Distinct People Distinct Time

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Pastor Jeff Long explores the question of the clarity of scripture. He addresses three common arguments that people use to call into question the clarity of the Bible: the belief that it is too hard to understand, the idea that it is irrelevant due to its ancient origins, and the postmodern thinking that questions the meaning of words. Pastor Jeff counters these arguments by emphasizing that God's word is intelligible, relevant, and understandable to anyone. He highlights the importance of humbling ourselves under the clear word of God and choosing life by obeying His voice.

Key Takeaways:

The clarity of scripture: Pastor Jeff addresses three common arguments against the clarity of scripture - the belief that it is too hard to understand, the idea that it is irrelevant due to its ancient origins, and the postmodern thinking that questions the meaning of words.

Intelligible and relevant: Pastor Jeff emphasizes that God's word is intelligible and can be clearly understood in all things necessary for salvation and daily living. He also highlights that God's word is relevant and speaks into every era of humanity.

Understanding God's will: Pastor Jeff encourages listeners to open their Bibles and find out what God has clearly said. By humbling ourselves under the clear word of God, we can choose life and love the Lord our God.

The choice to obey: Pastor Jeff quotes Moses in Deuteronomy 30, emphasizing the importance of choosing life by loving the Lord, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him. This choice can only be made when we find out what God has clearly said.

The effectiveness of God's word: Pastor Jeff quotes Isaiah 55, highlighting that God's word will not return empty. It is effective and accomplishes the purposes for which it is sent.

Notable Quotes:

"The Bible is so clear, we know what it has said."

"Claiming irrelevance is an attempt to avoid what God has clearly said."

"God does not leave us to guess what He wants or thinks. He has revealed and communicated His will for His people in His own words."

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

"Choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him."

To listen to the full episode and gain a deeper understanding of the clarity and relevance of scripture, tune in to the podcast. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from Pastor Jeff Long.

Episode Summary:

In this podcast episode, Pastor Jeff Long delves into the process of determining the canon of scripture, answering the question of who decided what books should be included in the Bible. He explains that the authority of scripture lies within the text itself, as it is a collection of authoritative writings rather than an authorized collection. Pastor Jeff outlines the five questions that were asked by the early church to determine the canonicity of a book, including whether it was recognized or written by an apostle or prophet, widely circulated, christological, orthodox, and gave internal evidence of inspiration and authority. He also discusses the dispute over the Apocrypha and its inclusion in the Roman Catholic canon of scripture.

Key Takeaways:

The canon of scripture refers to the closed list of books that make up the Bible and are considered uniquely authoritative and inspired by God.

The process of determining the canon involved asking five questions: Was the book authorized or sanctioned by an apostle or prophet? Was it widely circulated? Was it christological? Was it orthodox? Did it give internal evidence of inspiration and authority?

The canon of scripture was established by the end of the fourth century, with the recognition of the 66 books of the Bible.

The Apocrypha, a collection of books included in some versions of the Bible, was not recognized as scripture by the Roman Catholic Church until after the Protestant Reformation.

The Apocrypha contains teachings that support certain doctrines unique to Catholicism, such as purgatory and salvation by works.

Notable Quotes:

"It's a collection of authoritative writings, not an authorized collection."

"If something that claims to be scripture is not leading you to salvation by faith in Christ, it's not scripture."

"We determine what is authoritative, what is true from the word of God, and we stick there. We don't add something to it."

Resources:

Gospel Coalition - What You Should Know About the Council of Trent

To listen to the full episode and gain a deeper understanding of the process of determining the canon of scripture and the significance of each book within it, tune in to the podcast. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from Pastor Jeff Long.

Pastor Jeff Long is a respected religious leader and speaker who has dedicated his life to spreading the message of the authority of scripture. With a deep understanding of biblical teachings, he helps individuals navigate the challenges of unbelief and align their lives with the word of God.

Summary: In this episode, Pastor Jeff Long explores the implications of the authority of scripture. Drawing from the story of Eve in Genesis, he highlights the dangers of unbelief and the subsequent rejection, ridicule, and remaking of God's word. He emphasizes the importance of affirming the truth of the Bible, adhering to its teachings, and aligning one's life with its authority. Through these actions, individuals can overcome unbelief and live under the transformative power of scripture.

