May 26, 2013 | Why the Cross Matters

Sunday we started a new sermon series focusing in on the cross. We began introducing the subject by emphasizing both the centrality and the necessity of the cross. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul states that he has determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This means that when he speaks of marriage, life, the resurrection, the church, unity, or love he does so from the perspective of the cross. The cross to Paul, and to us I pray, is central to everything we believe, teach, do, say, think, and are.

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. ³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

2 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, ⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

In Matthew 16:21-23 the writer tells us that following the events at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus began to tell the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and die and be raised. The cross, therefore, is necessary. Jesus could have done nothing else. There was no other option.

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. ²² Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”




Audio
Notes


For more:
Sermon Notes: The Loved of God
"Precious Blood": A Review
"Death By Love" by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears: A Review
"The Cross of Christ" by John Stott: A Review
"Blood Work" by Anthony Carter: A Review

Repost | Pray For Youcef: Iranian Pastor To Be Executed For Refusing to Deny Christ

The news is breaking that an Iranian Christian pastor likely faces execution due to his refusal to recant of his Christian faith.  Please pray for him, his family, and ultimately the gospel.  Christian history has proven that such methods of silencing the gospel are futile, but that does not negate the heartache and pain that such evil leaves behind.  It is well documented that Iran is changing from the inside and Islam is slowly losing its grip on its people despite of its leaders efforts to suppress movements like Christianity.

The Christian, Youcef Nadarkhani, is quite bold in the faith.  Consider the following paragraphs from Fox News and pay particular attention to his words:

An Iranian pastor who has refused to recant his Christian faith faces execution as early as Wednesday after his sentence was upheld by an Iranian court.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who maintains he has never been a Muslim as an adult, has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith in Jesus Christ, the 11th branch of Iran's Gilan Provincial Court ruled. Iran's Supreme Court had ordered the trial court to determine whether Nadarkhani had been a Muslim prior to converting to Christianity.

An undated photograph provided by the American Center for Law & Justice shows Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who faces execution for refusing to recant his Christian faith.
The judges, according to the American Center for Law & Justice, demanded that Nadarkhani, 34, recant his Christian faith before submission of evidence. Though the judgment runs against current Iranian and international laws and is not codified in Iranian penal code, the judge stated that the court must uphold the decision of the 27th Branch of the Supreme Court in Qom.

When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam," the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice.

"I cannot," Nadarkhani said.

Nadarkhani is the latest Christian cleric to be imprisoned in Iran for his religious beliefs. According to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based organization that serves Christian churches in Iran, there was a significant increase in the number of Christians arrested solely for practicing their faith between June 2010 and January. A total of 202 arrests occurred during that six-month period, including 33 people who remained in prison as of January, Elam reported.





Fox News - Iranian Pastor Faces Execution for Refusing to Recant Christian Faith 
The Blaze - Iranian Pastor Must Disavow His Christian Faith This Week…or He’ll Be Executed


For more:
Blogizomai - Pray for the Persecuted: Memorial Day & the Persecuted Church
Blogizomai - Pray For Our Brothers and Sisters in Iraq   
Blogizomai - Punishing Prejudice By Being Prejudice:  The Lesson and Legacy of Hate Crimes
Blogizomai - Repost | Coming Out of the Closet As Christians?: Welcome to the New World
Blogizomai - The (In)Tolerance of the Homosexual Movement: See, I Told You So

Blogizomai - The (In)Tolerance of the Homosexual Movement: A Response

Blogizomai - Where Does The Madness End? Where the Homosexual Agenda Leads - Part 2

Blogizomai - Feel the Rainbow:  Is There a Hate Crime For That?  

Blogizomai - D'Souza: The Equal Protection Hoax

Blogizomai - Colson: A New Form of Discrimination

Blogiomai - Mohler: "An Enforced Secularism" -- A Threat to the Pulpit

Are We Contemporvant?

