Coffee House Theology Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brentwood Baptist Church
This podcast contains audio of messages presented by Campus Pastor Jay Strother and Brian Ball at The Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, TN.
Join us as we conclude this series digging into the Goodness of God. Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to record the first portion of the message. To see what you missed, you can sign up for the notes at https://stationhillchurch.com/coffee-house-theology/
How does God's goodness reveal itself through discipline in the church? Find out as Brian Ball takes a closer look at Titus.
What does God's goodness look like through the Commandments? Find out as we continue to look as the Goodness of God this semester in Coffeehouse Theology.
Join us as Brian Ball guides us through Romans 12 as we continue our Wednesday evening series, The Goodness of God.
Thank you for joining us for another week at Coffeehouse Theology. Join us as we take a closer look at the Goodness of God in Romans.
Welcome to the podcast Coffeehouse Theologians! Each week, we are discussing the Goodness of God. This episode, we are beginning to look at Romans 8 to see God's goodness in those who believe in Him versus who do not accept God's gift of salvation.
Join us as we continue our Wednesday night Coffeehouse series, The Goodness of God. Tonight, Brian Ball will take a closer look at God's goodness in the Law.
We hope you're enjoying our exploration of the theme of the "Goodness of God" in Scripture this semester. Tonight is a special night, as it marks the last time Jay Strother's last Wednesday night teaching Coffeehouse Theology at Station Hill. What started twelve years ago as a handful of us sitting on preschool chairs on a Wednesday night has evolved into a large and robust mid-week study and we are grateful for the way you've engaged and responded to God's Word over these many years. We'll have some fun tonight doing a "retrospective," as we look back to see where we've been, remember why theology matters as much as ever, and get ready for what God has next.
The air is a little cooler as we head into fall, and we are excited for another week of Coffeehouse Theology. We continue our study seeing the goodness of God throughout Scripture. After covering Philippians and justification in Romans 5 last week, we move to a couple of objections Paul anticipates his critics raising, and he answers them in kind, showing how the goodness of God extends through sanctification in Romans 6. Praying you will be edified and encouraged as we study God’s Word.
We hope you are having a great week. It’s hard to believe that we’ve already covered the book of Philippians this semester as we explore the theme of the “Goodness of God” in Scripture. Tonight we begin to study key sections of Romans, beginning with Romans chapter five. Over the years, this passage has been a key theme for the Station Hill congregation, one we have leaned into during difficult seasons to learn more about God’s goodness in times of great difficulty and trials. We’re praying you’ll be strengthened and encouraged tonight as we open God’s Word together.
We’re off and running strong (both the coffee…and the Bible study!) with another semester of Coffeehouse Theology. Last week, we covered Philippians chapter 3 and the handout is attached for those who missed or would like it. It’s no surprise that this week we’ll cover Philippians chapter 4! Did you know Amazon tracks what verses in the Bible are highlighted on their Kindle readers? Philippians 4:4-9 is the single most highlighted verse in the Bible. Come find out why tonight! We hope to see you at 6:30 in the worship center or catch the podcast which is posted by Thursday each week. Let’s celebrate the goodness of God in the power of Christ together.
It’s already the middle of the week, which means tonight is Big Wednesday at Station Hill! We love that we have hundreds of people on campus every Wednesday night for Next Gen Ministry, choir, groups, and more. And we’re glad that you join us as we gather for Coffeehouse Theology. It encourages us to see your hunger for Scripture!
Tonight we continue our fall theme of the Goodness of God with Philippians chapter 3, the “Goodness of God in Salvation.” Paul weaves his own salvation testimony into this important passage about the joy of knowing Christ. Join us as we “press on” together toward the goal of becoming more like Jesus every day. We’ll gather in the worship center at 6:30. If you need to catch up, the podcast from last week is up.
It’s hot outside, but cool in the worship center, so come join us tonight as we continue our semester-long journey through the theme of the “Goodness of God.” Last week, we started our 4-week study of Philippians, looking at how God is good even in adversity and suffering (handout attached). This week we tackle chapter two, as we see Christ as our ultimate example of servanthood and submission to God’s will. We hope to see you at 6:30. You can always catch the podcast on Spotify.
Wow, what a great start to a new semester of Coffeehouse Theology last Wednesday night! Last week “set the stage” for our theme this semester, “The Goodness of God,” as we needed to define that phrase biblically. If you missed last week, the handout is attached and you can catch the podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Tonight, we’re excited to be back to working through Scripture, specifically Philippians chapter one. Tonight we’ll see how God is good in seasons of adversity, which is always timely for whatever we are facing as disciples and as a church.
Last year in our study of systematic theology, we remarked that almost any line in these teachings has books written exploring them. This semester we will take the 3 lines – 3 lines – from our systematic theology and explore God’s goodness. If you are new to the church or new to this study, no worries – no prerequisites required. Jesus is always a good place to start! Bring your Bible, a digital device for submitting questions, and invite a friend.
Remember you can catch up on past podcasts or listen to this week’s gathering if you can’t make it in person (posted on Thursday) on Apple, Spotify or on the church website.
It’s hard to believe that our final “Big Wednesday” of the spring semester is here. We don’t have “I Survived Church History” coffee mugs for you this semester, but you can bring your “Theology Matters” mug from last semester, fill it up, and join us as we remember WHY we studied church history this semester and we look back (using the book of Acts) to look forward to the future of the church! We hope you can join us for the last Coffeehouse Theology of the season.
And YES, we’ll be back in August where we’ll work our way through some books of the New Testament, starting with Philippians!
Has it ever occurred to you that you are a part of history?! Tonight we cover the 20th and 21st Centuries in church history, bringing us from 1900 up to the present day. Our lives are so filled by the tyranny of the urgent that we rarely pause to think about how our own era of history will be written about and remembered. We hope you can join us tonight as we remember and reflect about many of the events, trends, and issues that we’ve experienced in our own lifetimes.