Key Takeaways:

Unbelief can lead to rejection, ridicule, and remaking of God's word.

Affirm the truth of the Bible and come to a personal conviction of its authority.

Adhere to the teachings of scripture and keep them in your life.

Align your soul with the word of God through transformation and live under its authority.

Quotes:

"Did God actually say? That's an old argument, and it comes from Genesis, chapter three."

"Unbelief leads to rejection, ridicule, and remaking of God's word."

"Affirm the Bible's truth, adhere to its teachings, and align your life with its authority."

"Your soul must be transformed by the word of God to live under its authority."

0:00:30 Introduction to the authority of scripture

0:01:01 The serpent questions what God said in Genesis

0:02:15 Unbelief leads to rejection and ridicule of scripture

0:03:39 People will reject sound teaching and remake scripture

0:04:35 Conscience and sinful desires lead to remaking scripture

0:05:01 Believing action: affirm the Bible is true

0:05:47 Believing action: learn and adhere to God's statutes

0:06:24 Believing action: align your soul with the word of God

0:07:06 Conclusion on living under the authority of scripture

“Our desire, delight, and dependence on the words of Scripture do not grow inversely to our desire, delight, and dependence on Jesus Christ.”

As believers, we should be constantly in awe of the reality that the Living God has given us his Living Word. The scripture is meant for our upbuilding and encouragement, correction and reproof and through it we can know the heart of God himself. Please join us as we embark on a 5-week study of the great doctrine of Scripture entitled “The Word of God.”

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This week, Pastor Jeff will preach from John 17:17. The first message in this series is entitled "Authotiry of Scripture." 

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Connect with Us: 

Website: parkwoodonline.org 

Facebook: facebook.com/parkwoodonline 

Instagram: instagram.com/parkwoodonline.org 

Check out more resources and sermons online at: parkwoodresources.org

*quote from Kevin DeYoung's book Taking God At His Word (p. 21). Crossway. Kindle Edition. 

Parkwood is pleased to introduce to you our new Worship Pastor Jordan Christie along with his wife Rebekah and their three kids Nora, Dean and Ford. We are excited that the Lord saw fit to bring them to Parkwood and look forward to many years of fruitful ministry. Please listen in to hear from Jordan and his vision and mission as the new Worship Pastor of Parkwood.

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Show Notes:

The next generation is a really big deal to me. I had some very important people that poured into my life at the age of 15 and 16 that that have had obvious impacts on my life. And so a big part of it for me is going to be finding some talent that we have out there that not only has the talent, but has the call of ministry in their life and developing them into being leaders that can hopefully help out with our student groups and then begin to feed into our adult ministries as well. So that's a big part of it.

Seeing our kids here, that's going to be a big part of it. You're to see those guys around here all the time. Our family knows that we don't just go to church because dad works there. We go there because we love the Lord and we give back to Him, and he has much to teach us. So that's a big part of it. One of the big things that I'm very passionate about is the next generation. Ephesians 412 talks about equipping the saints of the work or equipping the saints for the work of ministry.

We just love you guys and think not only are you going to be a good fit for our staff, for our church, I think you guys are going to be a good fit for this town, and you're going to love being here, and people are going to love you.

And we as elders were just like then when you sat with us and shared. We are like minded. Every person we have talked to about you speaks to your character, brother, and who you are as a man, as a man of God, as a pastor in a local church. You clearly have a calling. Your competency, what you did, that's part of what drove you. And it's evident. And one of the things that is clear to me about you is one of the companies you have is leadership. And it's not just musicianship, but leadership and a humility with that.

And so when we found Parkwood, it kind of felt like finding a unicorn, really. I saw a place that I can raise my family in first and foremost, something that's very important to me, the way that my parents kept my sister and I in one place. That's kind of something that's important to my wife and I. We want our kids to grow up and have a community of people from a young age to those formative early adult years in high school and college.

00:00 - Beginning

00:26 - Tell us about your family...

03:47 - Where have you lived...

