them again and again how good they have it because of the grace lavished on them by God. See, when we have a big view of God's grace, we get a big dose of His peace. When we remember all we have been given by Him, it puts our hearts at rest even through grievous trials. Edmund Clowney calls 1 Peter "a traveler's guide for the Christian pilgrim." Let's open this guide together to see how we live with a big view of God's grace and experience a big dose of His peace in this life as we journey toward the life to come.

1 Peter 1:1-12 | Peace. It's elusive. Especially when life is hard. We start our study in Peter's letter to a group of believers spread across areas that make up modern-day Turkey. Six verses into the letter we find out that these believers are being grieved by various trials. They are feeling the effects of living for the kingdom in a world that isn't always friendly to that. Peter writes to them, reminding them of who they are, where their citizenship ultimately resides, and most of all, he reminds them again and again how good they have it because of the grace lavished on them by God. See, when we have a big view of God's grace, we get a big dose of His peace. When we remember all we have been given by Him, it puts our hearts at rest even through grievous trials. Edmund Clowney calls 1 Peter "a traveler's guide for the Christian pilgrim." Let's open this guide together to see how we live with a big view of God's grace and experience a big dose of His peace in this life as we journey toward the life to come

Understanding the textOnce again in Genesis, we meet a woman who struggles to have children. As was the case with Sarah, Rebekah's barrenness presents a threat to the covenant promise. But as He did for Sarah, (and as He would do for Mary, the mother of Jesus), God provides a son. In fact, God provides two sons.These two men could not be more different. Esau, by virtue of being the older brother would have naturally been the one to receive the blessing and inheritance of his father, but his character excluded him and he finds himself serving his younger brother, just as God had promised Rebekah. Jacob, the younger son, is the child of promise through which the covenant promises and family line would continue. Ultimately, Israel arose from Jacob's descendants, while the Edomites came from Esau. Through the drama of these two boys, the faith and character of the parents were exposed and refined and the doctrine of grace was once again demonstrated.Additional scripture1. Romans 9:1-162. Deuteronomy 7:7-83. Numbers 23:19Applying the text1. What does this text teach us about the sovereign decrees and election of God?2. What does this text show us about the character of Esau? How would you describe his actions in this story?3. We are told that Esau despised his birthright. What were the consequences of this tragic choice for him? What happens to us when we, like Esau, despise the promises and favor of God?“The mystery of God's choosing will always offend those who stand before God in pride. Forgetting their rebellion and guilt before God they are ready to accuse Him of favoritism. But those who God's love has drawn to Christ will always confess the wonder of his initiative in grace...”—Edmund Clowney

Understanding the textIn the previous text, we learned that all authority is given by God and therefore, Christians can and should submit to authority. In this text, the principle of submission and authority is applied to marriage. Wives are exhorted to submit to their husbands. Peter assumes that some women had become Christians while their spouses had not yet converted. Rather than focusing on external beauty, Christian women are to cultivate holy character, knowing that their character is a powerful argument for the gospel.Likewise, husbands need to be considerate of their wives, taking into account their needs and unique disposition. Husbands are not to use their strength to intimidate or bully their wives. Instead, their strength is to be used to love and serve their wives as equal heirs in the Kingdom of God. Additional scripture1. Ephesians 5:22-332. 1 Timothy 2:8-103. 1 Corinthians 7:14The silent eloquence of his wife's pure and reverent behavior can preach daily the transforming power of Jesus Christ.—Edmund ClowneyApplying the text1. What is most challenging about this text?2. Why is a spouse's character so powerful in the life of a marriage? 3. How does the gospel transform the way a husband relates to his wife? What might this look like in the day-to-day life of an ordinary marriage?

