Develop In The Dark

In episode one, Brad Cooper, Trevor Cox, and Jeremy Jenkins discuss the big questions behind sharing our faith in Jesus with others. What opportunities can we find in our cultural moment? Why should we share our faith? And what does it look like to obey the biblical mandate to go and make disciples? 

Links and Sources: 

• For resources from Jeremy Jenkins, go to AllThingsAllPeople.org.
• Barna Report on Evangelism
• Only 17% of Church-goers know the Great Commission
• Every Woman a Theologian: Know What You Believe. Live It Confidently. Communicate It Graciously – a book by Phylicia Masonheimer
• Explore and Engage: Latter Day Saints – a book by Jeremy Jenkins
• Explore and Engage: Wicca & Neo-Paganism – a book by Jeremy Jenkins
• Lausanne Conference 

Questions: 

• How would you describe the spiritual receptivity of those you work most closely with? 
• What do you see in our cultural moment that inspires you to share your faith? 
• How has God historically awakened his people to participate in his mission? What do you see God doing now? 
• How can the Church (the people of God) rise to the challenge of sharing the Gospel in our generation? 

Description: 

In this episode of Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor conclude season three with a conversation about what’s ahead for the Church. What are our responsibilities to the future Church? As the world grows darker, the opportunities for the Church have never been greater. What should the church expect and how should the church respond?

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 28:18-20
• Matthew 24:14
• Ephesians 3:20-21
• Luke 24:44-49

Further Reading/ Listening/ Watching:

• Great Commission Study: an article from Barna 
• Reviving Evangelism: a study from Barna
• Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City: a book by Timothy Keller 
• Ethics for Christian Ministry: Moral Formation for Twenty-First-Century Leaders: a book by Joe E. Trull and R. Robert Creech
• The Context of the Great Commission is a Miracle: an article from The Gospel Coalition
• Fox’s Book of Martyrs: a book by John Foxe
• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers: a book by Dane Ortlund

Description: 

In this episode of Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor continue the conversation about the Church. What current issues are we facing as a Church? How should the Church respond to these pervading issues? Brad and Trevor discuss deconstruction, spiritual reformation, personal revival, theological purity, and the Church’s role in addressing modern issues.

Relevant Bible Verses:

• 1 & 2 Corinthians  
• 1 Timothy 4
• Hebrews 13:7
• Matthew 18:15-17
• 1 John 2:18-23

Further Reading/ Listening/ Watching:

• The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith: a book by Trevin Wax
• How Should We Then Live?: a book By Francis Schaeffer
• The Weight of Glory: Why I’m Not a Pacifist: a book by C.S. Lewis 
• How to Reach the West Again: Six Essential Elements of a Missionary Encounter: a book by Timothy Keller
• Bioethics and the Christian Life: A Guide to Making Difficult Decisions: a book by David VanDrunen
• The Common Gaze: Surveillance and the Common Good: a book by Eric Stoddart
• What Is Deconstruction?: a YouTube video from Meredith Knox and Lee McDerment 
• Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution: a book by Carl Trueman

Description: 

This week on Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor continue their conversation on the beauty of the Church with a sweeping overview of Church history. Why is church history important for those growing in their faith? What are the big moments of church history that affect us today? How can we apply the lessons of history today?  

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Acts 

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• History of the Christian Church - podcast from Lance Ralston of Communio Sanctorium
• Church History in Plain Language - Bruce L. Shelley
• Christianity: The Biography: 2000 Years of Global History - by Ian J. Shaw
• The Story of Christianity, Volume I: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation - Justo L. Gonzalez
• The Story of Christianity, Volume II: The Reformation to the Present Day - Justo L. Gonzalez
• Readings in World Christian History, Volume 1: Early Christianity to 1453 - Andrea Stark and John Coakley (primary source readings)

Description: 

