Podcasts about Ryken

Heb. 1:1-4 is a beautifully rounded Greek sentence in praise of God's Son in and as whom God has spoken. One metaphor conveys the uniqueness of this person as the “express image” of God himself. It is this metaphor that Dr. Ryken explains. Dr. Phil Ryken, who has been a regular on our podcast, is the President of Wheaton College, 8th in the college's history. His most recent book is I Have My Doubts: How God Can Use Your Uncertainty to Reawaken Your Faith. You can hear many of his talks at Family Life Ministry – Podcast or at Every Last Word. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/43wN0Yw  M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3FwNk1l 

Welcome to The Capitol Hoops Summer League @ DeMatha Summer Series of The DMV Hoops Podcast.  We are broadcasting from DeMatha Catholic HS, for the entirety of the 2025 Summer League.  Check in with us throughout the summer for player & coach interviews, live look-ins & more!In this episode, we sit down with Southern MD Christian Academy's, Chase Purvis.  Chase joins the broadcast table with us to discuss...Transferring from Ryken to SMCAWhat he's looking to do this summer to better his gameWhat playing at the Capitol Hoops Summer League means to himListen to all of this & more in this episode of "The DMV Hoops Podcast."Kurt Cross - Producer & Host | Adam Crain - On Air TalentFollow On InstagramFollow On X/TwitterSupport the show

Dean Douglas Sweeney sits down with this semester's commencement speaker, Phil Ryken, who serves as the president of Wheaton College.

The Biden-Trump voting pattern at that evangelical flagship, Wheaton College, was. . .48% - 40%. That's a total loss for the president, Phillip Ryken. We take a look at Ryken's book on biblical ethics and find a fatal flaw. Should the board clean house on the professors, or remove half the student body who vote for the most committed pro-abortion candidates ever to run for the top offices? This program includes: 1. The World View in 5 Minutes with Adam McManus (Trump rebukes GOP Maine Gov. over men in women's sports; Remarkable prayer by HUD Sec. at White House; Despite killing 392,715 babies, Planned Parenthood's tax funding up 43%) 2. Generations with Kevin Swanson

The Biden-Trump voting pattern at that evangelical flagship, Wheaton College, was. . .48% - 40%. That's a total loss for the president, Phillip Ryken. We take a look at Ryken's book on biblical ethics and find a fatal flaw. Should the board clean house on the professors, or remove half the student body who vote for the most committed pro-abortion candidates ever to run for the top offices? This program includes:1. The World View in 5 Minutes with Adam McManus (Trump rebukes GOP Maine Gov. over men in women's sports; Remarkable prayer by HUD Sec. at White House; Despite killing 392,715 babies, Planned Parenthood's tax funding up 43%)2. Generations with Kevin Swanson

“Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground. When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” - 2 Kings 2:7-9The book of 2 Kings picks up right where 1 Kings left off. The kingdom of Israel is divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, and the prospects for God's people seem to wax and wane on the different leaders to come to power in each of these regions. Let's be clear, most of the leaders are, to put it mildly, not good. But there are a few bright spots too. In 2 Kings we also see Elijah taken to heaven and ascension of Elisha as we heard in the passage I read at the beginning of this episode. Trust me, you'll want to stay tuned later in the episode when we talk about Elisha – he's such a fun, interesting figure in the Bible. 2 Kings is fascinating because it toggles back and forth from Israel to Judah and back, all the while pointing us to a God who remains sovereign even when the kings of this earth turn away from him. To help us navigate the book of 2 Kings is Dr. Philip Ryken. Dr. Ryken is the president of Wheaton College and author of a commentary on the book of 2 Kings. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Reformed-Expository-Commentary-Commentaries/dp/1629954462Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: 1 Kings - https://youtu.be/aS-KoeQXl2kNavigating the Bible: 2 Samuel - https://youtu.be/ZbpafGgOW7cNavigating the Bible: 1 Samuel - https://youtu.be/lY8wPElSFMYNavigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaMNavigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it take to shape the next generation of Christlike leaders, and how can we inspire a deeper love for the Church amidst a fragmented world? In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason and Phil Ryken dive into a rich conversation about leadership, faith, and the legacy of serving the next generation. From personal stories of faith in the Ryken family to navigating the challenges of modern-day discipleship, Phil shares insights on how the Church can stay relevant while remaining rooted in biblical truths. Whether passionate about student ministry, leadership, or global missions, this episode offers profound reflections and actionable wisdom for today's church. Main Points: Reaching & Developing Gen Z's: Highlighting the hunger for genuine relationships and peace, Phil addresses Gen Z's spiritual needs through meaningful gospel engagement. Why the next generation's greatest need is Jesus, and how we can authentically reach them. Beauty, Brokenness & The Gospel: A discussion of how beauty is intertwined with the gospel and why God's redemptive work makes the church beautiful, even amid brokenness. Christlike Leadership: Lessons from the Apostle Paul's servanthood inform Phil's approach to leadership with authenticity, humility, and collaboration. After listening, we invite you to reflect on how you can inspire and mentor the next generation in your community. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with others passionate about equipping future leaders for the Kingdom! Links & Resources: God on the Move Podcast – Phil's recommended episode featuring Jerry White.Demonstrating Godly Character in the U.S. Air Force: https://lausanne.org/podcast/demonstrating-godly-character-in-the-u-s-air-force The Cape Town Commitment - https://lausanne.org/statement/ctcommitment Wheaton College Website – https://www.wheaton.edu/ Book: Beauty Is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything by Phil Ryken - https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Your-Destiny-Splendor-Everything/dp/1433587726 Guest Bio: Dr. Philip Graham Ryken is the eighth president of Wheaton College, where he studied English literature and philosophy. Dr. Ryken earned a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and a doctorate in historical theology from the University of Oxford. He preached at Philadelphia's historic Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1995 until his appointment at Wheaton in 2010. President Ryken has published more than 50 Bible commentaries and other books and serves as a board member for The Gospel Coalition and the National Association of Evangelicals. He has traveled to more than 30 countries on 6 continents to teach and preach the gospel. We'd love your feedback to help us to improve this podcast. Thank you!

Welcome back to the Run Adjacent Podcast.We're breaking the usual fortnightly cycle and releasing this episode a week early!In this episode Hayden, Dwayne, and Mal were joined by Taupo Ultra Marathon winners Nathan Ryken (100km) and Sam Rout (50km). We had a round table discussion and answered some listeners questions.Enjoy!Run Adjacent is proudly supported by Trek Trail and Fish, the runners candy store. If shopping online be sure to use my discount code for 10% off your order. The discount code is: RA10Be sure to like, follow or subscribe and if your platform allows leave a rating and review.Follow us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramIf you like Run Adjacent and value its impact please consider buying us a coffee, funds raised help keep the lights on, and any additional funds will be invested into the Northland Running Community! BUY ME A COFFEE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so much turmoil in the Middle East, Transform Iran's Lana Silk talks about what you don't hear in the news: about what God is doing in that country to call people back to Him.  Philip Ryken, author of "I Have My Doubts," helps us see how our doubts can actually be avenues for God to deepen our faith in Him, if we bring them to Him.  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here    

When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, President Ronald Reagan spoke of the astronauts having slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God. This phrase expresses one of our deepest longings. We want to meet with God. We want to see him -- the only problem is, we're sinners. We stretch the truth. We use our money selfishly. These sins keep us from God. And that's why we need Jesus. On Every Last Word, Dr. Ryken teaches about Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, President Ronald Reagan spoke of the astronauts having slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God. This phrase expresses one of our deepest longings. We want to meet with God. We want to see him -- the only problem is, we're sinners. We stretch the truth. We use our money selfishly. These sins keep us from God. And that's why we need Jesus. On Every Last Word, Dr. Ryken teaches about Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/790/29

In this episode, Caleb is joined by Philip Ryken (PhD, University of Oxford) President of Wheaton College to discuss a theology of the book of Exodus. Together they discuss the main idea, purpose, structure, main themes, and key verses in the book of Exodus. Resources Exodus: Saved for God's Glory by Philip Rykenhttps://a.co/d/028t9Xpm Ryken's Bible Handbook by Philip Ryken https://a.co/d/0eb87bI6 Exodus by T. Desmond Alexanderhttps://a.co/d/02NXIurR Exodus (Two Volumes) by John Curridhttps://a.co/d/05014vaQ Israel in Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus Tradition by James Hoffmeier https://a.co/d/05x7Gd6I

Sunday Morning, June 2, 2024Given by Dr. Phil Ryken | President, Wheaton CollegeChrist Covenant ChurchReversals of FortuneSermon Text: Psalm 126Watch on YouTubeDownload our mobile app

Rerun: On this episode of Gifts and Graces, we get to hear from Dr. Philip Ryken on Thomas Boston's view of sanctification. Dr. Ryken is an ordained minister and the president of Wheaton College. This was originally recorded as a seminar delivered at the 2014 General Assembly. Let's listen as Dr. Ryken speaks on “Not by Faith Alone”.

