The concept of the bride-price is salt in the wound of our sensitive, politically correct, romance-is-everything society. Daughters being rewarded to warriors, and arranged marriages, are barbaric enough. But then the groom has to pay the father-of-the-bride money as compensation?  This is basically purchasing yourself a wife like she’s a piece of property, right? Well, no, it’s not that simple—or that barbaric.

We have to understand that the family, for most of history, was an economic unit of society. Your household was your livelihood. And children were a  blessing not just because they’re a delight to have around, but because they contributed to the household economy—and with numbers come stability and security.

In today's mini-episode, Pastor Toph explains this idea of the bride-price, and what exactly is going on in 1 Samuel 18:17–27.

To learn more about this theology of the productive household, check out these helpful resources:

Alastair Roberts has a very helpful introduction to the biblical view of the household as a social and economic unit in this video — https://tavernhall.wordpress.com/2018/08/01/theology-of-the-household/.

C.R. Wiley is an exceptional resource on all things productive household. Follow him on Facebook, and then get his books, Man of the House (https://amzn.to/31We0iz), and The Household and the War for the Cosmos (https://amzn.to/2Nptd7Z). (See some intro videos to Wiley's work here: https://tavernhall.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/households-and-warring-over-the-cosmos/).

One more book that would be very helpful in understanding how the ancient world in general, and the biblical cultures particularly, understood the household, marriage, and the family, is Marriage and Family in the Biblical World (https://amzn.to/2W0x7s8).

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Our aim is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support our efforts on a monthly basis, consider becoming a patron (you get a bunch of extra stuff as well) at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Thanks for listening, and Godspeed!

What's really going on with that song the women sing about Saul and David: "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands?"

In today's mini-episode, Pastor Toph explains a feature of Hebrew poetry that may give us a fuller understanding of this account in 1 Samuel 18:7.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast!

Our aim is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support our efforts on a monthly basis, consider becoming a patron (you get a bunch of extra stuff as well) at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Thanks for listening, and Godspeed!

We sat down with missionary and Bible teacher, Gene Cunningham, and asked him about the pandemic and panic, and how we, as Christians, should respond in a way that's different than the world. Here's a short preview. Watch for the full episode coming soon!

Jonathan is said to have loved David "as his own soul." This more than mere affection, or companionship; it certainly has nothing to do with any kind of romantic relationship. So what exactly is going on with this covenant between Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 18?

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast!

Our aim is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support our efforts on a monthly basis, consider becoming a patron (you get a bunch of extra stuff as well) at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Thanks for listening, and Godspeed!

What good could possibly come from the pandemic and the panic? We sat down with missionary and Bible teacher, Gene Cunningham, and asked him about that (and a few other things). Here's a short preview. Watch for the full episode coming soon!

We recently sat down with missionary and Bible teacher, Gene Cunningham, and asked him about the pandemic panic (and a few other things). Here's a short preview. Be watching for the full episode coming soon!

We recently sat down with missionary and Bible teacher, Gene Cunningham, and asked him about the pandemic panic (and a few other things). Here's a short preview. Be watching for the full episode!

Be nice! Why can't we all just get along?

When people say nice, they usually mean “agreeable," or "not harsh." Is niceness really a biblical category? Is it even a virtue? That's what we discuss in today's episode of By the Way.

You can listen to the Voddie Baucham sermon Jed mentioned here: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=92616421148

A helpful article on the relationship between niceness, masculinity, and reformed theology can be found here: https://bnonn.com/calvinism-masculinity-niceness/

The men at the Theology Pugcast had an episode on niceness as well; listen to it here—https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-niceness-stupid-as-it-ever-was/ 

Don't forget to subscribe and rate our podcast—and share with your friends!

Our goal is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support the project on a monthly basis, become a patron and get awesome extra stuff at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Godspeed!

We've always heard that David was a scrawny, redheaded, snot-nosed little kid... but that's not the picture Scripture gives us.

Put aside your preconceived notions about David. We’re learning about the real man—the 11th-century  shepherd who became the most powerful military leader in Israel… The king whose descendent will sit on the throne of Israel and rule all nations with a rod of iron, establishing perfect and everlasting justice and peace over all the earth—far as the curse is found.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast!

Our aim is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support our efforts on a monthly basis, consider becoming a patron (you get a bunch of extra stuff as well) at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Thanks for listening, and Godspeed!

If I read my Bible and pray every day, will I grow, grow, grow? Is it really that simple? If I read and pray, is spiritual growth automatic? Or is there more to it? Listen to today's episode of By the Way to find out.

Here, Paul Tripp and Tim Lane succinctly lay out a biblical theology of change — https://tavernhall.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/how_christ_changes_us_by_his_grace.pdf.

Here are a few helpful books on the subject of how Christians grow in Christlikeness:

"How Does Sanctification Work?," by David Powlison — https://amzn.to/2Sj1OGK

"Ordinary: Sustainable Faith in a Radical, Reckless World," by Michael Horton — https://amzn.to/2D9V6Mf

"Valley of Vision," — https://amzn.to/2yVjqyw

"The Loveliness of Christ: Selections from the Letters of Samuel Rutherford" — https://amzn.to/2NeDC5I

Also, check out Toph's helpful lists here (https://tavernhall.wordpress.com/biblical-counseling-resources/) and here (https://tavernhall.wordpress.com/2018/11/12/how-to-start-building-your-book-collection/).

Don't forget to subscribe and rate our podcast—and share with your friends!

Our goal is to encourage,  exhort, and equip busy believers to become committed and competent disciples of Christ in every area of life.

If you're able to support the project on a monthly basis, become a patron and get awesome extra stuff (starting with a free book!) at patreon.com/termonmedia.

Godspeed!