Podcast appearances and mentions of karen jobes

Listen along as we continue through 1 Peter. Notes//Quotes: 1 Peter 3:13-22 Title: The Pilgrim's Path “8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”  (2 Corinthians 4:8-11, 16-18) 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  (Matthew 10:28-30) “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.… I cannot understand and I cannot explain it. And there has been no one who has explained it.” - Martin Luther “The exegetical questions basically come down to these: Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? Different answers to each of these questions can be found, resulting in a labyrinth of exegetical options, each of which has no clearly overwhelming claim to certainty, [with one] calculating 180 different exegetical combinations, in theory.” - Karen Jobes

Grace and Gloryfor Suffering Sojourners(1 Peter 5:10-14)For the bulletin in PDF form, click here. Message SlidesRecommended Books on Suffering - WilsonHow Long, O Lord, Reflections on Suffering and Evil - D.A. CarsonThe Secret to Preparing for Suffering - Kristin Wetherrell4 Reasons to be of Good Courage in Suffering - Kristin WetherrellDon't Peter Out - Swindoll6 Pillars of a Christian View on Suffering - D.A. CarsonStott on Suffering and Glory in the Cross - John StottINTRODUCTION: All Scripture is ProfitableA Final Perspective on SufferingChristian suffering is temporary and purposeful.• Temporary: Your suffering will not last forever. (5:10a).• Sovereign: Our gracious God has a long term plan for our glory (5:10b).• Purposeful: God uses suffering to restore, establish, strengthen, & ground us (5:10c).• Praise - God's sovereign purpose and grace prompt our praise (5:11).A Final Perspective on Partners and PeaceGod's grace is where we stand when times are tough.• The Letter: A message about the true grace of God (5:12a).• The Exhortation: Stand firm on the foundation of God's grace in suffering (5:12b).• The Greetings: Partners in ministry care for one another (5:13).• The Benediction: Be affectionate and rest in the peace of God (5:14).In the final analysis, when Christians sufferthey can trust that God is sovereign, suffering grows us,and God' grace is sufficient for everything we experience.Suffering SpeaksBut pain insists upon being attended to.God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience,but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. C.S. Lewis (The Problem of Pain)Home Church Questions1. Temporary SufferingPeter says that we “suffer for a little while.” Share a story or two of people whose suffering puts your own suffering in perspective as “for a little while.” Think about missionaries in persecuted areas who live theirwhole lives under threat, or someone like Joni Eareckson Tada, who has walked faithfully with the Lord for 76 years now, almost 60 of those years as a quadriplegic.2. Restored, Established, Strengthened and GroundedGod has a purpose for our suffering, and it is not always to alleviate it. How has God used suffering in your life to accomplish the purposes set forth in this passage? How have you been equipped, solidified, bolstered,and grounded?3. To Him be the “power” forever, Amen.Usually, we would expect the word “glory” where we read “power” or “dominion.” Why is “power” appropriate? Karen Jobes claims that God's eternal might “makes Roman glory look like a withered flower.”When have you experienced this?4. Stand Fast in the True Grace of God.Peter says his purpose was to encourage his readers. Have you been encouraged by this book? How? How do we “Stand fast in the true grace of God?”5. A Final Look Back:As we finish the book of 1 Peter, think back over the messages and flip through the passages. What encouragements have you taken with you? In what way does 1 Peter provide a unique message that you need?UPG FOCUS: The Amma Kenanga in India The Amma Kodaga are a small Hindu people group living in the hilly regions of southern India, where they farm crops like coffee and spices and live in close-knit, tradition-rich communities. Though the New Testament is available in their language, there are no known believers among them. Pray that they would be drawn to Jesus, that disciples would be raised up among them, and that workers would go to share the gospel.FinancesWeekly Budget 34,615Giving For 04/12 22,618Giving For 04/19 40,027YTD Budget 1,453,846Giving 1,776,190 OVER/(UNDER) 322,344 Easter OfferingAt Fellowship, we've seen firsthand how something as simple as a van can open doors for ministry—serving students, supporting outreach, and making it easier for people to connect and belong. For years, we've relied on rentals, but the need has been clear: having our own van would expand what's possible in powerful, practical ways. This is an opportunity to invest in something that will be used again and again to serve others. Every mile driven will represent lives reached, needs met, and community built. You can give online, or place a check or cash in an envelope by the baskets by any of the doors.New to Fellowship? We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift. Stoby's Pancake FundraiserSupport this year's Czech Republic Mission Team and enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at Stoby's TODAY after both services! The team will be serving a delicious breakfast—dine in or take it to go—until 1:00 p.m. All donations will go directly toward supporting our team of 23 youth and college students as they prepare to serve overseas this summer. Fellowship on the LawnJoin us TODAY at 4 PM as we come together as one united faith family here at Fellowship! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and be part of this annual church-wide gathering—you won't want to miss it. Enjoy a live band, organized family games with prizes, delicious food trucks, and Kona Ice. Adults can jump into Baggo, Pickleball, and more. Fellowship Kids VBS - There's No Place Like Rome…That's why we want your kids to join us for an exciting Bible-times adventure with the Underground Church in ancient Rome! They will explore authentic Marketplace shops, visit the Apostle Paul (who's under house arrest), sneak to the cave where the Underground Church meets, take part in games, dance to lively Bible songs, and sample tasty tidbits as they discover more about the early church. Join us June 22-26, 9:00 am- 12:00 pm. This is for kids currently in Kindergarten through 4th grade. Register by May 24 at fellowshipconway.org/register. FSM 2026 Fellowship GraduatesWe're excited to celebrate our 2026 high school seniors! If Fellowship Bible Church is your home, we'd love to honor you during our Sunday morning services on May 17 at fellowshipconway.org/register. Send five photos for the senior slideshow to Casey Goode at cgoode@fellowshipconway.org by May 1. Fellowship Women's Bible Study - Knowing GodJoin us for “Knowing God,” a 4 week study of The Trinity by Rebecca Carter & Heather Harrison. We'll meet Tuesday nights at 6:30pm, beginning June 2nd at Fellowship. Register at fellowshipconway.org/women. Text Shanna at 336-0332 to reserve free childcare by May 25th.Fellowship Baby DedicationFellowship is honored to partner with parents as they dedicate their children to the Lord. On Sunday, May 10, during both services, we will have a special time for parents to dedicate their children before the Fellowship family. If you would like to participate, please email Lisa at lgerdes@fellowshipconway.org and include your preferred service time.

