Podcasts about Gordon Fee

Series: Letters to a Pastor Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:1-5 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Paul Conway Paul opens his letter to Timothy with a problem to be solved; false teachers focusing on myths and genealogies. It was causing confusion, division and even people abandoning the faith. Timothy is Gods man to set them straight so that unity and love vs conflict are what drive the Ephesian church. Great resources: How to read the Bible for all its worth By Doug Stuart and Gordon Fee and “The New Bible Commentary”. the Best one volume bible commentary on the market today.

Você já se perguntou quem é o Espírito Santo e como Ele age na vida de um cristão? Neste episódio, vamos explorar a doutrina da Pneumatologia, ou seja, o estudo sobre o Espírito Santo, trazendo o olhar de grandes teólogos como Gordon Fee e Gutierres Siqueira. Vamos entender o papel do Espírito desde o Antigo Testamento, passando pelo derramamento no Pentecostes e a importância do batismo no Espírito Santo para a vida cristã. Descubra como o Espírito Santo transforma, capacita e distribui dons espirituais para que possamos viver em comunhão com Deus e cumprir nossa missão. Se você deseja se aprofundar na presença do Espírito Santo em sua vida, este episódio é para você! Aprenda a pregar do ZERO: https://go.hotmart.com/N82898881O?dp=1 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teologiacomcafe/support

Sermon Series: The Return of the King: The Gospel and the Future Sermon Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-15 Sermon Title: “The Right & Wrong Way to Wait on Christ's Return” Sermon Slides: SLIDE 1 – Sermon Title Slide SLIDE 2 – Today's Big Idea: Waiting on Christ, Should Sanctify Us in Christ. So, We Wait Well … When We Fervently Pray and We Faithfully Work. SLIDE 3 – Point 1: We Wait for Christ Well … by Fervently Praying to God for His Church (vv. 1-5) SLIDE 4 – Gordon Fee (1934-2022) – “The word ‘finally' has been suggested … [to be] a movement toward secondary matters, it is much more likely, in light of Paul's later habits … he has saved the final word for the matter that concerns him [most].” SLIDE 5 – Ephesians 2:19-21 – “So then … you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” SLIDE 6 – Matthew 13:1-9 – “Jesus … told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up … but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” SLIDE 7 – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 – “For we know, brothers … that [God] has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction … you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia … your faith in God has gone forth everywhere … how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God … and to wait for his Son from heaven.” SLIDE 8 – Insert Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 9 – Isaiah 55:10-11 – “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” SLIDE 10 – Luke 18:2-8 – “[Jesus] said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice …'' And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? … Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” SLIDE 11 – Insert Copy of Point #1 of Sermon SLIDE 12 – Point 2: We Wait for Christ Well … by Faithfully Working with God in His Church (vv. 6-15) SLIDE 13 – John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” SLIDE 14 – Matthew 11:28-29 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” SLIDE 14 – Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” SLIDE 15 – Insert Copy of Point #2 of Sermon SLIDE 16 – Proverbs 14:23 – “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” SLIDE 17 – Insert Copy of Point #2 of Sermon SLIDE 18 – Four Uses of This Sermon for Our Church and Lives. SLIDE 19 – When We Don't Wait Well on Christ … What Shows is a Wrong Mentality. SLIDE 20 – When We Don't Wait Well on Christ … What Shows is a Deficient Theology. SLIDE 21 – James 2:17 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” SLIDE 22 – 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 – “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” SLIDE 23 – Spiritual Rest and Spiritual Idleness … Are Different Things. SLIDE 24 – When We Wait Well on Christ … What Grows is a Steadfast, Confident, Expectant Love for Jesus!

Show me your way of life…and I'll show you what you believe. This week we reflect on our “way of life in Christ” (1 Cor 4:17). We tell of our shared faith story as we welcome 4 new shepherds to lead one flock under Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd.The sermon today is titled "One Faith: Our Way Of Life." It is the fifth installment in our series "City Lights: Bearing Witness To A Culture In Crisis." The Scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 4:15-17 (NIV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 15, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Christian Scripture.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT)Mark Rothenburg story on Sandy KoufaxJohn Mark Comer, "Practicing The Way" InterviewI'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is power…freedom…transformation…unity…glory. The wisdom of the world can't hold a candle to the mind of the Spirit. And we, people of the Spirit, sharing in one Spirit, walking by one Spirit, empowered by one Spirit, shine like lights in the world, radiating with power and glory that comes from the crucified Lord.The sermon today is titled "One Spirit: Power & Wisdom." It is the fourth installment in our series "City Lights: Bearing Witness To A Culture In Crisis." The Scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 8, 2024. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under LEARN: Christian Scripture.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT)Martin Luther King, "darkness cannot drive out darkness..."William Lane Craig, “The Holy Spirit” (Part 6). Reasonable Faith Defenders Podcast, Series 3.I'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide and even kids notes on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

