Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains what best animates him to work:

"2410b. I find nothing that promotes work better than angry fervor; for when I wish to compose, write, pray and preach well, I must be angry. It refreshes my entire system, my mind is sharpened, and all the unpleasant thoughts and depression fade away" (p. 110).

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains the labor of love that is writing:

"6438. On Jun 10, 1545, Doctor Martin Luther wrote a thesis for a doctoral disputation, and was extremely exhausted. It was late when he finally rested and he said: I have had more than enough to do today, would like to have done much more and written two books, one in Latin, and one in German. I am weak. Come, Lord, and set me free! Those who know nothing about writing think there is no work to it. Only three fingers are used, but the entire body is worn out. It is a noble work, worthy of praise, for those who do it correctly." (p. 171).

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther gives advise to those who want to study theology:

"2146. He who wants to study theology and accomplish something is a fool, and will not become a theologian. The highest art of a future theologian is that he very carefully differentiates between the cleverness of reason and the Word; that is the wisdom of God. For those who confuse the two get heaven and earth mixed up." (p. 216).

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Keeping Your Greek

This is the time of the year when Greek students are wrapping up the semester and looking forward to their summer break. For some it means the end of their formal Greek study, while for others merely a three month pause until they resume in the Fall. Other readers of this blog are actively involved in ministry and are years removed from their Greek studies. Regardless of which one of these situations describes you, Constantine Campbell has written a book for you. The title says it all: Keep Your Greek: Strategies for Busy People. Based on a series of blogposts, Campbell provides equal parts motivation and tips to equip you to fight the good fight of language retention, all in less than 100 pages.
After a brief introduction, Campbell offers the following ten tips, each with its own brief chapter:

1. Read Every Day
2. Burn Your Interlinear
3. Use Software Tools Wisely
4. Make Vocabulary Your Friend
5. Practice Your Parsing
6. Read Fast
7. Read Slow
8. Use Your Senses
9. Get Your Greek Back
10. Putting It All Together

The book then concludes with an Appendix for current Greek students entitled "Getting It Right the First Time."
In my estimation this is now the go-to resource to help students think through practical ways they can keep their Greek fresh.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther comforts those tormented by doubt and uncertainty:

"114. 'My Dear Brother, do not be surprised that the devil tortures you so, Christ said, 'If you were of the world, then the world would not hate you. But because you are not of the world, etc. [John 15:19].' You may take your doubt and torment as a sign that you are a child of God. That is why Satan torments you, throws you into doubt, and makes you his son." (p. 309).

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther describes one form of God's judgment on a people:

"6544. When God wants to punish a kingdom, land or people, the first thing He does is take away devout, religious teachers and preachers, as well as God-fearing regents and advisors, prudent and experienced warriors, and other honorable people." (p. 301)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

He is Risen!

Go, make the tomb secure as you know how:
Send out a watch--you have the guards you need.
And set the seal: if death does not give heed
To this, at least prospective thieves will bow
Before raw military might, and plow
Some other furrow less foreboding, freed
From threat of soldiers' angry blows. This seed,
Pernicious rumor, can be stifled now.
     The One enthroned in heaven laughs an scoffs.
     Imagine stone to hold th'eternal Son!.
     Imagine that a seal could be enough
     To stay redemption's plan now well begun!
The stone retreats: three days have run their course.
No seal, no soldier can restrain this corpse.

-Taken from D.A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), 61.

The Death of Jesus

The darkness fought, compelled the sun to flee,
And like a conquering army swiftly trod
Across the land, blind fear this despot's rod.
The noon-day dark illumined tyranny.
Still worse, abandonment by Deity
Brought black despair more deadly than blood
That ran off with his life. "My God, my God,"
Cried Jesus, "why have you forsaken me?"
     The silence thundered. Heaven's quiet reigned
     Supreme, a shocking, deafening, haunting swell.
     Because from answering Jesus, God refrained,
     I shall not cry, as he, this cry from hell.
The cry of desolation, black as night,
Shines forth across the world as brilliant light.

-Taken from D.A. Carson, Holy Sonnets of the Twentieth Century (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), 51.

Video Podcast: What is the Gospel? Part 1

As part of our church's Grow Initiative, we have begun selecting one book a quarter that we are encouraging our people to read. Because the gospel is so foundational, we began with Greg Gilbert's book What Is the Gospel?. The book does an excellent job of explaining in very simple but profound terms the basics of the gospel message. In his foreword to the book, D.A. Carson writes:

"This book does not so much claim to break new ground as survey afresh some old ground that should never have been ignored, much less abandoned...This book will sharpen the thinking of not a few mature Christians. More importantly, it is a book to distribute widely to church leaders, young Christians, and even some who have not yet trusted Christ who want a clear explanation of what the gospel is. Read it, then buy a box of them for generous distribution." (p. 14)

To help our people identify and digest key aspects of the book and its implications, several staff and myself recorded a video podcast discussing the book. Here is part one of that podcast:


P.S. If you are in the Winona Lake area and want to attend a Roundtable Discussion of this book, join us at 7:00pm tonight at Christ's Covenant Church.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains the fickleness of the human heart:

"2799. The human heart can bear neither good nor bad. When we have money and possessions, we have no rest; in poverty, no peace. In the middle is correct, that is, to be satisfied with one's fortune.'" (p. 115)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther gives career advice:

"2903. Those who are called to an occupation are the most peaceful in their profession; those who have chosen an occupation may be happy in the beginning, later, however, are plagues by the devil. It is said: 'Blissful are the pure [Psalm 119:1].'" (pp. 117)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

R.C. Sproul Interviews D.A. Carson on Biblical Interpretation

This is a helpful discussion between R.C. Sproul and D.A. Carson on Biblical Interpretation:


RC Sproul interviews DA Carson on biblical exegesis from Ligonier on Vimeo.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther explains what makes a good theologian:

"3425. What makes a good theologian: 1. The grace of the Holy Spirit, 2. Torment of the soul, 3. Experience, 4. Appropriate to the circumstances, 5. Tireless reading [of Scripture], 6. Knowledge of good skills" (pp. 222)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther portrays the gospel as a fesh breeze. IT is lengthy, but worth the read:

"6712. The Gospel is like a fresh, soft, cool breeze in the great heat of summer; that is, it is a comfort to the torment of the conscience; not during winter, when we already have enough of cold--that is a time of peace, when people feel secure and think to make themselves righteous and pious through their works--but in the great heat of the summer, that is in those who through fear and torment of their conscience really feel God's wrath against sin and weakness.

This  heat is brought about by the sun; just as the fright of the conscience is brought about by preaching the Law and directed to the thought and observation that man has transgressed and opposed God's and no man's law. So we have the heavenly breeze to set our conscience straight, to refresh it and comfort it, not the comfort from certain human endeavors and works, but from the preaching of the Gospel.

But now that our strength is restored through the fresh air of the Gospel, we should not become complacent, lie around and snore. In other words, now that our conscience is at peace, quieted and consoled through God's Spirit, we should demonstrate our Faith with good works, which God has ordered and commanded in the Ten Commandments. Otherwise, we will be led astray and plagued by mosquitoes, flies, and ants, and so on, that is by the devil, the world, and our own flesh. But one must come through all that and not be led astray." (pp. 467-468)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

The Kerfluffle with Rob Bell and "Love Wins"

By now most of you who read this blog have likely heard about Rob Bell's latest book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Whether you have or not, Tony Reinke over at C.J. Mahaney's blog has posted a very helpful summary of the debate surrounding the book as well as some very helpful links to resources that deal with this essential issue.

To those who have been watching Bell as I have for the past ten years, his most recent departure from historic, orthodox Christianity is not surprising. In one sense, it is merely a repackaged form of classic Protestant Liberalism of the 19th and 20th centuries, freshly presented in a postmodern context. As such, H. Richard Niebuhr's insightful description of mid 20th century Protestant Liberalism fits Rob Bell quite well:

"A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross."

My strong encouragement is that if you are using ANY Rob Bell resources (including and especially his NOOMA) videos in your ministry, you stop doing so IMMEDIATELY. I do not think we want people being drawn in by his slick marketing and hipster presentation into his heretical footsteps.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about our status as citizens of heaven:

"297. First, let us remember, that because of the fall of Adam, we were driven from paradise and became homeless and destitute. Second, let us think about the Son of God who shared our exile and brought us back to our Father's kingdom from which we had been expelled. Third, that we remember the lesson of this exile and that our homeland is not upon this earth [Philippians 3:20], but there will come another life, namely the eternal." (p. 209)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about varying one's teaching style::

"234. A preacher is like a carpenter; his tools are God's Word. Because the audience, upon whom he is to work, is diversified, he should not continuously teach in the same tone, rather, in respect of the differences in his congregation, comfort for a while, frighten, scold. offer reconciliation, and so on." (p. 209)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Kevin DeYoung - The Four Indispensable Qualities of Good Preaching

If you are not regularly reading the blog of Kevin DeYoung, you should be. Last week he offered what he considers the four indispensable qualities of preaching:

1. Veracity
2. Clarity
3. Authority
4. Authenticity

 You can and should read the whole post here.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about the folly of delighting in wealth and honors at the expense of God::

"2227. People are active and passive liars, that means they both create and tolerate lies. Thus, those who put their trust in mankind will be deceived [Jeremiah 17:5]." (p. 261)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks about the folly of delighting in wealth and honors at the expense of God::

"6582. A person, who has produced wealth in the world and earned honors, while neglecting God and his soul, is like a small child, who holds an apple in his hand, which has a beautiful form and color, and thinks he has something good; however, on the inside it is rotten and full of worms." (p. 171)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

The Ehrman Project

In the past ten years, no scholar has done more to undermine the Bible within our popular culture than Bart Ehrman. As the James a Gray Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ehrman has created his own cottage industry of books, lectures and media appearances calling into question the reliability of the New Testament, the biblical canon, and the development of the early church. He is the author of multiple books that have made the New York Times bestseller lists and made frequent appearances on TV including the Colbert Report on Comedy Central.

While Ehrman is in fact a respected scholar within academic circles, his notoriety stems from his ability to take disputed issues within the academy and translate them into something that people outside of the academy care about. The problem is that Ehrman's presentation of the evidence and scholarship is often misleading and skewed. Of course, since the broader public has no way of knowing this, much of what he claims to be true has been accepted by those who are all too ready to question the New Testament, the canon of Scripture, and the development of the early church.