Pastor Garrison GreeneTEXT: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3BIG IDEA: The Word of God is a means of grace whereby God causes his people to be born again and brought up in maturity.OUTLINE: The Word of God…1. Grants the New Birth To Enduring Life (1:22-25)2. Gives Us Nourishment To Spiritual Maturity (2:1-3)RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Christian Standard Commentary: 1 & 2 Peter and Jude by Thomas Schreiner; Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1 Peter by Karen Jobes; Reformed Expository Commentary: 1 Peter by Dan Doriani; Green Pastures: Ordinary Means of Grace for Ordinary Believers by J Ryan Davidson

A Sunday morning sermon. The other morning, I came across a verse, one I've read countless times (I'm sure you've been there). It's the kind of verse you've reflected on before but with this newest reading, it shines off the page. In his Gospel, the Apostle John writes, “Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?'” (John 14.5). This is the kind of question I've heard many times from people in the Middle East on their way to faith. And it's a great question. It makes perfect sense to ask it! In the context of the verse, it doesn't feel like Jesus is giving the disciples much comfort for their troubles. He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” but his answer isn't a ten-step guide or a pinpoint location for where He is going. Jesus instead says, “You believe in God; believe also in me.” Biblical scholar Karen Jobes recognizes, “Thomas, the loyal but ever pragmatic disciple, asks a perfectly logical question. Without knowing Jesus' destination, how could they know the route to take? Where is the Father's house to which Jesus is departing?” So often in life, and particularly when we consider the mission of God, we want all the details. We want the 10-point plan. We want all the details that seem obscure to us. But this isn't what Jesus offers His disciples. It isn't what He offers us. Jesus doesn't spend His precious time with His disciples giving them a roadmap to success or a series of mantras to reduce their anxiety. He gives the Way. He gives them Himself. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him,'” (John 14.6-7). Jesus offers them an avenue within Himself to trust. He shows us the Way because He is the Way and He is walking with us. And we have this great and awesome privilege to invite others to experience redemption and transformation on the Way of Jesus.