People Pleasers or Slaves of the Messiah? Galatians 1:1-10 by William Klock The other day the phone rang.  I answered it and a stranger on the other end asked for Veronica.  I passed the phone to her.  I wondered who it was, but I didn't get much help from Veronica's end of the conversation.  It was all “Mmhmm” and “Yes” and “Okay”.  I had no idea who it was or what it was about.  In contrast, while walking to the church I ended up following a woman who was having a very loud conversation with someone on her cell phone.  I couldn't hear the other person, but I had a pretty good idea what he or she was saying based on the responses this woman was angrily yelling into her phone.  Things like, “Oh!  So I'm being dramatic?” and other things I probably shouldn't repeat in polite company.  We do this reading between the lines when we read St. Paul's epistles.  In them we have one side of a conversation and, thankfully, it's a lot more than “Mmhmm” and “Yes” and “Okay”.  In fact, it's a lot more like “Oh!  So I'm being dramatic?”  And it's not too hard, if we go slowly and think about the context, to piece most of the conversation together.  And so Paul begins his letter to the churches in Galatia writing, “Paul, an apostle…”  And then before he's even begun, he breaks off right there, because he has to defend himself against their attacks on his apostleship.  “My apostleship,” he writes, “doesn't derive from human sources, nor did it come through a human being.  It came through Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father who raised him from the dead.”  We know at the get-go that someone in Galatia is challenging Paul's credentials.  I think we get an even better sense of what's going on if we jump ahead to verse 10 of Galatians 1.  What Paul writes there doesn't get enough attention.  We'll come back and fill things in, but in verse 10 Paul writes to them: Well now…does that sound as though I'm trying to make up to people—or to God?  Or that I'm trying to curry favour with people?  If I were still pleasing people, I wouldn't be a slave of the Messiah.   Three times he says the same thing: Am I trying to make up to people.  Am I trying to curry favour with people?  Am I trying to please people?  So we know someone in Galatian is accusing Paul of abandoning the divine message of the gospel and, instead, preaching a merely human message that will tickle people's ears and win him friends.  Anyone who knew Paul should have known better, of course, but this is how it is.  Now there's actually a text—one that would have been well-known in the Jewish word of the First Century—there's a text that really sharpens the focus of this whole “people pleasing” accusation and that gives us some context for this whole dispute.  It stands out, because this Greek phrase Paul uses for “people pleasing” is essentially the same as another word that pops up in the Greek version of Psalm 52:6 and in the fourth of the Psalms of Solomon.  Psalms of Solomon is a little collection of eighteen psalms from the First Century B.C. and the First Century A.D., probably written by Pharisees or by people very much like the Pharisees.  And there's this Greek word that isn't actually Greek—anthropareskos—that was made up by Greek-speaking Jews and outside of Paul's writings, shows up only in those two other texts.  That fourth “Psalm of Solomon” is titled “A Psalm about the People Pleasers” and it's about people who compromised God's law, cutting corners here and there, in order to suck up to their pagan neighbours.  It speaks of men who would even enter the homes of pagans and fraternise with them.  That might not seem like a problem to us, but it was something faithful Jews did not do.  But once you got out into the real world, out of Judaea, a lot of Jews found it hard to get by in life while completely avoiding contact and fraternisation with gentiles.  In the Psalms of Solomon, the finger seems to be pointed at the corrupt Jewish rulers—people like the Sadducees, the Hasmoneans, and the Herodians.  To the faithful in Israel, these people were selling out the covenant by compromising God's law in order to ingratiate themselves with the pagans. And, we need to be clear, people like the Pharisees weren't angry about the compromise of the people pleasers because they were legalists who were trying to earn their way into heaven through good works.  There's been long tendency to read Galatians in that kind of light ever since Martin Luther.  Luther read the works-righteousness of the medieval church into Paul's adversaries.  And Luther was doing much what St. Augustine had done, when he read his own disputes with the heretic Pelagius into Galatians.  Pelagius, too, taught a sort of works righteousness.  As much as Pelagius and the medieval church did pose real problems, that sort of works righteousness wasn't at issue in these First Century disputes. The reason faithful Jews were obsessed with keeping the law was because they knew that God had chosen them, delivered them from Egypt, put them in the promised land, and called them to be holy—and that this was all for a greater purpose that would somehow involve God, one day, setting this fallen world to rights.  They were trying to be, in Jesus' way of putting it, the “on earth as in heaven” people.  There was a later rabbi who said that if all Israel would keep the torah for a single day, the Messiah would come.  The Pharisees had very similar ideas.  They also believed very firmly—because they knew the story of the Lord and Israel—that if Israel failed to keep the torah, if Israel flirted with pagans and their idolatry the way Deuteronomy warned them not to, the Messiah would not come and God would not establish his kingdom.  Not only that, but the very pagans with whom Israel compromised would destroy Israel and carry the people off into exile, just as the Babylonians had done six hundred years before.  I hope that helps us to understand what's behind this accusation made against Paul that he's a “people pleaser”.  It's not just that he's risking the salvation of some gentile believers in Galatia, but that he's putting in jeopardy the whole destiny of Israel—and probably even the world. In the First Century, Jews were faced with a crisis, and it was important to know who was “in” and who was “out”.  Who were your allies and who were the wicked risking another disaster.  The “people pleasers” were most definitely on the side of the wicked.  They pretended to be on God's side, but their compromises proved otherwise.  It's important for us to remember, too, that this was the mindset in which Paul had been steeped as a Pharisee.  This is the mindset that drove him to persecute the first Christians.  And now Paul is being accused of being one of those very people pleasers. So why would anyone accuse Paul of being a people pleaser?  Well, wherever Paul went, he was preaching that anyone who believed in this Jesus, who was crucified, died, and rose again…that anyone who believed that he is Israel's Messiah and, therefore God's King, this faith is the sign that that person is part of the people of God.  It didn't matter what their ethnic background was.  That was it.  Faith in Jesus the Messiah.  Period.  This is what Paul's epistle to the Galatians is all about.  Faith in Jesus the Messiah.  If a gentile believed, he was as much a member of the family as a Jew who believed.  He didn't need to be circumcised or to have any of the other signs that marked out Jews—not diet or Sabbath, not rules about who you could or couldn't eat with.  But to a lot of people this marked Paul out as a people pleaser.  He was compromising the law and the covenant.  That made him a traitor. I've begun with this, because I think it helps us understand where the focus of Galatians lies.  Ever since Luther, our tendency, at least in our Protestant circles, has been to read Galatians as a letter about how we are saved and as a warning about the dangers of legalism or of mixing works with faith.  The theology in that is right, but the perspective isn't where it should be and I think when we put Galatians back in the proper context and get a look at it from the proper angle, what we discover it's really about is community—about who the people of God are and what marks us out.  And in that light, the problem isn't just “legalism”.  Paul reminds us that what marks out the people of God is faith in Jesus the Messiah and that trying to define the community by any other means is to make it about something other than Jesus—to set up a false gospel. So the accusation against Paul, in a nutshell, is that he's got a gospel of human origin—that he got from someone else or that he made up himself—but a gospel that they think has been watered down to make it more palatable to the gentiles, that makes it too easy for the pagans to call themselves people of God.  If we understand that, then we'll understand these first verses.  This is why Paul breaks off after writing, “Paul, an apostle…”  Remember how be breaks off suddenly and adds: (My apostleship doesn't derive from human sources, nor did it come through a human being; it came through Jesus the Messiah, and God the Father who raised him from the dead.)   Some teachers had arrived in Galatia from Jerusalem and they've told the people there not to listen to Paul.  He's not a real apostle.  He wasn't there in the beginning with Jesus.  He never knew Jesus.  Instead, they should listen to them, because they got their gospel—at least so they claim—from the men who walked with Jesus for three years, real apostles like James and Peter.  And so Paul reminds them that he, too, had an encounter with the risen Messiah.  Paul would still be a Pharisee if it hadn't been for that miraculous encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.  And it was in that encounter that Jesus himself commissioned Paul to take this good news to the gentiles.  In fact, it was seeing Jesus risen from the dead that convinced Paul of the truth of the gospel.  So he goes on: Paul, an apostle…[verse 2]and the family who are with me; to the churches in Galatia.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God our Father, to whom be glory to the ages of ages.  Amen.   Paul…and the family who are with me.  That's the church in Antioch.  First Paul stresses that his apostleship is as from Jesus as that of any other apostle and now he stresses the relationship that he and the church in Antioch have with these churches in Galatia.  They were accusing him of being a people pleaser, of being a traitor, of being a false brother and here he reaches out with verbal arms and embraces them and reminds them that in Jesus they're all family, all brothers and sisters. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Jesus the Messiah our Lord.”  Paul has this amazing way of making everything about Jesus and the gospel.  In the Greek world they greeted each other with the word chairein, which meant “to rejoice”, but in a letter basically just means “greetings” or “salutations”.  This is, for example, how James opens his epistle.  But Paul exchanges chairein for charis, the word for “grace”—from God the Father and from Jesus the Messiah—grace to you.  He adds the Jewish greeting of shalom as well: that means “peace”.  But even his word order here in his greeting sets the tone for the whole letter.  It's not grace and peace to you; it's grace to you and then peace.  Because the sum total of God's position towards humanity is grace and this is manifest uniquely and finally in Jesus the Messiah.  Everything begins with God's grace poured out in and through Jesus.  Even the peace we know and the peace we look forward to in the age to come, even that comes as a result first of God's grace. Paul then follows this up with a four-faceted summary of the good news.  First, Jesus gave himself for our sins, (second) to rescue us from the present evil age, (third) according to the will of God our Father, (four) to whom be glory to the ages of ages.  Amen. Jesus has rescued us from the present evil age.  What does that mean?  Well, when the Jews looked at history, they divided it into two ages.  There was the present evil age dominated by sin and death and full of pain and tears and then there was the age to come when God would fulfil his promises to set the world to rights and where his people would live in his presence forever.  The present evil age is dominated by dark powers that enslave humanity through idolatry and sin.  We worship idols, giving to them the glory we were created to give to God, and we rebel against him—that's sin—and our sin tightens the chains those idols have on us and on creation.  While we were bound up in the present evil age, Jesus came to our rescue, writes Paul.  He seems to have Isaiah's song of the suffering servant in mind as he writes this, because it's this suffering servant who represents Israel and who gives his life to break the chains the idols have cast around God's people.  He dies for their sins and breaks sin's power and he leads the people in a new exodus—into the age to come.  I like the way Tom Wright often reminds us that Jesus' resurrection isn't an odd or one-off event within the old world, but rather it's a launching and defining event of God's new world.  Paul's gospel, his good news, is that Jesus has dealt with the sins that chained us as slaves in the dark and bloody temples of the idols, and he now leads us out into the sunlight, into the beginnings of God's new world. Now, here's why this is so important in Paul's letter to the Galatians.  Remember that for Jews, the problem with gentiles was that they were idolaters.  There was one true God, the God of Israel, but the gentiles instead worshipped idols and they lived and behaved sinfully, as idolaters do.  This is what made them unclean and so offensive to the Jews.  This why good Jews wouldn't go into their homes or eat with them.  There were some gentiles who saw the Jews and were attracted to their purity of life and joined up.  But to do that, they had to be circumcised.  It was a dramatic (and painful) sign that they were leaving behind the idolatrous pagan world and becoming part of Abraham's family.  But—and this is vital to understanding Galatians—Paul's point is that the gospel tells us that on the cross Jesus defeated those evil powers when he dealt with the sin that put us in their chains.  This is how there can now be one family.  This is how the gentiles can be welcomed into this new Israel.  Again, If God has defeated the idols, the dark powers of the evil age, then the gentiles, the pagans can trust in the God of Israel and become part of Jesus the Messiah's family.  And, second, because Jesus's death has dealt with sin, then those who believe in him and who become part of his family, they are no longer “sinners” or idolaters.  The thing that separated Jews and gentiles has been dealt with by Jesus at the cross, and so membership in his family is by faith in him alone and nothing else.  To add anything else to that—like circumcision or any of those other things that marked out the Jews—to add anything else is to detract from Jesus and to lose the gospel itself. And then points three and four of Paul's gospel summary: The cross wasn't some accident of history.  This was God's plan all along.  What Jesus has done reveals the faithfulness of God and that, in turn, brings the gospel back to the glorification of God.  We often make the gospel about us, but for Paul the gospel is always and only about God.  God has redeemed us and in that he shows his glory and this is why we give him glory and praise.  The gospel begins and ends in with God. So that's the gospel in all its magnificent glory.  We can hear the shock and the disappointment as Paul goes on in verse 6 and following, rebuking the Galatians.  He writes: I'm astonished that you are turning away so quickly from the one who called you by the grace of the Messiah, and going after another gospel—not that it is another gospel, it's just that there are some people stirring up trouble for you and wanting to pervert the gospel of the Messiah.  But even if we—or an angel from heaven!—should announce a gospel other than the one we announced to you, let such a person be accursed.  I said it before and I now say it again, if anyone offers you a gospel other than the one you received, let that person be accursed.   It's not just that these churches have gone astray.  That would be bad enough, but it's how quickly after he left them that they've turned away.  The language suggests that Paul might be comparing his own astonishment to the astonishment of Moses at how quickly the Israelites went from praising the Lord for his miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea to creating and worshipping a golden calf.  As dumbfounding as it was to Moses to find his people dancing around an idol, Paul is dumbfounded at how quickly and how easily the Galatians have been led astray to another gospel.  And Paul quickly amends that, because, really, there is no other gospel.  There's the gospel.  Everything else is just is a lie. Also, the language Paul uses to write of them “turning”, that has its own shameful undertones.  The word he uses is one used in the Greek Old Testament to describe desertion.  In 2 Maccabees there's the poignant story of seven brothers whom Antiochus tried to force to eat pork, killing them one after the other when they refused.  When it's down to the youngest of them, the text says that Antiochus tried to entice the boy to “turn form his ancestral ways”.  (Or course, the boy refused and became a martyr.)  This is the same language Paul uses here and I think just to stress his point.  This probably corresponds to what we read in Acts about “certain persons from James” who arrived in Galatia not long after Paul and Barnabas had returned from their mission there.  Paul had seen these people devoted to Jesus and to the gospel, he'd seen them transformed by it, and now he's shocked that they've turned from the gospel—and so quickly and easily.  If they're going to accuse him of being disloyal to Israel's traditions, he turns that accusation right back around on them.  They've been disloyal to, they've deserted Jesus. He's not into the details of their corrupted gospel yet, but he says here that they've turned from the one who called them by grace.  They've turned from God himself.  Paul puts the emphasis on grace as manifest in Jesus the Messiah.  God's call is an act of pure grace.  His sending of Jesus is a pure act of grace.  The God of Israel has finally sent his Messiah as a gift of pure grace—and Paul now points his finger at these people and says—And you've turned away from him! So what was their “other gospel”?  We have to do more reading between the lines and it won't be fully fleshed out until we get through the rest of the letter, but the best way to look at it may be to see these new teachers not so much preaching a different Jesus, but preaching Jesus as the culmination of a different story.  Paul was preaching Jesus as the fulfilment a story in which the God of Israel defeats the powers of sin and death to rescue his people from the present evil age, but these folks seemed to be preaching Jesus as an add-on to Jewish life as it already was—maybe Jesus as the fulfilment of some Jewish nationalist hope or agenda: maybe a message that fired up zeal against the gentiles, for example, instead of announcing to them the grace made available in Jesus. And I think it's likely that Paul had in mind what “gospel” meant in the Roman world.  To the Greeks and Romans, “gospel” was the good news announced about the accession or the birthday of Caesar.  Caesar's new cult was spreading like wildfire through Asia and that included Galatia.  It's not that the Christian there were in danger of worshiping Caesar.  The danger was that they would embrace torah to save themselves from persecution for not worshiping Caesar.  To refuse to worship Caesar—not to mention all the other gods—would be a bit like marching the wrong way, carrying the flag upside-down, and saying unpatriotic things in the middle of a Canada Day parade.  But in that culture, not only was it disloyal, if and when calamity struck the city or the country, you'd be the one to get the blame for it, because you'd angered the gods.  But the Jews, they were uniquely exempt.  The Jews would rather die than worship an idol, so after all the trouble they'd caused him, Caesar had granted them an exemption.  And those first Christians started claiming that exemption for themselves.  They were, after all, Jews.  Even the gentile converts claimed it.  But then to claim to be Jews, well there was pressure to start acting like Jews, too—and that became a problem. And so Paul announces: Anathema!  A curse.  The real gospel, the true gospel is about how, in Jesus and his death and resurrection, God has dealt with sin and inaugurated a new age.  That's why it's good news.  But these new teachers, they're not just veering off course a little.  They're completely wrong.  They're telling a different story.  They're not announcing the good news that God's new creation has started.  No, they're just giving advice about how to live and get along in the present evil age.  There's no good news there.  As my New Testament prof, Gordon Fee, used to put it, they'd gone backwards from AD to BC—going from the bright sunlight of God's new day, back into the darkness of the old.  No, Paul says, if any—even if an angel from heaven—proclaims anything other than the good news that I've proclaimed, let that person be accursed. Brothers and Sisters, it's really very simple.  It's about Jesus and Jesus alone and it's faith in him that defines the people of God.  There is an organic relationship between faith and works such that real faith will always show itself in our lives.  We know good trees because they bear good fruit.  But as much as good works borne of faith mark us out, the thing that makes, the thing that defines us as the people of God is faith in Jesus.  That's it.  Nothing else.  Whenever we add something else—whether it's circumcision as in Galatia or some other thing or set of rules, when we establish some ethnic or cultural criteria, when we set up some kind of personal or ecstatic or emotional experience that stands alongside Jesus—we diminish Jesus and we rob God of his glory and we lose the gospel.  The solution, I think, if we listen to Paul, is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and the cross.  Over and over Paul comes back to Jesus, declaring things like “who loved me and gave himself for me”.  We need to do the same.  Every week the Lord offers us a reset when he invites us to his Table.  Here we recall and participate anew in those events by which Jesus the Messiah gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God our Father.  Here we're reminded of grace, to go into another week with our eyes focused on Jesus that we might live to the glory of our gracious God and for the sake of his kingdom.  Here we're reminded again that it's all about God's grace poured out in Jesus.  It's not about us, it's not about who we are, it's not about what we've done or will do, it's all about and only about Jesus. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, you have poured out your amazing grace on us, giving your Son as a sacrifice for our sin and rescuing us from the bondage of the present evil age.  We should be overwhelmed by your grace and by your Son, but we confess that we too often lose our focus on him.  By your grace, set our eyes again and always on Jesus, that we might perpetually be amazed by your grace, so that we are never tempted to diminish your glory by adding anything else to the gospel.  In his name we pray.  Amen.

