Love in the church

From Phillip Jensen –

“Dear friends,

The second half of 1 Corinthians 14 gives us great insight into the nature of church life. Having addressed the subject of prophecy and tongues in the light of love, Paul now discusses their use specifically in the church. We know from the first half of the chapter that prophecy is greater than tongue-speaking, because of its edifying effect. But what is the effect of speaking in tongues in church? And how should we conduct it, if we have tongue-speaking at all?

Three times in this passage, Paul tells people to be silent. What does that mean and why does he want silence in church? As our ministries in church are to be conducted in love, so also we see here they are to be conducted in accordance with the character of God—not chaotically, but decently and in order. What does it mean and how are we to do it? I hope you enjoy this episode of Two Ways News and remember to subscribe and share it with your friends.

Yours,

Phillip.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen at Two Ways News.

Always worth your time. Along the way, they mention T.C. Hammond, about whom you can learn more here.

As Phillip mentions, issues discussed in this episode are also covered in his book The Coming of the Holy Spirit and also at this year’s King’s Birthday Conference.

Silicon Spiritualities podcast with Chris Watkin

At The Gospel Coalition, since early July, Christopher Watkin has been hosting a podcast about Artificial Intelligence –

“Introducing Silicon Spiritualities, a podcast from The Gospel Coalition exploring the deeper questions artificial intelligence raises about work, worship, truth, power, and what it means to be human.

Host Christopher Watkin helps thoughtful Christians move beyond hype and panic toward a wise, hopeful, and biblically grounded understanding of the technologies shaping our world.”

– Check out the episodes already online.

Phillip Jensen on the Ten Commandments — The Pastor’s Heart

Phillip Jensen has a new book out – Written on Our Hearts – The Ten Commandments and the radical life of grace.

Dominic Steele  speaks with him about the book, and about The Ten Commandments – at The Pastor’s Heart.

– Watch or listen here. Very much worth hearing and pondering.

And the book is available from Matthias Press.

Love in Action

From Phillip Jensen –

“Chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians are a unit. Paul uses one long argument that Paul is using.

Most people think it is about spiritual gifts, but it’s much more about what he calls “the spirituals”, whereas chapter 13 on the topic of love seems to have moved off topic. Chapter 14 brings us right back into the pointy end of the debate that Paul addresses. What of speaking in tongues? What of prophecy? What is the greater or higher gift?

I hope you enjoy this chapter as Peter and I discuss it.”

– Listen here.

Themelios 51.2 released

From The Gospel Coalition:

“The new [northern] summer 2026 issue of Themelios has 231 pages of editorials, articles, and book reviews.

It is freely available in three formats: (1) PDF, (2) web version, and (3) Logos Bible Software. …”

– Details here.

Charity

From Phillip Jensen –

“Should you read 1 Corinthians 13 at your wedding? And should we translate 1 Corinthians 13 as ‘charity’ or ‘love’? Today’s episode will answer both of these questions.

One of the best known and most popular passages of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, is the topic of our podcast this week. The good news is, we are talking about it; bad news is, we cannot do it justice. Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy our discussion. Do take a moment to subscribe, and take every opportunity to share this podcast with your friends.”

– Peter and Phillip discuss at Two Ways News.

As always, very helpful. Do listen (or read) and share it with friends.

Written on Our Hearts — a new book from Phillip Jensen

Phillip Jensen has a new book out – Written on Our Hearts – The Ten Commandments and the radical life of grace.

From the publisher’s description:

“Few pieces of writing, if any, have shaped our world in the way that the Ten Commandments have. Thousands of years after God first gave them to Moses and Israel, they remain one of the most discussed and most memorized texts in history.

But are they revered? Are they obeyed? Are they loved? Even those who know the commandments well may struggle to see how they apply to Christians living “not under law but under grace” (Rom 6:14). How and why would a follower of Jesus today share the words of the psalmist: “Oh how I love your law” (Ps 119:97)?

In Written on Our Hearts, longtime pastor and preacher Phillip Jensen takes readers into the mind of the eternal, unchanging God who authored the commandments. Jensen shows that the commandments are not only relevant for today’s world, but also central to the transformation of mind, heart and life that God desires for his people.

Here is a radical vision of grace-filled living that delights in the law of the Lord and does good to all people.”

Published by Matthias Media, it’s available through their website.

Understanding Body Image

From Phillip Jensen –

“Body image today often refers to our perception of our own physical bodies. But Paul used the image of the body 2000 years ago when he spoke of the Body of Christ, and that’s what we need to explore when looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

It is particularly important in today’s controversies that we understand the image of the body.”

– Here Phillip and Peter discuss at Two Ways News.

The Age of the Spiritual

From Phillip Jensen:

“In 1 Corinthians 12-14, we come to a passage that has dominated Christian discussion for the last 60 years. It is one that Peter and I have been thinking and preaching on for most of our public ministries. But I hope that you find this fresh take on the passage to be a helpful way of understanding Paul’s letter.”