It’s warming up outside meaning we are getting closer to the end of another semester of Coffeehouse Theology. After a sprint through the 17th & 18th centuries (catch the podcast HERE and last week’s handout is attached), tonight we get a guided tour of the 19th century. The rapid expansion and growth of the United States after the War of Independence created a unique cultural climate that had massive implications for the Christian faith and the church, including an explosion of denominations and a struggle to agree on social issues such as immigration, slavery, poverty, and more. Tonight will help you “connect the dots” between this era and the church world of today.
Tonight our Big Wednesday activities resume with only five weeks to go in the semester. This means we’re going to move FAST, so buckle up and be ready as we cover the 17th and 18th centuries tonight. The Reformation produces major and lasting changes to the Western world – some good and some not so good.
Tonight we turn our focus (finally!) to the reformation, the impact of Martin Luther, and the recovery of a conscience captive to the Word of God. While we’ve felt in very unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory, tonight you’ll begin to see how the conviction of Luther and the reformers set off a chain reaction that still shapes the way we worship, think, and live today.
Tonight we jump back into our timeline, covering the “Late Middle Ages.” We’ll talk about the Black Plague, the rise of nationalism, a moment in history in which there were three popes (!), and some of the early reformers. When everything falls apart we’ll see how God uses that to create a hunger for change and a desire for a true and more biblical faith.
We’ve been doing “flyovers” of long stretches of church history in recent weeks. Tonight, we get to shift gears a bit for a “special edition.” With Saint Patrick’s Day on Friday, we’re going to cover the REAL story of Saint Patrick and Irish Christianity tonight. Instead of going wide, we’ll go deeper into the story of one people group and one person. It should be both fun and inspirational along the way.
Tonight we cover the “High Middle Ages” (1034-1303 AD) and we’ll tackle the Crusades, the rise of key monastic movements, and more. As we go, we’ll continue to grapple with the tension between the power and influence of the church during the middle ages as contrasted with the biblical vision of the Kingdom of God given to us by Jesus.
We hope you are enjoying this taste of spring we are experiencing right now AND we hope that you’ll join us tonight as we move to the next time period in our study of church history. Tonight we begin the “Early Middle Ages.” What happened when the Roman Empire fell? How did the church respond? We’ll examine these questions and more as we look at God’s sovereignty over a very “messy” period of history.
This evening we’ll conclude the era of the “Christian Empire” with a closer look at the dynamics between the growing power of the church and theology. As Christianity moved from a fringe religious movement to a mainstream religion, there were “wins” and “losses” when it came to the purity of the church. It provides a lens for our own time, as we struggle to distinguish what is “true” biblically from what is popular or considered progressive.
Tonight, we see what happens when Christianity and worldly power mix for the first time. We’ll talk about how it happened, what impact it had on the church, and we’ll reflect deeply on how easily the gospel message can be corrupted when we over-emphasize earthly kingdoms. Join us as explore the age of the “Roman Christian Empire!"
Tonight we continue our journey through church history with the early church, part two. We’ll closely examine several of the challenges to the faith that developed in the early centuries, better known as heresies. It’s a good reminder that the gospel message has been under attack from very early in Christian history and that challenges to our core beliefs aren’t anything new. Yet God used these attacks to clarify and strengthen the true church. We are praying that your faith will be strengthened as well!
After a couple of foundational weeks, we start today our march through church history, beginning with the early church. Many of us know about the Gospels, the apostles…but then what happened? Into what kind of world was our faith birthed? What challenges did the first Christians face? How did Christianity grow from about 120 people (Acts 1:14) to a worldwide movement within just a couple of hundred years? Join us tonight as we explore how God moved and worked through the early church.
Tonight, we turn our attention to the history of the Bible – How did we get the Bible as we have it now? As a pastor, this may be the one question I get the most. There is a lot of sensationalism and poor scholarship out there that attempts to attack how the Bible came to be in its present form. The truth, however, will grow your faith and give you even greater confidence that what we hold in our hands when we read the Bible today is indeed exactly what God inspired and preserved for His church. Let’s talk about it tonight as we gather at 6:30 in the Worship Center.
You’ve probably heard these questions or asked them yourself: What happened after the end of the New Testament? How did we get the Bible as we have it today? Why is there an “Eastern” and a “Western” church? Why are there “Catholics” and “Protestants?” Why are there so many denominations in the United States?
Church history gives us answers to these questions and many more. Contrary to popular belief, church history isn’t just a dry and boring list of “dates and dead people.” As believers, church history is our family history and like every family, we’ve had some serious ups and downs over the centuries. But ultimately, church history is a story – a story of God’s faithfulness to every generation, a story of the tension we live in between the “now and the not yet,” and a story of ordinary people that God has used in extraordinary ways. This semester, we’ll cover church history in a devotional format – in other words, we will certainly discuss the big events, key moments, and people who have shaped church history. But as we go, we’ll look carefully for the narratives of grace embedded in the story and we’ll end every week with a devotional from Scripture that ties it all together. After all, those who don’t know the past are doomed to repeat it. So, let’s learn from those who have gone before!
After a close look at the doctrine of the church (last week’s handout on missions and evangelism is attached), our last two weeks will be full as we focus on eschatology, or the doctrine of “last things.” This week our lens will be on what the Bible says about future worldwide events, including the return of Christ. This is a topic that has been subject to much speculation and fear, so tonight we’ll focus on what the Bible makes clear and how we live in confident hope as our response.
Tonight we wrap up this section of our study on the doctrine of the church with a focus on missions and evangelism. Just as in the past two weeks with our staff presenting, who better to have you learn from than our own missions minister Leigh Ann Swords? You’ll be encouraged by the passion and depth with which she leads our outreach into our community and world!