While there have been a number of books written to respond to Ehrman, I am most excited about this new website entitled The Ehrman Project. So far the webstie contains a number of short video clips on key subjects such as Evil and a Loving God (Alvin Plantinga), the Canon of Scripture (Ben Witherington III), Inerrancy (D.A. Carson), First-century Doctrine (Darrell Bock), Conspiracy (Ed Gravely), and Morality and Evil (Michael Kruger). This website has now become the go-to place for short, helpful and scholarly responses to the claims made by Ehrman.

On a related note, I am currently working my way through a book that responds to several claims made by Ehrman on a more academic level. Entitled The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture's Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity, it is written by Andreas Kostenberger and Michael Kruger. In my estimation it is now the go-to academic level book that responds to the half-truths and misinformation that Bart Ehrman regularly presents. But even though the book is at an academic level, it is written in such a way that both pastors and lay people can benefit from as well.

If you are a pastor and are not familiar with these issues, you owe it to yourself and those to whom you minister to get up to speed on these matters. Use the website as a starting point, and then move on from there to this helpful read.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks of his son:

"2578. He took his infant son Martin on his lap, and said: Oh to think that God can put such a fine black-haired angel in such a piece of flesh from a stinking sack! It seems to me like taking a pancake and sticking an angel in it. But it is a real art to make a nose, mouth, hands and feet out of a piece of flesh in a mother's womb." (p. 265)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther advises pastors on caring for their flock:

"4001. Be shepherds of God's sheep, that means see well to it, not reluctantly but gladly, not selfishly but with an honest heart, and do not act like a tyrant over the flock you have been entrusted with." (p. 225)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther comments on his love for Paul's letter to the Galatians:

"146. Galatians is my favorite epistle, the one in which I place all my trust. It is my Katie von Bora [his wife]..'" (p. 311)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther comments on our lack of gratitude for God's Word:

"2853. The lack of appreciation for the Word is always the greatest horror, and it is no wonder that this lack of appreciation is the greatest aggravation for religious people, and that God has the same reaction as the religious..'" (p. 269)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Off to Israel

Today I leave for a 12 day trip to Israel with 40 others from Grace College and Theological Seminary. While I am not sure if I will be able to post anything during my trip, I plan to do so when I return. My wife's parents have come to care for our sons so that my wife Kate can come along, which I am sure will make the trip even more special. If you think of it, please pray for my boys and their grandparents as they make due without us.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther gives advice to young men seeking a wife:

"4857g. When a man is going to marry, he should not look to the father, but the character of the mother of the young girl. Why? Because, in general, beer has the aroma of the keg..'" (p. 59)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther writes about counseling those who are troubled by the preaching of the Word:

"5288. God can tolerate glory in the world now and then, for example, in the case of jurists and doctors, but He cannot bear it in regard to theologians. Because a glory-seeking theologian necessarily diminishes Christ, who saved the entire world with his blood. God cannot permit that; that is why ambitious theologians are soon brought down and shattered..'" (p. 289)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther writes about counseling those who are troubled by the preaching of the Word:

"3188. If someone laments that he was so troubled by a sermon that he had to leave, comfort him so: 'God receives two kinds of offerings, one is praise, and the other is a shattered heart.'" (p. 221)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

The God Who is There (D.A. Carson)

This year saw the publication of D.A. Carson, God Who Is There, The: Finding Your Place in God's Story. It is an overview of the biblical storyline in 14 chapters, and even has an optional leaders guide for use in a small group or Sunday school setting. The book itself is based on a series of 14 "lectures" that Carson gave at Bethlehem Baptist. Now the Gospel Coalition website has made both the audio and video available for free. This series is designed for anyone who wants a better knowledge of how the Bible hangs together, whether its someone who knows little or nothing about the Bible to someone who has been nurtured in the church for years. I highly recommend it as a resource.

Ten Reasons for Expository Preaching

Over at the Proclamation Trust blog, they have posted a top ten list of reasons for pastors to engage in expository preaching. It is taken from the book The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effective Shepherding in Your Church by Timothy Witmer.

Here is the list:

1. Expository preaching identifies exactly what is at the heart of the Christian message
2. Expository preaching requires that the shepherd concern himself with the intent of the Divine Author for every text.
3. Expository preaching respects the integrity of the textual units given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
4. Expository preaching keeps the pastor from riding his favourite hobby horses.
5. Expository preaching requires the preacher to preach the difficult or obscure texts and challenging truths of the Bible.
6. Expository preaching will encourage both pastor and students alike to become students of the Bible.
7. Expository preaching gives us boldness in preaching for we are not expounding our own fallible views but the Word of God.
8. Expository preaching gives confidence to the listener that what he is hearing is not the opinion of man but the Word of God.
9. Expository preaching is of great assistance in sermon planning.
10. Expository preaching provides the context for a long tenure in a particular place.