In Jesus' prayer of John 17 he prays for future generations of believers with special emphasis on their oneness. Karen Jobes provides a close reading of the Greek of this astonishing and vital passage. Dr. Karen Jobes is Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis, Emerita, at Wheaton College & Graduate School. She has authored many books and articles, including John Through Old Testament Eyes: A Background and Application Commentary, and commentaries on Esther, 1 Peter, and 1, 2, 3 John. She served for years on the Committee for Bible Translation (responsible for the NIV translation of the Bible). Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3XW4quI  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3By5Tjq 

In this episode, Kim Dickson and Amber Burgess interview Dr. Karen H. Jobes about Esther. As a lifetime teaching professor, Dr. Jobes skillfully explains the academic complexities of Esther in a way that brings her listeners along to understand the significance of Esther's story in the broader canon. She describes how Mordechai's challenge to Esther that she is in her position “for such a time as this,” causes Esther to come into her own, fulfilling who God had created her to be. Dr. Jobes demonstrates how Mordechai and Esther work in mutuality, both submitting in obedience to one another's authority. She completes the interview highlighting how the text of Esther demonstrates the scriptural redemptive pattern of bringing life from death.     Bio   Karen H. Jobes is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor Emerita of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College and Graduate School (Illinois).  She earned her doctorate in Biblical Hermeneutics at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia, 1995) and has served as a tenured professor at Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA, 1996–2005) and at Wheaton (2005–2015). She was a translator on the NIV Committee for Bible Translation for many years and is the author of several books and many journal articles. Her research specialty has been the Septuagint as a literary and exegetical background for New Testament interpretation. Jobes is a member of Oreland Evangelical Presbyterian Church and serves as an elder on Session there.      Other Resources    Contact Dr. Karen Jobes at karen.jobes@wheaton.edu  Books Referenced in Interview:  Karen H. Jobes, Esther: The NIV Application Commentary from Biblical text . . . to contemporary life.  Karen H. Jobes, The Alpha-Text of Esther: In Character and Relationship to the Masoretic Text, SBL Dissertation Series 153.  Michael V. Fox, Character & Ideology in the Book of Esther: Second Edition with a New Postscript on a Decade of Esther Scholarship.    Summary of Karen Jobes as the first woman Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) woman president in: Making Room for Women: 2023 ETS Annual Meeting Recap by Kimberly Dickson    More CBE Resources on Esther  Women in Scripture and Mission: Esther   More Than a Pretty Face  More Than a Beautiful Body: Star Wars, Beauty Standards, and the Imago Dei  Power Brokers: Vashti, Mordecai, and Esther  Women Leaders Navigate the Patriarchal Systems of Family and Church: Young Lee Hertig  Esther: When God Calls for Disobedience  Character Counts  Calling all Deborah's, Esther's and Junias    Disclaimer   The opinions expressed in CBE's Mutuality Matters' podcast are those of its hosts or guests do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members or chapters worldwide. The designations employed in this podcast and the presentation of content therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CBE concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.    

Pastor Garrison GreeneTEXT: John 6:35BIG IDEA: Jesus is the sustenance that supplies salvation and satisfaction.OUTLINE: 1. Jesus, the Person 2. Jesus, the Provision 3. Jesus, the PromiseRESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; ESV Expository Commentary: John by James Hamilton; Preach the Word: John's Gospel by Kent Hughes; The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson; John: Through Old Testament Eyes by Karen Jobes; Reformed Expository Commentary: John by Richard Phillips; The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: Narrative, History, and Theology in the Gospel of John by Richard Bauckham; Who Is Jesus? Knowing Christ through His “I Am” Sayings by J.V. Fesko; Meeting Jesus: The “I Am” Sayings of Christ by R.C. Sproul; Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't: The Beauty of Christian Theism by Gavin Ortlund

Matthew 5:38-451 Peter 3:8Philippians 2:3-5a1 Peter 3:9-12Psalm 34:12-16Deut. 30:15b-18 Transformed character of a people who refuse to allow their enemies to definethem but who seek their definition in Christ.” Karen Jobes

Comparing Karen Jobes' exegetical commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 5:14-21

Comparing Karen Jobes' exegetical commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 5:4-13.

Comparing Karen Jobes' exegetical commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 4:17-5:3.

Comparing Karen Jobes' exegetical commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 4:7-16.

Comparing Karen Jobes' exegetical commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 4:1-6.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 3:19-24.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 3:11-18.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:28-3:10.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:28-3:10.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:18-27.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:18-27.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:1-17.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary to my Greek notes over 1 John 2:1-17.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:1-17.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:1-17

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 2:1-17.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 1:5-10.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my Greek notes over 1 John 1:5-10.