I'm not sure I know of another church that better exemplifies what I would like to see in churches than Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia. With these words, Mark Dever concludes his largely biographical interview with Phil Ryken, Tenth's Senior Minister. From an average week in this busy pastor's life, to his passion for ministry in the city, there is much to glean from this exchange.For more articles, books, and podcasts, please visit 9marks.org

Excerpt:As I write, Ryken and his fellow administrators have been announcing several campus celebrations of their Report's spiritual accomplishments, congratulating themselves publicly and issuing invitations to join them in their joy. Recently they publicized their latest one, announcing they had issued an invitation to the Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates to come and bless them for their surrogate repentance:Dear Wheaton College Community,On behalf of the Historical Review Implementation Task Force, you are invited to attend the Historical Review Symposium on Tuesday, March 12: "Repentance, Responsibility, and Renewal"* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

In writing to the “rich in this present world,” Paul stirs together a related adjective (πλούσιος), noun (πλοῦτος), adverb (πλουσίως), and infinitive (πλουτεῖν), pastorally building up to his point: understanding the true source of wealth and how to use it richly.  Dr. Phil Ryken, who has been a regular on our podcast, is the President of Wheaton College, 8th in the college's history. His most recent book is Beauty Is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything. You can hear many of his talks at Family Life Ministry – Podcast or at Every Last Word.  Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Latin, Hebrew): https://bit.ly/3ILirUO M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/4aqbZia  

Pastor Garrison GreeneTEXT: Genesis 9:18-29BIG IDEA: Human sin still continues and compounds; God's grace still abounds.OUTLINE: 1. Sin Continuing (vs. 18-20) 2. Sin Compounding (vs. 22-23) 3. Sin Cursing (vs. 24-25) 4. Grace Continuing & Compounding (vs. 26-29)RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Reformed Expository Commentary: Genesis by Richard Phillips; Preaching the Word: Genesis by Kent Hughes; Christian Standard Commentary: Genesis 1-11 by Kenneth Matthews; Welwyn Commentary Series: Genesis - The Book of Origins by Philip Eveson; Dictionary of Biblical Imagery ed. Ryken, Wilhoit, & Longman; Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis

Excerpt:It's been seven weeks since G.R.A.C.E. released their Report documenting the betrayal of the souls of Tenth Presbyterian Church by their pastors and elders. This betrayal is most visible in the G.R.A.C.E. Report, starting with the facts they record concerning Sr. Minister Phil Ryken leading his elders to cover up the homoerotic assaults against young men committed by Tenth's choir director, Paul Jones.Ryken and his elders were informed of Jones's crimes back in 2001.* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

Check out more from Dr. Leland Ryken now: https://mycanonplus.com/tabs/search/collections/2733

The Christian message is often a message about sin, with an angry, disappointed God and a crucified Jesus. It can seem like sin and shameful repentance is the message. What is the place of beauty in the Christian life and in the Christian story? Today we sit down with Wheaton President to explore a theology of beauty!  Become a Disruptor and help support this show! https://www.provenmen.org/disruptors/Check out Dr. Ryken's book on Beauty: Beauty is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes EverythingPhilip Graham Ryken (DPhil, University of Oxford) is the eighth president of Wheaton College. He preached at Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1995 until his appointment at Wheaton in 2010. Ryken has published more than fifty books, including When Trouble Comes and expository commentaries on Exodus, Ecclesiastes, and Jeremiah. He serves as a board member for the Gospel Coalition and the Lausanne Movement.

Excerpt:The Task Force did not review any Wheaton-related activity after the year 2,000. President Ryken and the Board directed the Task Force to review the years 1860 through 2000, but I consider the year 2000 an arbitrary cutoff date. There is no legitimate reason to exempt President Ryken or the Trustees from examination and criticism.President Ryken's actions in 2015-2016 in the Dr. Hawkins matter provide an interesting contrast to Wheaton's 2023 decision to denounce President Buswell.* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

Through a Hebrew word play, the writer of Ecclesiastes highlights the neck and neck race between those who accumulate wealth and those who take it from them. Dr. Phil Ryken, who has been a regular on our podcast, is the President of Wheaton College, 8th in the college's history. Relevant to this conversation, he has published Why Everything Matters: The Gospel in Ecclesiastes. You can hear many of his talks at Family Life Ministry – Podcast or at Every Last Word. Check out related programs at Wheaton College: B.A. in Classical Languages (Greek, Hebrew, Latin: https://bit.ly/3SOu1VG M.A. in Biblical Exegesis: https://bit.ly/3SOtIKw

On this Best of "Mornings with Carmen," Carmen LaBerge takes us through Scripture to help us contemplate the importance of living lives of thankfulness. Leland Ryken, author of "Treasury of Thanksgiving: Illustrated Poetry, Prose, and Praise," talks about how the written and visual expressions of gratitude can help us climb the rungs of the ladder of gratitude. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Thursday, November 9, 2023 Today Point of View‘s host is our own Kerby Anderson!  During the first hour, his guests are Herbie Newell and Leland Ryken. First Kerby and Mr. Newell will discuss Lifeline Children's Services and adoption. And then Dr. Ryken has a great new book to share with us, “A Treasury of Thanksgiving: Illustrated Poetry, Prose, […]

What is the message you communicate when you are baptized?  Carmen LaBerge reflects on a news where one denomination is debating offering to baptize those living at odds with God's designs. Leland Ryken, author of "Treasury of Thanksgiving: Illustrated Poetry, Prose, and Praise," talks about how the written and visual expressions of gratitude can help us climb the rungs of the ladder of gratitude. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here    