Tonight we continue our study of systematic theology and ecclesiology with the doctrine of spiritual gifts. Just as we had our own worship minister Luke Roman share with us last week on worship (the notes are attached), this week we have “special guest” as well. Brandon Abbott serves as our connection minister and one of the things we teach on in the membership process is spiritual gifts. Tonight Brandon is going to take us on a deeper dive into this important topic for the church and you won’t want to miss it!
We continue our study of the doctrine of the church tonight by continuing to look at what the church does. Our focus this evening will be on worship. As we’ll see, most of us have defined worship too narrowly and its vital that we have a biblical and robust understanding of why and how the church worships. Here to help us will be a special “guest,” our own worship minister Luke Roman. I can’t wait for you to hear from Luke!
Tonight we continue the Theology of the Church by talking about what the church does – the ordinances such as the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and practices like worship, discipleship, giving, fellowship (everyone’s favorite!), and more.
Last week, we looked at the nature, mark, and purposes of the New Testament church. Tonight we get into the biblical principles of how churches function, govern, select leaders, engage members, and more! This is one of the most practical nights of the entire semester because it challenges us to consider our understanding and involvement in the local church Remember, we don’t go to church, we are the church!
Tonight we launch into the theology of the church. As we say often, we don’t go to church, we ARE the church. But what does that mean? What’s the nature of the church? What are the distinguishing marks of a true church (and how can you spot a false one)? What is the church’s place in the world and how does it relate to the state? We’ll cover these important questions and more tonight.
Isn’t it amazing to consider all that God has done is saving us?! Our topic for tonight is “What is Eternal Life?” as we examine the doctrines of the perseverance of the saints, death, and glorification. We pray you will be encouraged and leave with even greater hope in our future as God’s people than when you came in the door!
What do we believe as Christians? Each Wednesday, we'll be studying the core doctrines of the Christian faith including what we believe about the Bible, God, humanity, the Trinity, salvation, the church, and the future. This special study is led by Pastor Jay Strother and Brian Ball.
This week we start the next four-part section of Systematic Theology where we explore the Doctrine of Salvation. One of the beautiful things about the gospel is that its simple enough that a child can grasp it but at the same time its truths are enough to keep thinkers and theologians busy for a lifetime explore its riches. At the end of these four weeks, our prayer is that you will better understand the depths of God’s saving plan, to be in awe of the miracle your own salvation, and be more motivated than ever before to share the gospel with others.
Last week, we wrapped up the doctrine of Christ. This week, it’s on to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. In our tradition, there’s a lot of confusion and mixed messages about the Holy Spirit. Was the Holy Spirit around in the Old Testament? What does the Spirit do? How do we live “Spirit-filled” lives but still stay consistent with Scripture? We’ll answer these questions and more!
Why is the resurrection central to our faith? The resurrection isn't just for Easter... it's for every day of the year. Tune in as Pastor Jay Strother and Brian Ball dive into the resurrection and ascension.
This episode our focus is the work of Jesus on the cross, known as the atonement. We’ll explore why suddenly many churches are sadly diminishing the cross in favor of more so-called progressive views and how the Bible teaches that the atonement is central to our salvation, our identity, and our mission.
Does It Matter That We Are Created In God's Image? The Creation of Man: As we explore the doctrine around the creation of man, we will look at why we were created, what our purpose in life is, and what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God.
Alisa Childers discusses "'Live Your Truth' and Other Lies" in her final talk on progressive Christianity.
Dr. Steven Ortiz discusses Evidence for the Historicity of the Settlement and Conquest.
Hope you’re drying out and doing well this week. It’s hard to believe its May already and there are just 2 weeks to go in our spring semester. Tonight, we’re going to take the opportunity to catch our breath, grab our Bibles and spend some time thinking about the themes and threads that we’ve heard from our special guests this semester. Brian and I will lead us in a discussion and conversation about what we see God doing in our midst and how that is leading us toward the future for our church. Because we don’t go to church…we are the church!
Benjamin Ball Joins his father, Brian, and Pastor Jay Strother to discuss faith in the context of higher education. Benjamin is a senior at Princeton University, majoring in English with minors in African American Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Journalism, History & the Practice of Diplomacy, and Values in Public life.
Dr. Joe Malone, Author of "Battles of the Sexes" joins Jay and Brian to discuss marriage, family, health and sexuality from a Biblical perspective in the Academic world.
Rene is the co-founder and director of Every Girl Counts (www.everygirlcounts.com). Their mission is helping impoverished girls around the world reach their full potential through education and a relationship with Jesus. This is accomplished through a 3-pronged approach: Educate, Empower, and Sustain. Currently, the focus of their work is in Nairobi, Kenya. Every Girl Counts is one of our Station Hill Mission Partners, so come learn more about a powerful ministry that your mission dollars supports and discover more ways to get involved.
Sergey Rakhuba joins Jay Strother and Brian Ball to discuss the work and ministry of Mission Eurasia throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union.
Fady Al-Hagal joins Jay Strother and Brian Ball to discuss the nations and ethnic groups represented in middle-Tennessee, and opportunities for ministry in and among those groups.
Steve Ortiz, professor of Archaeology discusses archaeological discoveries and how they relate to the accuracy and historicity of scripture with Jay Strother and Brian Ball.
Jay Strother and Brian Ball discuss "Progressive Christianity" with special guest Alisa Childers.
Jay Strother and Brian Ball discuss "Fostering a Biblical Worldview in Our Children" With special guest Rian Berger.
Background of 1st JOHN:
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Who: John, the “beloved disciple” of Jesus who writes with a pastor’s heart to his “little children” and “beloved” ones in the faith.