Reviewing Jobes' commentary over 1 John 1:1-4 in the midst of animal chaos outdoors.

Comparing Karen Jobes' commentary with my notes on 1 John 1:1-4.

Dr. Karen Jobes is Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis, Emerita, at Wheaton College. She has authored many books and articles, including Invitation to the Septuagint and commentaries on Esther, 1 Peter, and 1, 2, 3 John. She served for years on the Committee for Bible Translation (responsible for the NIV translation of the Bible). She talks about her own introduction to Greek and notes passages where our English translations raise ambiguities that are clarified by knowledge of the Greek.

SUBSCRIBE follow us on Instagram @thetaketwopodcast7705 follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taketwopodca...​follow Emma on Instagram @oregonduck42follow Carmen on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carmen.imes.7/​follow Carmen on Twitter at @carmenjoyimes____________________________ Resources:Christian Formation diploma at Prairie College: https://prairie.edu/christian-formati...​Christian Formation degree at Prairie College: https://prairie.edu/christian-formation/​Bible Project video on The Gospel of the Kingdom: https://youtu.be/xmFPS0f-kzs​Matthew Bates, Gospel Allegiance - http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books...​Karen Jobes, Letters to the Church - https://zondervanacademic.com/product...​Tim Keller, Generous Justice - https://timothykeller.com/books/gener...​Darrell Bock, Recovering the Real Lost Gospel -

The chapter on Esther in A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament: The Gospel Promised is helpful for understanding the structure of the book. It also contains many of the insights we mentioned (like the chiastic structure, importance of humor, providence of God). A short accessible commentary on Esther is Debra Reid’s volume in the TOTC series. Interested listeners may also want to check out Karen Jobes volume in the NIV Application Commentary series, as well as David Firth’s The Message of Esther in the Bible Speaks Today series. As always, check out the Bible Project video on Esther: https://youtu.be/JydNSlufRIs