HT: Tim Challies

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther writes about God's graciousness despite our rebellion:

"905. God gave us the sun, moon, stars, the elements, and all creation, our bodies, life; and placed at our disposal all He had created; and in addition to that, nothing less than Himself. And what did He reap from all that? That He should be scorned and His Son and followers killed, etc. In vain, He created us; in vain, He nourished us; in vain, He maintains us, etc." (pp. 252)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

An Ode to Hannukah and the Maccabean Revolt

I recently came across this music video that provides some historical background to Hanukkah and the Maccabean Revolt:



HT: Tim Challies

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther writes about our exile and the work of Christ to overcome it:

"5955. First, let us remember, that because of the fall of Adam, we were driven from paradise and became homeless and destitute. Second, let us think about the Son of God who shared our exile and brought us back to our Father's kingdom from which we had been expelled. Third, that we remember the lesson of this exile and that our homeland is not upon this earth [Philippians 3:20], but there will come another life, namely the eternal" (pp. 297)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther writes about the burden and responsibilities of a preacher:

"453. If I were to write about the burden and responsibilities of a preacher, as I have experienced them, I would scare everyone away from it. For a good preacher must be of such a mind that nothing is dearer to him than Christ and His life; so that when he finally has lost this life, and everything, he knows Christ will say to him: 'Come here to me, my dear son.' I hope that He will also speak to me with those words on Judgment Day, for here all speak to me in an unfriendly way. I have the burden of the whole world, the emperor, and the Pope. But since I have been called to this, I must stand my ground and say: 'What I do is right.' After I was called, the devil attacked me many times and has tormented me with this argument: 'You haven't been called!' As if I had been made a doctor for nothing." (pp. 211)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther describes what should be expected of a "doctor of Scripture":

"46. A doctor of the Scriptures should have complete knowledge and mastery of them, how they are related to each other--the Prophets, for example. Not just a certain part, as one could know Isaiah, not just one portion of the Laws or the Gospel. But now doctors spring from the weeds who do not have a correct understanding of just one passage. Jurists can humble their students, when they boast about their competence. For they have moot court and are able to practice. We, however, because we have no opportunity for exercises, cannot properly hone our students. As a result, it is experience alone that develops the theologian." (pp. 207-8)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther paints a vivid picture of Scripture and the intensity with which we should study it::

"5355. Divine Scripture is a very fertile tree, and there is no branch which I have note shaken with my own hands, and knocked down a few apples."

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

Since in all the revelry from Reformation Day I failed to get a Mondays with Marty post up this past week, I am making up for it with one of my favorites. In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther shows his sense of humor::

"3476. Tomorrow I have to give a lecture about Noah's drunkenness. Therefore, I am going to drink enough tonight so that I can talk about this awful subject from experience. Dr. Cordatus said then: "In no case! It is necessary to do just the opposite!" Luther responded to that: One must accept the vices peculiar to each land. The Bohemians eat like pigs, the Wends steal, Germans guzzle without end. Dear Cordatus, how else would you deal with a German except by getting him drunk? Especially those who love neither music nor women?

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, I offer two quotes related to the Reformation in light of Reformation Day approaching this Sunday::

"67. I have set Christ and the Pope against each other, and as a result have put myself between the door and the hinge. If I should be brought down, Christ will certainly raise me up again" (p. 392-93)

"72. The entire foundation of the papacy consists of works, the Anabaptist is based upon suffering, the true Christian, however, neither on the one or other, but always on faith alone." (p. 393)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks of his battle against sin:

"1540. I have three evil dogs: ungratefulness, arrogance, and envy. When all three bite, one is badly mauled." (p. 156)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Thirteen Theses on Writing

Over at the Faith and Theology blog, there is a nice post on Thirteen Theses on Writing. This one is the funniest:

6. Writing and jealousy. Like cleaning your ears or picking your nose, writing is something best done in private. All writing is solitary. Even collaborative efforts are stitched together from smaller, lonelier units. All sorts of things – in fact, most of the things that really matter – must be excluded in order to write. Like a drawn bowstring, the writer draws back from the world in order to pierce it more forcefully. The selfishness of the writer is jealousy for truth.

I encourage you to read all thirteen. These will be helpful for students, pastors and anyone else who has writing as a component of their life.

HT: Justin Taylor

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther speaks of the sheer generosity of God:

"2224. God has given to the people this world and all its treasures, even though He knew they would be sinners. Can you imagine, then, what treasures He has for those who have become righteous through faith, of whom He knows that they will remain righteous for eternity?" (p. 109)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, we move out of the realm of marriage and family into the realm of the heart:

"1092. A callous heart is not moved by promises, not changed by good deeds, not frightened by threats, and not improved through tribulations." (p. 103)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

"A Salvation Long Ago Foretold" - 1 Peter 1:10-12

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Christ's Covenant Church in our continuing series on "Living in a Place that's not our Home" from 1 Peter. My text was 1 Peter 1:10-12, and the title of the sermon is "A Salvation Long Ago Foretold." You can find the audio here. At that same link you will find some resources I have provided that may be of assistance in reading the Bible in a gospel-centered, Christ-focused way.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther shares his fondness for his wife Katie:

"2506. The joy of a religious spouse. The greatest joy is to have a religious spouse, one to whom you can entrust everything and depend upon, with whom you can raise children, and so on. God puts a lot into marriage, without the parties giving much thought to it in advance, Katie, you have a religious husband, you are an empress! Thank God for it! But only good and God-fearing people reach such a level." (p. 46)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther has some less than flattering words for the female gender:

"2034. If I were ever single again, I would have an obedient wife carved out of stone; otherwise I despair of ever finding obedience in any woman." (p. 44)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

On Our Way Home - 1 Peter 1:1-2

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Christ's Covenant Church. It was the first message in our new series "Living in a Place that's not our Home." I entitled the message "On Our Way Home"; you can listen to it here.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther shares his fondness for his wife Katie:

"1006. The merits of women. In women many merits come together: the Lord's Blessing, progeny, familiarity with things, all of which are great gifts, which could well overwhelm someone. Just imagine if we did not have the female sex. The house and everything associated with the household would collapse; the state and society would fall apart. Thus, the world cannot endure without women, even if men could bring children into the world by themselves." (p. 41)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Mondays with Marty

In this week's installment from Off the Record with Martin Luther, Luther shares his fondness for his wife Katie:

49. Luther values his wife, Katie. I wouldn't trade my Katie for France or Venice; first, because God gave her to me and me to her; second, that I have often experienced that other women have far more shortcomings than my Katie--although she certainly has enough, they are offset by far greater virtues; and third, because she is faithful to her marriage, that is fidelity and respect. And a wife, on the other hand, should be able to think the same about her husband." (p. 36)

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Introducing a New Feature: Mondays with Marty

Last week I began reading Off the Record with Martin Luther, which is the most comprehensive translation of Luther's Table Talk into English.For those not familiar with it, Table Talk is a collection of sayings, stories, etc. attributed to Martin Luther as recorded by his students as they spent time in his home. This particular edition provides a vivid English translation that captures Luther in all of his irascible glory. It has proved to be tremendous leisure reading, often leading me to laugh out loud and insist my wife hear the latest gem I have discovered.

So in the interest of sharing these gems with you, I am beginning a new feature on the blog entitled "Mondays with Marty." Each Monday I will share a quote from Martin Luther as a way of kick starting the week.These quotes will run the gamut from serious and profound to hilarious and silly, with points in between. To prepare you for this experience, it seems wise to quote from the Foreword by Paul Maier:

Fair warning to the reader: in the Table Talk, Luther is at his unwary best and not hindered by such niceties as prudence, propriety, etiquette, or convention. Some of the material is salty, saucy, and even "over the top." At such passages it would be well to remember that Luther himself did not write this material or sign-off on it. It is all recorded by his eager students, who somehow managed to eat meat and potatoes at Luther's table, yet also take copious notes on whatever he said. (pp. 6-7)

Also, just to be clear, I will place a disclaimer at the end of each post to indicate that the views reflected in these quotes do not necessarily reflect my own views. So with that out of the way, we are ready for our first installment:

12. Women should be honored. The Holy Spirit honors women. Examples of that are Esther and Sarah. Among the pagans, Lucretia and Artemisia were glorified. Without women there would be no marriage. The best medicine against fornication is to get married. A woman is the best companion for life. Women bring children into the world, they raise them, and they rule the house. They are inclined to be merciful, because they are made that way by God, to bear children, to bring joy to men, to be merciful.

DISCLAIMER: The views reflected in this quote do not necessarily reflect those of the author of this blog. This quote is shared in the interest of edification, education, and/or humor.

Now Available - She Must and Shall Go Free: Paul's Isaianic Gospel in Galatians

Looking for the cure to insomnia? Or perhaps have an extra $140 burning a hole in your pocket that you are just desperate to spend? Then I have good news for you. My dissertation has now been published and is available for purchase. Here is a brief description:

Scholars have long recognized the importance of Paul´s citations from the Pentateuch for understanding the argument of Galatians. But what has not been fully appreciated is the key role that Isaiah plays in shaping what Paul says and how he says it, even though he cites Isaiah explicitly only once (Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27). Using an intertextual approach to trace more subtle appropriations of Scripture (i.e., allusions, echoes and thematic parallels), Harmon argues that Isaiah 49-54 in particular has shaped the structure of Paul´s argument and the content of his theological reflection in Galatians. Each example of Isaianic influence is situated within its original context as well as its new context in Galatians. Attention is also paid to how those same Isaianic texts were interpreted in Second Temple Judaism, providing the larger interpretive context within which Paul read Scripture. The result is fresh light shed on Paul´s self-understanding as an apostle to the Gentiles, the content of his gospel message, his reading of the Abraham story and the larger structure of Galatians.

Pastoral Pensées: Motivations to Appeal to in Our Hearers When We Preach for Conversion by D.A. Carson

In the most recent issue of Themelios, D.A. Carson has written a stimulating article on appealing to heart motives in our preaching. Although his focus is on heart motives in unbelievers, he helpfully stresses that these same motivations are present in believers as well. Here is an outline to whet your appetite:

A Survey of Possible Heart Motivations

1. Fear
2. The Burden of Guilt
3. Shame
4. The Need for "Future Grace"
5. The Attractiveness of Truth
6. A General, Despairing Sense of Need
7. Responding to Grace and Love
8. A Rather Vague Desire to be on the Right Side of What is Right, of What is from God, of What is Biblical, of What is Clean, or What Endures

He then offers Four Theological and Pastoral Reflections on This Survey

1. We do not have the right to choose only one of these motivations in people and to appeal to it restrictively.
2. On the other hand, we may have the right to emphasize one motivation more than others.
3. Nevertheless, the comprehensiveness of our appeal to diverse motivations will reflect the comprehensiveness of our grasp of the gospel.
4. To put this another way, all of the biblically sanctioned motivations for pursuing God, for pursuing Christ, say complementary things about God himself, such that failure to cover the sweep of motivations ultimately results in diminishing God.