Through a reading of the Bible and an understanding of human history, you will discover that there exists a major fault line that divides those who are a part of Gods true family and those who are not. The fault line divides those who honor God and those who do not honor Him, the righteous and the wicked, and those have been reconciled to Him and those who remain alienated from Him. From the beginning we are introduced to Cain and Abel. We are told that both men participated in the worship of Yahweh, but it was Abels worship that was accepted by God and because Cain was jealous of Abel relationship with God, Cain murdered his brother. Noah had three sons who experienced the miraculous salvation of their family by God through the Ark, yet it was Noahs youngest son, Ham, who did not walk in the ways of his father (Gen. 9:18-29). Isaac and Rebekah had twins who grew up in the same household under the same roof, yet it was Jacob who became the son of promise and Esau who followed the appetites of his own flesh and was rejected by God. The thing that set Abel apart from Cain, Noahs sons Shem and Japheth from Ham, and Jacob from Esau was fear. There are three types of fear used throughout the Old Testament. There is the kind of fear (pḥd) which means to dread (e.g. Isa. 33:14). A second type of fear used in the Old Testament is the kind of fear (mrāʾ) where one experiences terror (e.g. Isa. 8:12). The third type of fear (yareʾ) is a type of fear that includes reverence and respect; it is the kind of fear the people of God are called to in Proverbs 3:7, Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. The same Hebrew word for fear is used for the word fear in Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Everything we have read in Malachi regarding the people has been negative so far. What have we learned of the Priests and the people to whom the book of Malachi is addressed? They questioned the love of God (1:2) They gave the poorest and cheapest of offerings to God (1:6-2:9) They were covenant breakers with their spouses, neighbors, and with God (2:10-16). They were stingy in their giving (3:8-9) They questioned Gods character (3:13-15) Finally, we learn of another group of people in verse 16 that look very different than the unfaithful priests and people addressed previously. We see the same fault line that exists between those who truly belong to Yahweh and those who do not especially when you see verse 16 in contrast to verses 13-15. Notice the stark difference between these two groups of people: Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, How have we spoken against you? You have said, It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape. (Malachi 3:1315) Now, notice the contrast between the above verses with verse 16, Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.(Malachi 3:16) What I find interesting about those described in Malachi 3:13-15 is that they assumed they belonged to God while questioning the value in serving God, obeying the Word of God, or what reward there was in walking as in mourning before the Lord (denying the pleasures of the world and sin). Their conclusion about life and the worship of God was very different than those who are described in Malachi 3:16. Those Who Feared the Lord Belong to the Lord Those who feared God, spoke with one another. Out of a reverent awe of God, these people spoke with one another about God do not miss this point! We are not told what they said to one another, but what we can assume is that their language was shaped by a genuine love of who God is. My guess is that those who feared the Lord, most likely testified about the goodness of God, believed that His infinite goodness was enough to stand on when things were difficult, and understood that He was not only worthy to be treasured but sufficient to be trusted. Unlike those words that have been hard against God (v. 13), those who feared the Lord did not look at their relationship with God in the same way Cain or Enoch did before them. Those whose words were hard against God, viewed their religion as a transaction, and if you could put their attitude into a phrase, it would go something like this: You scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. One commentator describes those who had hard words against God as religious people who viewed their worship as something God needed from them: They gave something to Godsacrifices, offerings, and a variety of religious activitiesand they expected a return on their investment: the blessings of prosperity and welfare. As a result, if their religious efforts didnt materially benefit them in measurable ways, it meant that the Lord had not kept his end of the bargain. God owed them something in return for their obedience.[1] Those described in verse 16 understood their worship of God as relational. They not only feared God, but they honored Him as their heavenly Father, and they trusted Him as being totally sovereign over their lives even when things did not go the way that they had hoped. They understood themselves to be children of the God Almighty instead of his customers.Because those who feared God, had a relationship with Him, we learn that Yahweh, paid attention and heard them. Those who fear Yahweh experience Him very differently than those described in Malachi 2:13 who, cover the Lords altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from their hand. There are two things that need to be noted here: The first thing I have already stated, and that is that those who truly fear God love to talk to others about God. The second thing to be noted is that those who fear God live for God. This is why there is a book of remembrance written of those who, feared the Lord and esteemed his name. As one commentator wrote: The fear of God affects both their attitude toward Him and their actions before Him.[2] The book of remembrance is different than the Book of Life that lists all those who have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus as the Lamb of God (see Rev. 13:8), it is also unlike the Book of the Lord that records the judgment of God against the nations (Isa. 34:16), nor is the book of remembrance the same as the books that will be opened on the Day of judgment (Rev. 20:12). The book of remembrance is only for those who fear (yareʾ) God because they truly belong to Him; it is a book that records the righteous words, motives, and deeds of those who are treasured by God because they belong to Him as a son or daughter belongs to a father. For those who do not fear Yahweh in verses 13-15, they see no value in serving God, no point in rejecting worldly pleasures in light of eternity, or the benefit in obeying the Word of Yahweh because they do not think He is able to see. However, those who fear Yahweh, know better! God sees, they know it, and they sing it: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there (Ps. 139:78, NASB). God sees you Christian! He sees when you turn from sin out of a desire to please Him. In his commentary on Malachi, Robby Gallaty makes the following observation: Every time a woman respects her body and rejects intimacy with another man before marriage, God sees and honors that decision. Every time a husband refuses to engage in immoral talk at work or to be seduced into looking at pornography, God recognizes it. Every time you avert gossip, every time you bear the burden of an injustice and refuse to lash out, God sees that. Every time a family opens their home to be a Christian witness to the world, God sees that. Every time you share the gospel with a lost family member or friend, God sees that, whether or not anyone else does.[3] Not only does our God see, but for those who fear Him, this is what He says about such people: They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him (v. 17). Those who belong to God are not only seen by God, but are treasured by Him! Why are they treasured by Him? Not because of their deeds, but because of Him who spares out of mercy (v. 17b). Dont forget what was already promised in Malachi 3:1-4. A messenger would come to prepare the way for Yahweh, and He will come to His temple as a refiners fire to purify the sons of Levi by suffering the fire of Gods justice for our sins. The same mercy that will purify Levi, is the same mercy spoken of in verse 17. Jesus, as the Fathers refiners fire, will purify a people, and if you are a Christian, you are that people! We learn from 1 Peter 2:9-10 that all those whose have been reconciled to God through His Son belong to God as His treasured possession: 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. Once you were not a people, but now you are Gods people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Pet. 2:910). This is what sets the righteous apart from the wicked, look at the next verse in Malachi: Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him (v. 18). Those Who Belong to the Lord Will Enjoy the Salvation of the Lord In Malachi 2:17, those who did not fear the Lord said of Him: Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in those who does evil. This is why the same people claimed that it was, pointless to serve God. Their view of God and lack of reverence for Him is the reason why they could have the audacity to show up for worship while asking: what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required? (v. 14). Gods answer to the ridiculous accusations of those who claimed to worship Yahweh is found in Malachi 4:1, For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. You wonder where is the justice of God? Do you think that because you have not seen His justice yet that you can live the way you want to live? Do not mistake His mercy for indifference! Consider what the apostle Paul wrote to those who had similar questions related to sin and the justice of God: Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:45, NASB 2020). Gods kindness, restraint, and patience is meant to lead you to repentance! But, if you take for granted His kindness, restraint, and patience so that you can continue in your sin, then the refiners fire will fall upon you and you will be consumed by it, but in the way the prophet Isaiah and Jesus described: For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh (Isa. 66:24b). There is good news though! It is good news for those who fear the Lord and it is good news for those who do not presently fear the Lord: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall (4:2). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the Lord our Righteousness and the righteous Branch of David (Jer. 23:5-6). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the Son of God who is also the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the resurrection and the life who is making all things new (John 11:25; Rev. 21:5). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the One who, loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father (Rev. 1:5-6). I am not sure who wrote this, but what this person wrote in light of Malachi 4:2 is too good not to share with you: As the rays of the sun spread light and warmth over the earth for the growth and maturity of the plants and living creatures, so will the sun of righteousness bring the healing of all hurts and wounds which the power of darkness has inflicted upon the righteous. Then they will go forth from the holes and caves, into which they had withdrawn during the night of suffering and where they had kept themselves concealed, and skip like stalled calves which are driven from the stall to the pasture. Malachi 4:2 is good news for those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus out of a right fear for God. When the sun of righteousness appears, we will experience the promise of Revelation 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:4). Listen, for the one who does not yet fear God because you do not know Him, this promise is available to you through the same Jesus who experienced the wrath of God for sinners like you. You only need to come to Him in faith to receive the forgiveness of your sins. So, of the two groups of people described in Malachi, who are you? Are you religious in words and empty deeds? Is your relationship with God merely commercial in that worship of God is no more than a transaction to you? When it comes to your worship, do you despise Gods name with your actions? Can you hear the Spirit of God ask you this question: A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? (1:6)? Oh, wont you come to the sun of righteousness who invites all sinners to lay down their sin and pride to find their rest in Him: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28, NASB 2020). If you are the person described in Malachi 3:16, then you belong to God. With the cry, It is finished! from our Savior upon the cross, can be heard through the echo: They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him (Mal. 3:17). Amen. [1] Duguid, I. M., Harmon, M. P. (2018). Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, D. M. Doriani, Eds.; p. 176). PR Publishing. [2] Fries, M., Rummage, S., Gallaty, R. (2015). Exalting jesus in zephaniah, haggai, zechariah, and malachi (D. Platt, D. L. Akin, T. Merida, Eds.; p. 264). Holman Reference. [3] Ibid.