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When: Around AD 90. Outside of Revelation 1, The New Testament is silent about John’s later years, but early Christian tradition is consistent that John left Jerusalem where he was a pillar of the church (Acts 8:14, Gal. 2:9) shortly before the destruction of the city by the Romans in AD 70. He ministered in and around Ephesus (see the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2-3). It was likely written after the Gospel of John.
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Whom: Well established believers in Asia Minor with whom John had a close personal relationship. They were grounded in sound doctrine (2:7, 18-27, 3:11).
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What: On the threshold of severe persecution breaking out throughout the Roman Empire against Christians under Domitian (AD 95), John writes to them as a mature spiritual father out of loving concern for his spiritual children. It is possibly a sermon in letter form. John writes with “disarming simplicity of style and vocabulary.”
5. WHY: The major theme of 1 John is fellowship with God. God is light, love, and life. John wanted his readers to have assurance of God’s presence with them. From this assurance came joy and confidence in the gospel and authentic fellowship with each other. This bond would help the church refute the destructive false teachings of the Gnostics.
Background of the Book of 1st Peter:
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Who: Peter, one of the disciples, among Jesus’ inner circle. We see his faith in the proclamation of who Jesus is (Matt 16:16) while not fully understanding what Jesus came to do. Certainly his betrayal is well known, but so is his restoration. Throughout Acts we see his leadership in the church and furthering of the faith. According to tradition, Peter was crucified upside down before Nero’s death, about A.D. 66.
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When: A.D. 64, The reference to Babylon in 5:13 is almost certainly Rome as few people were in Babylon in these days, and Peter spent his final years in Rome.
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Whom: Gentile Christians in Asia minor, to cities that extend beyond the ministry covered in Acts.
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What: Facing increasing persecution, Peter wanted to encourage and reassure these believers to remain steady in the faith and count it a privilege to share in Christ’s sufferings.
5. WHY: To withstand attacks on the church from outside the church. We who persevere should be full of hope. We will enjoy end-time salvation as we are already in God’s saving grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
From Galatians to 2nd Timothy, what’s Paul been up to? The second half of Acts!
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Wrote Galatians in ~48 AD, corresponding toward the Apostolic Council in Acts 15
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Goes on the Second Missionary Journey (with Silas) from Antioch to Syria, Cilicia, southern Galatia, Macedonia, notably Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea; and then on to Achaia, notably Athens and Corinth (Acts 15:36–18:22); wrote 1-2 Thessalonians
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Goes on the Third Missionary Journey from Antioch to Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece (Acts 18:23–21:17)
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Winters in Corinth, writes Romans, and is arrested (Acts 21:27–36; 22:22–29)
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Imprisoned and transferred to Caesarea (Acts 23:23–24, 33–34)
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Voyage to Rome and is shipwrecked (Acts 27:1–2; Acts 27:39–28:10)
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Under house arrest, he arrives in Rome and writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon
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Released from prison, he writes 1 Timothy from Macedonia (see 1 Tim. 1:3) and Titus from Nicopolis (Titus 3:12); he is rearrested in Rome (2 Tim. 1:16–17)
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Writes 2 Timothy and is martyred in Rome.
“There is no saying what may happen when people begin to study the letter to the Romans. So let those who have read thus far be prepared for the consequences of reading farther: you have been warned!” – NT Scholar F.F. Bruce
Background of the Book of ROMANS:
PAUL, dictating to his scribe, Tertius (16:22). Paul is in the seaport of Cenchrea (16:1) at Corinth at the end of his third missionary journey (after the writing of 2 Corinthians). He has finished an important stage of his missionary work; “from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ” (15:19). This geography includes all the churches he had planted on his famous mission journeys (Acts 13-20) in south Galatia (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe), and in the Roman provinces of Asia (Ephesus), Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica) and Achaia (Corinth).
· Paul is ready for his next challenge: he plans to go back to Jerusalem to bring a collection for the mother church there (hopefully healing some of the Jew-Gentile divide) and then he has his sights set on church planting in new territory – Spain. But before he goes to Spain, he wants to come to Rome and spend some time encouraging the church there and building support for his mission.
· “What is most significant for our understanding of Romans is the sense that Paul gives us of having reached an important transition point in his missionary career. He has been preaching the gospel for almost 25 years; he has planted thriving churches over much of the northeastern Mediterranean part of the Roman Empire; he has hammered out his theology on the anvil of pastoral problems and debates with opposing factions. He thus writes Romans during a lull in his ministry, at a time when he can reflect on what he has come to believe and what it may mean for the church.” – Douglas Moo, NIV App
· “Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ transformed him. His future lay not in Jerusalem and works of the law, but out among the Gentiles, preaching grace and living by faith. Instead of stamping out Christianity, he would become a tireless apostle, traveling more than 20,000 miles between Jerusalem and Rome and proclaiming the gospel wherever ears had never heard it. Then, near the end of his third missionary journey, after what many would consider a full life in ministry, the apostle looked westward to the frontier beyond Rome (15:24).” – Swindoll, p. 15
Background of the Book of JAMES:
- Who: James, the Lord’s brother. Four men are named James in the NT: James, the father of Judas (not Iscariot); James, son of Alphaeus, called “James the less” and one of the disciples”; James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, one of Jesus’ intimate disciples but martyred around AD 44 (Acts 12:2); and James the Lord’s brother, the most likely to have written the epistle. He was among the believers awaiting the Spirit at Pentecost and a central figure in the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council.
2. When: James may have been the earliest writing in the New Testament, probably in 46-49 AD, especially since it does not mention anything of the Jerusalem Council of 49 AD
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Whom: “The twelve tribes scattered abroad”, so Hebrew Christians scattered outside of Palestine, and expressions in the letter fit an originally Jewish leadership.