In the discussion, Phillip recalls writing his book, The Coming of the Holy Spirit –

“In the writing of that book was a verse which held up the whole of my writing for 12 months, for there was a translation problem which one of the editors pointed out to me. That verse was 1 Corinthians 14:12, ‘So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.’

The trouble is, the Greek doesn’t say, ‘the manifestations of the spirit’. What it really says is, ‘since you are eager for spirits’, plural. The Holy Spirit is never spoken of in plural form, so it can’t be referring to the Holy Spirit—thus it should be written with a lowercase ‘s’. But then that raises the question: what spirits is it talking about?…”

– Hear Phillip and Peter Jensen discuss these key chapters – at Two Ways News.

At the bottom of that page, there are ways you can support the ministry.

Darrell Bock answers questions on Luke’s Gospel

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Leading New Testament scholar Darrell Bock gives a rapid fire exploration of Luke and Acts.

Bock, who is Senior Research Professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, outlines what first drew him to Luke and answers questions including:

Plus Luke’s distinctive emphasis on the world wide expansion of the gospel, the kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit, care for the poor and the creation of one new family from Jews and Gentiles.”

– Watch or listen here.

The Lord’s Supper — Uniting in fellowship

From Phillip Jensen –

“One of the longest standing debates amongst Christians is, strangely, about one of our strongest illustrations of unity. For the Lord’s Supper is meant to be an expression of our unity in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ as we proclaim his resurrection. Yet as long ago as 1 Corinthians was first written, we find Christians divided at this event to such an extent that Paul declared that what they did was not the Lord’s Supper.

So what is the Lord’s Supper about, and what were they doing that so disqualified them from celebrating it?

It is an interesting and defining passage on this important activity which is so central to church life.”

– Peter and Phillip discuss in the latest episode of Two Ways News.

God’s Best Work Is Cross-Shaped

At The Gospel Coalition Australia, David Ould calls us back to the Cross of Christ –

“How are we meant to understand distressing, painful and complex moments, whether in our church life together or in our own personal stories? The most straightforward response is grief or sadness at what has happened. That is, of course, entirely appropriate. Alongside this might be anger directed at those we understand are in some way responsible. Yet it rarely stops there. After our initial reaction, we often start to try and find some meaning in the events. For the Christian, this leads quickly to questions about God: how has he allowed this to happen? Is he in charge of these things? If he is, then how can we reconcile his sovereign purpose with tragedy? …”

– Read it all here.

Men and Women in Church

From Phillip Jensen –

“Dear friends,

This episode of Two Ways News brings us to one of the most controversial passages of the Bible. Since the Sexual Revolution and feminist movement of the late 20th century, the roles of men and women have been fiercely debated in our society. Within the church, this topic has been contested with the main focus being on the various ministries of men and women.

So when we come to 1 Corinthians 11 and read of women praying and prophesying, our debaters are alerted to possible data for discussion. But when it turns to the head covering of women, the issues brought up are very complicated. I doubt that our discussion here will be the last word or even a significant turning point in the debate. But I hope that, irrespective of the debate, we may make 1 Corinthians 11 a little clearer.

By the way, I recently spoke on Prophecy Today at the Kings Birthday Conference. You can listen to the recordings of that conference at phillipjensen.com.

Yours,

Phillip.”

– Hear Phillip and Peter’s latest discussion at Two Ways News,

Fellowship in the Gospel — Eating for the other’s salvation

From Phillip Jensen –

“We come at last to what appears to be the end of the discussion, which started in chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians on food offered to idols.

Here, with the background of thinking about the existence of idols in chapter 8, the priority of other people’s salvation in chapter 9, and then the prophetic warning against all idolatry in the first half of chapter 10, we finally reach the concluding discussion on food offered to idols.

Whether in the idol temple at the time of offering, buying meat already so offered, or eating the meat in somebody’s home, the question of our participation is critical.

I hope you profit from this discussion on Christian freedom and responsibility.”

– An important episode with Phillip and Peter Jensen. At Two Ways News.

How AI makes us Sovereign Slaves

“Artificial intelligence may or may not be coming for our jobs, but it’s certainly coming for our anthropology.

AI promises us the status of a monarch, with swarms of agents bowing before us and saying, ‘Your prompt is my command.’ And we’re all too familiar with the allure of chatbots, which affirm our every whim and indulge our every appetite.

AI will write your email, plan your lesson, draft your sermon, design your logo, summarize your book, tickle your pride, indulge your vices, and stroke your ego. We’re all monarchs now. What’s not to like?

But the more closely we look, the stranger the story becomes. The tool that promises to make us sovereigns is also quietly making us slaves. …”

– Chris Watkin writes at The Gospel Coalition.

An important topic deserving of wide consideration. (You can also hear him read the article – at the same link.)

Photo: Chris Watkins delivering the New College Lectures in 2023.

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