Through a reading of the Bible and an understanding of human history, you will discover that there exists a major fault line that divides those who are a part of Gods true family and those who are not. The fault line divides those who honor God and those who do not honor Him, the righteous and the wicked, and those have been reconciled to Him and those who remain alienated from Him. From the beginning we are introduced to Cain and Abel. We are told that both men participated in the worship of Yahweh, but it was Abels worship that was accepted by God and because Cain was jealous of Abel relationship with God, Cain murdered his brother. Noah had three sons who experienced the miraculous salvation of their family by God through the Ark, yet it was Noahs youngest son, Ham, who did not walk in the ways of his father (Gen. 9:18-29). Isaac and Rebekah had twins who grew up in the same household under the same roof, yet it was Jacob who became the son of promise and Esau who followed the appetites of his own flesh and was rejected by God. The thing that set Abel apart from Cain, Noahs sons Shem and Japheth from Ham, and Jacob from Esau was fear. There are three types of fear used throughout the Old Testament. There is the kind of fear (pḥd) which means to dread (e.g. Isa. 33:14). A second type of fear used in the Old Testament is the kind of fear (mrāʾ) where one experiences terror (e.g. Isa. 8:12). The third type of fear (yareʾ) is a type of fear that includes reverence and respect; it is the kind of fear the people of God are called to in Proverbs 3:7, Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. The same Hebrew word for fear is used for the word fear in Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Everything we have read in Malachi regarding the people has been negative so far. What have we learned of the Priests and the people to whom the book of Malachi is addressed? They questioned the love of God (1:2) They gave the poorest and cheapest of offerings to God (1:6-2:9) They were covenant breakers with their spouses, neighbors, and with God (2:10-16). They were stingy in their giving (3:8-9) They questioned Gods character (3:13-15) Finally, we learn of another group of people in verse 16 that look very different than the unfaithful priests and people addressed previously. We see the same fault line that exists between those who truly belong to Yahweh and those who do not especially when you see verse 16 in contrast to verses 13-15. Notice the stark difference between these two groups of people: Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, How have we spoken against you? You have said, It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape. (Malachi 3:1315) Now, notice the contrast between the above verses with verse 16, Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.(Malachi 3:16) What I find interesting about those described in Malachi 3:13-15 is that they assumed they belonged to God while questioning the value in serving God, obeying the Word of God, or what reward there was in walking as in mourning before the Lord (denying the pleasures of the world and sin). Their conclusion about life and the worship of God was very different than those who are described in Malachi 3:16. Those Who Feared the Lord Belong to the Lord Those who feared God, spoke with one another. Out of a reverent awe of God, these people spoke with one another about God do not miss this point! We are not told what they said to one another, but what we can assume is that their language was shaped by a genuine love of who God is. My guess is that those who feared the Lord, most likely testified about the goodness of God, believed that His infinite goodness was enough to stand on when things were difficult, and understood that He was not only worthy to be treasured but sufficient to be trusted. Unlike those words that have been hard against God (v. 13), those who feared the Lord did not look at their relationship with God in the same way Cain or Enoch did before them. Those whose words were hard against God, viewed their religion as a transaction, and if you could put their attitude into a phrase, it would go something like this: You scratch my back, and I will scratch your back. One commentator describes those who had hard words against God as religious people who viewed their worship as something God needed from them: They gave something to Godsacrifices, offerings, and a variety of religious activitiesand they expected a return on their investment: the blessings of prosperity and welfare. As a result, if their religious efforts didnt materially benefit them in measurable ways, it meant that the Lord had not kept his end of the bargain. God owed them something in return for their obedience.[1] Those described in verse 16 understood their worship of God as relational. They not only feared God, but they honored Him as their heavenly Father, and they trusted Him as being totally sovereign over their lives even when things did not go the way that they had hoped. They understood themselves to be children of the God Almighty instead of his customers.Because those who feared God, had a relationship with Him, we learn that Yahweh, paid attention and heard them. Those who fear Yahweh experience Him very differently than those described in Malachi 2:13 who, cover the Lords altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from their hand. There are two things that need to be noted here: The first thing I have already stated, and that is that those who truly fear God love to talk to others about God. The second thing to be noted is that those who fear God live for God. This is why there is a book of remembrance written of those who, feared the Lord and esteemed his name. As one commentator wrote: The fear of God affects both their attitude toward Him and their actions before Him.[2] The book of remembrance is different than the Book of Life that lists all those who have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus as the Lamb of God (see Rev. 13:8), it is also unlike the Book of the Lord that records the judgment of God against the nations (Isa. 34:16), nor is the book of remembrance the same as the books that will be opened on the Day of judgment (Rev. 20:12). The book of remembrance is only for those who fear (yareʾ) God because they truly belong to Him; it is a book that records the righteous words, motives, and deeds of those who are treasured by God because they belong to Him as a son or daughter belongs to a father. For those who do not fear Yahweh in verses 13-15, they see no value in serving God, no point in rejecting worldly pleasures in light of eternity, or the benefit in obeying the Word of Yahweh because they do not think He is able to see. However, those who fear Yahweh, know better! God sees, they know it, and they sing it: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there (Ps. 139:78, NASB). God sees you Christian! He sees when you turn from sin out of a desire to please Him. In his commentary on Malachi, Robby Gallaty makes the following observation: Every time a woman respects her body and rejects intimacy with another man before marriage, God sees and honors that decision. Every time a husband refuses to engage in immoral talk at work or to be seduced into looking at pornography, God recognizes it. Every time you avert gossip, every time you bear the burden of an injustice and refuse to lash out, God sees that. Every time a family opens their home to be a Christian witness to the world, God sees that. Every time you share the gospel with a lost family member or friend, God sees that, whether or not anyone else does.[3] Not only does our God see, but for those who fear Him, this is what He says about such people: They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him (v. 17). Those who belong to God are not only seen by God, but are treasured by Him! Why are they treasured by Him? Not because of their deeds, but because of Him who spares out of mercy (v. 17b). Dont forget what was already promised in Malachi 3:1-4. A messenger would come to prepare the way for Yahweh, and He will come to His temple as a refiners fire to purify the sons of Levi by suffering the fire of Gods justice for our sins. The same mercy that will purify Levi, is the same mercy spoken of in verse 17. Jesus, as the Fathers refiners fire, will purify a people, and if you are a Christian, you are that people! We learn from 1 Peter 2:9-10 that all those whose have been reconciled to God through His Son belong to God as His treasured possession: 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. Once you were not a people, but now you are Gods people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Pet. 2:910). This is what sets the righteous apart from the wicked, look at the next verse in Malachi: Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him (v. 18). Those Who Belong to the Lord Will Enjoy the Salvation of the Lord In Malachi 2:17, those who did not fear the Lord said of Him: Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in those who does evil. This is why the same people claimed that it was, pointless to serve God. Their view of God and lack of reverence for Him is the reason why they could have the audacity to show up for worship while asking: what benefit is it for us that we have done what He required? (v. 14). Gods answer to the ridiculous accusations of those who claimed to worship Yahweh is found in Malachi 4:1, For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. You wonder where is the justice of God? Do you think that because you have not seen His justice yet that you can live the way you want to live? Do not mistake His mercy for indifference! Consider what the apostle Paul wrote to those who had similar questions related to sin and the justice of God: Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:45, NASB 2020). Gods kindness, restraint, and patience is meant to lead you to repentance! But, if you take for granted His kindness, restraint, and patience so that you can continue in your sin, then the refiners fire will fall upon you and you will be consumed by it, but in the way the prophet Isaiah and Jesus described: For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh (Isa. 66:24b). There is good news though! It is good news for those who fear the Lord and it is good news for those who do not presently fear the Lord: But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall (4:2). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the Lord our Righteousness and the righteous Branch of David (Jer. 23:5-6). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the Son of God who is also the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the resurrection and the life who is making all things new (John 11:25; Rev. 21:5). This is good news because the sun of righteousness is the One who, loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father (Rev. 1:5-6). I am not sure who wrote this, but what this person wrote in light of Malachi 4:2 is too good not to share with you: As the rays of the sun spread light and warmth over the earth for the growth and maturity of the plants and living creatures, so will the sun of righteousness bring the healing of all hurts and wounds which the power of darkness has inflicted upon the righteous. Then they will go forth from the holes and caves, into which they had withdrawn during the night of suffering and where they had kept themselves concealed, and skip like stalled calves which are driven from the stall to the pasture. Malachi 4:2 is good news for those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus out of a right fear for God. When the sun of righteousness appears, we will experience the promise of Revelation 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Rev. 21:4). Listen, for the one who does not yet fear God because you do not know Him, this promise is available to you through the same Jesus who experienced the wrath of God for sinners like you. You only need to come to Him in faith to receive the forgiveness of your sins. So, of the two groups of people described in Malachi, who are you? Are you religious in words and empty deeds? Is your relationship with God merely commercial in that worship of God is no more than a transaction to you? When it comes to your worship, do you despise Gods name with your actions? Can you hear the Spirit of God ask you this question: A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? (1:6)? Oh, wont you come to the sun of righteousness who invites all sinners to lay down their sin and pride to find their rest in Him: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28, NASB 2020). If you are the person described in Malachi 3:16, then you belong to God. With the cry, It is finished! from our Savior upon the cross, can be heard through the echo: They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him (Mal. 3:17). Amen. [1] Duguid, I. M., Harmon, M. P. (2018). Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, D. M. Doriani, Eds.; p. 176). PR Publishing. [2] Fries, M., Rummage, S., Gallaty, R. (2015). Exalting jesus in zephaniah, haggai, zechariah, and malachi (D. Platt, D. L. Akin, T. Merida, Eds.; p. 264). Holman Reference. [3] Ibid.

Excerpt:For the testimony of J. Oliver Buswell's biological son, James Oliver Buswell III,  we turn to an article he contributed to Eternity published in 1962, two years after Barnhouse's death.Why did Ryken and his trustees not present Buswell the Son's published commitments as evidence of President Buswell's theological and moral opposition to racism? When they hired Phil as Wheaton's president, did the trustees not have it in mind that Ryken the son would follow in the footsteps of his respected father, Leland? What was their justification for concluding the opposite concerning President Buswell and his son?* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

This Sunday we'll be looking at the subject of suffering and how to deal wisely with our seasons of pain. As we process the atrocities of the terrorist attacks in Israel, and the many innocent children, women and men who have been killed in Israel and Gaza, it is overwhelming to know what to do, what to think, or how to pray. Qohelet offers us wisdom to think about not just our own suffering, but also the suffering we witness in the world. ** This sermon was co-written by Corey Widmer and Kevin Germer of Christ Presbyterian Church, Richmond Sermon sources: - Philip Ryken, “Why Everything Matters”. The open story about Thomas Boston comes from Ryken's chapter on this section. - David Gibson, "Living Life Backwards." The “Legoland” illustration idea comes from chapter 3 of this book - Zack Eswine, “Recovering Eden.” - Christopher JH Wright, “Hearing the Book of Ecclesiastes” - Peter Enns, “Ecclesiastes”

Excerpt: President Ryken and the Wheaton Trustees delegated the prosecutorial task to their Task Force of fifteen members and three research assistants, for a total of eighteen. Of those eighteen, ten are paid employees working at Wheaton and directly under Phil Ryken's authority. Of the remaining eight, three are students at Wheaton and directly under Phil Ryken's authority. These three are also under the authority of the five faculty members serving next to them on the Task Force.President Ryken and the Wheaton Trustees are the jury. They have received 122 pages of evidence they paid employees to assemble. Based on that evidence, the president and trustees of Wheaton College have publicly pronounced their verdict. They have declared former Wheaton College President J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., guilty of segregationist racism.With this pronouncement of their verdict, they have also pronounced their sentence: Posthumously, President Buswell is sentenced to public shaming as well as the removal of his name from the campus library and signage.* * *Support Warhorn here.Music is Rise Up, O Lord, a recording of Psalm 10 by My Soul Among Lions.