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What: The characteristics of true faith. The purpose of the work is practical rather than doctrinal or apologetic as James challenges the believers to examine the quality of the daily lives in terms of their attitudes and actions. Genuine faith is expressed in our lives.
5. WHY: Faith without works is dead. The book seeks to awaken the believer to action, to be sure their sincere faith is expressed in all they do, in their daily, everyday lives.
Background of the Book of ACTS:
- Who: Luke, a Gentile Physician who “writes with the compassion and warmth of a family doctor.” The “we” portions of Acts (16:1-17; 20:5-21:18, 27:1-28:16) subtly reveal that Luke was a traveling companion of Paul. Luke was with Paul during both of his Roman imprisonments as Paul’s “beloved physician” (Col. 4:14, Philemon 24, 2 Tim. 4:11), evidence of Luke’s loyalty even in the face of personal danger. Luke is the only Gentile contributor to the New Testament. Church tradition tells us that Luke was from Syrian Antioch, remained unmarried, and died at 84 years old.
2. When: Luke likely wrote during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, during the mid-to-late 60s. Luke’s abrupt ending that ends with Paul awaiting trial in Rome leads many to believe it was completed prior to Paul’s trial (AD 62). In addition, it gives no hint of the persecution under Nero (64), Paul’s death (68) or the destruction of Jerusalem (70).
- Whom: Luke’s carefully written gospel was presented to “the most excellent Theophilus” (“friend of God”). The title indicates that he was a man of high social standing and likely was a man of means who paid the cost of publishing Luke/Acts so they would be available throughout the Gentile world.
4. What: Historical Narrative, as Luke begins where he left off in his gospel. The combined “2 volume set” of Luke and Acts makes up 28% of the entire New Testament, which makes Luke the most prolific author (2,138 verses to Paul’s 2,033). Luke writes in the most refined Greek in the New Testament. Acts traces the rapid expansion of the gospel, beginning in Jerusalem and spreading throughout the Roman Empire.
Without Acts, the epistles would be difficult to understand, and the early history of the church would be a vague patchwork. Luke uses over 700 words not found in the other 25 NT books. He includes 80 geographical references and his precision in citing locations that was once challenged has now been verified by archaeological evidence. Luke also records 24 sermons and speeches in its 28 chapters.
5. WHY: “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” through the apostles traces the development of the body of Christ over its pivotal early years, from a primarily Jewish to predominately Gentile membership.
Background of the Gospel of John:
- Who: John, brother of James, who together form the “sons of thunder”, a slight contrast to the gentle physician Luke. Father was Zebedee. Mother was Salome who served Jesus and was present at His crucifixion (Mark 15:40-41). John evidently started among the Galilean followers of John the Baptist who were called to follow Jesus (1:91-51) and were later called to be His disciples. John was among the twelve selected to be apostles (Luke 6:12-16).
After Christ’s ascension, John became a “pilar” of the church along with James and Peter (Gal 2:9). He is mentioned three times in Acts (Acts 3:1, 4:13, 8:14), each time in association with Peter. Tradition says John went to Ephesus and was eventually exiled to Patmos by the Romans for a time (Rev 1:9).
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When: John was written after the last synoptic gospel (66-68), and with his 3 epistles and Revelation written after this gospel, so that writing probably occurred between 68-90 AD.
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Whom: John writes to everyone, possibly to Asia Minor where he would eventually minister.
4. What: John writes to create intellectual (“that you may believe”) and spiritual (“that believing you may have life”) conviction about the Son of God. The predominant theme is the contrast between belief and unbelief in the person of Jesus Christ, that those who place their faith in Him have eternal life, and those who reject Him are under the condemnation of God. Some key words from John include truth, light, darkness, word, knowledge, belief, abide, love, world, witness, and judgement. This gospel is not only evangelistic but also serves to make believers more sure of who Jesus is and how we follow Him.
Note that while the other gospels focus on the Galilean ministry, John focuses on the Judean ministry.
5. WHY: John 20:31: “…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.“ John presents Jesus as the Son of God.
Background of the Gospel of LUKE:
- Who: Luke, a Gentile Physician who “writes with the compassion and warmth of a family doctor” as he carefully documents the life of Jesus. The “we” portions of Acts (16:1-17; 20:5-21:18, 27:1-28:16) subtly reveal that Luke was a traveling companion of Paul. Luke was with Paul during both of his Roman imprisonments as Paul’s “beloved physician” (Col. 4:14, Philemon 24, 2 Tim. 4:11), evidence of Luke’s loyalty even in the face of personal danger. Luke is the only Gentile contributor to the New Testament. Church tradition tells us that Luke was from Syrian Antioch, remained unmarried, and died at 84 years old.
2. When: Luke wasn’t an eyewitness of the events in his gospel, but he relied on the testimony of eyewitnesses and written sources (1:1-4). It’s highly likely that during Paul’s 2- year imprisonment in Caesarea Philippi that Luke gathered information from eyewitnesses for his gospel, especially from Mary, mother of Jesus. Luke likely wrote during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, during the late 60s.
- Whom: Luke’s carefully written gospel was presented to “the most excellent Theophilus” (“friend of God”). The title indicates that he was a man of high social standing and likely was a man of means who paid the cost of publishing Luke/Acts so they would be available throughout the Gentile world.
4. What: Luke’s gospel is the longest book in the New Testament. The combined “2 volume set” of Luke and Acts makes up 28% of the entire New Testament, which makes Luke the most prolific author (2,138 verses to Paul’s 2,033). Luke writes in the most refined Greek in the New Testament. He translates Aramaic terms with Greek words and explains Jewish customs and geography for understanding. Luke’s most striking feature is his strong interest in people impacted by the ministry of Jesus, as he present Jesus as the true Savior of the whole world. Luke relates how the gospel impacts Jews, Samaritans, Gentiles, rich and poor, respected and despised, insiders and outsiders.