Hello, and welcome to Lechem Panim. We appreciate your tuning in to us today. We have begun to wrap up our study of the book of Esther, in which we have seen how God used a young Jewish girl by the name of Esther to be His instrument through whom He saved His people from a mass genocide at the hands of the wicked Haman, the king's former right-hand man who had tricked the king into signing into irrevocable law that on one day (in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day) the Jews all throughout Persia would be rounded up and killed. Now through Esther this plot becomes known and Haman is executed. And the king allows a second decree to be written allowing the Jews to defend themselves and to attack those who were intent on bringing them harm. And so on that day, when Israel was supposed to fall at the hands of their enemies, they instead gained mastery over their enemies. And so there is a dramatic reversal that we observe. And the author of the book of Esther really highlights this in how he has structured the text. [Chiastic Structure of Reversals— In 3:10 - the king gives Haman his ring. In 8:2 - the king gives Mordecai that same ring. In 3:12 - Haman summons the king's scribes. In 8:9 - Mordecai summons the king's scribes. In 3:12 - letters are written and sealed with the king's ring. In 8:10 letters are written and sealed with that same ring now given to Mordecai. In 3:13 we see that the Jews, even women and children, are to be killed on one day. In 8:11 - the enemies of the Jews, even women and children, are to be killed on one day (though that was never carried out; it was just part of the law given to directly confront Haman's decree). In 3:14 - Haman's decree is publicly displayed as law. In 8:13 - Mordecai's decree is publicly displayed as law. In 3:15 - couriers go out in haste. In 8:14 - couriers go out in haste. In 3:15 - the city of Susa is bewildered. In 8:15 - the city of Susa rejoices. In 4:1 - Mordecai wears sackcloth and ashes. In 8:15 - Mordecai wears royal robes] So in this we see a dramatic reversal of the fate of Israel. But one of the questions we need to ask (especially in this latter part of the book of Esther) is “How does this passage (and really the book as a whole) shape our understanding of how you and I are to relate with our enemies? And moreover, how do we balance a desire for God's justice with an understanding of His love and forgiveness?” Our Motivation To Seek God's Justice— What scripture points us to as we wrestle with this question is to how we are to model our justice after the pattern of a God who chooses to receive the just punishment due us upon Himself and to forgive the wounds inflicted upon Himself. God hates sin, but He loves the sinner and is always seeking to redeem each and every one of us. And you know the same ought to be true of us. Our central desire must not be to see our enemies pay, but to see sin conquered and people freed from the power of death. Whenever we cry out for the justice of God, it cannot be from a desire to see our enemies perish because of their wounding us. Our cry for the justice of God must always be tempered with the desire to see the hearts and lives of our enemies changed by the power of Jesus Christ. If your desire is to see people receive hell from Jesus, then your spirit is not right. The disciples, when offended by the Samaritans, make this mistake in Luke 9:54-55, where it says… Luke 9:54-55 (ESV)— 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. Jesus was not out to punish, but to redeem. That is why He says in… John 3:17 (ESV)— 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 12:47 (ESV)— 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. Not Against People, But Against Sin— Now you can argue from the Old Testament that Holy War was often used by Israel at the instruction of God. But what we must always remember is that [The essence of holy war in the Old Testament is not about two nations in warfare, one of which happens to be Israel. Holy war is about God warring against sin and evil on the earth.] It's not against people; it's against sin. And whenever God does wages war on a people, it is because those people have not repented and accepted the redemption offered to them. You see, God's Holy War is not against people, but against the sin that enslaves people. Now given those who bind themselves to sin and never allow Christ to set them free have bound themselves to their own destruction. But even then Jesus is fighting tooth and nail for them to come to repentance in order that they might be saved. Hence, the CROSS!!! The Cross Changes Everything— And really the cross changes everything in regards to how we think about the justice of God; because Jesus doesn't cry out from the cross a plea for God to destroy those who pressed that crown of thorns into the capillaries of His forehead; who lacerated his back; who nailed his hands; who pierced his feet; who hung His body in such a way (from what we know of Roman crucifixions) so that every time he had to breath out he had to pull himself up. No, instead, with what strength He could muster between these breaths he was struggling to work out, Jesus uttered these words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 ESV) I confess to you, I have been a Christian for most of my life; I have been pastoring for many years now and have preached on that statement of Jesus many many times. And yet I still have trouble processing that. I still cannot wrap my mind around that kind of forgiveness. Karen Jobes and Holy War— Holy War ends at the cross. An author I was recently reading said that: [The death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel, provides the only basis for the cessation of holy war, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit provides the only power by which one may love one's enemies as oneself. All of the vengeance God's people would like to wreak on those who practice evil has now been satisfied in the suffering and death of Jesus. He has taken the wages of sin, he has suffered the vengeance of evil. The vengeance due to us for our sins against others and due to them for their sins against us has been satisfied in Jesus' body on the cross. It is only on the basis of recognizing that the penalty has been paid by Jesus that we can forgive others as we have been forgiven. True holy war in human history has ceased because Jesus has fought its last episode on the cross. It is no accident of history that the modern nations that still endorse the concept of holy war (Arabic, jihad) are nations that reject the gospel of Jesus Christ and the moral system he commands.] Jonah's Attitude— Now you and I can cry out for the judgment of God. There's a place for that. But what we have to remember is that God's judgment is always redemptive. If Jonah had had the right perspective, He would have rejoiced at Nineveh's repentance. But did he? No. He wanted to see the justice of God exacted in the form of vengeance. He wanted to see Nineveh burn. Why? Because of their wickedness and particularly how they (Assyria, of which Nineveh was the capital) had injured his people. What Would We Do?— But where do we stand on this issue? If your greatest enemy; the one who persecuted you the most; who was the greatest thorn in your flesh repented and therefore escaped the judgment of God, would you be happy for them? Or would there be bitterness in your heart? Would you be like the second son in the story of the prodigal son; angry because of the mercy of the father? Or would you, recognizing God's own mercy towards YOU, be able to rejoice in their escaping God's wrath? And more so; do we go beyond that to actually seek their salvation and help them to escape God's wrath? One of the verses I find to be the most difficult passages in all of scripture to apply; and I think it is virtually impossible to apply without the infilling of the Holy Spirit is… Matthew 5:43-45a (ESV)— 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Agape your enemies— Now that word “love” here in Matthew is a special kind of love in Greek. It's not a casual kind of love or an entry-level kind of love; no, it's agape; a sacrificial kind of love; the very kind of love Jesus Christ Himself demonstrated in His life and ministry and then on the cross. Well, how does sacrificial love translate into my relationship with my enemy? Do I extend to them the agape of Christ? Many of us struggle just to pray regularly for those close to us. How about how much time we actually devote to praying for our enemies? In thinking about our world, we often pray for justice. Yet I think the cross challenges what we mean when we pray for justice; because ultimately the Christian's cry for justice is always and must always be a cry for people to find forgiveness and redemption from sin and find healing. And that can be hard to desire for those who have wounded us. And that leads me to think about the question, “Are we truly yearning for people to find freedom from God's judgment in and through Jesus Christ?” Now we say we do. But if we are to take what Jesus says seriously, “How does our prayer life reflect that?” “What kind of prayers are we offering on behalf of those who have set themselves against us, against Christ, and against His Church?” “What kind of love are we showing to our enemies?” A love that merely tolerates? Or a pro-active, sacrificial, pouring out kind of love; an agape kind of love? Burned Hands— [Corrie Ten Boom in the book, Reflections of God's Glory (page 69), wrote, “In Africa a man came to a meeting with bandaged hands. I asked him how he had been injured. He said, “My neighbor's straw roof was on fire; I helped him to put it out and that's how my hands were burned. “Later I heard the whole story. The neighbor hated him and had set his roof on fire while his wife and children were asleep in the hut. They were in great danger. Fortunately, he was able to put out the fire in his house on time. But sparks flew over to the roof of the man who had set the house on fire and his house started to burn. There was no hate in the heart of this Christian; there was love for his enemy and he did everything he could to put out the fire in his neighbor's house. That is how his own hands were burned.”] What a remarkable story. Our Focus/Central Concern— We live in a culture that is in flames; and as we watch the news we see that is now often literally true. When we get to heaven, Jesus is going to ask us, “Where are your burn marks? Where are the marks of your intercession for those who needed me?” Folks, we need to make sure that we are actively seeking the redemption of those who are lost; that we are praying for them; that we are ministering to them; that we are leading them to Jesus. We need to allow Christ's mission to seek and to save the lost to become the very center and focus of our lives. Peace is only found at the foot of the cross. Because it is through our reconciliation with God that we can then become reconciled with one another. That is is the message of the Gospel. And so let us make the decision to be instruments of peace by bringing people the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. Amen.