Have you ever had someone offer an explanation for why they would not come to a church service with the following indictment: The Church is full of hypocrites.? I have always bristled at that statement not because I am a pastor and want the church that I serve to be full on Sunday, but because I know my own story and my own failures of the past and present. I am very aware that I will continue to fall short of a standard I believe I should meet when it comes to worshiping a God who is holy. Now, before I go any further, there are three things you need to know about the Old Testament system of worship. Israels worship included all of the things that you would expect such as the teaching of Gods word, the singing of songs and psalms, and gathering together to celebrate feasts and festivals where God was the center of it all. Included in their worship was a sacrificial system unlike the kind of sacrificial systems other people groups had. Israels sacrificial system was not based on paying God back for his grace and mercy, but served three primary purposes: 1. There were the sin offerings. The shedding of blood through the sacrifice of an animal without defect for the atonement of ones sins, which ultimately pointed to the sacrifice Jesus would make in our place upon a cross (see Lev. 4; Heb. 9:22). 2. There was a Thank offering. There was also the type of sacrifice that acknowledged the goodness of God in ones life, which is known in the Old Testament as a Thank Offering. The Thank Offering could come in all forms, shapes, and sizes (see Lev. 7:11-34; Psalm 107:21-22). 3. There was a Tithe offering. The third type of sacrifice given in the Old Testament was the tithe offering which served as a way to acknowledge that all a person had was provided by God. Giving back a portion or tithe was and continues to be a way of acknowledging the goodness of God (see Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:2528; Deut. 14:2224; 2 Chron. 31:56). To be a priest, one had to belong to the tribe of Levi by birth and their primary responsibility would be to mediate the worship between all of Israel and God. According to the Law, their survival would be through what was brought to the tabernacle (when Israel was transient) and the temple (after they had inherited the Canaan). What was left from the offering, the priests were permitted to eat (see Lev. 6:14-26). When it came to the lifestyle of those serving as priests, they were to meet a standard of moral character and holiness (see Lev. 21-22). There were even certain physical requirements of the Priest to ensure that he was able to fulfill his responsibilities which included defective eyesight (Lev. 21:18-20). Of the priest, God commanded: They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lords food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. 8You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy (Lev. 22:6, 8). And, as for the sacrifices that were allowed: Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the Lord, if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. (Lev. 22:18-20) God takes the worship of people seriously. When Aarons two sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered strange fire on the alter where the sacrifice was, they died (see Num. 6:23). When Uzzah touched the Ark when God commanded no one to touch it, because he assumed his hand was cleaner than the dirt, he died (see 1 Chron. 13:5-14). As you are aware, the nation of Israel was divided into two nations as a result of King Solomons sins and disregard for the holiness of God, which eventually led to the exile of the northern kingdom and then the southern kingdom due to the disregard of who Yahweh is and the type of people they were called to be: You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16). If there were ever a scripture passage in the Bible that serves as a warning to how one ought to approach Almighty God, it is Malachi 1:6-14. The One Worshiped Malachi begins with Gods reminder to His people: I love you. God even calls the people by the name given to them out of a promise to bless them and by doing so, he would bless the nations through them. The Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians only understood the Hebrew people as exiles, but God knew them as Israel. Their response was to question His love for them, which was unfounded. The evidence of His love for Israel is seen from their birth, their growth, their faithlessness, through his discipline of them as a people, and his promise to keep His word to them. In verse five, God even assured them: Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel! Before the worship of the former exiles is even addressed, God reminds the priests and people who it is that they say they worship: A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, How have we despised your name? (Mal. 1:6). In this one verse, God reminds Israel of who He is: He is their Father, He is their Adonai (master), and He is Yahweh. God is Yahweh of Hosts To feel the weight of what is being said here, lets consider each name briefly beginning with Yahweh. It is not only the name Yahweh that we must consider, but also what is associated with His name. The God of Israel is Yahweh-Sebaoth, which literally means, Yahweh of Armies. It is a name used of God seven times in Malachi 1:6-14 and 25 times throughout the little book of Malachi, which means that it is really important that Israel understand who it is that they are so indifferent towards. Quite literally, He is the all-powerful God of whom and to whom no god or person can compare. Listen to the way Isaiah describes just how awesome our God really is! This is what the Lord says, He who is your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb: I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth alone, Causing the omens of diviners to fail, Making fools of fortune-tellers; Causing wise men to turn back And making their knowledge ridiculous, Confirming the word of His servant And carrying out the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited! And of the cities of Judah, They shall be built. And I will raise her ruins again. (Isa. 44:2426, NASB 2020) Who is like Yahweh-Sebaoth? The answer: NO ONE! He is the maker of all things! He stretched out the heavens all on His own! How established the galaxies? Who spoke into existence that which did not exist? When the earth was formless and desolate emptiness, who shaped the earth? Who separated the water from land? Who decked the night with billions of stars? Who separated light from darkness? Who blanketed the dirt with grass, flowers, and trees? Who created mankind in His image? To whom belongs all the credit for all these things? Here is the answer: The earth is the Lords, and all it contains, the world, and those who live in it (Psalm 24:1, NASB 2020). Yet, the response of the Priests, who should have known better, felt that offering the best on the alter in worship of Yahweh was too costly and not worth the trouble: But you say, What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord (v. 13). God is Adonai Adonai simply means master or lord. It simply means that Yahweh is the Sovereign One. The prophet Isaiah says of our Sovereign God: Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god (Isa. 44:6). In Deuteronomy, Moses shows just how unlike God is to anything else: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe (Deut. 10:17). Literally, Yahweh your Elohim is Elohim of elohims and Adonai of adonais. What is the point? The point is that God does not exist for us, we exist because of Him and for Him! What sets the God who is Yahweh of Hosts and Adonai apart from any other god is that He needs nothing. In fact, when it came to the sacrificial system, from the most expensive of sacrifices to the least, it is God who said: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:9-10). The point of worship is not that God needs His ego stroked or that he lacks something that only we can give, for if He is Adonai, then He already owns it all! How is it that you got up this morning? Who is it that is sustaining your life this very moment? It is the One who is, the first and the last of whom there is no comparison! This is why Gods response to the lackadaisical worship of the priests in verse 8 is appropriate: When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. The reason why the priests of Malachis day offered the blind, lame, and sick on the alter before a Holy God is because they did not fear Him even though they were fully aware of what was written many generations before them in holy Scripture: And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord (Deut. 10:12-13). Because neither the priests nor the people approached their worship with reverent fear, God said the thing we have heard others say, but he said it in His own way. When people say, The church is full of hypocrites, they demonstrate their own hypocrisy by not recognizing that they are no better. However, when God says it, He does so as one who is perfectly holy and justified to say what He said in verse 10, Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. God is a Father I want you to think about something that I believe will help the weight of Malachi 1:6 settle upon your heart. It is in Yahwehs description as a Father that sets Him apart from any other god or gods that other people worship. Gods identity as a Father is infinity linked as an attribute that we like to run to for good reason. The attribute I refer to is love. There are two passages I want you to see, the first is from the New Testament and the second is from the Old Testament; both are stating the same thing about the love of God: So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16). Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations God is love. God is also just, gracious, merciful, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, and holy. Here is what I want to show you: There is a reason why we believe from the Bible that Yahweh is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who eternally exists as three distinct Persons as one God. This is why the God of the Bible and the one we worship at Meadowbrooke is not nor ever could be the same god that is worshiped in Islam, by Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, or any other group that denies that Yahweh is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although the word Trinity is not in the Bible, the concept and doctrine of it is everywhere in the Bible. Now I am going to give you an example that will serve to encourage you through Malachi 1:6-14. If God is not Triune as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before anything was ever created, how could he be a God of love without the ability to demonstrate His love? If God is not Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then in order for Him to be a God of love he would have needed to create all things include humans out of a need to love. For God to be God, He must be infinitely sufficient. For God to be Yahweh of Hosts and Adonai, he cannot be a God who has needs. Thankfully the God of the Bible is a God who does not have needs because as One God in three eternally and distinct Persons the God who is love was able to express His love within the fellowship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here is what this means: Creation did not come into being because for God to be a God of love He needed creatures to love. God did not call Abraham out of Ur because He needed a people to love. Israel did not exist as a nation because He needed a nation to love, and Jesus was not born of a virgin because He needed a Son to love. The Father loved the Son for all eternity within the fellowship of a God who has always existed as three person Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love was shared between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit before time ever existed! This is why Jesus prayed before He went to the cross for our sins: Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:24-26) What the priests failed to realize was that their worship was intended to be an expression of their love for a Father who did not need them in order to be a God of love, but redeemed Israel because He always has been and always will be a God who is love! God does not need to be buttered up by His creatures because He is Adonai! So, when we come to verse 9, and read these words: And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? The favor of God is not something to be bartered because He does not need anything from you! Conclusion Malachi 1:6-14 is a stinging indictment brought upon the lackadaisical worship of an indifferent people and their priests. The question we are left with this morning is whether or not the same could be said about us? Granted, the sacrificial system is no longer needed to be forgiven of our sins or to enter into the Lords presence because of a greater sacrifice that was made on our behalf. After all, we are recipients and benefactors of all that the Law, the Prophets, the Hebrew feasts, and the sacrificial system pointed tonamely Jesus Christ! Can the same be said of us that was said to Malachis contemporaries those of us who claim to look, to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)? If you are a true Christian, you have experienced the reality of what we read in John 3:16 that states: For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Can it be said of you and I, that our worship is cold and halfhearted because we are indifferent to the One who loved us that He gave His Son to redeem us? We may not say with our lips in the way the priests said it in Malachi 1:13, but if we are honest, our posture and our actions has echoed the words of the priests: What a weariness this is. I want to read for you something Matthew Harmon wrote that I really do not believe I can improve upon, so I will let him say it for me: How can this be, though? How can God accept cold, halfhearted, easily distracted, and rebellious worshipers like me, whose first thought in times of trouble is to question the reality of Gods love and whose second thought is usually to defend our own inadequate worship as perfectly fine? He did this by sending a true worshiper in our place, a genuinely submissive Son who gave his all as an act of wholehearted worship and love for his glorious Father, a Suffering Servant who obediently offered up his life for us and for our salvation. Supremely, of course, Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice, laying down his life patiently, for the joy that was set before himthe joy of ultimately being surrounded by a multitude of brothers and sisters from all nations in the worship of the Father. On the cross, the Father turned his face away from the Son, as if the Son were one of the inadequate, halfhearted worshipers of Malachis dayas if the Son were us! For the first time in all eternity, the Father slammed the door of his presence in the face of his own beloved child, as if it were Jesus who had dishonored him and served him insincerely. Yet the Son still submissively committed his Spirit to his Father in death, trusting that the Father would bless and use that perfect gift to accomplish his perfect goals. This is what enables us now to approach God joyfully, Sunday by Sunday, and gives us hope as weak worshipers. When we come to church, we dont ascend the mountain to a building in Jerusalem but rather come to the true heavenly Mount Zion, into the powerful presence of the living God, who is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:2224, 29). Yet we may come into his glorious presence unafraid, for what the Father sees when he looks at us is not the failures in our worship that flow from our angry and rebellious hearts, but the Sons perfect worship in our place that flowed from his submissive reverence. Christs perfect worship makes our weak and failing worship acceptable in the Fathers sight so that he welcomes us joyfully into his glorious presence.[1] There is good news for us, because we have a Father who does not love out of need but because He is a God of love, a love demonstrated and proven through the Son. The reason why God states in verse 11 that His plan to redeem the nations will happen regardless of whether or not Malachis contemporaries worship Him appropriately is because: For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. What is the appropriate response from those of us who have been redeemed by the sacrifice of the Son? As we look to the Cross of Christ, we can say: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1). Discussion Questions: As a group, take turns reading through Malachi 1:6-14. In Malachi 1:6, there are three names for God that are listed: Father, Adonai (master, Lord), and Yahweh (Gods most intimate and covenantal name). When it comes to our worship of God, how does knowing that He is Yahweh, Adonai, and your Heavenly Father affect the way you worship Him? LORD of hosts from Hebrew is literally Yahweh of Armies, which is a name that assures us of the absolute and infinite power of God. Malachi repeats this name 25 times in four short chapters; why do you think this name for God is heavily repeated? Have members of your LIFE Group read Leviticus 21:6-8; 22:22; Deuteronomy 15:19-21. How were the Priests and the rest of Israel to approach their worship of God? What kind of worship was Israel accused of in Malachi 1:6-14? According to verse 8, it seems that Israel had more respect for their governor (most likely a Persian appointee) than they did of the LORD of hosts. What are some ways that we may demonstrate more respect for things, events, or persons more than the LORD of hosts? Based on what you have learned so far from the sermon series in Malachi, how did God treat Israel as a Father of his children? What are some ways Israel failed to treat God as a father? Read Matthew 22:15-22; have someone in your group volunteer to lend any coin to pass to each person in your group. If the image on the coin reflects our government and the image we bear reflects our Creator, what does it mean to render to God what belongs to God? Have three members in your group read each of the following passages: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, and Romans 12:1-2. In your opinion, what should worship look like for the Christian? In what ways can casual worship resemble Israels defective worship? How does such worship despise the name of God? Ask members of your LIFE Group volunteer to read the following scripture passages: Malachi 1:11; Revelation 15:3-4; Isaiah 45:5-6, 22-23; Philippians 2:9-11. How do these passages from the Bible encourage you even in full awareness of your failures? In light of Matthew 28:19-20, how will God accomplish Malachi 1:11? How do the passages listed in question #10, and the Matthew 28:19-20 passage empower your worship? [1] Duguid, I. M., Harmon, M. P. (2018). Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, D. M. Doriani, Eds.; pp. 118119). PR Publishing.