I loved this video.  It hits the modern church dead on:



"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

HT:  Denny Burk 

Slavery, Philemon, and the Gospel: The Challenges the Book of Philemon Raises

Tonight we'll be studying the book of Philemon in our ride through the Bible backwards.  One of the major challenges that Philemon raises is that of slavery.  Nowhere in the book does Paul condemn the institution of slavery even though the two main characters in the book are a runaway slave and the master. 

The New Testament itself seems silent on the issue.  I have recently commented on some words from John MacArthur in his book, The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness, where he briefly deals with the issue.  To read that post, click here.

The Power of the Gospel in Bringing Social Change:  Perhaps We Need to Refocus Our Efforts 

Weekly Recommendation: "The Journey"

Billy Graham certainly needs no introduction. He has preached throughout the world and his books have been best-sellers. His most recent book, however, is perhaps his best. If there ever was a book that articulates the gospel and the Christian life (in light of the gospel) and best summarizes the entire ministry of Billy Graham, it would be his monumental book, "The Journey: Living By Faith in an Uncertain World."

Graham writes with an amazing ability to make complicated issues simple. Graham manages to lay out the gospel and the Christian worldview in simple words that any reader an understand. He is orthodox and thorough, yet not dull and stuck in an ivory tower. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. I was unsure what to expect and with some of Graham's comments in recent years that challenge a biblical understanding of the gospel, but Graham holds firm to the exclusive, justification by faith alone gospel of Scripture. Though there are minor moments of disagreement I had with Graham throughout, this is a solid book.

Anyone who respects, loves, and has learned from Graham will enjoy this book. I would recommend this book to all believers, especially to new believers. he covers God, Scripture, the gospel, Christian living, the purpose and meaning of the church, etc.

If you read nothing else and have little experience in reading Christian non-fiction, begin here and read this book.

Applying Romans 13

Tomorrow we will be looking at Romans 13. A large portion of that chapter is related to living as a citizen. Christians are called to submit to government and political leaders. Although this is at times difficult, Christians are called to submit to one another; even to the government. What follows is an article I wrote regarding living as a Christian in an Obama administration when some policies (such as abortion and homosexuality and other critical issues) contradict our faith.

What Is To Be Our Response? Living as a Christian in an Obama Administration

In just a few minutes, the 44th President of the United States will be sworn into office. The election of Barack Obama is both historical and controversial. But as Christians, it is time that we begin to think how to respond and interact with the next four years. Barack Obama will oppose most of what social conservatives stand for: pro-life, the protection of marriage, the sanctity of life, etc.

I want to offer a few things that Christians must think of as we embark on the next 4 years.

PRAYER

The first and primary thing that Christians are called to do and that is to pray. Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy. 2:1 saying, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lad a quit and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." It is clear then, that the response of all Christians, regardless of our leader, to make supplications, to give prayers, to interceded, and to give thanks to them.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr shows us how to pray on this day. He begins his prayer with:
We know that you and you alone are sovereign; that you rule over all, and that you alone are able to keep and defend us. We know that our times are in your hands, and that "the king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord" [Proverbs 21:1]. Our confidence is in you and in you alone. We come before you as a people who acknowledge our constant need for your provision, wisdom, and protection.

Father, we pray today for Barack Obama as he takes office as President of the United States. We pray that you will show the glory of your name in our times and in these days, confounding the wisdom of the wise, thwarting the plans of the arrogant, and vindicating those who do justice and practice righteousness.

Father, we pray with thanksgiving for the gift of government and the grace of civic order. Thank you for giving us rulers and for knowing our need for laws and ordered life together. Thank you for this nation and the blessings we know as its citizens. Thank you for freedoms unprecedented in human history. We understand that these freedoms come with unprecedented opportunities.
As Christians, we must remember that God brings glory to His name through anyone. I am reminded of King Cyrus of Persia and how God describes him as His "anointed one." It was not because Cyrus was righteous or God-fearing, but that God sovereignly used him to fulfill His purposes. Whenever we pray, it is a reminder that we are not the one that decides elections or chooses a president. God, and God alone, does that.