As usual, Carson helps us to think through the high calling of preaching the riches of the gospel to the poverty of sinfulness. I highly encourage you to read this short but valuable article.

Review of Jonathan Edwards and the Ministry of the Word by Douglas A. Sweeney

In the latest issue of Themelios, which is now available, you can find my review of Douglas A. Sweeney, Jonathan Edwards and the Ministry of the Word: A Model of Faith and Thought. Here's my summary evaluation:

In sum, this is a book that will benefit every Christian. But pastors, missionaries, theological students, and everyone else in vocational ministry especially should read this book. In fact, if you can only read one book on Jonathan Edwards, make it this one. You will not be disappointed.

Zambia Wrap Up

I have now been back in the United States for about a week after my three weeks in Africa. I want to thank all of you who prayed for my time there. I am convinced that God blessed this trip, and one of the means he used to do so was your prayers.
As a way of wrapping up my trip, I wanted to share a few things that God taught me through this trip. Some of these are things God reminded me of, while others were new. I've listed them in no particular order:

1. There is great strategic value in providing theological training for those who are native to a culture. As with any short-term mission project, there is a limited amount that can be accomplished. But I believe that one thing that can be accomplished effectively is providing theological training to those who are serving in their native culture. The men and women I had the privilege of teaching will go to various parts of Zambia, Angola, and perhaps even other places in Africa with the gospel. They will be far more effective that I as a white American could ever hope to be because they are already cultural insiders. As some of you know, when I began to sense God leading me to a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, research, etc. I always had the desire to play a part in training people in parts of the world where theological education is difficult to acquire. It was so kind of God to allow me to at last see that desire begin to be fulfilled.
2. The kingdom of God often advances in small, sometimes even unnoticed, steps. We naturally gravitate towards the large steps, or the big displays of sudden growth such as outbreaks of revival. And there is no question we should pray for that. But as we wait for those large explosions of kingdom growth, we must remain faithful in what God has called us to, knowing that we often do not fully recognize what God is doing in our midst.
3. The health of the Reformed Baptist movement in Zambia is strong. From what I am told, some observers even claim that the Reformed Baptist movement in Zambia is perhaps the healthiest in the world. I am in no position to make that assessment, but I can say that there are a number of strong, healthy Reformed Baptist churches that continue to birth new churches.
4. Determining the best use of my time, energy, gifts and abilities is becoming increasingly difficult. I believe that my time in Zambia will prove very strategic. At the same time, I also believe that the writing projects that I basically put on hold to go will prove helpful to the body of Christ. It is this very collision between "on the field" ministry and "in the study" ministry that I continue to experience. I recognize that the answer is not to simply choose one and neglect the other. But the challenge comes in knowing which opportunities to accept and which ones to say no.
5. It is not good for a man to be alone. The hardest part of the three weeks was the extended time away from Kate and my boys. This was the longest time that I have been away from them in our 14+ years of marriage, and I hope that this is a mark that will never be exceeded. I was grateful for the fellowship I had with other missionaries and their families while there in Zambia, but it is simply no replacement for my own wife and sons.

While this is far from a comprehensive list of what God taught me, it does capture several of the most important things. May God use this trip to further the advance of the gospel in parts of the world that I myself will never see. To him be the glory for any fruit that is borne.

Meet My Students at Theological College o Central Africa (TCCA)

Although I am teaching just two more days before leaving, I wanted to introduce you to the students I have been teaching here at the Theological College of Central Africa (TCCA - affectionately called "Teeka"). Here is a picture I took this morning:

From Left to Right: Me, Jose Lausu Leonardo, Donald Munachoonga, Charity Kombe, Terence Kombe, David Matolokoshi, Mercy Rukundo

Let me tell you a little bit about each of them so you can be praying for them:

• Jose Lausu Leonardo: Jose is my only student not from Zambia; he is instead from Angola. He has already been actively involved in ministry there, helping to train people to take the gospel into the school system and reaching out into remote villages that have yet to be reached with the Gospel. He is single, but praying for God to give him a helper suitable for him.
• Donald Munachoonga: Donald is married but as of yet has no children. He asks good questions and makes perceptive comments in class.
• Terence & Charity Kombe: This married couple has a four-year old daughter. They are preparing for full time ministry, but are not sure where. Terence is also a very good athlete.
• David Matolokoshi: David is a single man who is also preparing for full-time ministry, though he was actively serving in his church before coming to TCCA. He is very thoughtful and asks good questions that make me think.
• Mercy Rukundo: Although she is rather quiet in class, she is an excellent student. Her husband Paul is a second year student here at TCCA as well. They have a son named Shalom.