Have you ever had someone offer an explanation for why they would not come to a church service with the following indictment: The Church is full of hypocrites.? I have always bristled at that statement not because I am a pastor and want the church that I serve to be full on Sunday, but because I know my own story and my own failures of the past and present. I am very aware that I will continue to fall short of a standard I believe I should meet when it comes to worshiping a God who is holy. Now, before I go any further, there are three things you need to know about the Old Testament system of worship. Israels worship included all of the things that you would expect such as the teaching of Gods word, the singing of songs and psalms, and gathering together to celebrate feasts and festivals where God was the center of it all. Included in their worship was a sacrificial system unlike the kind of sacrificial systems other people groups had. Israels sacrificial system was not based on paying God back for his grace and mercy, but served three primary purposes: 1. There were the sin offerings. The shedding of blood through the sacrifice of an animal without defect for the atonement of ones sins, which ultimately pointed to the sacrifice Jesus would make in our place upon a cross (see Lev. 4; Heb. 9:22). 2. There was a Thank offering. There was also the type of sacrifice that acknowledged the goodness of God in ones life, which is known in the Old Testament as a Thank Offering. The Thank Offering could come in all forms, shapes, and sizes (see Lev. 7:11-34; Psalm 107:21-22). 3. There was a Tithe offering. The third type of sacrifice given in the Old Testament was the tithe offering which served as a way to acknowledge that all a person had was provided by God. Giving back a portion or tithe was and continues to be a way of acknowledging the goodness of God (see Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:2528; Deut. 14:2224; 2 Chron. 31:56). To be a priest, one had to belong to the tribe of Levi by birth and their primary responsibility would be to mediate the worship between all of Israel and God. According to the Law, their survival would be through what was brought to the tabernacle (when Israel was transient) and the temple (after they had inherited the Canaan). What was left from the offering, the priests were permitted to eat (see Lev. 6:14-26). When it came to the lifestyle of those serving as priests, they were to meet a standard of moral character and holiness (see Lev. 21-22). There were even certain physical requirements of the Priest to ensure that he was able to fulfill his responsibilities which included defective eyesight (Lev. 21:18-20). Of the priest, God commanded: They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lords food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. 8You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy (Lev. 22:6, 8). And, as for the sacrifices that were allowed: Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the Lord, if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats. You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. (Lev. 22:18-20) God takes the worship of people seriously. When Aarons two sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered strange fire on the alter where the sacrifice was, they died (see Num. 6:23). When Uzzah touched the Ark when God commanded no one to touch it, because he assumed his hand was cleaner than the dirt, he died (see 1 Chron. 13:5-14). As you are aware, the nation of Israel was divided into two nations as a result of King Solomons sins and disregard for the holiness of God, which eventually led to the exile of the northern kingdom and then the southern kingdom due to the disregard of who Yahweh is and the type of people they were called to be: You shall be holy, for I am holy (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16). If there were ever a scripture passage in the Bible that serves as a warning to how one ought to approach Almighty God, it is Malachi 1:6-14. The One Worshiped Malachi begins with Gods reminder to His people: I love you. God even calls the people by the name given to them out of a promise to bless them and by doing so, he would bless the nations through them. The Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians only understood the Hebrew people as exiles, but God knew them as Israel. Their response was to question His love for them, which was unfounded. The evidence of His love for Israel is seen from their birth, their growth, their faithlessness, through his discipline of them as a people, and his promise to keep His word to them. In verse five, God even assured them: Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel! Before the worship of the former exiles is even addressed, God reminds the priests and people who it is that they say they worship: A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, How have we despised your name? (Mal. 1:6). In this one verse, God reminds Israel of who He is: He is their Father, He is their Adonai (master), and He is Yahweh. God is Yahweh of Hosts To feel the weight of what is being said here, lets consider each name briefly beginning with Yahweh. It is not only the name Yahweh that we must consider, but also what is associated with His name. The God of Israel is Yahweh-Sebaoth, which literally means, Yahweh of Armies. It is a name used of God seven times in Malachi 1:6-14 and 25 times throughout the little book of Malachi, which means that it is really important that Israel understand who it is that they are so indifferent towards. Quite literally, He is the all-powerful God of whom and to whom no god or person can compare. Listen to the way Isaiah describes just how awesome our God really is! This is what the Lord says, He who is your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb: I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth alone, Causing the omens of diviners to fail, Making fools of fortune-tellers; Causing wise men to turn back And making their knowledge ridiculous, Confirming the word of His servant And carrying out the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited! And of the cities of Judah, They shall be built. And I will raise her ruins again. (Isa. 44:2426, NASB 2020) Who is like Yahweh-Sebaoth? The answer: NO ONE! He is the maker of all things! He stretched out the heavens all on His own! How established the galaxies? Who spoke into existence that which did not exist? When the earth was formless and desolate emptiness, who shaped the earth? Who separated the water from land? Who decked the night with billions of stars? Who separated light from darkness? Who blanketed the dirt with grass, flowers, and trees? Who created mankind in His image? To whom belongs all the credit for all these things? Here is the answer: The earth is the Lords, and all it contains, the world, and those who live in it (Psalm 24:1, NASB 2020). Yet, the response of the Priests, who should have known better, felt that offering the best on the alter in worship of Yahweh was too costly and not worth the trouble: But you say, What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord (v. 13). God is Adonai Adonai simply means master or lord. It simply means that Yahweh is the Sovereign One. The prophet Isaiah says of our Sovereign God: Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god (Isa. 44:6). In Deuteronomy, Moses shows just how unlike God is to anything else: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe (Deut. 10:17). Literally, Yahweh your Elohim is Elohim of elohims and Adonai of adonais. What is the point? The point is that God does not exist for us, we exist because of Him and for Him! What sets the God who is Yahweh of Hosts and Adonai apart from any other god is that He needs nothing. In fact, when it came to the sacrificial system, from the most expensive of sacrifices to the least, it is God who said: I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:9-10). The point of worship is not that God needs His ego stroked or that he lacks something that only we can give, for if He is Adonai, then He already owns it all! How is it that you got up this morning? Who is it that is sustaining your life this very moment? It is the One who is, the first and the last of whom there is no comparison! This is why Gods response to the lackadaisical worship of the priests in verse 8 is appropriate: When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. The reason why the priests of Malachis day offered the blind, lame, and sick on the alter before a Holy God is because they did not fear Him even though they were fully aware of what was written many generations before them in holy Scripture: And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord (Deut. 10:12-13). Because neither the priests nor the people approached their worship with reverent fear, God said the thing we have heard others say, but he said it in His own way. When people say, The church is full of hypocrites, they demonstrate their own hypocrisy by not recognizing that they are no better. However, when God says it, He does so as one who is perfectly holy and justified to say what He said in verse 10, Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. God is a Father I want you to think about something that I believe will help the weight of Malachi 1:6 settle upon your heart. It is in Yahwehs description as a Father that sets Him apart from any other god or gods that other people worship. Gods identity as a Father is infinity linked as an attribute that we like to run to for good reason. The attribute I refer to is love. There are two passages I want you to see, the first is from the New Testament and the second is from the Old Testament; both are stating the same thing about the love of God: So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16). Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations God is love. God is also just, gracious, merciful, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, and holy. Here is what I want to show you: There is a reason why we believe from the Bible that Yahweh is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who eternally exists as three distinct Persons as one God. This is why the God of the Bible and the one we worship at Meadowbrooke is not nor ever could be the same god that is worshiped in Islam, by Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, or any other group that denies that Yahweh is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although the word Trinity is not in the Bible, the concept and doctrine of it is everywhere in the Bible. Now I am going to give you an example that will serve to encourage you through Malachi 1:6-14. If God is not Triune as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before anything was ever created, how could he be a God of love without the ability to demonstrate His love? If God is not Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then in order for Him to be a God of love he would have needed to create all things include humans out of a need to love. For God to be God, He must be infinitely sufficient. For God to be Yahweh of Hosts and Adonai, he cannot be a God who has needs. Thankfully the God of the Bible is a God who does not have needs because as One God in three eternally and distinct Persons the God who is love was able to express His love within the fellowship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here is what this means: Creation did not come into being because for God to be a God of love He needed creatures to love. God did not call Abraham out of Ur because He needed a people to love. Israel did not exist as a nation because He needed a nation to love, and Jesus was not born of a virgin because He needed a Son to love. The Father loved the Son for all eternity within the fellowship of a God who has always existed as three person Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Love was shared between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit before time ever existed! This is why Jesus prayed before He went to the cross for our sins: Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:24-26) What the priests failed to realize was that their worship was intended to be an expression of their love for a Father who did not need them in order to be a God of love, but redeemed Israel because He always has been and always will be a God who is love! God does not need to be buttered up by His creatures because He is Adonai! So, when we come to verse 9, and read these words: And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? The favor of God is not something to be bartered because He does not need anything from you! Conclusion Malachi 1:6-14 is a stinging indictment brought upon the lackadaisical worship of an indifferent people and their priests. The question we are left with this morning is whether or not the same could be said about us? Granted, the sacrificial system is no longer needed to be forgiven of our sins or to enter into the Lords presence because of a greater sacrifice that was made on our behalf. After all, we are recipients and benefactors of all that the Law, the Prophets, the Hebrew feasts, and the sacrificial system pointed tonamely Jesus Christ! Can the same be said of us that was said to Malachis contemporaries those of us who claim to look, to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)? If you are a true Christian, you have experienced the reality of what we read in John 3:16 that states: For God so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Can it be said of you and I, that our worship is cold and halfhearted because we are indifferent to the One who loved us that He gave His Son to redeem us? We may not say with our lips in the way the priests said it in Malachi 1:13, but if we are honest, our posture and our actions has echoed the words of the priests: What a weariness this is. I want to read for you something Matthew Harmon wrote that I really do not believe I can improve upon, so I will let him say it for me: How can this be, though? How can God accept cold, halfhearted, easily distracted, and rebellious worshipers like me, whose first thought in times of trouble is to question the reality of Gods love and whose second thought is usually to defend our own inadequate worship as perfectly fine? He did this by sending a true worshiper in our place, a genuinely submissive Son who gave his all as an act of wholehearted worship and love for his glorious Father, a Suffering Servant who obediently offered up his life for us and for our salvation. Supremely, of course, Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice, laying down his life patiently, for the joy that was set before himthe joy of ultimately being surrounded by a multitude of brothers and sisters from all nations in the worship of the Father. On the cross, the Father turned his face away from the Son, as if the Son were one of the inadequate, halfhearted worshipers of Malachis dayas if the Son were us! For the first time in all eternity, the Father slammed the door of his presence in the face of his own beloved child, as if it were Jesus who had dishonored him and served him insincerely. Yet the Son still submissively committed his Spirit to his Father in death, trusting that the Father would bless and use that perfect gift to accomplish his perfect goals. This is what enables us now to approach God joyfully, Sunday by Sunday, and gives us hope as weak worshipers. When we come to church, we dont ascend the mountain to a building in Jerusalem but rather come to the true heavenly Mount Zion, into the powerful presence of the living God, who is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:2224, 29). Yet we may come into his glorious presence unafraid, for what the Father sees when he looks at us is not the failures in our worship that flow from our angry and rebellious hearts, but the Sons perfect worship in our place that flowed from his submissive reverence. Christs perfect worship makes our weak and failing worship acceptable in the Fathers sight so that he welcomes us joyfully into his glorious presence.[1] There is good news for us, because we have a Father who does not love out of need but because He is a God of love, a love demonstrated and proven through the Son. The reason why God states in verse 11 that His plan to redeem the nations will happen regardless of whether or not Malachis contemporaries worship Him appropriately is because: For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. What is the appropriate response from those of us who have been redeemed by the sacrifice of the Son? As we look to the Cross of Christ, we can say: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God (1 John 3:1). Discussion Questions: As a group, take turns reading through Malachi 1:6-14. In Malachi 1:6, there are three names for God that are listed: Father, Adonai (master, Lord), and Yahweh (Gods most intimate and covenantal name). When it comes to our worship of God, how does knowing that He is Yahweh, Adonai, and your Heavenly Father affect the way you worship Him? LORD of hosts from Hebrew is literally Yahweh of Armies, which is a name that assures us of the absolute and infinite power of God. Malachi repeats this name 25 times in four short chapters; why do you think this name for God is heavily repeated? Have members of your LIFE Group read Leviticus 21:6-8; 22:22; Deuteronomy 15:19-21. How were the Priests and the rest of Israel to approach their worship of God? What kind of worship was Israel accused of in Malachi 1:6-14? According to verse 8, it seems that Israel had more respect for their governor (most likely a Persian appointee) than they did of the LORD of hosts. What are some ways that we may demonstrate more respect for things, events, or persons more than the LORD of hosts? Based on what you have learned so far from the sermon series in Malachi, how did God treat Israel as a Father of his children? What are some ways Israel failed to treat God as a father? Read Matthew 22:15-22; have someone in your group volunteer to lend any coin to pass to each person in your group. If the image on the coin reflects our government and the image we bear reflects our Creator, what does it mean to render to God what belongs to God? Have three members in your group read each of the following passages: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, and Romans 12:1-2. In your opinion, what should worship look like for the Christian? In what ways can casual worship resemble Israels defective worship? How does such worship despise the name of God? Ask members of your LIFE Group volunteer to read the following scripture passages: Malachi 1:11; Revelation 15:3-4; Isaiah 45:5-6, 22-23; Philippians 2:9-11. How do these passages from the Bible encourage you even in full awareness of your failures? In light of Matthew 28:19-20, how will God accomplish Malachi 1:11? How do the passages listed in question #10, and the Matthew 28:19-20 passage empower your worship? [1] Duguid, I. M., Harmon, M. P. (2018). Zephaniah, Haggai, Malachi (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, D. M. Doriani, Eds.; pp. 118119). PR Publishing.