SUBMISSION

Paul also commands us to submit to government (Rom. 13). On the surface, this is pretty easy to do especially since we have had a pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, openly Christian president. But what about a president in whom we have very little in common with.

First, we must be reminded that Jesus, Paul, and all of the first Christians never had a leader that agreed with them on anything. Even the apologist Justin Martyr pleaded with Caesar that Christians were their greatest ally because they sought peace and obedience, but they were still being killed.

And so as Christians, we are called to submit to the demands of government even whenever we disagree with them (policy speaking). If taxes are raised, we must pay them. If laws are passed, we must obey them. Why? Because God, in His sovereignty and providential care, has given us our President whether we like it or not. Truth is, God couldn't care less what we think. He has given us our President. Period.

But we must make our self clear. We are to submit to God first. Therefore, there are two instances in which submission and obedience to government must not be done. First, we must not submit/obey whenever government demands we do something that God has commanded us not to do. Secondly, we must not submit/obey whenever government demand we do not do something God has commanded us to do.

Scripture gives us a number of instances where believers did not obey (cf. Daniel, his three friends, Peter and John, and others). However, we must not be falsely looking for occasions to disobey. Chances are, none of us will be put in a situation that directly contradicts our submission to God.

ENGAGEMENT

Finally (and this is no exhaustive list), we must be willing to engage the new President and Congress. By this I mean that we must hold our government accountable, celebrate when they are right, correct them when they are wrong, while doing it with an attitude of love, grace, compassion, and concern.

This is perhaps the toughest part of being a Christian in a fallen culture. We are called to be light who place our trust in the gospel first and then politics. Oftentimes we confuse the two. We begin with politics thinking that it will bring about the spreading of the gospel. We must not fall for this trap. Christianity does have political implications, as does all worldviews. But we must begin with the heart, not the tax code.

CONCLUSION

As we begin the journey toward the next four years, let us act as Christians, not as angry Republicans/Democrats/Libertarians/or anything else. We seek to fulfill the Great Commission to the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, let us not forget that we live in a dream world compared to the early Church. None of us have faced death in our country because of our faith. That day may come, but until then, let us not forget that though the early Church faced death, they continued to pray, submit, and engage their culture and their government.

We can learn a lot of them. But learning is only part of the equation. We must also live out what God has revealed. So today, let us pray for our new President hoping that God will glorify His name no matter who is sworn in every four years.

April 5, 2009 - Mark 15:21: Simon of Cyrene and the Meaning of Christianity

Click on the title to listen/download audio. You can download the notes by clicking here.

Weekly Recommendation: "The Cost of Discipleship"

In just a few hours, we will come together and worship our Savior. This week we will be looking at the crucifixion of Christ, the very foundation of Christianity. We will be looking specifically at Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross for Jesus on the way to Christ's execution. And as I was studying (have referenced about 50 books and completely read 3!) I can think of no better book to recommend on the issue of discipleship and its cost than Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship."

Bonhoeffer, who was executed by Hitler, believes that Christianity, and the gospel, has become cheap. He begins his book arguing:

Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace.

Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...

Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptist without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate...

[Costly] grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly beaus it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner... (43-45)

Bonhoeffer's concern is evident, the gospel is being smothered by cheap grace. And I think he is right. Even today, decades after he wrote this book, the Church continues to preach a message that is simply "joining the team" without any commitment. As I will say in a few short hours, we want forgiveness without repentance, we want mercy without discipleship.

Loved ones, we cannot have one without the other. Bonhoeffer goes on to add that self-denying obedience is demanded of the Christian: "Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes" (63).

Oh that all Christians would heed Bonhoeffer's words who is giving us the words of Christ. Grace is not cheap, it is very costly. It cost God His Son, and it must cost us our lives. We must be willing to give up and forsake all for His Kingdom rather than to expect God to give us all for our Kingdom.

