This year Advent and Christmas impressed upon me the restfulness of biblical faith and Christmas. Have you noticed that often we feel a burden of making Christmas as impressive as we remember it or as impressive as we think it should be? I notice pastors and others struggling to say something new and powerful about … Continue reading Rest this Christmastide
Category: Bible Study
Podcast: Malachi 2
This episode records a homily I preached for chapel at CUI at the end of November, in the transition from the end of the church year to Advent. The text is Malachi 2:13-16 and the subject is the abuse of women. https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=29100008
The first gift of Christmas?
Why do the readings for the first Sunday in Advent (Isaiah 64:1-9; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Matt. 13:24-37) look just like the readings for the last Sundays of the church year—all that “end of the world” stuff? The end of world didn’t come, again. Is that cause for disappointment? As you think about getting ready for … Continue reading The first gift of Christmas?
Podcast: Ephesians 6:10-24
The armor of God passage. What are some things to note about these verses? Verse 10 mentions strength three times. What kind of strength? Read verse 12 and consider the magnitude of the fight we're in. From verse 13, who set the example of standing until the end? Consider the elements of each article of … Continue reading Podcast: Ephesians 6:10-24
Podcast: Ephesians 6:1-9
What is the caveat in verse 1? Consider verse 3. What about when wonderful children die young? A book recommendation based on verse 6 is Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. We see the divine economy in verse 8. What kind of life is the very best? https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=28432472
What we’re learning in class
This semester I’m teaching a graduate-level class called "Biblical Theology and Exegesis." This class is such a gift because it requires us to spend our time right at the root and beginning of what the Bible actually teaches. So … what have we encountered so far? First, we have noticed how our corrupt human nature … Continue reading What we’re learning in class
Podcast: Ephesians 5:21-33
How does verse 21 connect back to Genesis? How does submitting to God give us freedom? How does the original Greek in verse 22 differ from most translations? Note in verse 25--this is what it means to be male. What is the constant example that Paul keeps circling back to? Listen to the full episode … Continue reading Podcast: Ephesians 5:21-33
Podcast: Ephesians 5:15-20
verse 15--How do we walk carefully? verse 16--What is the evidence we see around us of the days being evil? verse 17--Which meaning of "will" is used here? verse 19--You can pause at this verse and spend a moment in 2 Corinthians 5. verse 20--The importance of giving thanks. https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=28364822
Podcast: Ephesians 5:6-14
This is a continuation of the "walk in light" passage. It is about a life with activity, consistent with the Gospel, where we are drawing others into the light. How does Paul address our two natures in this passage? https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=28325594
Podcast: Ephesians 5:1-5
Verse two tells us to "walk about". What is meant by that? What is encompassed in that phrase? And consider verse four. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. So how should we live? https://oembed.libsyn.com/embed?item_id=28293083