Dean Timothy George talks to Dr. Karen Jobes about the Septuagint and 1 Peter this week on the Beeson podcast.

Dean Timothy George talks to Dr. Karen Jobes about the Septuagint and 1 Peter this week on the Beeson podcast.

Karen Jobes, in her excellent commentary on Esther writes: When we speak of God’s providence, we mean that God, in some invisible and inscrutable way, governs all creatures, actions, and circumstances through the normal and the ordinary course of...

Karen Jobes, in her excellent commentary on Esther writes: When we speak of God’s providence, we mean that God, in some invisible and inscrutable way, governs all creatures, actions, and circumstances through the normal and the ordinary course of...

REFLECTION QUOTES “There is something deeper than obedience because of duty, and that is obedience because of devotion.” ~W. W. Wiersbe (1929-present), American pastor “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but 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.” ~Ephesians 2:19-22 “The experience and destiny of those who come to Christ are bound up with the experience and destiny of Christ himself.” ~Karen Jobes, Wheaton College professor “One must know oneself. If this does not serve to discover truth, it at least serves as a rule of life and there is nothing better.” ~ Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), French mathematician & Christian philosopher “Role models are only of limited use. For no-one is as important, potentially powerful and as key in your life and world as you.” ~Rasheed Ogunlaru (1970-present), British author “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~Aristotle (384-322 BC), Greek philosopher SERMON PASSAGE 1 Peter 2:4-12 (ESV) 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Karen Jobes and Ethan Novak

How can we "live worthily" of the gospel of Christ in our lives as Christians? Drawing from experiences and stories from her own life, Professor of Greek and New Testament Exegesis Dr. Karen Jobes shares three things she's learned while writing three of her academic books. Focusing on the Book of Esther, 1st Peter, and 1-3 John, Dr. Jobes shows how, as Christians, we are called to suffer for the sake of Christ, and that anyone who loves God must also love the unlovely.

This lecture on 1 Peter was delivered by Dr. Karen Jobes as part of Beeson's Biblical Studies lectures.

This lecture on 1 Peter was delivered by Dr. Karen Jobes as part of Beeson's Biblical Studies lectures.

Dr. Karen H. Jobes is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College and Graduate School. She holds a PhD in Biblical Hermeneutics from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia). She has written commentaries on 1 Peter and Esther and an introduction to the Septuagint (with Moisés Silva). Dr. Jobes participates in various academic organizations to stay current in her field, but finds the most refreshment from her work through regular worship at Church. She has been a member of the CBT since 1996.