05:52 - Tell us how you mom and dad have impacted you...

07:27 - When did you come to faith...

09:06 - What was your initial career...

13:45 - What are most excited about the Worship ministry...

15:33 - Why Parkwood...

17:32 - Pastor Jeff's Affirmations

Biblical Meditation requires the affections of the whole disciple of Christ. Join Pastor Scott and Pastor Jeff as they answer questions from the congregation regarding the fruit of personal Meditation.

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Resources from the Episode

Growth Group Guides:

March 19, 2023 Study Guide // https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s2PXjESPNYCQ8jObHAFKOncre5XX1VfY&authuser=jen.haynes-watkins%40parkwoodonline.org&usp=drive_fs

Find them online at // https://pwresources.wpengine.com/study-guides/

Articles:

Unanswered Prayer // Dr. Cindy Guthrie Ryan

https://truth-talk.org/wordpress/index.php/2020/10/15/unanswered-prayer-dr-cindy-guthrie-ryan/

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Show Notes:

00:00 - Beginning

00:20 - What would you consider proper forms of meditation?

03:47 - How can we have biblical meditation in the context of marriage?

10:27 - How do I get started studying the Bible?

12:26 - Encouragement from various Psalms...

14:39 - Are all sins the same?

18:39 - What do we do when the Lord answers with a No?

Join Pastor Jeff and Pastor Scott as they answer more questions from the congregation. The topics for this episode range from the significance of raising your hands in a worship service to how to deal with immense grief and guilt.

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Resources from the Episode

Books:

Desiring God // John Piper

Articles:

Four Reasons Why The Chosen Works // Brett McCracken

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/four-reasons-chosen-works/

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Show Notes:

00:00 - Beginning

01:08 - What is the significance of raising your hands during a Worship Service?

03:07 - What if I Don't Raise My Hands in Service?

05:44 - Desiring God // John Piper

15:55 - Should I watch The Chosen?

19:07 - Should my circumstances dictate my praise?

21:42 - How do we deal with immense suffering and guilt?

Join Pastor Jeff and Pastor Scott as they answer a wide range of questions from the congregation as it relates to the first sermon in the Satisfied series. The responses to a wide range of topics ranging from Super Bowl commercials to Parkwood's stance on God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility will surely challenge you to a deeper understanding of your faith and ultimate satisfaction in the Lord.

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Resources from the Episode

Books:

How Can I Be Sure I am a Christian // Donald Whitney

The Pursuit of God // A.W. Tozer

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Show Notes:

SUMMARY

The conversation starts with discussing the affections a Christian should have towards God, such as thirsting for Him, being satisfied in Him, and clinging to Him. The conversation then moves on to answer the question of how to know if one is saved. The answer is not based on one's feelings, but on the truth of Scripture. The book of 1 John is recommended to help people understand the truth of being a Christian. This book tells us that we can know if we are a Christian if we understand our need of a savior, our sin, and our love for other believers.

The conversation discussed how people can be sure that they are saved and how to know what books of the Bible talk about becoming a Christian. It was mentioned that reading the Gospel of John and the book of Romans can help with understanding what a Christian is. Donald Whitney's book, How Can I Be Sure that I'm a Christian?, was also discussed as it is a great source to understand the doctrine of assurance of salvation. The idea that assurance of salvation rests primarily on the character of God, the work of Jesus Christ, and the truth of God's promises was highlighted.

Pastor Scott shared his experience of recommending a book called Assurance of Salvation by John MacArthur to a couple who were struggling with their faith. He emphasized that it's important to base our salvation on what the Scripture teaches, not on our own experiences. He then recommended another book, The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, which has been very influential to him. Tozer argued that sound Bible exposition is an imperative in the Church of the Living God, and that it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God himself. Pastor Scott warned readers of The Pursuit of God to be careful of interpreting Chapter 6 too literally, as Tozer was not arguing for just taking a walk and hearing the voice of God, but rather immersing ourselves in the Word of God and hearing God speak through it. He encouraged readers to find someone else to read the book with and challenge each other.