5. WHY: Luke clearly states his purpose in his prologue: “That you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (1:4). Luke wanted to create an accurate, chronological, and comprehensive account of the life of Jesus to strengthen the faith of believers and to bring saving faith to unbelievers. A secondary purpose was to demonstrate to the Romans that Christianity was not a political threat. For example, three times Luke records Pilate’s acknowledgement of Christ’s innocence (23:4, 14, 22).
Background of the Gospel of Matthew:
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Matthew, while not chronologically the first written. Is the first gospel presented in the New Testament as it serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. It was composed by Matthew the apostle in AD 60-65. The gospel was written by a Jew, about a Jew, for Jews.
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Mark’s Kingdom of God is replaced with Kingdom of Heaven in the Jew’s deference to the name of God being unspoken.
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Matthew’s key idea is Jesus as King, starting from the genealogy carrying through the entire text. Matthew’s key term is “fulfilled”, as Jesus’ life and ministry are shown as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies time and again.
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Matthew’s Story:
· While Mark was a deserter during Paul’s mission journeys, Matthew was even less popular: he was tax collector in Capernaum for the Roman government – essentially a traitor to his own people in many eyes. Tax collectors would extract extra money from their own people to fund a lavish lifestyle.
· He responded quickly to Jesus’ call to follow (Matt 9:9–13; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27–28)
· He held a large reception for Jesus at his house so his associates could meet Jesus
· Matthew’s language and understanding appeared to be influenced by a Pharisaic perspective on the law, indicated by the intimate understanding Matthew presents of the Pharisee’s arguments.
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Matthew has no purpose statement per se, but the work is clearly written so one can come to make an intelligent decision about Jesus. Was He the promised Messiah spoken of for centuries?
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The genealogy stretches to father Abraham and coheres the story of the Davidic line to legitimize Jesus’ kingship
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“Everything about this King is unique: His miraculous birth and obscure yet carefully prophesied birthplace, His flight into Egypt, His announcement by John, His battle with Satan in the wilderness, all support the only possible conclusion—Jesus is the culmination of promises delivered by the prophets over a period of a thousand years. Thus God’s redemptive plan is alive and well, even after four hundred years of prophetic silence. Matthew was no doubt used by Jewish believers as an evangelistic tool to reach other Jews.” - Wilkinson & Boa
Background of the Gospel of Mark:
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Mark is the shortest, simplest, and earliest of the four Gospels. It was composed by John Mark in AD 55-65 to a Roman audience using primarily Peter’s firsthand accounts and reflecting his own action-oriented personality.
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Mark uses the “historic present tense” 151 times and the word “immediately” 42 times!
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Mark’s Story:
· Mark’s mother Mary had a large house in Jerusalem that was used as a meeting place for believers (Acts 12:12). Peter was at this house often, because the servant girl recognized his voice at the gate (12:13).
· Many scholars believe that John Mark anonymously writes about himself as the “rich young ruler” (10:17-22) and as the “young man” who flees without his garment in the Garden of Gethsemane (14:51-52).
· Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin (Col. 4:10), but Peter might have been the person who led him to Christ (1 Peter 5:13).
· Barnabas and Saul took Mark along with them on their first mission journey (Acts 13:5) but for some reason, Mark turned back (13:13). Barnabas wanted to bring Mark on the second mission journey, but Paul refused, and they parted company over the issue (15:36-41). Barnabas stayed with John Mark.
· About 12 years later, Paul wrote that Mark was with him during his first Roman imprisonment, indicating reconciliation (Col. 4:10, Philemon 24). In his last letter, Paul sent specifically for Mark (2 Tim. 4:11).
· This means both John Mark and Peter had similar testimonies: Both were men who had failed but were restored to a life of ministry.
· Church history (Papias) tells us that John Mark served as Peter’s interpreter in Rome and established churches in Alexandria, Egypt. The idolators of the city resented his efforts to turn the Alexandrians away from the worship of their traditional gods. In AD 68 they placed a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead.
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“Mark’s Jesus is like a bounding lion – rushing around and roaring enigmatically and dying terribly alone.” – John Stott
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“Mark doesn’t read like dry history. It is written in the present tense (immediately!) and Jesus is a man of action, moving quickly and decisively.” – Tim Keller
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Like the other gospels, Mark is not merely biography but topical narrative. Mark juxtaposes the teaching and works (18 miracles) of Jesus to demonstrate his power and compassion.
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Mark’s Gospel is clearly evangelistic, showing how Jesus was rejected by his own people but achieved ultimate victory through servanthood and sacrifice. Mark directed his words to a Roman/Gentile audience that knew little about the Old Testament.
The New Testament has arrived! After 400 years of prophetic silence, voices call to God’s people, announcing the arrival of the promised Messiah. From our Read Through the Bible book:
“The inspired explanation of this scene comes from the Apostle Paul: “When the completion of time came God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal 4:4). Everything is ready. The announcement of the King’s birth comes first to the virgin Mary and then to Joseph, her betrothed. Jesus’ genealogies show that He descends from Adam (as we all do), but through his adoptive father’s lineage He is David’s royal heir as well. He is fully human; He is also fully God: “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us” (Jn 1:14). Jesus grows up in obscurity; then He begins His ministry by being baptized by John.”
Congratulations! This is our final week in the OLD TESTAMENT. We are still in act 2, scene 9, which is set in the period after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. This week watch for at least four key themes:
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God honoring leadership
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Return to covenant faithfulness
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Religious identity
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God's sovereign care for His people
New Scene! Scene 9: In this scene the world’s superpowers shift again. The Persians rise and grant the Israelite captives permission to return home. Ezra and Nehemiah become great leaders. No Davidic king reigns, but the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi speak for God. The second temple is built. Jerusalem gets new walls. God’s people (now called Jews) resolve to live by His laws. Esther acts bravely, keeping the Jews from extinction. World history will unfold as Daniel prophesied: Persia will fall to the Greeks; the Greeks will give way to Rome. Act 2 ends with us longing for the curtain to rise on the next scene.