The Cleansing Prophet (Malachi) Yearly Theme: “Goodness is… Governing” Series Title: “Goodness in G minor” June 30th, 2024 Follow along in the Bible App: https://bible.com/events/49280579 About the last book of the Old Testament, Biblical scholars, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart write, “Malachi’s book is a graphic indicator of the moral and spiritual apathy of the time, which expressed itself in various forms of contempt for Yahweh and the covenant.”1 Angry at GOD and merely going through the motion of worship, their actions mocked GOD and the covenant they made with Him. Bringing sacrifices to Him that were diseased and crippled, they worshiped Him with contempt. The priests weren’t any better. They had left GOD’s path of righteousness and in so doing had caused many people to stumble in their faith. Showing favoritism to some and rejecting others, the priests’ corruption was a hindrance in the worship of GOD to the fledgling group of exiles who were returning to Jerusalem.

Send us a Text Message.10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

This is part 17 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. After reviewing the resources you can use to learn Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, we delve into the sources that translators use for their work. Next, we'll look at translation philosophies, including formal and dynamic equivalence. Lastly we'll cover the controversial issues of gender accuracy and translation bias. Over all, this episode should give you a nice introduction to a deep answer for what translations you should use and why. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsxuNfkTt-U&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2TrdUEDtAipF3jy4qYspM_&index=18 —— Links —— See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here —— Notes —— 17 How to Choose a Bible Translation Translation basics Fee & Stuart: “Your Bible, whatever translation you use, which is your beginning point, is in fact the end result of much scholarly work. Translators are regularly called upon to make choices regarding meanings, and their choices are going to affect how you”[1] “Every translation is a commentary” -Lee Brice The Bible is in three languages. Hebrew: Old Testament except the Aramaic part Nearly 99% of the OT (22,945 of 23,213 verses) Aramaic: half of Daniel and two passages in Ezra Daniel 2.4b-7.28; Ezra 4.8-6.18; 7.12-26 About 1% of the OT (268 of 23,213 verses) Greek: New Testament (all 7,968 verses) How to begin learning Hebrew or Greek Immersion program in Israel or Greece Whole Word Institute offers a 9-month program. In-person college class (usually 2 semesters) Local colleges, RTS offers an 8-week summer program. In-person classes at a Jewish synagogue or Greek church or community center Online program with live instructor Biblical Language Center, Liberty University, etc. Digital program with pre-recordings Aleph with Beth (YouTube), Bill Mounce's DVD course, etc. How to improve your existing knowledge of Hebrew or Greek Reading group in-person or online Read a portion each week together. Daily dose of Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic Daily YouTube videos of one verse each (email list) Read every day. Read the Bible; read devotionals; read comic books (Glossa House produces great resources) Watch modern Hebrew and Greek shows. Izzy is like Netflix for Israel/Hebrew Greece has lots of channels streaming online. Translation process (1 Timothy 2:5 example) Greek New Testament (NA28)Εἷς γὰρ θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς Literal translationOne for god, one and mediator of god and men,man Christ Jesus Finished translationFor (there is) one God, and (there is) one mediator between God and mankind, (the) man Christ Jesus. New Testament critical editions Nestle Aland 28th Edition (NA28) based on the Editio Critica Maior (ECM), which employs the coherence based genealogical method (CBGM) Tyndale House Greek New Testament (THGNT) prioritizes trusted physical manuscripts over the CBGM. Old Testament critical editions Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and the partially completed Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) print the Leningrad Codex in the main text, but include alternative readings in the footnotes. Hebrew Bible Critical Edition (HBCE) by Ronald Mendel is a project of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) to develop a critical edition. Resources to see decisions about alternative readings NET Bible (accessible here) New Testament Text and Commentary by Philip Comfort A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament by Bruce Metzger Formal equivalence translation philosophy Fee & Strauss: “If the Greek or Hebrew text uses an infinitive, the English translation will use an infinitive. When the Greek or Hebrew has a prepositional phrase, so will the English…The goal of this translational theory is formal correspondence as much as possible.”[2] Ron Rhodes: “Formal equivalence translations can also be trusted not to mix too much commentary in with the text derived from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. To clarify, while all translation entails some interpretation, formal equivalence translations keep to a minimum in intermingling interpretive additives into the text.  As one scholar put it, ‘An essentially literal translation operates on the premise that a translator is a steward of what someone else has written, not an editor and exegete who needs to explain or correct what someone else has written.'”[3] Dynamic equivalence translation philosophy Ron Rhodes: “Dynamic equivalence translations generally use shorter words, shorter sentences, and shorter paragraphs. They use easy vocabulary and use simple substitutes for theological and cultural terminology.  They often convert culturally dependent figures of speech into easy, direct statements.  They seek to avoid ambiguity as well as biblical jargon in favor of a natural English style. Translators concentrate on transferring meaning rather than mere words from one language to another.”[4] Formal vs. dynamic comparison Formal Equivalence Dynamic Equivalence Formal Correspondence Functional Equivalence Word for Word Thought for Thought Literal Readable Transparent to Originals Replicates Experience Transfer Interpretation Interpretation Built In Accurate Easy to Understand Formal equivalence Bibles ESV: English Standard Version NASB: New American Standard Bible LSB: Legacy Standard Bible NRSV: New Revised Standard Version HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible Gender Accuracy[5] “Man” used to mean “men and women” “Men” used to mean “men and women” “he” used to mean “he or she” Translations are changing with the changes in the English language so that female readers recognize the relevance of scripture to them See Eph 4:28; Mat 11:15; etc. Combatting bias To combat bias, look at translations from different thought camps. Evangelical: NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, NET, CSB, HCSB, LEB MSG, Passion, Amplified, LSB, CEV, TEV/GNT, NCV, NIrV Jewish: JPS, KJB, Stone, Robert Altar, Shocken Catholic: NABRE, NAB, RNJB, NJB, JB, Douay-Rheims Mainline: NRSV, NEB, RSV, ASV, KJV Unitarian: REV, NWT, Diaglott, KGV, Buzzard, NEV Review If you can, learn the biblical languages so you can read the actual words of scripture rather than depending on a translation. Translations of the New Testament depend on the Greek critical text known as the Nestle Aland 28th edition (NA28). Translations of the Old Testament depend on the Leningrad Codex, which is printed in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and the partially complete Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ). In addition, translators of the Old Testament are expected to look through the footnotes and commentary in these resources to judge readings from other sources. Over generations, textual critics have developed strategies and computer tools to more closely approximate the original text. As a result, newer critical texts contain reconstructions of an older stage of the text. Translation is the art of rendering a source text into a receptor language accurately. Formal equivalence translations focus on transparency to the source text and a minimum of added interpretation. Dynamic equivalence translations focus on readability in the receptor language. They seek clarity over ambiguity. Formal equivalence translations are safer, because they leave it up to the reader to figure out what a text means. However, they can contain awkward English and be difficult to read. Gender accuracy refers to the translation practice of including the feminine when a hypothetical singular masculine pronoun can refer to either sex or when masculine plurals include both genders. Bias is intrinsic to translation, especially with reference to doctrines that are widely held by committee members. The best way to expose and combat bias is to check translations from different thought camps. Although evangelical translations are better known, checking Jewish, mainline, Catholic, and unitarian translations provides a helpful corrective. [1] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 23. [2] Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss, How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), p. 26. [3] Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Bible Translations (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), p. 30.  Quotation from Leland Ryken, Choosing a Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2005), p. 27. [4] Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Bible Translations (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), pp. 32-33. [5] For a much deeper dive into this interesting topic, see session 15 from How We Got the Bible: Gender in Bible Translation, available on lhim.org or on YouTube.

