the Bible for the Berean

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Todd Wood
Hi all,
I am very thankful this afternoon that each one of the Bereans in Idaho Falls has a Bible.  From our study this past Sunday morning (II Timothy 3:10-17) and then again last night (II Peter 1:19-21), we understand that the Bible (God’s Word) governs everything.
Next week, thousands will gather in California for an Inerrancy Summit (http://www.inerrantword.com/).  In a small way this week in our town, we encouraged ourselves in the same belief.  The Bible is trustworthy.  The sacred letters light our path as we walk in the dark forest of our modern culture.
Please pick up God’s Book daily and read.  As you read humbly and hunger fully for God, He will master your heart.
Imagine if we had no access to Bibles during the week in Idaho Falls.
Someday when I am on my sick bed in EIRMC like Grandma Neva Mortensen, please do this for me:  read and sing to me the words from the Bible.  The daily manna for our hungry souls is every word that comes from the mouth of God.
a forgiven sinner growing roots by the river,
Todd
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Inductive questions for 2 Peter 1:19-21

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Todd Wood

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Observation Questions (What do you see?)

  1. Is there a main word in this sentence that you see reoccurring several times?
  2. How do you see “word” described?
  3. We should be heeding the word until when?
  4. What is the first thing to know about Scripture?
  5. “But” is contrasting what?
  6. Who did God speak through?
  7. What did the Holy Spirit do?

Interpretation Questions (What do you understand?)

  1. How is the prophetic word confirmed?
  2. How does your English translation interpret the Greek word, bebaioteron?
  3. What is the prophetic word? T.?  N.T.?  Both?
  4. “The day dawns” describes what event?
  5. Who or what is the “morning star”?
  6. What is “private interpretation” of Scripture? Did you note the alternative English word for “interpretation”?
  7. How does your English translation interpret the Greek word, epiluseos?
  8. How did God speak through men?
  9. Can you describe how the Holy Spirit moved men?
  10. Does God speak through men in the same way today?

Application Questions (How should you respond?)

  1. Do you treat Scripture differently than other writings?
  2. Which do you consider more sure:  your spiritual experiences or the scripture?
  3. How is your reading and studying of God’s Word bringing light to you in the darkness?
  4. What are the personal barriers to you heeding God’s Word?
  5. Is there an issue where your will is conflicting with God’s will?
  6. How are you allowing the Holy Spirit to control you?
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Y’shua

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Todd Wood

Title – Y’shua: The Jewish Way to Say Jesus

Author – Moishe Rosen

Publisher – Chicago:  Moody Press, 1982

The book is thirty years old.  Moishe is now in heaven.  But his courageous ministry clearly paved the way for conservative Baptists to connect in loving ministry to Jewish friends.

I have been to the country of Israel.  I think it would be a fascinating experience to live there for an extended period of time.  Jewish culture is intriguing.  Unfortunately, here in Idaho, there are few Jewish communities.

Moishe’s book is a concise story of tracing in an engaging way the life of the Messiah from Bethlehem to the cross.  I found it refreshing that throughout the book, Moishe never condemned me as a Gentile for calling Y’shua by the English name, Jesus.

Surprisingly, half of this book is made of nine appendices:  (1) Biblical Passages Applied in the Messiah in Early Rabbinic Writings, (2) Mikveh and Baptism, (3) Conversion in Tanach and the New Testament, (4) Israel and the Gentiles, (5) Portions of Tanach Quoted in the New Testament, (6) Jesus and Christians Outside the New Testament, (7) Early Jewish Christians and the Jewish Community, (8) Order of Books in Different Versions of the Bible, and (9) Explanation of Terms.

The scripture content of appendix 4 is a great blessing to my heart.

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Inductive study on Ephesians 2:19-22

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Todd Wood

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:19-22, NKJV

Observation questions

  1. In these four verses, how many English sentences do you see?
  2. What is the main subject? Verb? Direct object?
  3. How many words and phrases are separated by commas? How would you diagram this?
  4. The word “therefore” triggers what in your thinking?
  5. Who are the strangers?
  6. The word “but” triggers what in your thinking?
  7. What is the italic? What does this signify?
  8. List the names of God? How many times is God mentioned?
  9. List the descriptions of you?
  10. Do you see any metaphors?
  11. What imagery is seen most in these four verses?

Interpretation questions

  1. In a simple four-word sentence, how would you summarize this complex sentence?
  2. How did foreigners fit among the people of God in the Old Testament? How has there been a change from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant?
  3. Is the household of God to be identified as the Church?
  4. Does this text necessitate the concept of modern-day apostles?
  5. Who are the prophets? Are these O.T. prophets or N.T. prophets?
  6. What is important about a cornerstone?
  7. Is the temple to be interpreted as physical or spiritual?
  8. Do we need to build physical temples today? What about anytime in the future?
  9. Where does God dwell?

Application questions

  1. What has the Father done for you?
  2. What should be your response to Him?
  3. How does Jesus Christ bring you assurance?
  4. How are you emphasizing in your life what is foundational? Are you anchored in the fundamentals?
  5. Are you trusting or resisting Jesus in His fitting you with others?
  6. Can you justify before God a lone-ranger Christianity?
  7. In what specific ways, is God laying upon your heart to serve together with others?
  8. Currently, how are you glorifying God together with others?
  9. Are you growing in holiness?
  10. What can you offer up as a prayer to the Lord to change in you in light of His Word spoken to you tonight?
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a good root

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Todd Wood

Angie Smith tipped me off to this quote by John Calvin:

Ultimately the man who comes to obey God will love Him first . . . Let us therefore learn that the love of God is the beginning of religion, for God will not have the forced obedience of men, but wishes their service to be free and spontaneous . . . Lastly we learn that God does not linger over the outward sign of achievement but chiefly searches the inner disposition [motive], that from a good root fruits may grow.

