Been There Read That

A little over two years ago I preached a sermon for the first and only time titled “Savage Death.” I have thought of this message many times and under many different circumstances including our current moment of crisis.  I hope that a reflection on the cross will help put our world, purpose, service, and affliction in their proper perspective. May God bless all who face times of testing in this difficult moment and may He receive all glory due Him for His marvelous gift in Christ. May the people of God continue to worship and remember the Son for the grace He poured out at Calvary.

Fear is one of the greatest weapons the Devil holds and wields and is a blasphemous attempt to usurp that which properly belongs to God.  Please open your Bible and follow along as we address a pressing issue in light of the pandemic that has befallen our nation/world.

Please share this message and feel free to distribute as you wish.

 

In this episode we have dispensed with our regular format and content to provide a message that speaks to the chaos that is going on in our world.  With all that is happening it is easy to lose faith and focus on God, so we want to take a moment and provide some thoughts from the Bible that will hopefully provide some comfort in dark times.  God bless.

Today's episode is the first of several I will publish regarding books that have left their mark on my thinking and I hope will impact your thinking as well.  Here is a list provided with hyperlinks to all 13 of the titles we discuss in this first episode:

 

Books For Young People:
Granville Tyler	New Testament Workbooks
Leroy Brownlow	Why I Am A Member of the Church of Christ
Mike Willis	Proverbs: Bible Text Books by Guardian of Truth (CEI)
Dave Miller	Richland Hills and Instrumental Music: A Plea to Reconsider
Josh McDowell	Evidence That Demands a Verdict
David Gibson	Living Life Backwards
Michael Shank	Muscle and a Shovel
J. P. Moreland	Love Your God With All Your Mind
James E. Smith	Introduction to Biblical Studies
John Ankerberg and John Weldon	Darwin's Leap of Faith
Corrie Tenboom	The Hiding Place
James Dobson	Life on the Edge
James Orten Honorable Mention:	Mature Enough For Marriage Norman Geisler

So far in 2020 I have found three articles that have been extremely helpful in my studies and today I want to share them with you.  

 

The first can be found in Gordon J. Wenham's Commentary on the Book of Numbers.  The section discussed is found in Wenham's introduction under the headings of Theology and Christian Usage.

The second article is David Dorsey's article titled The Law of Moses and the Christian.

The third article is Stephen G. Dempster's article Exodus and Biblical Theology: On Moving into the Neighborhood with a New Name.

The latter two articles are available for free download in PDF format through the following link: https://www.christianresearcher.com/articles/top-3-reads-of-2020-so-far

One of the greatest influences in becoming a "Whole Bible Christian" is the practice of Biblical Theology.  But what is Biblical Theology?  How is it defined?  What makes it distinct? How is it practiced?  Who are its advocates?  These and other important questions are answered in this week's episode.  We hope this introduction will provoke listeners to investigate a critically important area of Bible study and research.

A transcript containing the material presented in today's episode can be downloaded through the following link. We hope the transcript will assist listeners in further disseminating the material. 

https://www.christianresearcher.com/articles/biblical-theology-definition-methodologies-and-proponents

 

The current episode reviews David Jackman's book Why Expository Preaching and also provides a primer on why expository preaching is such an important concept.  A critique of current training and teaching methods is provided and direction for a better way is shown.

Books referenced in this episode:

Why Expository Preaching? by David Jackman

Preaching: A Biblical Theology by Jason Meyer

 In our first episode of the year we talk Reading Goals to set for the coming year. In particular we address 12 different areas of reading to help provide Bible students with a well rounded diet.

Specific Books Mentioned in Episode:

Introduction to Biblical Studies by James E. Smith
What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About by Jason DeRouchie
According to Luke by David Gooding
Love Your God With All Your Mind by J. P. Moreland
House to House by Ivan Stewart
Tactics by Greg Koukl
The Preacher and His Work by Jack Meyer Sr. 
Church Leadership and Organization by Flavel Yeakley
Equal Yet Different by Alexander Strauch
Gospel Plan of Salvation by T. W. Brents
Gospel Preacher by Benjamin Franklin
McGarvey's Sermons by J. W. McGarvey
Hermeneutics by D. R. Dungan
Principles of Interpretation by Clinton Lockhart
How Implication Binds and Silence Forbids by George F. Beals
Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G. K. Beale
A Study Guide to Greater Bible Knowledge by Wayne Jackson
Why Expository Preaching? by David Jackman
Proverbs by James E. Smith
Proverbs by David Hubbard 
Proverbs by Derek Kidner
Living Life Backwards by David Gibson
Finding Favor in the Sight of God by Richard P. Belcher Jr. 
The Unfolding Mystery by Edmond Clowney
Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster
Series by Crossway Publications:  Short Studies in Biblical Theology 

 

 

In this weeks episode I introduce some of my favorite reads from 2019, including my Top 5.  Here are the titles discussed:

 

Honorable Mentions:

Genesis by Richard P. Belcher Jr.
Follow the Lamb by Rob Dalrymple
Family Shepherds by Vodie Bauchham Jr.
Deserting the King: The Book of Judges by David Beldman (Transformative Word Series)
Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
The Parables of Jesus by David Wenham
Tactics by Gregory Koukl
How To Teach The Tabernacle by David Gooding
Leviticus By Jay Sklar (TOTC)
ESV Expository Commentary on Daniel by Mitchell L. Chase     
Love Your God With All Your Mind by J. P. Moreland (Re-read)
Living Life Backwards by David Gibson (Re-read)
Between the Cross and the Throne by Matthew Emerson (Re-Read)

 

Top 5 Books – 2019

1- According to Luke by David Gooding
2- Who Shall Ascend the Mt. of the Lord by L. Michael Morales
3- Why Expository Preaching? By David Jackman
4- Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament by G. K. Beale
5- Forsaken by Thomas H. McCall

This week’s episode centers around a discussion of the Book of Daniel and six challenges to understanding it’s message. The six challenges include:
1. Unfamiliarity with Daniel 7-12
2. Predictive Prophecy vs. Pseudo Prophecy
3. The Identity of the Four Kingdoms of Daniel 2 &7
4. The 70 7’s of Daniel 9
5. The “shift” from Daniel 11:35 to 11:36
6. The Resurrection of Daniel 12:2&7

Authors discussed include:
Peter J. Gentry
Mitchell L. Chase
Homer Hailey
Paul R. House
James E. Smith
Christopher J. H. Wright

 

Bad Guys:

John Goldingay
J. J. Collins