Send us a Text Message. 10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.A 10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.A 10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.A 10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here. This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Send us a Text Message.A 10 session course by Rev'd Jon Swales.  on the Apostle Paul and the Holy Spirit. Video files with slides can be found here.  This teaching series is based on Gordon Fee's book 'Paul, The Spirit and the People of God' and 'Gods Empowering Presence'

Bishop Todd and Mickey continue our Pentecost series by examining all things Holy Spirit with theologian Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling. Daughter of the notable pneumatological theologian Gordon Fee, Cherith reflects on her father's life and how he leaned into order, intelligibility and knowledge as a gift of love for the people of God. She traces [...]

Bishop Todd and Mickey continue our Pentecost series by examining all things Holy Spirit with theologian Dr. Cherith Fee Nordling. Daughter of the notable pneumatological theologian Gordon Fee, Cherith reflects on her father's life and how he leaned into order, intelligibility and knowledge as a gift of love for the people of God. She traces [...]

Let's start this morning with three questions, and I want to tell you this right away — I'm not over-speaking here and I'm not kidding — these are the most important questions you could ever ask yourself.What is your heaven?Who is your savior?Where are you now?Over the next 35 minutes I'm asking that each of you think about these questions as we dig into Philippians Chapter 3, and I don't know what each of you are bringing in here today, but I do know that God works by his Spirit through his word and I invite you to humble your heart to that fact. Let's pray:Father in heaven, our great God, you are King from of old and you are working your salvation right now in the midst of the earth. We ask this morning that you work in here, by your Spirit, through your word, for your glory, in Jesus's name, amen. 1) What Is Your Heaven? (verse 3)Look at verse 3. Now Pastor David Mathis talked a lot about this verse last week and it was so good, so we need to start here again this week, especially with that phrase “For we are the circumcision.” What does that mean again? What does Paul mean by calling this church and himself (that's who he has in mind when he says “we”) — what does he mean by “we are the circumcision”?The False TeachingNotice first that the phrase is meant to be a contrast to verse 2. In verse 2, Paul warns about false teachers and calls them dogs, evildoers, and mutilators of the flesh. And last week we learned two things about this: not all of us are dog people. … (there are some good cat people out there); we learned that these false teachers are Jewish false teachers who had been misleading Gentile Christians by telling them that the men had to be physically circumcised in order to really become part of the people of God.The false teachers said that if you wanted to be set apart by God, recognized by God as his people, then you have to obey Jewish laws, and the most central, life-adjusting law was for the men to be circumcised — that wasn't something you just did on a whim; it was a distinctive lifelong marker.And in the minds of the false teachers, circumcision was the marker that meant you were part of the people of God. They conflated the two: To be God's people was to be circumcised. To be circumcised was to be God's people. So, if someone were to say, “we are the circumcision” that's like saying “We are God's people.”Well, in verse 3, that's what Paul is doing. He says: “For we are the circumcision.” He's saying we are the real people of God — not these false teachers and those like them who think you have to be Jewish in order to be the people of God, but it's us, we — Paul who is ethnically Jewish and these Gentile believers — we are the real people of God, not by keeping Jewish laws like circumcision, but by faith in Christ.What They WantedAnd Paul is going to elaborate on that in the following verses and that's where we're gonna focus, but before we do that, I want to step back and ask a broader question … it's the question: What do they want? What did these false teachers want? That's another way of asking: What is their heaven? That's the way to think about “your heaven.” Your heaven is what you most want. I think for these false teachers, the answer is that they wanted to be God's people. That's the irony in what Paul says in verse 3 — These false teachers wanted to be the people of God (and they were trying to tell others how to be the people of God), but Paul says, No, you're actually dogs. You're evildoers and mutilators. We are the real people of God.The false teachers were wrong, but we should know they were probably sincere in what they were doing. And that's true for most false teachers: False teachers tend to really believe the lies they spread. Which is why it takes discernment on our part. The false teachers were spreading lies, but if what they wanted, if what they were after was to be the people of God, that's not a terrible thing. That's a pretty good thing to want. If your heaven is to be God's people, that's a good start to our first question. I mean, there are a lot of worse things to most want in life … Some people most want to be rich and famous. That's their heaven. Some people most want to be comfortable and cared for. That's their heaven. Some people most want to advance their cause at all costs. That's their heaven.So you have the worldly ambitious … and the comfort-loving don't-mind-me's … and the scorch-the-earth zealots — A lot of people fall into those three categories. Everybody has their heaven. What's yours?What do you most want? Pretend that this afternoon you meet a genie who gives you one wish, what are you asking? It can't be for more wishes; every genie shoots that down. What's the one thing you're asking? “What is your heaven?” — hold that question. Now here's the second question:2) Who Is Your Savior? (verses 4–7)Now, our first two questions are closely related. We're not done with the first one, but we need to see something here.We're going to focus on verses 4–7, but notice again in verse 3: After Paul says, “For we are the circumcision” (we're the real people of God) — he explains what that means in three things that we do. Pastor Mathis called these “three marks of what it means to really be a Christian” (verse 3) — We worship by the Spirit of God, we glory (or boast) in Christ Jesus, and we put no confidence in the flesh. And that last one is especially important because that's precisely the opposite of what these false teachers were doing and teaching. These false teachers were saying that in order to be part of God's people, the flesh does matter and you need to make it something you can put confidence in.So Paul directly shuts that down. To be a real Christian is to put NO confidence in your flesh — no confidence in your own efforts and energies as a way to earn God's favor. Christians are done with the flesh.But wait a minute …Confidence in the Flesh?The false teachers (or someone influenced by the false teachers) might hear Paul say that and think, “Well, he's just saying that because he feels sorry for these Gentiles who don't have anything good in their flesh!” “Paul is just stacking the deck in their favor!” It's like this: imagine I'm playing basketball with my four boys, and imagine, hypothetically, that a couple of the boys can't dribble well. They prefer to tuck the basketball like it's a football and run to the goal, hypothetically.Now what if we're about to play a game and I gather the four boys together and said, “Hey, boys, for this game, we put no confidence in dribbling. You don't have to dribble according to the rules of this game.”If I were to say that, the other two boys would say, “The only reason you're saying dribbling doesn't matter is because they can't dribble. This is rigged.”In verse 4 Paul anticipates that being said to him. He anticipates someone saying: The only reason you say flesh-boasting doesn't matter is because they've got nothing to flesh-boast about.And Paul goes like sanctified ballistic here. Notice he changes from the third person “we” in verse 3, and he starts talking about himself. He says: “[we, the real people of God] put no confidence in the flesh — THOUGH I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more.”This is what Paul is saying. He's saying: “You don't have to dribble in this game, but I can dribble. In fact, if anybody thinks he can dribble, I'm actually better.” Then in verse 5 Paul's like, Give me the ball. Let me show you. And he tells us seven things about himself that make him remarkably Jewish. He is so Jewish, and was once so committed to Judaism, that he beats these false teachers in their own game. He outscores them on their own scorecard. Paul was everything (and more) of what these false teachers could only hope to be. And it's fascinating what he says in verse 6 when he says that he was “a persecutor of the church.” This means that Paul has actually been where these false teachers were, except that he was so extreme in his zeal that he didn't just try to make Christianity more Jewish, he tried to end Christianity. Paul was better at doing what these false teachers are trying to do. This is a stunning passage. Paul says I could play your game. I once did — and did better than you. But verse 7. Counted As LossPaul says: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (More literally, he says here: “But whatever was gain to me, this I counted, because of Christ, as loss.”)He uses an accounting metaphor. And notice that the verb “counted” in verse 7 is in the perfect tense — it's something done in the past. That same verb is used two other times in verse 8 and they're both in the present tense. But first, in verse 7, there was a past action, a past “counting.” There was a time when Paul reconfigured his P&L sheet.He had been running hard in his Jewishness, excelling, accruing, building an impressive resume — lots of religious gains and profit. More than anyone. But then, he took that entire column, all those things he counted as gains, and he said “LOSS.” Why? Why the change? Because of Christ.Paul met Jesus Christ — against all odds. We can read the story in Acts Chapter 9. Paul retells the story himself in Acts 22 and 26. The risen Lord Jesus intervened in Paul's life. Jesus knocked him off his horse and saved him. Paul had been zealous for God, but Jesus told him he had been going about it all the wrong way. Which means, although Paul wanted God, he was trying to get God by trusting in himself. He put his confidence in his own gifts and achievements, which means he looked to these things to be his savior. Questions ConnectionAnd here's where I want you to see how the first two questions are connected: What is your heaven? And Who is your Savior?Your heaven is what you most want. Your savior is who you are trusting in to get you what you most want. We have to get both of these right, but you can imagine how easily this could go wrong. The gate of wrongness is wide here. There more than one way to mess thing up.Like, you could get it wrong both ways: false heaven and false savior. And that's probably none of you in here. All those people are working hard somewhere right now. They're running hard down dead-end roads.But what about true heaven, false savior?That's like Paul. You want God, but your savior is your own flesh. You're trusting in your own gifts and your own achievements to be why God accepts you. I know what that's like. My Own StoryMy heaven for the longest time was to always play baseball at the next level, which meant in high school I wanted to play in college. So I was pursuing that. And one weekend I was at this showcase event — and a showcase event is when you go to this place and try to showcase your skills in front of a bunch of college or pro scouts. Well, at this thing, one of the coaches there who had been recruiting me, about halfway through the showcase, he pulled me aside, and he said, “Parnell, hustle is what makes you good.”It was not a compliment. What he was saying was: “You're not very good, so you have to play really hard.” I was 17 and I remember it to this day (and there are some deep reasons why) but one reason is because I knew he was right. It cemented something for me: if baseball was my heaven, hustle was my savior. I better bust it. I better get after it. But then, I got into this car wreck, and God, in his mercy, started to do a new work in my life, and after about a year, baseball was not my heaven anymore. God became my heaven. I wanted to know him. I wanted to be used by him, so I left baseball and started to pursue theological training to be a pastor.But here's the thing: I was still hustling. I thought: If I want to know God, if I want God to accept me and use me, I have to really play hard. So I did. I had intense spiritual disciplines. I hit the books like I never had before, and I became religiously competitive. Until one early morning in prayer, when everybody else was sleeping and I was really playing hard, I told God that the reason he loved me more than he loved my roommates was because of my hustle. I told God that. And in that moment … I can remember exactly where I was — it was almost like Jesus stepped into the room and he said You've got this all wrong. It's called grace. Grace changed my life.“I Boast No More”See, Jesus is God's grace to us and all of him for us is grace. Which means, you can't be proud about discovering grace because it's only by grace that you know it's by grace. And then it's only by grace that you know it's by grace that you know it's by grace. It's just grace, grace, grace, grace until you get to God who “before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen [a people] in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as the condition or cause moving him thereunto” (1689, 3.5).Go back before time! Go as far back as you can! Turn every angle you want! It's all grace. And when we understand that, our own righteousness just looks stupid. All those gifts and achievements you once boasted in, if you are a Christian there was a time when you counted as loss. We have exposed them as false saviors. And we say:No more my God, I boast no moreOf all the duties I have doneI quit the hopes I held beforeTo trust the merits of Thy SonThe best obedience of my handsDares not appear before Thy throneBut faith can answer Thy demandsBy pleading what my Lord has doneJesus Christ is the only true Savior. He's the only one who gets you God … if God is who you want. Prosperity Gospel?What about those who look to Jesus to be their Savior, but they want Jesus to get them something other than God? What if Jesus is your Savior but your heaven is comfort and ease? So true Savior, false heaven.Well that's what's called the “prosperity gospel” — people who use Jesus to get themselves temporal pleasures. They use Jesus to get something other than God. And of course we think “that's not us!” — right? We would never do that, but this is where we need to stop and think. It's why the third question matters.First, What is your heaven? Second, Who is your savior?3) Where Are You Now? (verses 8–9)In verse 8, Paul is no longer talking about the past, but he's doubling down on his accounting. In verse 7 he said, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”Verse 8: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”So Paul didn't just get the math right one time, but this is a present counting. A current counting. And then Paul explains more of what this means, verse 8: For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him [Paul wants Jesus. He wants to be found in Jesus] not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith …Those things that Paul once trusted in — his own righteousness — that's all garbage to him now.“Savior” once he called his flesh. “Sewage” now he counts his best.His “own righteousness” does not get him God. The best obedience of his hands does not earn God's favor, but he needs the righteousness of God through faith in Christ — Paul says it twice in verse 9 — he's talking about “the righteousness of God that depends on faith.” That's what he needs.Paul needs GOD to call him righteous which God only does through his faith in Jesus. That goes for you too, for us. Listen: the only way God accepts you is by looking at you and seeing something not of you. I hope that doesn't hurt your feelings. It just means that Jesus, not yourself, Jesus must be your Savior. Jesus is who gets you God.The Ultimate GoalAnd more than that. Look at the first thing Paul says in verse 8. He presently counts everything as loss because of “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” [He's going to pick this back up in verse 10, which we're gonna talk about next week (but to preach the same things to you is no trouble to us and is safe for you). So we'll talk about it now and next week.]What we see in this knowing Jesus is that Paul doesn't just want to be right with God — that's penultimate — but the final goal, the ultimate goal, the real heaven, is a relationship with God through Christ. That is what makes heaven heaven. It's to know Christ. And what's interesting here is that Jesus is not just the means to get you what you want, but Jesus also becomes what you want. Jesus is means and end. To know Jesus is of surpassing worth. That is what is most valuable — to know “Christ Jesus my Lord.” And this is the only time in the New Testament when Paul says it exactly like that. “Christ Jesus my Lord.” There are several times when he says “Christ Jesus our Lord” but here he says “my Lord.”What we see here is both “intimacy and devotion.” Devotion in that Paul has surrendered to Jesus as Lord. Jesus is King and in charge. So we do what Jesus says to do and go where Jesus says to go. Devotion. But it's also intimacy, closeness, in that Paul says Jesus is my Lord — he knows Jesus as my Lord. This is a deep, personal knowing. It's real experience in real relationship. Intimacy. The late commentator Gordon Fee says, “There is something unfortunate about a cerebral Christianity that “knows” but does not know in this way…”We Are Heart-PeopleAnd church, I don't want that to be true of us. Y'all know that we really value doctrine around here — what you think about God and his world matters. The head is important. But Cities Church, we are heart people, and we want heart-knowledge.And what that means at the end of the day, when our thinking is in order, when our doctrine is in line, we just want to know Jesus. Not in an abstract, distant, check-the-box kind of way, but we want to remember his realness in all of life. We want to be alive to the ever-present fact that he is alive. Jesus is near to us. His Spirit dwells within us. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. I know this is crazy, but it's true — Jesus loves us. Jesus loves me. I want to know him like that. I want us to know him like that. And so, where are you now?Here's a little catechism for you:What is your heaven? My heaven is to be closer to JesusWho is your savior? My only savior is Jesus.Where are you now? I'm pressing on to know Jesus my Lord.That's what brings us to the Table.The TableWe come to this Table glad and grateful — not to work, but to rest; not to do, but to receive. For those of us who trust in Jesus, that's what's going on in this moment.But if you're here and you've not yet trusted in Jesus, it means you're still looking to your own efforts to be your savior. But listen: you can be done with that today. You can count all those things as loss right now and you can put your faith in Jesus. I invite you to do that.For those who don't trust Jesus yet, trust him now. For those of us who do trust Jesus, let's receive his Table and give him thanks.