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The Interim Process

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Todd Wood

Title – The Interim Process: The Role of the Church and the Interim Pastor

Author – Carl Hart

Publisher – Greenville, SC: Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., 1992

To be an interim pastor is to experience a unique position in the life of a church family.  It is a privilege and honor.  Carl defines a little of this process, and then he delves into particular issues that might exist in the church family during this time, such as burnout, staff conflict, control, pastor abuse, embarrassment, and division.   He provides guidelines and expectations and ends the book with some of his sermons on useful topics.

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The Trials of Theology

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Todd Wood

Title – The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘Proven Worker’ in a Dangerous Business

Edited by Andrew J. B. Cameron and Brian S. Rosner

Publisher – Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire, IV20 1TW, Scotland:  Christian Focus Publications, 2010

This book was mailed to me recently by the leadership team of Gospel Grace Church in Salt Lake City.  I am thankful.

The historical voices of the past (especially, Luther, Spurgeon, Warfield, and Bonhoeffer) challenged me.  I am fan of church history: the thunder of Luther, the word pictures of Spurgeon, the lecturing of Warfield, and the reasoned sacrifice of Bonhoeffer.  I must confess that when I read Spurgeon’s section on “frailty and the grace of God”, I wept.

In the second part of the book, modern voices exhorted me.  Carl Trueman helped me with the dangers regarding my favorite topic: church history.  Gerald Bray sharpened my edge for teaching church doctrinal statements of faith.  Dennis Hollinger supported some of my own convictions over the hot issues of the day.  But D.A. Carson convicted me where I needed it the most – Bible study.

I dogeared and highlighted this book all over the place.  And I highly recommend it for every minister of the gospel.

 

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the Head of the Church

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Todd Wood
In the opening of two of his letters, Ephesians and Colossians, the apostle Paul declares Jesus as the Head of the Church. Each of these short epistles bring out special aspects and ministry of our Head.
If you are tempted to follow some path of deeper spirituality apart from your Head, read Colossians.  Religion in Idaho Falls has a way of seducing sheep to seek fulfillment outside of Jesus.  And we are so easily distracted.  All of us.  It is Jesus plus _________ to make our lives work.  But the minute that we take our eyes off the Head and look to our clever reasoning, our deep wisdom, our power strategies, our successful ways, our ancient traditions, our pious regulations, our dogmatic positions, and our earthly trappings, we end up in a heap of trouble personally and collectively.  The truth is this:  Jesus plus nothing equals everything.
If you are tempted to focus and dwell upon one another as sheep and not your Head, read Ephesians.  It is easy for us to fix our attention and be hung up with one another rather than looking to Jesus.  But are we the source of shalom?  Not even close.  If all we do is focus on each other throughout any given week, we will be quickly dissatisfied and easily disillusioned through the whole week.  How can any of us be happy when we spend more time thinking about another sheep rather than the Shepherd in our midst?  We are the smelly, hairy sheep that have a constant tendency to butt one another with our heads in the middle of the pasture.  All hope of reconciliation and peace with God and with one another rests squarely with our Head.  Not with us.  Jesus Himself is our shalom (Ephesians 2:14a), healing our hearts, breaking down the walls, mending the rifts, and making us one.
For every day of the Church’s existence in Idaho Falls, everything depends upon the Head.  Rightly so.  He is the Creator of the Church.  He is the One who builds the Church.  He is the Head.  This is our ongoing good and His continual glory.  Forever.
We are so thankful for Jesus, today.  We love Him.  We go to Him.  We sing to Him.  We listen to Him.  We worship Him.  We follow Him.
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The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Todd Wood

This is the name of the religious organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I like the title by itself because of the interplay of emphasis in the nine words.  But here is the big question, how Christ-centered is the Mormon religion?  To be fair, how Christ-centered is American evangelicalism? Continue reading →

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the Bishop of Idaho Falls

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Todd Wood

Jesus is a multitude of positions for His people in Idaho Falls.  (1) He is the Shepherd (good – John 10:11, great – Hebrews 13:20-21, I Peter 2:25, chief – I Peter 5:4, and Revelation 7:17).  (2) He is the Bishop (I Peter 2:25). (3) He is the Head (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15, 5:23, and Colossians 1:18, 2:10, 2:19).  And (4) He is the King (Acts 2:30-40).

  • No one else approaches the category of loving, restoring, healing, refreshing, and feeding you like Him.
  • No one else reaches the scope of understanding, overseeing, and managing you like Him.
  • No one else fulfills the precision of teaching, directing, and leading you like Him.
  • No one else lives the position of caring, providing, and protecting you like Him.

There is only one Shepherd who so sacrificially loves.  There is only one Bishop who deserves all the preeminence.  There is only one Head of the Church.  There is only one King who has all things under His feet.  Only One.

He should be on the front page of the newspaper each week, the headline each night in the television news, the focal member of business’ board room discussions, the joy and laughter in little children’s classrooms, the song and painting of the musicians and artists, and the main message of every preacher.  He should be invited by our mayor and city council into the heart of our city.  He should be given the keys.  He should sit on the throne of every one of our hearts.

He is simply that good.

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