A Missing Ingredient in our Sermons and Studies: Biblical Theology

“Imagine a small group of believers gathered in a sweltering church hall after a long day’s work.

As the Bible opens there’s excitement. But there’s also some confusion. Each person brings a different takeaway from the study. One clings to ‘their verse.’ One wonders how the ancient story connects with today. Another debates a fine theological point.

These differences and confusion arise because something is missing: a sense of the grand story God is telling, a thread binding every biblical text and lesson together; in a phrase, we’re missing biblical theology. …”

– At The Gospel Coalition Africa, Fredrick Imbayi reminds of the need for Biblical Theology.

In Sydney, where we are blessed with so much good preaching, it’s easy to take this for granted.

Related:

When the Lights Came On: An Appreciation of Graeme Goldsworthy.

God is the Father of the Nations

From Phillip Jensen:

“Fathers are so important in life, even in this anti-patriarchal age. For fatherhood is derived from God the Father. He is the provider and protector of us all, who knows our needs before we even ask. He is not far from us, and he is open to our prayers.

This is an important point in Paul’s logic as he attacks the inconsistency and incoherence of Athenian idolatry.”

– Peter and Phillip Jensen continue their discussion based around Paul’s speech at the Areopagus in Acts 17.

God is the Ruler of the Nations

From Phillip Jensen –

“Dear friends,

As we start off another year, we are still conscious of how troubled our world is. Wars and rumours of wars continue to fill our news media. When will mankind ever come to peace? … not until the Lord returns! It may look as if God has lost control of the world as nations war against each other, but that is a failure to understand God’s purpose in creating and appointing the nations. Paul, in his speech in Athens, speaks of God’s ongoing rule of the world through his rule of the nations.

Yours,

Phillip.”

– Listen to Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss at Two Ways News.

God is Not Needy — He upholds the Universe

From Phillip Jensen –

“Our second episode of our summer series on Paul’s evangelism in Athens points to the enormously important doctrine of God’s sufficiency and our dependence.

I hope during this holiday time, for our Southern Hemisphere subscribers, you are having a great time to reflect on God’s goodness. For our Northern Hemisphere subscribers, we wish you well as you lurch into winter.”

– Peter and Phillip turn to one of the passages Peter really loves and unpack some of the implications of Paul’s words at the Areopagus in Acts 17.

Photo: Moore College’s Lionel Windsor at The Areopagus.

The Known God!

From Philip Jensen:

“Welcome to a New Year.

We are commencing Two Ways News’ summer series today, looking at evangelism through the study of Paul’s famous sermon on the Areopagus of Athens in Acts 17.”

– Listen here.

A Christmas Special from Two Ways News

From Phillip Jensen –

“Christmas is a great time for gifts, and Two Ways News comes to you free of charge and provided by generosity. If you would like to support the ministry, please see the details of how to give here or at the end of this article. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this Christmas special.”

– Phillip and Peter Jensen chat about Christmas.

When time feels broken

“Bad timing drives me nuts.

The bus pulls away just before you reach it. The priceless opportunity disappears just before you can grab it. Just when that person finally gets back on their feet, something else goes wrong. Bad, broken timing.

Why does time feel so broken?

Don’t let those swish Swiss clocks confuse you: time does not run smoothly. It slips away, races past and—ultimately—runs out. But why? Why does it feel like our times are out of joint when there’s a perfect time Lord holding all our times together?…”

– At The Australian Church Record, Annabel Nixey continues her series on time.

This isn Part 2. Part 1 (The Bible’s guide to time travel) and Part 3 (You only live twice) are also available.

The Idols of the Eyes

Phillip Jensen’s website is featuring two talks from the Queen’s Birthday Conference 2019.

The topic? The Idols of the Eyes.

Challenging.

The Man of Promise — In whom do you trust?

From Phillip Jensen:

“Dear friends,

We come to the last of our series in the opening chapters of Genesis. We have certainly enjoyed rethinking the great themes that these chapters contain and hope that you have similarly enjoyed our discussions.