Episodio 22. Plática con David Rice e Ismael Peña. Acercamiento al libro de Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, La lectura eficaz de la Biblia.

17 How to Choose a Bible Translation – Notes Download Translation basics Fee & Stuart: “Your Bible, whatever translation you use, which is your beginning point, is in fact the end result of much scholarly work. Translators are regularly called upon to make choices regarding meanings, and their choices are going to affect how you”[[Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 23.]] “Every translation is a commentary” -Lee Brice The Bible is in three languages. Hebrew: Old Testament except the Aramaic part Nearly 99% of the OT (22,945 of 23,213 verses) Aramaic: half of Daniel and two passages in Ezra Daniel 2.4b-7.28; Ezra 4.8-6.18; 7.12-26 About 1% of the OT (268 of 23,213 verses) Greek: New Testament (all 7,968 verses) How to begin learning Hebrew or Greek Immersion program in Israel or Greece Whole Word Institute offers a 9-month program. In-person college class (usually 2 semesters) Local colleges, RTS offers an 8-week summer program. In-person classes at a Jewish synagogue or Greek church or community center Online program with live instructor Biblical Language Center, Liberty University, etc. Digital program with pre-recordings Aleph with Beth (YouTube), Bill Mounce's DVD course, etc. How to improve your existing knowledge of Hebrew or Greek Reading group in-person or online Read a portion each week together. Daily dose of Hebrew/Greek/Aramaic Daily YouTube videos of one verse each (email list) Read every day. Read the Bible; read devotionals; read comic books (Glossa House produces great resources) Watch modern Hebrew and Greek shows. Izzy is like Netflix for Israel/Hebrew Greece has lots of channels streaming online. Translation process (1 Timothy 2:5 example) Greek New Testament (NA28) Εἷς γὰρ θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς Literal translation One for god, one and mediator of god and men, man Christ Jesus Finished translation For (there is) one God, and (there is) one mediator between God and mankind, (the) man Christ Jesus. New Testament critical editions Nestle Aland 28th Edition (NA28) based on the Editio Critica Maior (ECM), which employs the coherence based genealogical method (CBGM) Tyndale House Greek New Testament (THGNT) prioritizes trusted physical manuscripts over the CBGM. Old Testament critical editions Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and the partially completed Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) print the Leningrad Codex in the main text, but include alternative readings in the footnotes. Hebrew Bible Critical Edition (HBCE) by Ronald Mendel is a project of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) to develop a critical edition. Resources to see decisions about alternative readings NET Bible (accessible at org) New Testament Text and Commentary by Philip Comfort A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament by Bruce Metzger Formal equivalence translation philosophy Fee & Strauss: “If the Greek or Hebrew text uses an infinitive, the English translation will use an infinitive. When the Greek or Hebrew has a prepositional phrase, so will the English…The goal of this translational theory is formal correspondence as much as possible.”[[Gordon Fee and Mark Strauss, How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), p. 26.]] Ron Rhodes: “Formal equivalence translations can also be trusted not to mix too much commentary in with the text derived from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. To clarify, while all translation entails some interpretation, formal equivalence translations keep to a minimum in intermingling interpretive additives into the text.  As one scholar put it, ‘An essentially literal translation operates on the premise that a translator is a steward of what someone else has written, not an editor and exegete who needs to explain or correct what someone else has written.'”[[Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Bible Translations (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), p. 30.  Quotation from Leland Ryken, Choosing a Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2005), p. 27.]] Dynamic equivalence translation philosophy Ron Rhodes: “Dynamic equivalence translations generally use shorter words, shorter sentences, and shorter paragraphs. They use easy vocabulary and use simple substitutes for theological and cultural terminology.  They often convert culturally dependent figures of speech into easy, direct statements.  They seek to avoid ambiguity as well as biblical jargon in favor of a natural English style. Translators concentrate on transferring meaning rather than mere words from one language to another.”[[Ron Rhodes, The Complete Guide to Bible Translations (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), pp. 32-33.]] Formal vs. dynamic comparison Formal Equivalence Dynamic Equivalence Formal Correspondence Functional Equivalence Word for Word Thought for Thought Literal Readable Transparent to Originals Replicates Experience Transfer Interpretation Interpretation Built In Accurate Easy to Understand Formal equivalence Bibles ESV: English Standard Version NASB: New American Standard Bible LSB: Legacy Standard Bible NRSV: New Revised Standard Version HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible Gender Accuracy[[For a much deeper dive into this interesting topic, see session 15 from How We Got the Bible: Gender in Bible Translation, available on lhim.org or on YouTube.]] “Man” used to mean “men and women” “Men” used to mean “men and women” “he” used to mean “he or she” Translations are changing with the changes in the English language so that female readers recognize the relevance of scripture to them See Eph 4:28; Mat 11:15; etc. Combatting bias To combat bias, look at translations from different thought camps. Evangelical: NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, NET, CSB, HCSB, LEB MSG, Passion, Amplified, LSB, CEV, TEV/GNT, NCV, NIrV Jewish: JPS, KJB, Stone, Robert Altar, Shocken Catholic: NABRE, NAB, RNJB, NJB, JB, Douay-Rheims Mainline: NRSV, NEB, NKJ, RSV, ASV, KJV Unitarian: REV, NWT, Diaglott, KGV, Buzzard, NEV Review If you can, learn the biblical languages so you can read the actual words of scripture rather than depending on a translation. Translations of the New Testament depend on the Greek critical text known as the Nestle Aland 28th edition (NA28). Translations of the Old Testament depend on the Leningrad Codex, which is printed in the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (BHS) and the partially complete Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ). In addition, translators of the Old Testament are expected to look through the footnotes and commentary in these resources to judge readings from other sources. Over generations, textual critics have developed strategies and computer tools to more closely approximate the original text. As a result, newer critical texts contain reconstructions of an older stage of the text. Translation is the art of rendering a source text into a receptor language accurately. Formal equivalence translations focus on transparency to the source text and a minimum of added interpretation. Dynamic equivalence translations focus on readability in the receptor language. They seek clarity over ambiguity. Formal equivalence translations are safer, because they leave it up to the reader to figure out what a text means. However, they can contain awkward English and be difficult to read. Gender accuracy refers to the translation practice of including the feminine when a hypothetical singular masculine pronoun can refer to either sex or when masculine plurals include both genders. Bias is intrinsic to translation, especially with reference to doctrines that are widely held by committee members. The best way to expose and combat bias is to check translations from different thought camps. Although evangelical translations are better known, checking Jewish, mainline, Catholic, and unitarian translations provides a helpful corrective. The post 17: How to Choose a Bible Translation first appeared on Living Hope.