Daniel: Prophet Profile
· 605 B.C. – 535 B.C, Daniel’s life and ministry bridge most of the 70-year period of Babylonian captivity.
· Daniel was a young man is born into a noble Judean family and then is carried off in exile at age 16 to serve the Babylonian Empire in their program of assimilating the best and brightest of their vassal states. Daniel serves the remainder of his life in exile.
· Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel who mentioned him three times (9:23, 10:11,19) as an example of righteousness. While Ezekiel emphasizes the nation’s religious restoration, Daniel concentrates on its political restoration.
· Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.”
· He is one of the few well-known biblical characters about whom nothing negative is recorded. His life was characterized by faith, prayer, courage, consistency, and lack of compromise. Jesus calls Daniel a prophet (Matt. 24:15).
Ezekiel: Prophet Profile
· Prophets are given by God the ability to see through things: such as time, space, and…pretense. These words are certainly true for Zeke.
· The name Ezekiel (Yehezke’l) means “STRENGTHENED by God.”
· Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was a priest who became a prophet during some of Judah’s darkest days. He was privileged to receive visions of the power and plan of God and he was careful and artistic in his written presentation. His wife died as a sign to Judah when the final siege on Jerusalem began (24:16-24).
· Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in the second deportation from Jerusalem in 597 B.C. He received his first vision five years later. Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry spanned about 25 years, from approximately 592-570 B.C. He died in 560 B.C.
· Ezekiel preached and wrote to the exiles in Babylon, compared with Jeremiah who remained in Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s Babylonian home was Tel Abib, the colony/refugee settlement of the Jewish people in Babylon along the Chebar River, also known as the “Grand Canal.”
· Like most of the prophets, Ezekiel’s two-fold message was condemnation (ch. 1-32) and consolation (ch. 33-48), horror and hope. Ezekiel reveals the sins which were the cause of God’s judgment and exposed the foolishness of false hopes. Ezekiel places a strong emphasis on the sovereignty, glory and faithfulness of God.
EZEKIEL
· Ezekiel is primarily prophecy combined with elements of poetry and apocalyptic writing.
· “Ezekiel is a book of methodical style, careful dating, and diligent organization. But this exciting framework houses an unsurpassed depth of mystery and richness and vibrant imagery, symbolism, parables, allegories, and apocalyptic visions.” - Wilkinson and Boa
· God has a message for the exiles in Babylon: Israel deserved judgment because God is just. But God does not abandon his people so there is hope for the future, because God is loving. The key vision of Ezekiel is found in the “Valley of Dry Bones” story in ch. 37 and the key verse is found in 6:10: “They shall know that I am the LORD.”
Jeremiah: Prophet Profile
· The son of Hilkiah the priest from a village about 2 miles north of Jerusalem (Anathoth)
· His name means “Yahweh throws” in the sense of laying a foundation. It can also mean “Yahweh establishes, appoints, or sends.”
· His ministry started around 627 under King Josiah and stretched to about 580 B.C.
· Three Stages to His Ministry:
o 627-605 B.C. – He prophesied while Judah was threatened by Assyria and Egypt
o 605-586 B.C. – He proclaimed God’s judgment while Judah was threatened and besieged by Babylon
o 586-580 B.C. – He ministered in Jerusalem and Egypt after Judah’s downfall
· He was a contemporary of Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel and Ezekiel.
· His nickname is the “weeping prophet” (9:1) because he often bathed his harsh prophecies in tears of compassion. Jeremiah’s life was difficult: he wasn’t allowed to marry, he faced opposition from his hometown, beatings, punishment in stocks, isolation and imprisonment. He preached forty years without a single “convert.”
· He had a secretary, Baruch, who did most of the writing of Jeremiah’s words. When King burned his scroll, he wrote it out all over again as God instructed.
· “His broken heart caused him to write a broken book, which is difficult to arrange chronologically or topically. But through his sermons and signs he faithfully declares that surrender to God’s will is the only way to escape calamity.” – Wilkinson and Boa, 198
· God’s People are now divided, and the Northern Kingdom (usually called “Israel” has been conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom “Judah” (also Jerusalem) is struggling with faithfulness as the Assyrians fade and Babylonians rise in power.
· God raises up prophets to indict and convict the people for breaking both the covenant as well as His commands. The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. God appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. This makes them unpopular figures in their own day and age.
· These prophets are usually categorized into “major” and “minor.” This does not have to do with their importance or reliability, but rather their length.
· The prophets are some of the of the most misunderstood and overlooked books of the Bible. The prophets aren’t just epic rants from angry old men; they are urgent messages from a broken-hearted God to His people calling them to return home.
· As the world struggles to emerge from a global pandemic in confusion and fear about the future, we need to remember that responding to God’s Word leads to revival and renewal among God’s people, both then and now. God is speaking. Are we listening?
Introduction: “Descendants of David continue to reign in Jerusalem. Judah struggles to retain independence amid the swirling change of political superpowers. Two kings stand tall for the Lord: Hezekiah and Josiah. Many others fall into idolatry. Mighty Assyria crumples before resurgent Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar enters the world stage and attacks Judah. During this scene God’s prophets continue the dire warnings of their predecessors. Isaiah and Jeremiah are the best known. They also foretell events both near and remote. Isaiah’s word about the Suffering Servant and Jeremiah’s prophecy of a new covenant wait to be fulfilled in the first coming of the messianic King, recounted early in Act 3.“
- Guthrie, George H.. Reading God's Story
Introduction:
· God’s People are now divided: The Northern Kingdom is usually called “Israel” (also Samaria or Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom “Judah” (also Jerusalem). Israel has no “good” kings. Judah has only a few.