All of these students are in their first year here at TCCA. The class I am teaching is part of their core curriculum. It has been such a joy to introduce them afresh to the person of Jesus Christ as he is revealed in each of the Gospels. I think the greatest joy I experience as a professor/teacher is helping students to see or understand something for the first time, and observe the joy of discovering something new. I have had that privilege several times thus far.

Their final exam is on Thursday, and I know they would appreciate your prayers for them. Pray that God will use what they are learning to build a foundation for a lifetime of faithful love for and service to Christ. They will be taking the gospel to places that most of us will never see, and it has been a privilege to play a small part in equipping them for that task.

Friday afternoon I leave for the United States, and arrive late Saturday afternoon in Denver. Please pray for smooth travels and no delays as I am eager to see my family. Thanks so much for all of you who have prayed for me and my students during this trip.

Preaching at Ndola Baptist Church

This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at Ndola Baptist Church:

 From what I am told, the church has a long and proud history in Zambia. Men raised up in this church have gone many places to start new works of God both in Zambia and beyond. Because they are currently renovating the sanctuary, they are meeting in a tent on the property.

I was asked to preach 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 in continuation of their series through the book. I must confess to being hesitant to preach such a text, since without knowing the Zambian culture very well I was not sure how to make specific application. But the Lord was gracious, and his people seemed to genuinely be helped by hearing from God's Word about the necessity of settling our disputes within the body of Christ. Sometimes that will mean that we allow ourselves to be wronged rather than tarnish the reputation of Christ. But we follow a Savior who allowed himself to be wronged so that God might be glorified through the redemption of his people. If we are to be like our Master, there will be times when we will allow ourselves to be wronged rather than bring shame on the name of Christ.
What an encouragement to see God keep the promise of Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Do They Go To Witch Doctors in the U.S.?

Yesterday during my class on Jesus and the Gospels, the discussion turned to spiritual warfare. Anytime this subject comes up (no matter where I am teaching), I try to explain that there are two extremes within the evangelical church. One extreme says that any talk of demons or spiritual warfare is simply an outdated and ignorant way of thinking about things that have other, "natural" causes. According to this view, such talk was the only way that less enlightened people had of explaining things that were beyond their control such as sickness, calamity, drought, famine, etc. I would suggest that this is the default view of most evangelical Christians in the United States. The other extreme says that virtually everything that happens in a day is the direct result of activity in the spirit world. According to this view, one must be constantly alert to how the spirits/demons are at work to avoid offending them or being somehow hurt by them. This is the default view in much of Africa even among evangelical Christians.

So in the middle of our discussion one of my students, a woman named Charity, asked, "Do they go to witch doctors in the United States?" I explained that in the United States you would be hard-pressed to find a witch doctor, though I am sure that in some places you can find those who present themselves as such. It was clear that the concept of a culture where almost no one thinks of going to a witch doctor to learn why they are sick was new to her.

Satan has many weapons in his arsenal. He is perfectly content with either of the two extremes mentioned above. In some cultures (such as most of Africa and parts of Asia) he prefers to manifest his power in the spiritual realm very directly. He shows himself to be powerful through the use of witch doctors, curses, the spirit-realm, and even demonic possession. I call this the "in-your-face" approach. But just as deadly is the approach he takes in other cultures. Rather than show himself directly, Satan prefers to work with great subtlety through the apparent comforts of affluence and security. He is perfectly content to persuade people that he doesn't really exist and that everything around us has natural or material explanations. He often dulls our senses to God through the material comforts of our affluence, as we amuse or numb ourselves to the greater spiritual realities around us.

Biblically speaking there is a middle ground. Scripture is very clear that the spiritual realm is very real, and that Satan is our great enemy. He is at work in the world to thwart God's purposes and destroy his people. At the same time, Scripture also emphasizes that the sin within our own hearts is our most pressing problem. The problem is that Satan is a master at exploiting the sin that is within us.

Of course, the good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ is has conquered sin, death and Satan at the cross. He is sovereign over all things including, including the spiritual realm. Consider these passages and meditate on the good news that Christ is truly the one who rules this world:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-15)

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19-23)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20)

The devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

Safely in Zambia

After 36 hours of travel across eight time zones, I arrived safely in Ndola, Zambia on Sunday. Sadly, my luggage did not make the final leg from Johannesburg to Ndola, but it did arrive the next day so all is well. I have been blessed with the hospitality of American missionaries David and Terrie Wegener, joining them for several meals and getting to know them and their family. Also here from the United States is a pastor named Steve Lane, who is also an adjunct professor at Messiah College. He brought along his wife and their two sons as well.

I am staying in the home of a missionary couple from New Zealand (Timothy and Zara Woo), who are currently home on furlough. They will be returning shortly before I leave. The house is located right on the campus of Theological College of Central Africa where I am teaching. I am within short walking distance of some shops but have yet to do much exploring.

So far the class is going well. Over the course of the next few weeks I will be telling you more about each of the students, but please pray for them as they study the Gospels that their love for Christ would grow deeper.

Thanks for your prayers. I hope to post more in the days ahead. I am still adjusting to what a typical day looks like, but I hope to have that figured out by the end of this week.