This is part 4 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. Exegesis and application take work. Today you’ll learn how to grasp the content of scripture by asking the question, “What did this text mean to the original audience?” Looking for a book’s author, audience, occasion, and purpose will help you answer that question. Next, we’ll consider application and answering the question, “What does this text mean to me today?” We’ll follow Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s application strategy as well as their four warnings about extended application, particulars that are not comparable, cultural relativity, and task theology. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts —— Links —— See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here —— Notes —— “If there was one bit of wisdom, one rule of thumb, one single skill I could impart, one useful tip I could leave that would serve you well the rest of your life, what would it be? What is the single most important practical skill I've ever learned as a Christian? Here it is: Never read a Bible verse. That's right, never read a Bible verse. Instead, always read a paragraph at least.”[1] What to Look For Author Audience Occasion Purpose Two Tasks Figure out what a text meant to its original audience. Figure out what it means to you today. Understand Then Apply Get the author's point before asking about application. What's the author's train of thought? Do not ask, “How does this affect my life?” Do not ask, “How does this fit into my theology?” Just focus on getting what the author is conveying in his own historical context. Paragraph style Bibles help with this tremendously, whereas verse paragraphs make it hard to see what is connected to what. Look up words and phrases that you don't understand like a “Sabbath day's journey”, “high places”, a “talent” or a “mina”. In most cases, a simple internet search will provide the answer. A paper study Bible or some apps will provide footnotes with helpful information. Have an Open Posture Toward the Text Accept that you are going to disagree with the scriptures from time to time. Also, accept that sometimes your understanding of the scripture is flawed. Recognize that you are imperfect in your understanding, morals, theology, and understanding of life. Adopt a posture of obedience. Pray, “God please change me by what I read.” Recognize the role of God's spirit to inspire, convict, encourage, etc. The spirit is both lurking beneath the surface of scripture and hovering over it as you read. Pray and ask God to show you what to do in light of what you just read. Covenants Covenant is an agreement between God and the people with clear expectations and commitments from both. Old covenant God established this with Israel at Mount Sinai after he brought them out of Egypt through Moses. They would follow his Torah (instruction or law) as taught by Moses. He would take care of their fertility and protect them. New covenant God established this with the Church at the cross. They would follow Jesus' and his apostles' teaching on how to live. God would make them (even non-Israelites) his people, forgive their sins, allow himself to be known, and put his law (as taught by Jesus) in their hearts. He would resurrect them to eternal life in the age to come when he establishes his eternal Kingdom. Application Rules “A text cannot mean what it never could have meant to its author or readers” (p. 77). “Whenever we share comparable particulars with the first-century hearers, God's word to us is the same as his word to them” (p. 78). “The great caution here is that we do our exegesis well so that we have confidence that our situations and particulars are genuinely comparable to theirs. This is why the careful reconstruction of their problem is so important” (p. 79). Application Problems The problem of extended application (1 Cor 6:1-6) The problem of particulars that are not comparable (1 Cor 10:24-11:1) The problem of cultural relativity (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thess 5:26) The problem of task theology Three Questions to Help with Extended Application Does extending the application contradict other scriptural statements? Does extending the application align with general principles taught in scripture? Does extending the application align or contradict with the example of Jesus or the apostles? Moral vs. Custom “[O]ne should be prepared to distinguish between what the New Testament itself sees as inherently moral and what is not. Those items that are inherently moral are therefore absolute and abide for every culture; those that are not inherently moral are therefore cultural expressions and may change from culture to culture.”[2] Novel Doctrines If you've found a way of putting together verses to build a new doctrine no one in twenty centuries of Christianity has ever expressed, chances are you've made a mistake. See Restorationist Manifesto (Appendix 2-3) for simple methods of doctrinal synthesis and evaluation. Review: When reading scripture, look for clues about authorship, audience, occasion, and purpose. Figure out what a text meant to them first, then figure out what it means to you. Pray! Ask God to change you by what you read. Seek his wisdom in applying scripture to your particular situation. Understanding covenants is necessary to figure out if a particular command in scripture applies to you today. It’s easiest to apply scripture when your situation lines up closely with the biblical situation. Recognize that scripture has a limited application. Don’t extend application beyond the original intention. Sometimes our situations are so different that the best we can do is extract the principle behind a particular instruction. However, applying that principle in a new situation takes wisdom. Some instructions in scripture are culturally embedded and obeying them literally would result in new problems. Building general doctrines from biblical texts is sometimes problematic since scripture often addresses particular situations. [1] Dan Kimball, How (Not) to Read the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020), 39. [2] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 85.

Pastors Mike and Todd begin a new podcast series on the distinctives of GBC. These are further conversations on the sermon series we did this past summer (https://www.greshambible.org/sermons/series/gbc-distinctives). This is our first distinctive which reads:We are committed to expository preaching because we deeply believe that what the Bible says about itself is true (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12). We believe that God's Word is the foundational way through which God works in the world (Isaiah 55:11). Therefore, Scripture is central in all of our ministries because it is our authority, our light, and brings life to all who receive it. Books mentioned:"Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem"The Doctrine of the Word of God" by John Frame"The Question of the Canon" by Michael Kruger"Canon Revisited" by Michael Kruger"How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart"Invitation to Biblical Interpretation" by Andreas Kostenberger"Expositional Preaching" by David Helm

Pastor Bart and Pastor Mary give some additional thoughts on the sermon, "How Can I Trust that the Bible is Reliable?," given at WCPC on Sunday, September 10, 2023. Watch the sermon Listen to the sermon Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham The Drama of Scripture by Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen The Mission of God by Christopher Wright The Reason for God by Timothy Keller Resilient Faith by Gerald Sittser How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

JB, my youngest son, fell over a Lysol can in the living room and is currently on crutches. I promise I didn't make this up. More details are coming on today's show, but If you're not following me on social media you need to do so for no other reason than to see the cuteness of him navigating crutches (unsuccessfully).    Today we're kicking off a series on trusting God and letting go of our metaphorical crutches in order to hand our deepest struggles over to the Lord. Psalm 20:7 is one of my favorite verses on trust and it says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”    It's doubtful you're included to put your trust in chariots and horses, but those blanks are likely filled in with things like financial stability, a spouse's approval, recognition, achievement, or a number of other things.   Let's take a few months to consider how we can very practically learn to trust God in the areas where we are inclined to use the crutches of worry, addiction, approval, etc.    Here's a little preview of where we're heading the next few months:    To kick-off this series, we have none other than the amazing Max Lucado joining us today. We're talking about trusting God with our failures because  God Never Gives Up On You, despite the shortcomings and fall flat on your face moments that inevitably happen.    Take a minute to listen to Pastor Max today, and then share this with a friend as we kick-off our new fall series!   God Never Gives Up On You by Max Lucado How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee    

Season Two. Episode Seven. Mission For Macedonian Revival. Hosts Dirk and Brooke reconnect with Nikola Galevski after meeting him recently on an EEM trip to North Macedonia.  Nikola Galevski was born and raised in Skopje, Macedonia. Coming from a traditional Orthodox family, his faith was ignited in his youth through the witness of the local Evangelical Church in Skopje and with a special gift of God's Word. These events in his life inspired a life-long mission to share God's love with as many as possible. After finishing a BA in Art History and Archaeology, together with his wife Anet (who died from cancer in 2021), they both pursued master theological and ministry preparation studies at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, under the mentorship of Dr. Gordon Fee and Dr. Rikki E. Watts. Upon graduation, Anet and Nikola returned to Macedonia in 2005 to lead the Macedonian IFES/IVCF, start their second church plant, and initiate numerous evangelistic, outreach, educational, publishing, and music projects. Nikola and Anet have one daughter, Giselle-Maria Galevska. Apart from being a pastor of Evangelical Church Soulcraft, Nikola Galevski is a university evangelist, and lecturer in biblical studies, preaching, mission, and visual arts in North Macedonia and internationally. His utmost desire is to wholeheartedly love God and love people.  Learn more about Nikola from ⁠⁠scholarleaders.org⁠⁠. Every story is a living example of Isaiah 55:11.  To learn how you can partner with us to provide God's Word, go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EEM.ORG Follow us on: PRAY.COM

“The aim of Christian ethics is not Stoic self-sufficiency, which requires proper knowledge; rather its aim is the benefit and advantage of a sister or a brother.” — Gordon Fee, Commentary on First Corinthians 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

"In sum: 'to be saved' in the Pauline view means to become part of the people of God, who by the Spirit are born into God's family and therefore joined to one another as one body, whose gatherings in the Spirit form them into God's temple. God is not simply saving diverse people and preparing them for heaven; rather he is creating a people for his name, among whom God can dwell and who in their life together will reproduce God's life and character in all its unity and diversity." —Gordon Fee