Dr. Philip Ryken is the President of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University, and he is the author of over 50 books. His latest book is called Beauty is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything.   In this episode, Dr. Ryken and I discuss the role of beauty in theology. Dr. Ryken points out that Beauty is not a topic that is often discussed in theological circles, but it should be, both as a lens through which we view theological topics such as forgiveness, or atonement, or justice, and even as an attribute of God and the end result of God's work of redemption in our lives and in the world. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theologyforthepeople/support

Brian and Aubrey--both Wheaton alums!--are thrilled to interview Dr. Philip Ryken, the eighth president of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. and author of Beauty is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything. The book is now available from Crossway, or wherever books are sold. Follow The Common Good on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From Produced by Laura Finch and Keith ConradSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Phil Ryken is a theologian, an author and the President of Wheaton College. He received his BA from Wheaton College, a Master of Divinity (1 of only 2 degrees after which you will likely lose money) – from Westminster Theological Seminary and then did a PhD in historical theology at Oxford.He joined the pastoral staff at 10th Presbyterian church in Philly in 1995 and became the SP there in 2000 following the death of James Montgomery Boice in 2000. In February 2010 he became Wheaton's eighth president.He is a member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals - which features his expository preaching on its weekly national radio and internet broadcast, Every Last Word. And he is the author of over fifty books.