Weekly Recommendation: "Mere Christianity"

As we continue to walk through the final week of Christ, one of the most influential books in all of Christianity is CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity." This is perhaps Lewis' most famous non-fiction book. In it, Lewis lays out his basic defense for his faith in Christ.

Lewis faith from atheism to Christianity begins with a look at the moral law. Lewis began to wonder why everyone has a moral conscience and where did it come from if there was no God. As Lewis began to think about this issue, and as he lays the argument out in the book, there must be a divine law giver; one that has revealed His moral law to man.

From there, Lewis lays out his defense for God and eventually, for Christianity. One of the best points he makes regards Christ and how we must consider Him. Jesus is either Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. He cannot be just a moral teacher. This is a profound argument. If Christ was a good man and not the Messiah, then His life and ministry was based on a lie. We cannot have both. He is either a liar or Lord. And if Lord, then subject to worship and obedience.

There is one unfortunate argument laid out in the book that must be brought up: inclusivism. Inclusivism is the argument that some outside Christianity will be saved in the end. Lewis embraces this heresy. He embraced it so much that he included it in his Chronicles of Narnia series, namely, in the last book, "The Last Battle." There we see Aslan, representing Christ, allowing those who rejected him but embraced other faiths into heaven.

This is perhaps the most unfortunate part of Lewis' life and theology. "Mere Christianity" is so influential, it is sad to see such an important issue to have to be raised. But nonetheless, I recommend this book based on its philosophical influence and logical conclusions (outside of the inclusivist argument which runs against Biblical revelation). For those wanting a good introduction to Lewis' non-fictional writings, this is a great place to turn.

Basic Christianity Sermon Series Online

The full sermon series on Basic Christianity is online. I have mostly just the .pdf of my notes. I pray that they will help. My notes are very detailed and not vague. On some I have a manuscript and on others I have audio. This is the foundation by which everything else we do will be built upon. If we want to be faithful Christians, we must learn to submit, to serve, and to be selfless.

Basic Christianity Series

We just finished our first series discussing what Basic Christianity is. Here are all of them in order:

Submission

• Basic Christianity: Psalm 81 - Submit to God
• Basic Christianity: Romans 13:1-7 - Submit to the Institutions Established By God
• Basic Christianity: Ephesians 5:22ff - Submit to Others

Slavehood

• Basic Christianity: Romans 6 - Slaves of Christ
• Basic Christianity: John 13:1-17 - Jesus As the Model of Service

Selflessness (Humility)

• Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God
• Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

Basic Christianity: James 4:1-10 - Humility Before Others

Here is the last installment on our series on Basic Christianity. The three parts have been Submission, Slavehood, and Selflessness (Humility).

To download the notes, click here.

Funeral For Phyllis Berry

For the second time in a week, we have lost another sister. Phyllis Berry and passed away this week and her funeral is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00. I encourage everyone who can to go and support the Berry family as they mourn the lost of their loved one. I had the opportunity of meeting and knowing Phyllis. One of the things I will never forget is her and her husbands love for one another. Each of them would have done anything for each other. I pray that I will love my wife like that!

Isn't it interesting that the week of Phyllis' burial, we will be celebrating Christmas. Christmas is a time when Christians are to celebrate the birth of their Savior. Christmas, furthermore, would be pointless if it wasn't for Easter. The cross of Christ is the heart of Christianity. Without it, Christianity does not exists. Therefore, in the birth of Christ we celebrate the death of Christ.

Likewise, during the mourning over the loss of a loved one this time of year, we can rejoice because a Child was born who came to die for us so that we might live. And all who accept Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf will, in their death, live forevermore.

Keep the Berry family in prayer!

Funeral for Hallie Pierce

Today, another member of our church, Hallie Pierce, has passed away. She has gone home to be with her Lord. Hallie was the first person I visited at the hospital and I have enjoyed the time that I got to spend with her. For the past week, I have either visited or called checking up on her and have see her deteriorate to her death. Her death has been stressful for her family and let us pray for her family as they mourn. They clearly loved her and were willing to do anything for her.