“Christians are an eschatological people.”— Gordon Fee 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

“Grace leads to gratitude; ‘wisdom' and self-sufficiency lead to boasting and judgement. Grace has a leveling effect; self esteem has a self-exalting effect. Grace means humility; boasting means that one has arrived.”— Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 4:6-21

“It is not that God cannot, or will not, save the affluent. But for Paul, the glory of the gospel does not lie there; rather, it lies in God's mercy toward the very people whom most of the affluent tend to write off - the foolish, the weak, the despised. Such people do not fit well into the “suburban captivity of the church.” — Gordon Fee, Commentary, First Epistle to the Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5

What does Jesus mean when he says that we are to love others as we have been loved? And how can we even do that if we have not first truly experienced "being loved" by Jesus? Our guests in this episode have focused their ministry on helping people understand what it means to be truly loved. Dr. Mark Fee is the son of theologian, Gordon Fee, and sister of one of our recent guests, Dr. Cherith Nordling. You're going to enjoy meeting him and his ministry partner, Rachel - who has a profound healing story of her own.  Find out more at firstlovedministries.org

In Episode 36 of Season 3, Drew and Mick begin a two-week miniseries on biblical interpretation (exegesis and hermeneutics) where they look at historical approaches, some key considerations, and why this is an important topic for believers. Listen in for more! Connect with us at ideologypc@gmail.com // feel free to share, subscribe, rate, and/or comment Episode notes: - How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth by Gordon Fee

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Ezekiel 39:25–29; 1 Corinthians 2:6–16; John 6:63. Sermon Outline Who and What the Holy Spirit IsThe person of the Holy Spirit The translucence of the Holy Spirit What the Holy Spirit DoesIn creation In redemption Encountering the Holy SpiritEnjoying "fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:7) Sermon Questions Who is God the Holy Spirit? This sermon discussed the Spirit's work in two realms: in creation and in redemption. Briefly sketch the Spirit's role in both. Why is the Holy Spirit sometimes called the "imageless" or the "nameless" person of the Holy Trinity? Do you believe that God is intimately near to us? What is encouraging about this truth? What's unsettling? This sermon contends that what St Paul calls "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit" (2 Cor 13:14) is nothing other than the fellowship with Jesus that is brought about by the Spirit (compare 2 Cor 13:14 and 1 Cor. 1:7). What practical difference would it make to your life if there were no such person as the Holy Spirit? How would your faith look different? ... Would it look different at all? Select Resources Consulted Biblical: Daniel Block, "The Prophet of the Spirit: The Use of Rûaḥ in the Book of Ezekiel," in By the River Chebar: Historical, Literary, and Theological Studies in the Book of Ezekiel (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2013), 140–68; Gordon Fee, Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1996). Patristic: Athanasius of Alexandria, Letters to Serapion; Basil the Great, On the Holy Spirit Reformation: T.F. Torrance, The School of Faith: Catechisms of the Reformed Church, xcv–cxxvi; The Trinitarian Faith: The Evangelical Theology of the Ancient Catholic Church, 191–51. Living It Out: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Joy Unspeakable: Power and Renewal in the Holy Spirit (Wheaton: Harold Shaw, 2000); Sam Storms, The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012). Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Sam Fornecker (SFornecker@StAndrews.Church).

In todays episode I will be responding to a popular holiness podcast that discusses holiness standards, specifically the issue of hair length for men and women. This particular episode was full of misleading, misogynistic, false, and sometimes outright cultish tactics. I pray this episode is a blessing and hopefully answers some common objections raised by fundamentalists preaching when it comes to this difficult passage. Three things to remember when reading this setting of Scripture are submission, distinction, and worship. The Bible is a book intended to be both read and studied. This is an example of a bad reading of scripture, leading to bad study, and ultimately bad conclusions. If you are interested in doing better study I have three book recommendations for you: "Exegetical Fallacies", DA Carson https://www.amazon.com/Exegetical-Fallacies-D-Carson-ebook/dp/B00CZALQ1A/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=exegetical+fallacies+by+d.a.+carson&qid=1676767460&sprefix=exegetical+%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1 "How To Read Your Bible For All It's Worth", Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-All-Worth-ebook/dp/B00GS084YA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=how+to+read+your+bible+for+all+its+worth&qid=1676768065&sprefix=how+to+read+your+bible+for%2Caps%2C305&sr=8-1 "How To Eat Your Bible", Nate Pickowicz https://www.amazon.com/How-Eat-Your-Bible-Approach/dp/B08ZWH9BJJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15DOL5S6SV2NZ&keywords=how+to+eat+your+bible&qid=1676768097&sprefix=how+to+eat+your+%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-1 Follow Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLostMissionPodcast --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/don-vanzant/support

Dr. Andrew Perriman has a PhD from the London Bible College, He is involved with a missional church in Westbourne Grove, London, and he the author of multiple books. In this interview we mostly talk about his newest book "In the Form of a god: The Pre-Existence of the Exalted Christ in Paul". We mention NT Wright, James Dunn, Richard Bauckham, Gordon Fee, James McGrath, Eusebius of Caesarea, Constantine the Great, and more. Andrew's Blog: https://www.postost.net/ The Book: https://www.amazon.com/Form-God-Pre-existence-Exalted-Christology/dp/166673067X

It's Friday, December 30th, A.D. 2022. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. By Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com) Environmentalists hurting Azerbaijan people On Monday, December 12th, environmental activists in Azerbaijan setup tents blocking the only road connecting Karabakh to the outside world, reports international Christian Concern. Azerbaijan is located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In addition, they shut down the gas lines for four days which caused schools to temporarily close and the heat to be shut off in homes. Russia launched largest aerial assault on Thursday Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv were urged to head to air raid shelters early on Friday as sirens wailed across the city, a day after Russia carried out the biggest aerial assault since it started the war in February, reports Reuters. In a video address on Thursday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said air commands in central, southern, eastern and western Ukraine repelled 54 Russian missiles and 11 drones. More than 18 residential buildings and 10 critical infrastructure installations were destroyed in the latest attacks. Waves of Russian air strikes in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure, have left millions without power and heating in often freezing temperatures. Epoch Times uncovers voting issues in Houston and Dallas Texas Secretary of State John Scott's office has released the final phase of its 2020 general election audit of Collin, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties, reports The Epoch Times. The audit released on Monday showed the most serious issues occurred in two Democrat areas, Harris County -- including Houston, followed by Dallas, both of which featured “phantom voters.” By contrast, the two largest Republican-controlled counties, Tarrant County administered a “quality, transparent election” with minor findings, and Collin County “proved to be the model of how to run elections in Texas.” (pdf) Massachusetts mom gets city to fly “nuclear family” flag for a week When it comes to the concept of “inclusivity,” the sexual perversion movement is ruthlessly hypocritical: only their message may be included. But now conservative Christians are pushing back. In early November 2022, Jessica Jacobson – a mother in Fitchburg, Massachusetts – wanted to discuss how to deal with the sexual perversion indoctrination in the schools, reports MassResistance. Jessica noticed that every year the city flies the LHBT rainbow “pride” flag in a city park for a week. She reasoned that it would only be fair that they also fly a “nuclear family” flag, celebrating heterosexuality, for a week. So, Jessica spoke with Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DeNatale. She explained to him that the non-discrimination laws required both sides of an issue to be allowed. She also reminded the mayor that his oath of office requires him to be “impartial” toward the citizens of Fitchburg. There is also the recent 9-0 US Supreme Court decision, Shurtleff v. City of Boston, requiring Boston to be impartial in allowing flags. Thus, the nuclear family flag – celebrating heterosexuality -- should also be allowed to fly for a week in the same location in Fitchburg. Surprisingly, the Mayor was very supportive of the idea. He agreed that if one group in the community was represented, other members of the community should also be represented. It was determined that the nuclear family flag would be raised in the city's Riverfront Park on Dec. 21 and fly there until Dec. 28. To his credit, Mayor DeNatale participated in the nuclear family flag-raising ceremony as you can see in his tweet. Take a moment to thank him by email through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com or by calling 978-829-1801. Not surprisingly, the sexual perversion activists were livid, reports Boston 25 News. Jessica composed a one-page statement entitled, “Equality is what this flag raising is all about.” It describes what support for the nuclear family means, the demands for equal representation, and how churches are encouraged to pray for nuclear families in these troubled times. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.” 6 notables Christians who died in 2022 The Christian Post reports that there were six notable Christians who died in 2022. They include: Ray Bentley, an author, radio broadcaster and pastor, who helped to found the Maranatha Chapel of California, an influential Evangelical megachurch, who died of complications from COVID-19 at age 64. Abune Antonios, the former leader of the Orthodox Church in Eritrea, Africa, died after spending 15 years in detention as a prisoner of conscience for resisting the Eritrean government's interference in church affairs. He was 94. Dede Robertson, the wife of televangelist Pat Robertson, who was involved in the leadership of both Regent University and the Christian Broadcasting Network. She died at age 94. Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) a Presbyterian theologian, public speaker, minister, World War II veteran and author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, died at the age of 96. Gordon Fee, a theologian, distinguished professor, Bible translator, and bestselling author who was considered an expert on the study of the Holy Spirit, died at age 88. Canadian Pastor Leon Fontaine, who led the multisite Springs Church of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and gained recent attention for his opposition to COVID-19 lockdown orders, died at age 59 following a brief battle with an aggressive form of cancer. Ohio Worldview listener gets Kirk Cameron's kids' book in library And finally, Stephanie Burns, a Worldview listener in Sandusky, Ohio emailed me a praise report earlier this week. She said, “I have had success in requesting Kirk Cameron's new children's book, As You Grow, to be purchased at my local public library.  “I will pray for those who are not met with the same reception and kindness to have wisdom to say the right words in those difficult conversations, shining the light of Christ in truth and love, trusting God's Spirit to work through it in some way. “Thank you for The Worldview broadcast!” In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Watch a CBN interview with Kirk Cameron about how 50 “Drag Queen Story Hour” libraries either rejected Cameron's request to read his book there or ignored it altogether.  When threatened with a possible lawsuit, two libraries saw the light. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Friday, December 30th in the year of our Lord 2022. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with Matthew Bates about growing up in a forestry family, the quiet faith of his mother, and the people who invested in his early life. Matthew talks about transitioning from a physics degree to theology, how he found himself studying greek simply out of personal interest, and the writers and theologians who shaped his questions and perspective on Jesus and scripture. He gives a summation of the key themes in his writing and shares the components of his books about which he receives positive feedback, and those which receive the most pushback. Finally, Matthew describes some ways a congregation might benefit from reversing the gospel presentation, and why this choice is more than just semantics. Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. Bates is a Protestant who enjoys the challenge of teaching in a Catholic context. His books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019) the award-winning Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015), and The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation (Baylor University Press, 2012). He also co-founded and co-hosts the popular OnScript podcast. After completing a B.S. in physics from Whitworth University (1999), Bates began a career in electrical engineering. His life took a swerve when he enrolled in a biblical studies program at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. (M.C.S., 2004, The Biblical Studies Prize). In 2005 Bates began PhD studies in theology at the University of Notre Dame, specializing in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity (CJA). Upon graduation (2010) he was named the winner of the Shaheen Award in the humanities, the top graduation prize at Notre Dame, competitive across all disciplines. In 2011 Bates accepted his current academic post. Bates enjoys hiking, baseball, and chasing around his seven children. Show Notes: The Gospel Precisely by Matthew Bates Vineyard USA's suggested reading for November The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart The Emergence Of Sin by Matthew Croasmun The Challenge Of Jesus by N.T. Wright The New Testament And The People Of God by N.T. Wright Why The Gospel?: Living the Good News of King Jesus with Purpose by Matthew Bates Coming in May! Socials: Vineyardusa.org @vineyardusa Matthew's Twitter: @MatthewWBates