· God raises up prophets to indict and convict the people for breaking both the covenant as well as His commands. The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. God appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. This makes them unpopular figures in their own day and age.
· These prophets are usually categorized into “major” and “minor.” This does not have to do with their importance or reliability, but rather their length.
· The prophets are some of the of the most misunderstood and overlooked books of the Bible. The prophets aren’t just epic rants from angry old men; they are urgent messages from a broken-hearted God to His people calling them to return home.
As the world struggles to emerge from a global pandemic in confusion and fear about the future, we need to remember that responding to God’s Word leads to revival and renewal among God’s people, both then and now. God is speaking. Are we listening?
The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. In this extended scene, God responds. He divides Israel, diminishing the power of the remaining kingdoms. Then He sends Assyria to destroy the northern kingdom. Furthermore, He appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. Read Amos, Hosea and Micah with an ear for how they address God’s concerns for both tables of the Law.
Today is a historic day! For the first time ever, Coffeehouse Theology isn’t taking a break over the summer. Instead, for our “summer edition” we are going bi-weekly and shorter (35 minutes or so). Why? We’re going all the way through the Bible in 2020 and we didn’t want to miss a single book of the Bible. We hope giving you the “big picture” of each book as well as looking at a handful of key Scriptures will help you stay connected and engaged. This week’s conversation covers 1 Chronicles and Psalms.
Don’t feel discouraged if your prayers are lacking. Rather, be encouraged—if your prayer life is dull and feels like a chore, there is so much more to experience! This is something worth seeking.
When we sin, it doesn’t take away our salvation, but it does hurt the quality of our relationship with God. When we hold sin in our heart, it places emotional distance between us and God. God wants us to confess our sins, not because we need salvation again, but because He desires intimacy with us. It’s hard to draw near to God when we’re actively holding on to sin.
Are you experiencing joy? Sorrow? Sickness? Bring it to God. Ask Him to help your heart be so focused on Him that your first, immediate response is to turn to Him, no matter what you are experiencing.
Are you speaking fluid, easy words, simply because they’re what the other person wants to hear, or are you choosing honesty and integrity in the things you say?
Difficulty is not meaningless, rather God uses it to strengthen our hearts and lead us into perseverance
Like farming, patience does not come naturally to most of us. It is a skill that must be learned. To that end, allow what encouraged the early church to encourage you. God is for you, not against you.
Today’s verses continue James’ censure of the rich. In these verses James highlights three characters: the powerful, the poor, and the protector.
James’ denunciation of the rich may seem jarring, but that’s the point. James doesn’t stand alone in making his point either. The rich are consistently warned throughout Scripture
Some may struggle more than others, but all of us are guilty of this in some way, shape or form.
Our pride and our selfish pursuit of pleasure always compete with our humility before God.
We all seek wisdom and understanding, yielding insight into our circumstances and hope for the days ahead. We all know those people whose words are wise and seem to see through us to the hope of Christ. We see that wisdom proven in their life. As we said at the beginning of the week, works do not save us, but they do help confirm our faith. We will see our faith in our actions and in our words, particularly so in our teachers and leaders.
The world has so much brokenness, so much ugliness, when you see beauty, truth, grace, call it out. To our best, we as Christians should use our words to edify. This does not mean they are all happy messages, positive in the eyes of the world, building self-esteem. They are words that encourage us to be holy, to look more like Crist, and guide one another in that walk.
Even the best of us will say hurtful things in a weak moment. Jesus’ words that we are not defiled by what goes into us, but what comes out of us is so, so true. Only through the grace of the Holy Spirit can words of hope and healing come from us.
As Christians, we must control of our words, fight these winds and waves to use language to edify and build up one another. Similarly, we must fight the nature within us to boast of great things¬¬––to demonstrate our pride. We tend to think of ourselves often, and what is in us comes out in what we say. We are called to be conscious and careful in how we impact those around us.
We are certainly not saved by our works, but our faith will demonstrate itself in what we do. Chapter 3 begins with an admonition that not many should become teachers as they will be held to a higher standard, that the works of faith should be even more prevalent in the lives of teachers.
Works alone are no litmus test for salvation. Anyone can do good deeds, just as anyone can say they believe. But only those whose works are a genuine product of their faith in Christ can avoid the fate of those Jesus mentions in Matthew 7.
Yesterday, we began looking at the issue of faith and works. James tells us that faith apart from works isn't really faith at all. Today, James uses Abraham to help us understand his point.
Today, we'll look at God's way and why James is making such a big deal out of treating people equally.
We demonstrate true faith through our acts of compassion concerning those who are unable to fully take care of themselves.
James finishes his thought about being slow to anger by telling us that human anger does not grow our faith or lead us toward God’s righteousness.
In Christ, we do not lack for anything that we need, we have a promise assured, andmost importantly, we have a Father who, by His own choice, gives us new and eternal life.
“Begin with the end in mind,” and allow your eternal destiny to shape your present reality.
We are often told not to judge a book by its cover, and experience teaches us that some of the most excellent food in all of the world is in restaurants not frequented by the health inspector.
When you are in the midst of a test or trial in life, you naturally search for a cause.
Recognizing how you respond to correction or critique is a helpful way to measure your growth in Christian maturity.
Are you looking for a way to grow in your faith as you study God’s Word?
This summer, we’re studying the book of James at The Church at Station Hill, and we want to help you dive deeper into God’s Word and grow in your faith. That’s why we’ve created a special, Station Hill only summer devotional series. Each week, we’re providing five devotions that will guide you through the book of James.
These brief daily devotions are available in both written and audio formats so you can learn and grow anywhere, anytime this summer.