Interested in further study of the Bible? Join us at ⁠Logos Bible Software⁠. Are you interested in a rigorous and Reformed seminary education? Call Westminster Seminary California at 888-480-8474 or visit ⁠www.wscal.edu⁠! Please help support the show on our ⁠Patreon Page⁠!   WELCOME TO BOOK CLUB! Philip Graham Ryken (DPhil, University of Oxford) is the eighth president of Wheaton College. He preached at Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1995 until his appointment at Wheaton in 2010. Ryken has published more than 50 books, including When Trouble Comes and expository commentaries on Exodus, Ecclesiastes, and Jeremiah. He serves as a board member for the Gospel Coalition, the Lausanne Movement, and the National Association of Evangelicals. We want to thank ⁠Crossway for their help in setting up this interview and providing us with the necessary materials for this interview with Dr. Ryken!   Purchase the book(s) here: Beauty Is Your Destiny: How the Promise of Splendor Changes Everything   Have Feedback or Questions? Email us at: guiltgracepod@gmail.com Find us on Instagram: ⁠@guiltgracepod⁠ Follow us on Twitter: ⁠@guiltgracepod⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast⁠ Please rate and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use! Looking for a Reformed Church? ⁠North American Presbyterian & Reformed Churches --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gggpodcast/support

Join us as we talk all things college with Dr. Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College!What makes a successful college student? What challenges are Christian colleges facing today? How does college shape a young adult's thought processes? Is college actually still a worthwhile investment today? We'll tackle all of these topics and more in today's episode of Veritas Vox

How do you lead? How do you work? How do you speak? Like a fool? Or like someone who is wise? According to the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 10, we all have hearts that are inclined to either wisdom or folly, and what is in our hearts is revealed by what we do in these three everyday activities. July 23, 2023 Helpful resources that shaped and influenced this sermon: Ecclesiastes by Derek Kidner, Ecclesiastes by Douglas O'Donnell, Ecclesiastes by Phil Ryken. Breakfast example from Ryken, example about a preacher using a lot of words from O'Donnell.

Summer Time at The Compass Church! Duh - Duh - Duh - Dum!It's that time of year! Join us as we hear from some friends of the Compass Church. This week we hear from Philip Ryken, President of Wheaton College.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Today we welcome special guest, Dr Leland Ryken. We talk about what it means to write hymns as poetry and what the church has to gain from relearning this valuable skill. Find Dr Ryken Online Website: https://www.lelandryken.com/ Lectures: https://www.lelandryken.com/library Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=leland+ryken Joe Barnard's Episode: https://youtu.be/c8aCEjMwHH0 Find Us Online: Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/n3z3u8 Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/hymnpartial Website: https://hymnpartial.com/ Podcast: https://hymnpartial.podbean.com/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/Hymnpartial Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymnpartial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hymnpartial/ Youtube:  @hymnpartial    Music by Dyalla Swain http://soundcloud.com/dyallas

In this episode Shannan interviews someone who is very special to her, her niece, Pamela. This is a very touching episode as Pamela shares her journey of how she went through one of the toughest times of her life which is the death of her baby son Ryken. Ryken ascended to heaven just 6 days prior of being 2 months old and was diagnoses with Nonketotic Hyperglycaemia. NKH is a disorder characterized by abnormally high levels of a molecule called glycine in the body. May 2 is NKH Awareness Day around the world. This episode is to honour baby Ryken and all the babies that watch over us and guide us along side of our heavenly Father.   If you would like to know more about Pam, her published work or her energy healing sessions please go to her website at www.pamelalarocque.ca.  You can order books from "Ryken's Journey" and the sequel “Chasing Rainbows” in the book series “Bridging Self to Soul” as well on her website.  There is a chapter from each book that you can read and books can be ordered through the website from Amazon, Indigo and Barnes and Noble.  For a signed copy of a book you can reach out to Pam at Bridgingselftosoul@gmail.com To book an Individual or group healing sessions with long distance or in person with the Arch Angels of Integrated Energy Therapy and Pam you can call 587-582-0788.   May you release the inner pain, embrace the strength from the lesson and allow the healing to begin.  Blessings of love and light, Pamela       Pamela Larocque…Life Purpose Mentor…blessings of light and love www.pamelalarocque.ca   “Ryken's Journey” is here   “Chasing Rainbows” has arrived   “Finding Me Again” is being written   “Intentional Healing for Intentional Living” is in the making     “The Courage to Love Me” is on the horizon   CONNECT WITH ME: Website Facebook IG Email- info@shannanmondor.com   When you have faith in yourself you will have fulfilment in all areas of your life! See you next week and blessing to all!!!     

Today we consider C.S. Lewis and Evangelicalism. In this episode David interviews the President of Wheaton College, Dr. Philip Ryken, and they talk about Lewis as an evangelist, as well as his views on Sacred Scripture.

Who was one of the great influences on today’s leading theologians and university presidents? James Montgomery Boice. Educated at Princeton Seminary, the late James Montgomery Boice was raised up for a lifetime of preaching at Tenth Presbyterian Church. Yet he also found himself at the epicenter of theological debate. He was committed to the authority of… Download Audio

Dr. Ryken discusses our relationship with work and shares the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. He joins the writer of Ecclesiastes in wrestling with the common human questions of "What will happen with what I have done?" and "What difference have I made?"

In today's podcast, William Vanderbloemen talks with Dr. Philip Ryken. Dr. Ryken is a minister, author, and now the President of Wheaton College. Dr. Ryken grew up in Wheaton, IL, and has worked with Wheaton College for 13 years. They discuss what to look for when hiring and how to have an effective hiring process in Christian Education after the rebuilding of the pandemic. Dr. Ryken shares some tangible tips for bringing adding new members to the team and the benefits of a diverse staff.  https://www.vanderbloemen.com/blog/how-to-hire-like-a-president-podcast

A woman trying to get her life back together after beating an addiction is haunted both an unstable ex, and literal ghosts…of children.This has been, ‘The Boiler Trap' from the award-winning Frozen Frights podcast. Our play featured Justin Kapla as Mr Ryken and the officer, Jeffrey Adams was Peter, Aela Mackintosh was the Psychologist, and starring Shanan Custer as Lee. The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams who also did post production on this episode. This program from the Icebox Radio Theater is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G

A woman trying to get her life back together after beating an addiction is haunted both an unstable ex, and literal ghosts…of children. This has been, ‘The Boiler Trap' from the award-winning Frozen Frights podcast. Our play featured Justin Kapla as Mr Ryken and the officer, Jeffrey Adams was Peter, Aela Mackintosh was the Psychologist, and starring Shanan Custer as Lee. The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams who also did post production on this episode. This program from the Icebox Radio Theater is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G

Kevin welcomes Phil Ryken, President at Wheaton College, to the podcast to talk about “The Heart of the Cross,” a newly reissued book comprised of sermons from Dr. Ryken and James Montgomery Boice. But before they get to the book, Kevin and Phil talk about preaching, the challenges of higher education, Tenth Presbyterian Church, the ministry of James Boice, and a little bit about pickup basketball. Timestamps: Intro and Sponsor [0:00-1:39] Guest: Phil Ryken [1:40-10:43] The Merits of Guest Preaching [10:44-13:50] What Makes for Good Preaching? [13:51-20:50] Reading When Busy [20:51-22:55] Issues with Higher Education [22:56-28:38] Who was James M. Boice? [28:39-38:40] The Heart of the Cross [38:41-43:32] The Simplicity and Profundity of the Cross [43:33-52:43] The Merits of Provocative Advertisements [52:44-56:15] The Merits of Expository Preaching [56:16-58:41] The Lack of True Discipleship [58:42-1:01:12] Why Continually Focus on the Cross? [1:01:13-1:06:52] Books and Everything: Freakonomics Podcast Episode on Higher Ed  The Heart of the Cross   The Cross of Christ  

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by President Ryken and Silvio Vazquez, Chief Enrollment Management Officer at Wheaton College. They discuss the future of the 4-year college experience, how it changed throughout the pandemic, and how it will continue to change. They also discuss the historical legacy of Wheaton College. President Ryken discusses wokeism, racial issues in America, and what the Gospel says about bringing unity within different groups of people.