As you may know, a coalition led by former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu won enough seats in the Israeli parliament to form a new government. What you may not know is why this story matters to every evangelical Christian in America. I also discuss Kyrie Irving's suspension, the rise of anti-Semitism, if the Bible should govern morality, and the passing of Gordon Fee, “one of the most influential New Testament scholars.” To receive The Songs Tell the Story, our 2022 Advent devotional guide written by Janet Denison, go to TheDailyArticle.org.  Author: Jim Denison, PhD Narrator: Chris Elkins Subscribe: http://www.denisonforum.org/subscribe 

This week Amanda, Caleb, Rebecca, and Matt talked about hunting Pythons in Florida, Spiritual Gifts, people talking about women voting on Twitter, and the life of Gordon Fee Pastor Becky's Animal Corner https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-teen-wins-competition-capturing-28-burmese-pythons-rcna54103 The Malcolm Section https://giftstest.com/test https://i.rockcdn.us/sdr/docs/about/Rock%20Church%20Statement%20of%20Faith.pdf https://milesmcpherson.com/about/ Tweet of the Week https://twitter.com/Yoda4ever/status/1585690933042896896?s https://twitter.com/AlsoACarpenter/status/1585668845867393024? News of the Week https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/october/gordon-fee-obit-bible-reading-worth-fire-pentecostal.html https://vimeo.com/ondemand/bigf/580949283? Corrections: It was at Seattle Pacific where Eugene Peterson met Gordon Fee.

0-00 - Introduction-2-02 - Recap of last sermon-5-40 - Do the services of a slave, we are free slaves.-7-05 - Verse 16 tells us at least 2 things.-8-35 - Do you find the Spirit to be your helper-- The Spirit is sufficient.-9-25 - Galatians 5-17 is a controversial verse that has multiple interpretations.-13-15 - Look at the context, what matters set up what Paul says.-16-20 - Is this the flesh preventing you from doing what you want---18-42 - Third interpretation, Can't do what you want to do---20-30 - Craig's take- The Spirit keeping the flesh back from doing what it wants, the fleshing being the -you-.-22-25 - Does this mean we don't have a struggle-- No, there is indeed a real war, we see this clearly from other passages.-25-05 - Scripture presses us with our responsibility.-27-15 - There is a wrong way Galatians 5-17 is used in someone's life.-28-55 - Christ came to break the chains.-30-30 - This is not only a command but a promise.-33-30 - Craig shares Gordon Fee's take on this text.-35-40 - If the Torah is out, then what governs us---38-10 - Spirit doesn't get enough praise.-39-35 - This text does not mean we are passive and do nothing.-42-05 - Walk in step with the Spirit.-42-30 - There is a parallel verse in Romans 8.-44-10 - This is an eternal matter.-46-40 - Corrie Ten-boom glove illustration.-47-40 - Sin impedes the Spirit's help in your life.-48-55 - Don't forget his presence, he is there with you when you do what you do.-51-30 - Luke 11-13, ask for more of the Spirit.-53-51 - Closing prayer.

0-00 - Introduction-2-02 - Recap of last sermon-5-40 - Do the services of a slave, we are free slaves.-7-05 - Verse 16 tells us at least 2 things.-8-35 - Do you find the Spirit to be your helper- The Spirit is sufficient.-9-25 - Galatians 5-17 is a controversial verse that has multiple interpretations.-13-15 - Look at the context, what matters set up what Paul says.-16-20 - Is this the flesh preventing you from doing what you want--18-42 - Third interpretation, Can't do what you want to do--20-30 - Craig's take- The Spirit keeping the flesh back from doing what it wants, the fleshing being the -you-.-22-25 - Does this mean we don't have a struggle- No, there is indeed a real war, we see this clearly from other passages.-25-05 - Scripture presses us with our responsibility.-27-15 - There is a wrong way Galatians 5-17 is used in someone's life.-28-55 - Christ came to break the chains.-30-30 - This is not only a command but a promise.-33-30 - Craig shares Gordon Fee's take on this text.-35-40 - If the Torah is out, then what governs us--38-10 - Spirit doesn't get enough praise.-39-35 - This text does not mean we are passive and do nothing.-42-05 - Walk in step with the Spirit.-42-30 - There is a parallel verse in Romans 8.-44-10 - This is an eternal matter.-46-40 - Corrie Ten-boom glove illustration.-47-40 - Sin impedes the Spirit's help in your life.-48-55 - Don't forget his presence, he is there with you when you do what you do.-51-30 - Luke 11-13, ask for more of the Spirit.-53-51 - Closing prayer.

The one and only Gabriel Finochio joins the guys live in studio to talk about: A crazy week North Korea, Twitter & Elon Musk, Gordon Fee & more Nathan & Gabe's embarrassing upbringing WahWahWah: complaints and sponsors Make a meme of Nathan Peter Kreeft Where's the Beef w/ Chris Palmer How Pentecostal are you? Defining a “move of God” Conference preachers and their over allegorization Controversy over The Guide and Gabe's review of Dahmer *67 - Lance Cunningham calls Terry Crist *67 - Dr. David Dillard calls a Christian Bookstore The Last Rant Join the Clubhouse to get full access to the the TheosU Memes After Show (https://www.theosu.ca/pricing) Offended about something we said or a topic we discussed? Feel free to air your grievances by emailing us at wahwahwah@theosu.ca. Want unlimited seminary level teaching in plain English? Subscribe to Theos University (https://www.theosu.ca/) Follow on Instagram: TheosU Memes (https://www.instagram.com/theosu_memes/) Theos University (https://www.instagram.com/theosuniver...) Nathan Finochio (https://www.instagram.com/nathanfinochio) Chris Palmer (https://www.instagram.com/chrispalmer) Bryan Vos (https://www.instagram.com/bryanthefox) Everett Wood (https://www.instagram.com/everettjame...) Presented by Vast Media

00:00-10:42: Aubrey and Brian talk about how to have a missional Halloween, and when Aubrey is going to put up her three story Christmas tree. 10:42-22:29: Kids' sports and Sunday mornings: how do you handle the dilemma? 22:29-30:39: Just imagine seeing hearing these historical political speeches today.  30:09-38:31:: We see so many stories of pastors who did not run the race. It's important to pause and remember the thought leaders who did–like Gordon Fee. He just passed away, and Aubrey and Brian talk about his legacy.  38:31-47:12: What is the deal with rumors—which seem to surface every year—about really scary stuff in Halloween candy? 47:12-57:12: Dia de los Muertos, and getting involved in your kids' schooling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How deep do your roots go? As followers of Jesus, we are encouraged to build our lives on scripture so that we can withstand the storms of life. If your relationship with the Bible has become boring, bland or non-existent, this episode includes some helpful tips to shake it up!Some key takeaways:- We don't need “my truth,” we need THE TRUTH- The scriptures are accessible and filled with treasure to be discovered!- If you've lost your sense of wonder with the Bible, you have lost the point.No matter how long you've been serving God, there is a next step for you to take in your Bible study.Recommendations:- How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart- Lectio 365 appLooking for a speaker or coach? Connect with Julie at juliebeader.comTo support this podcast & this ministry click here.Thank you!

What is the Bible for? How do we engage with certain passages that have been used to harm people? What can we do to be better students of the Word? Join us for Part 2 of our conversation with partner church pastor Will Barnes on how to read, interpret and apply Scripture. RESOURCES: Flexible Faith by Bonnie Kristian - www.amazon.com/Flexible-Faith-Re…low/dp/1478992093 Slaves, Women and Homosexuality by William J Webb - www.amazon.com/Slaves-Women-Homo…ics/dp/0830815619 How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee - www.amazon.com/How-Read-Bible-Al…%2Dcentury%20life. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham - www.amazon.com/Jesus-Eyewitnesse…ony/dp/0802863906

This week we are looking at what the Bible is and how we will be interpreting it on this show. We will return to these interpretive methods and analyze them in more detail on future episodes, but this will provide us with a starting point for thinking about how the Bible works.  Episode Outline:I. Reformation and the problem of Biblical interpretation. II. How should we interpret the Bible – hermeneutics. III. What the Bible is not – popular fallacies. IV. What the Bible is.V. Morality, theology, and devotion.  VI. Danger of importing our own theological preferences into the text   Media Referenced: Biblical Exegesis, John Hayes, Carl Holladay How to Read the Bible For All It's Worth, Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart Elements of Biblical Exegesis, Michael Gorman  The Last Word, N.T. Wright Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com. You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

The Holy Spirit, pt. 1. We are familiar with God the Father. And with Jesus. But the Holy Spirit? Not so much. As one author said, a lot of us feel like He's a the grey blur in our minds eye. In fact, Gordon Fee once said that a lot of Christians, while trinitarian by creed, are "binitarians" in practice. That is, we really only know two members of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is often unknown.  Who is He and what's His role in our discipleship to Jesus?  Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener's Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.