On the Way to Zambia

Today I leave for the country of Zambia, where I will be teaching a three week course at the Theological College of Central Africa. So for the next three weeks or so I will be periodically posting on various aspects of my trip. In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. Here are some specific things you can be praying about:

• My love for Christ and his people to grow deeper as I serve Him in Zambia. Pray that God would use this time to renew my heart to see the gospel go the ends of the earth.
• My wife and two sons as they spend time with her family in Colorado while I am gone. Pray that God would bless them with rich fellowship together.
• My health. Pray that God would enable me to overcome the jet lag quickly (I begin teaching the day after I arrive) and sustain my health during my stay.
• My students. Pray that God would help them connect what they are learning in the classroom with their own relationship to God and those whom they lead.

Be sure to check back frequently for updates. Thanks so much for your prayers!

Application Part 9: Pressing the Text upon the Heart

Today we come to the end of our series on application. In case you missed any of the posts, here are the links:

 
Part 1 – A Theological Framework

Part 2 – We Resemble What We Worship

Part 3 – Fallen Condition

Part 4 – Gospel Solution

Part 5 – Making the Fallen Condition Personal

Part 6 – The Four Aspects of Application

Part 7 – The Levels of Application

Part 8 – The Three Orders of Application


 
Of course, a fundamental premise throughout this series is the crucial role of repentance and faith. When God reveals to us our fallen condition it is imperative for us to turn from it and embrace by faith the solution that the gospel offers.


 
To wrap things up, I wanted to try to synthesize the most helpful things from this series of posts. What follows is a list of questions that I try to ask every time I read Scripture. There are five main questions, but I have included sub-questions under each that give the bigger picture of what I am trying to get at with each question.

1. 
   
   What do we learn about God?
   
   
   • What aspects of God's character do we see in this passage?
   • What do we see God doing in this passage?
   • What things, events, people, and situations is God concerned about?
   
   
   
2. 
   
   What do we learn about man/mankind?
   
   
   • What aspects of the image of God (longings, desires, interests, values) are reflected in this passage?
   • What fallen conditions (desires, attitudes, actions, beliefs, etc.) are stated, described or implied in this passage?
   • What struggles, challenges, temptations, and realities to walking with God are stated, described or implied in this passage?
    
3. What do we learn about redemption?
   
   
   
   • What does this passage reveal about the nature of our salvation?
   • What is the "gospel solution" to the "fallen condition" that this passage states, describes or implies?
   • In what specific ways has Jesus obeyed in the areas where you have failed?
   
   
4. 
   
   What do we learn about ministry?
   
   
   • What does this passage teach us about the nature of ministry (its joys, its pains, its challenges, its rewards, etc.)?
   • What does this passage teach about the way I should lead/care for God's people?
   • What does this passage teach about the way God's people respond to leaders?
   
   
5. 
   
   How should I apply this text to my life?
   
   
   • What does this passage indicate that I should know, think or understand?
   • What does this passage indicate that I should believe?
   • What does this passage indicate that I should feel?
   • What does this passage indicate I should do?

Application: Pressing the Text upon the Heart (Part 8)

Not all lines of application are created equal. We have all sat through a sermon, Bible study or Sunday school class and heard someone (perhaps even the preacher or teacher!) make an application from a text that makes us scratch our heads and wonder where in the world that came from.

One way to avoid this experience is to think through the different "orders" of application. What I mean will become clear as I explain each of the three orders of application:

• First Order: Those points of application that can be shown to relate directly to the main point of the passage. These should be obvious from the text to most anyone reading or hearing the passage. They are the equivalent of low-hanging fruit that is ripe for the picking!
• Second Order: Those points of application that can be shown to be a reasonable inference from the main point of the passage. These may not be immediately obvious to all who read or hear the text, but upon brief explanation should be clear. In this case the fruit is higher up in the tree but is still reachable by standing on your tip-toes.
• Third Order: Those points of application that can be shown to be a reasonable inference from an incidental aspect of the passage. These are not obvious to the reader or hearer, but with substantive explanation can be made clear. In this case the fruit is near the top of the tree and requires a good ladder or even a bucket truck to get to it.

So let's apply these different orders to Philippians 1:27-30:

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

For the sake of our exercise, let's say that the main point of the passage is this: We must live out our heavenly citizenship according to the pattern of the gospel. Now let's suggest some possible applications for each order:

• First Order: I must believe that my primary identity is as a citizen of God's kingdom, not the USA. This challenges the broader culture around me that finds identity in belonging to this world and one of its various subcultures
• Second Order: Because the Christian life is a fight/struggle, I need to be more intentional in my efforts to grow spiritually. These efforts must be within the context of the body of Christ, for it is in fellowship with other believers that God gives me the strength to stand firm.
  
• Third Order: Because persecution is a reality faced by my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, we as a church should financially support Voice of the Martyrs.

Hopefully these examples give you a clearer sense of what I mean by the different orders of application. Regardless of whether you are doing personal application or application for teaching/preaching, the emphasis should always be on first order, and only then move on to second or third order. You want your people to come away from the text saying, "That makes total sense. It's obvious that's what I should think, feel, believe or do."

In our final post in this series, we will attempt to summarize the entire series into something that is manageable.