Pastor Jeff is pleased to have Dr. Kelly Kapic join him on Distinct People Distinct Time to discuss the theological implications of our humanity and to discuss Dr. Kapic's most recent book You're Only Human.

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Resources from the Episode

Books:

You're Only Human // Kelly Kapic

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Show Notes:

SUMMARY

Pastor Jeff Long welcomed Dr. Kelly Kapic as a special guest to discuss his book, You're Only Human, which explores the idea of human limits reflecting God's design. Dr. Kapic is a professor at Covenant College and is originally from Lodi, California. He has been married for 30 years and has been teaching theology since 2001. The personal motivation for Dr. Kapic's book was due to his wife's battle with a rare form of breast cancer that normally affects people in their eighties. Pastor Long asked why he wrote the book and Dr. Kapic explained that his motivation was both personal and theological in nature. He believes that recognizing and embracing our limitations can help us better understand God's design.

Dr. Kelly Kapic speaks about his wife's journey with cancer and chronic pain over the past decade. These experiences inspired Kapic to write a book, Embodied Hope on Pain and Suffering, which ultimately helped him to be ready to talk about the good of being human. He also speaks of the guilt and shame he often experiences at night when he lies down in bed. His wife's story of pain and suffering, as well as his own, are important parts of Kapic's journey.

Dr. Kelly Kapic and Pastor Jeff Long discuss how God's to-do list and expectations of humans can be interpreted through the theological concept of finitude. Dr. Kelly Kapic notes the importance of recognizing finitude when raising children. He argues that children are not expected to be good at everything and that we should not be categorizing them by how busy they are.

Pastor Jeff and Pastor Scott address a wide range of topics and questions as it relates to the Sanctity of Human Life.

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Resources from the Episode

Articles:

Christians and the Contraception Culture // ERLC // https://erlc.com/resource-library/commentary-articles/christians-and-the-contraception-culture/

The Salvation of the Little Ones // Albert Mohler & Danny Akin // https://albertmohler.com/2009/07/16/the-salvation-of-the-little-ones-do-infants-who-die-go-to-heaven

Books:

The Case for Christ // Lee Strobel

You're Only Human // Kelly Kapic

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Show Notes:

Pastors Scott and Jeff are discussing the sanctity of life in relation to Christianity. Pastor Jeff is asked to explain how to know that Christianity is the right religion to believe and how to know the Bible is true. Pastor Jeff begins by saying that if God does not exist and the Bible is not true, then their beliefs would collapse. He then talks about Rebecca McLaughlin's book which discusses questions teens should ask and answer about Christianity. Pastor Scott then talks about apologetics and the arguments for the existence of God. He says there are some basic and fundamental arguments for the existence of God, though they do not have time to discuss all the details.

Pastor Scott and Pastor Jeff are discussing two arguments for the existence of God. The first is a philosophical argument, asking why there is something rather than nothing. The second is the fine tuning principle or anthropic principle, which suggests that the Earth is uniquely formed for life. They also discuss how scientists have discovered that there is a sequence to our DNA and this sequence does not come randomly. To illustrate this, Pastor Scott brought Bananagrams, a game like Scrabble, to help the discussion.

Pastor Jeff and Pastor Scott discuss how Christianity is the most logical explanation for life, existence, and DNA sequencing. Pastor Scott explains that the Bible is true because of internal evidence, such as John 17:17, and external evidence, such as empirical evidence. He explains his experience in seminary when his professor asked who wrote the Bible, and then had the students watch a debate between a Muslim professor and a Christian professor. The Christian professor explained that if you took 40 people over 1500 years in three different languages and on three different continents, there is no way that their stories would make sense. This illustrates that the Bible is a miracle and cannot be recreated.

Pastors Jeff and Scott discussed the Bible and its unique position in the world. C.S. Lewis was an atheist who was converted to Christianity and said that he believed in it as he believed in the sun rising. The Bible is centered around God, Creation, Fall, and Redemption, and points to Christ's coming, death, and resurrection. Tim Keller works with deconstructing Christians and asks them what they will do with the resurrection. Lee Strobel, a secular journalist, set out to disprove the Bible and Christianity, but instead became a believer and defender of the Christian faith due to the truth of the resurrection.