In this episode, we discuss building strength on a physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, and relational level. Stay tuned for more! If you have any questions, email us at thefullyalivepodcast@gmail.com Becoming A Supple Leopard by Dr. Kelly Starett: https://amzn.to/2S9IjgD The Unfolding Mystery by Edmund Clowney: https://amzn.to/2IkV4Fh Follow us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/2TuK0qb Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2SlifDq To see the exercises demonstrated, check out our youtube channel: https://youtu.be/gB9ckBBKRVk?t=758

What does it mean to declare the glory of God? From the two great themes of the Psalms we find the two stanzas of our international anthem: praise God for what he has done; praise God for who he is. To declare God's glory among the nations we number his marvelous works and bless his name! We may have come to God singing “Just As I Am,” but we are sent to the nations singing “How Great Thou Art!” (Edmund Clowney)

Join the citizens of the Middle Kingdom as we start a new series called Unveiled: What the Old Testament has to say about Jesus. This episode is the introduction where we clear up common misconceptions on this topic.     Verses from today's show:   Luke 24:25-27, 44-45   John 5:39-47   Acts 26:22-23   Heb. 11:24-26   John 8:56 – 56   I Peter 1:10-11     Links/Resources:   David Murray, Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament   Vern Poythress, The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses   Edmund Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament   Jonathan Edwards, A History of the Work of Redemption   Nancy Guthrie, The Promised One (A 10-week Bible Study): Seeing Jesus in Genesis   The Scriptures Testify About Me, Al Mohler, Tim Keller, Alistair Begg, D. A. Carson   Gordan Fee, How to Read the Bible Book by Book and How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth   Max Anders, Understanding the Bible in 30 Days      Small Group Discussion Questions:   How much of your time is spent in the Old Testament?   Are there any Old Testament books you have never read?   What are three practical things you can do or ask each time you read from the Old Testament that will help you to better understand it?   What information did you heart today that was totally new?   What are the things said from this episode that you disagree with? Why? Can you use scripture to defend your position?    Will you commit to read through an Old Testament book this week or month?   Take some time to discuss different ways Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.   Photo Credit: Zach Mazrim

REFLECTION QUOTES “In all my studies of other religions…and early myths, I never found anything like…that incredible social inversion of Almighty God coming here and living with us and dying with us. And I was very drawn by that—profoundly drawn by it!” ~Author Anne Rice on her attraction to the Christian Gospel “There are two kinds of people in the world, the conscious dogmatists and the unconscious dogmatists. I have always found myself that the unconscious dogmatists were by far the most dogmatic.” ~G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer and journalist “In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair…the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die.” ~Dorothy L. Sayers (1893-1957), English writer and humanist “When people give up the search for truth, people turn to propaganda. And propaganda relies on emotional power.” ~Jacque Ellul (1912-1994) “That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed.” “The people who hanged Christ never…accused him of being a bore – on the contrary, they thought him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him ‘meek and mild' and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.” ~Dorothy L. Sayers in Letters to a Diminished Church “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), pastor and theologian SERMON PASSAGE Selected Passages from the Gospel of Mark (ESV) Mark 1 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 14 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows. Mark 15 1 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

REFLECTION QUOTES “You cannot go on ‘explaining away' forever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on ‘seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it.” “Nothing can seem extraordinary until you have discovered what is ordinary. Belief in miracles, far from depending on an ignorance of the laws of nature, is only possible in so far as those laws are known.” ~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), British academic and writer “…the Jesus of history is by definition open to empirical investigation by any and all observers… [T]he resurrection is… not an ordinary event… All history can say is that, starting in the early 30's of the first century, people who had known Jesus during His earthly life and who had deserted Him out of fear did a remarkable about-face after His disgraceful death and affirmed that Jesus had risen and appeared to them. That these people were not raving lunatics is shown by their skillful organization and propagation of the new Christian movement. That they were sincere is demonstrated by their willingness to die for what they claimed.” ~J.P. Meier, American biblical scholar in the New York Times “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), American theologian and pastor “Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain. Meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure.” “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), English writer and journalist SERMON PASSAGE Mark 6:30-56 (ESV) 30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