The one thing that Hallie wants most is for her family, friends, church family, and loved ones to be with her one day in heaven. Hallie loved Christ and want to spend the rest of eternity with both God and those that God had placed in her life. Therefore, at her funeral, we will, at the request of the family, we will be making the gospel the main theme of the services and we will even have an invitation at the end.

As a pastor, I could not be more pleased to see that in the midst of suffering and death and mourning, the family is pleading that we share the gospel with others. What a legacy! I can't think of a better way to honor Hallie. As Christians, let us want the same thing in our lives and in our death: the salvation of souls.

Basic Chrsitianity: Humility Part 1 Sermon Notes

To download my sermon notes, click here.

Basic Christianity: Daniel 4:29-37 - Humility Before God

To download my sermon notes, click here.

Weekly Recommendation: 'Humility'

Over the past 2 months, we have been looking at Basic Christianity. What does it mean to be a Christian? We have answered that in 3 ways: Submission, Servanthood, and Selflessness (humility). We are currently discussing humility. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been re-reading my favorite book on the subject, "Humility: True Greatness," by C J Mahaney.

I had the opportunity to meet Mahaney and have him sign my copy of his book. He wrote:

Kyle,

With Appreciation

C J

James 4:6

What is interesting is that we will be looking at James 4 this upcoming Sunday as we conclude our discussion on Basic Christianity. I highly recommend this book. It is simple, short, and yet, profound. I have recently written a short review of the book. If it helps, I encourage everyone to read it and to check out this book. Mahaney is one of the best public examples of what humility looks like. Pride is a constant battle we fight. We all fight it, and this is a great resource to help us in that struggle.

His best advice: remember the cross.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." -James 4:6

Basic Christianity: John 13:1-17 - Jesus As the Model of Service

To download the sermon notes, click here.



List of works consulted:

Blomberg, Craig L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997.

Bock, Darrell L. Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.

Bock, Darrell L. Jesus According to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.

Bruce, F.F. The Gospel & Epistles of John: Introduction, Exposition and Notes. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001.

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. gen. ed. Terry Muck. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Calvin, John. John 12-21 vol. 2. Calvin’s Commentaries vol. XVIII. trans. Rev. William Pringle. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2003.

Green, Jay P., Sr. Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996.

Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Gospel According to John, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic), 1953.

Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1999.

Metzger, Bruce M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. 2nd ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: United Bible Societies, 1994.

Stein, Robert H. Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Swindoll, Charles R. Improving Your Serve: Insight For Living Bible Study Guide. Waco, TX: Word, 1980.

Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Discplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 1991.

Basic Christianity: Romans 6 - Slaves of Christ

To download the sermon notes, click here.

To read Manuscript.



Works Consulted:

Bruce, F. F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.

Elwell, Walter A. and Robert W. Yarbrough. Readings from 1st Century. 143-144.

Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic), 1981.

Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity. Downers Grove: IL: IVP Academic, 1999.

Luther, Martin. Luther: Lectures on Romans. vol. 15. ed. and trans. Wilhelm Pauck . London: SCM Press, LTD, 1961.

MacArthur, John. Freedom From Sin: Romans 6-7. John MacArthur’s Bible Studies. Chicago: IL: Moody Press, 1987.

MacArthur, John, Gospel According To Jesus: What is Authentic Faith?. Grand Rapids: MI, Zondervan, 2008.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Romans 1-8. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1991.

Murray J. Harris. Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ. Downers Grove, IL: Apollos/InterVarsity, 1999.

Moo, Douglas J. Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Exposition. Encountering Biblical Studies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002.

Polhill, John B. Paul & His Letters. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

Schreiner, Thomas R. Paul Apostle of God’s Glory In Christ: A Pauline Theology. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2001.

Basic Christianity: Ephesians 5:22ff - Submit to Others

To download my sermon notes, click here.