As we’re coming towards the end of the year, we are thinking about next year’s programmes. We would love to hear of any part of the Bible you would want us to work through, or any particular issues you would like us to address. …”

– Hear Philip Jensen and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Repeat the Sounding Joy: Advent devotionals with Christopher Ash — Part 1

From Tyndale House, Cambridge:

“In this four-part series for Advent, Tony Watkins talks to Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence at Tyndale House, Cambridge, about Luke chapters 1 and 2. These chapters are the focus of Christopher’s book of Advent devotions, Repeat the Sounding Joy (pub. Good Book Company).

In this first episode, Christopher and Tony discuss the birth of John the Baptist.…”

– Watch here.

A Fresh Look at Romans

“Commentaries on Romans often begin with a short justification as to why the author thinks we need yet another commentary on Romans. Rosner does not need to justify his contribution, as his volume is a genuinely fresh approach to the letter. His book is not a commentary, and it does not cover every detail, but it gives readers a comprehensive overview of the letter.

For preachers and bible study leaders, this kind of theological overview can often be as helpful as a commentary which is stronger at the detailed, exegetical level. This volume will be helpful for any reader who wants to grow in their knowledge of Romans.…”

– At The Gospel Coalition Australia, Peter Orr reviews Brian Rosner’s Strengthened by the Gospel.

The Birth of Multiculturalism

From Phillip Jensen:

“The Australian government glories in the development of multiculturalism. However, Australian society is now straining to maintain social harmony. Consequently, the government is trying to regulate freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion. For while migration can enrich a country, the concept of a nation celebrating and encouraging many cultures is a recipe for failure.

In the Bible, the creation of multiculturalism was God’s judgement at the Tower of Babel. In this episode of Two Ways News, we turn back to that great event recorded in Genesis 11.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Meals, missionaries, and the ‘Israel of God’: fresh light on the crisis in Galatia

From Dr. Lionel Windsor:

“Galatians is a letter with sharp edges. It addresses fundamental doctrinal issues. Yet behind Paul’s forceful rhetoric lies a very human, very concrete social situation. It’s a situation that sheds light on the theological debates about justification, circumcision, and Paul’s relationship to the law. My academic study, published as Chapter 16 in the book Paul in His Jewish and Graeco-Roman Context, offers a fresh account of this concrete situation.

I argue that the crisis in Galatia needs to be understood in light of early Christian missionary practices, hospitality, and the dynamics of table fellowship.

This new angle helps illuminate a passage at the end of the letter that has long been contested: Paul’s blessing of ‘as many as will conform to this rule … and mercy also upon the Israel of God’ (Gal. 6:16). …”

– If you are preaching through Galatians, or simply want to understand the Galatians better, do check out this latest post at Forget the Channel.

A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory

From The Gospel Coalition –

“If gender is constructed, it can be deconstructed. If we built it, we can tear it down.

Now you know why some activists have been so determined to convince us that gender is something we assign, rather than something we receive. If we assign it, then we can reassign it as we wish. We don’t receive our bodies. We can remake our bodies.

No doubt you’ve observed the rise of transgender theory in Western culture. It’s the denial that the sexed body reveals and determines the gendered self. That’s the helpful summary we find in the excellent new book The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory, written by Rob Smith.”

– Hear Rob Smith interviewed by Colin Hansen. Programme starts 2 minutes into the audio file.

A very helpful insight into the whole field of research and debate.

The Question for Joggers: Why are you Running?

From Phillip Jensen:

“Last week’s episode of Two Ways News was very dark and gloomy.

This week, we are looking at the same passage, but turning our attention to the light of salvation that is caught in the rainbow covenant of God as we read of the saving of Noah and his family.”

– Hear Peter and Phillip Jensen in (theological) conversation at Two Ways News.

Among other things, Peter shares what happened the day he came to Christ – as well as the topic of Billy Graham’s sermon. Phillip recalls that same day.

More importantly, Peter appeals to everyone listening to take the opportunity to repent today – before it is too late.

Related:

Two Ways to Live – the choice we all face.

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