REFLECTION QUOTES “People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions. Conclusions are not always pleasant.” ~Helen Keller (1880-1968) “Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.” ~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), Presbyterian theologian “If thou wouldest be revived to everlasting life thou must by faith as it were set thy selfe upon the crosse of Christ and applie thy hands to his hands, thy feete to his feete, and thy sinnefull heart to his bleeding heart, and content not thy selfe with Thomas to put thy finger into his side, but even dive and plunge thy selfe wholly both bodie and soule into the woundes and bloode of Christ [sic].” ~William Perkins (1558–1602), English clergyman and theologian “The deeper we grow in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the poorer we become – the more we realize that everything in life is a gift. The tenor of our lives becomes one of humble and joyful thanksgiving. Awareness of our poverty and ineptitude causes us to rejoice in the gift of being called out of darkness into wondrous light and translated into the kingdom of God's beloved Son.” ~Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out “It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt.” ~Attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky, as quoted in Kierkegaard, the Melancholy Dane by Harold Victor Martin Question: Why do you say that through faith alone you are righteous? Answer: Not because I please God by the worthiness of my faith. It is because only Christ's satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness make me righteous before God, and because I can accept this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than through faith. ~Heidelberg Catechism: Question 61 (1563) SERMON PASSAGE Genesis 15 1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” 8 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” 9 So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” 17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”

REFLECTION QUOTES “[Philip Seymour Hoffman] hated what he was good at. It tormented him. I think he wanted to be so good, but it was such a difficult place, I guess, to get to. It had to all come from the inside.” ~Anton Corbijn, Dutch photographer and film director, on the now late lead actor of his latest film “You don't have to be a sociologist to know that we live in a culture of asphyxiating ‘performancism.' Performancism is the mindset that equates our identity and value directly with our performance. It casts achievements not as something we do or don't do but as something we are (or aren't).” ~Op-Ed in The Washington Post (10-17-2013) “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), American theologian “Now as myth transcends thought, Incarnation transcends myth. The heart of Christianity is a myth, which is also a fact. The old myth of the Dying God, without ceasing to be myth comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens—at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by definable historical consequences. We pass from…an Osiris, dying nobody knows when or where, to a historical Person under Pontius Pilate. By becoming fact it does not cease to be myth: that is the miracle…. Those who do not know that this great myth became Fact when the Virgin conceived are, indeed, to be pitied. But Christians also need to be…reminded that what became Fact was a Myth, that it carries with it into the world of Fact all the properties of a myth. God is more than a god, not less; Christ is more than [myth], not less. We must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting in our theology.” ~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) “…eternal life…consists in the enjoyment of God Himself: for we should hope for nothing less from Him than Himself, since no less is his goodness, by which he communicates good things to the creation, than His very essence.” ~St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1275) SERMON PASSAGE Colossians 2:16-23 (NASB) 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. 20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

REFLECTION QUOTES “There is no process of amalgamation by which opinions, wrong individually, can become right merely by their multitude.” ~John Ruskin (1819-1900), English art critic, artist, and author “We live in a broken world and we want hope. And we go to movies—we read stories—because we get to see broken people become whole. And that's the message that Jesus gives us.” ~Matthew Luhn, Pixar Story Editor and Artist “ . . . no single piece of our mental world is to be hermetically sealed off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'” ~Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920), Dutch theologian and statesman “Jesus did not come with sword in hand but with nails in hand. Not to bring judgment but to bear judgment.” ~Edmund Clowney (1917-2005), Presbyterian theologian “The sermon which does not lead to Christ, or of which Jesus Christ is not the top and the bottom, is a sort of sermon that will make the devils in hell laugh, but make the angels of God weep.” ~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher “The gospel is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart.” ~John Calvin (1509-1564), French theologian and pastor “What binds us [as Christians]…is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else of that sort. Christians come together because they have all been loved by Jesus himself.” ~D. A. Carson, contemporary theologian and biblical scholar SERMON PASSAGE Colossians 1:1-8 (NASB) 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. Colossians 4:12-16 (NASB) 12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house. 16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea. Acts 19:8-10 (NASB) 8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.