This week on Develop in the Dark, Brad and Trevor talk about church government. How does leadership structure help the church flourish? Today’s conversation delves into church organizational models, the church polity of NewSpring, and how an elder or pastor’s personal life overflows into the leadership of the church. 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Acts 6
• Ephesians 1:22
• Colossians 1:18
• Ezekiel 34:23
• 1 Timothy 3
• Titus 3
• 1 Peter 5

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• Systematic Theology: a book by Wayne Grudem 
• The Organization of the Church: an article by Benjamin Merkle
• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: a book by Ruth Haley Barton
• Pursuing God’s Will Together: a book by Ruth Haley Barton

Description: 

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor discuss the importance of gathering as a church. Why do we gather? What are we supposed to do when we gather? Are weekly gatherings for discipleship of believers or for reaching unbelievers? 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 18:20
• Acts 2:42-47
• Hebrews 10:23-25
• 1 John 4:12

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Worship Architect: a book by Constance Cherry
• Church: Living Faithfully as the People of God: a book by A.W. Tozer
• Life Together: a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Six Reasons People Stop Coming to Church: an article by NewSpring

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor talk about the biblical marks of a true church. There are so many differences in churches, but do those differences really matter? What makes a church a church? 

Here are the Marks of a church we discussed: 

• Jesus 
• Biblical Teaching
• The Gathering
• Ordinances (Baptism and Lord’s Supper)
• Biblical leadership
• Church discipline
• Discipleship and mission
• Unity and fellowship

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 9:40
• John 13:34-35, 15:7
• Ephesians 5:18-20
• Colossians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 4:20, 5:6-7, 11:17-34, 12-13
• 2 Corinthians 8-9
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:11
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• Titus 1:9

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Church: The Gospel Made Visible - Mark Dever
• Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem 
• The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - a book by G.K. Beale
• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is - a book by N.T. Wright

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor talk about the biblical marks of a true church. There are so many differences in churches, but do those differences really matter? What makes a church a church? 

Here are the Marks of a church we discussed: 

• Jesus 
• Biblical Teaching
• The Gathering
• Ordinances (Baptism and Lord’s Supper)
• Biblical leadership
• Church discipline
• Discipleship and mission
• Unity and fellowship

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Matthew 28:19-20
• Mark 9:40
• John 13:34-35, 15:7
• Ephesians 5:18-20
• Colossians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 4:20, 5:6-7, 11:17-34, 12-13
• 2 Corinthians 8-9
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:11
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• Titus 1:9

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• The Church: The Gospel Made Visible - Mark Dever
• Systematic Theology - Wayne Grudem 
• The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - a book by G.K. Beale
• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is - a book by N.T. Wright

Description: 

In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor discuss how the Bible uses the rich metaphors of bride, body, temple, and family to describe the Church. The metaphors help us understand what it means to be the people of God. 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 12
• Colossians 1:15-18 
• Ephesians 5:25-31
• 1 Peter 2:4-5
• Revelation 19:7, 21:2, 21:9, 22:17

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• What Does It Mean for Us To Be the Temple of God? - an article by Bible Project
• The Bride of Christ - a 10-part teaching series by R.C. Sproul
• God’s Global Family - a podcast episode from Bible Project 
• The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God - G.K. Beale

There are so many convictions and opinions about what the Church is and what the Church should be doing. In this season of Develop in the Dark, Brad Cooper and Trevor Cox explore the doctrine of the Church. In today’s episode, Brad and Trevor talk about the Bible’s answer to the question, “What is the Church?” 

Relevant Bible Verses:

• Luke 4:16-21
• Matthew 16:13-20
• Matthew 22:34-40 
• Matthew 28:18-20
• Acts 2:42-46

For Further Reading/Listening/Watching: 

• Summary of Isaiah 61: a video from Bible Project
• The Gospel according to Matthew: The Pillar New Testament Commentary: a book by Leon Morris
• Knowing Jesus as King: A 10-Session Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew : a study by Tara Leigh Cobble
• What is the Church?: an article from The Gospel Coalition
• The Great Commission in the Old Testament: an article by Michael Morales for Ligonier Ministries
• The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is: a book by N.T. Wright