Midtown Fellowship: Downtown

Sermon by Jon Ludovina on October 27, 2024.

Last week, we taught that Jesus is our perfect priest, tabernacle, and sacrifice. In light of that, this week in Hebrews 10, the author says how to put that into practice. How do we help each other persevere and keep one another from falling away?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

For this episode, we interview Dr. Mitch Chase. Mitch Chase is the preaching pastor at Kosmosdale Baptist Church and an associate professor of biblical studies at SBTS in Louisville, Kentucky. He’s the author of Short of Glory and Hope for All the Earth. He is married to Stacie, and they have four boys. You can follow him on Twitter and at his Substack, called “Biblical Theology.”

Timestamps:

2:10 - Introduction

3:36 - What were your initial impressions of the Bible?

7:48 - What resources helped you better understand the Bible?

10:10 - What does biblical theology mean?

15:49 - What’s the difference between systematic theology and biblical theology?

17:03 - How do I begin to see the interconnections in the Bible?

30:42 - If Scripture is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, why should I bother with the Old Testament?

34:37 - How would you answer the objection, “The New Testament authors forced their ‘Jesus interpretation’ onto the Old Testament”?

41:49 - What does studying the Bible look like for you now?

45:40 - Where can people go to learn more from you?

47:52 - Being from Texas, where’s the best BBQ in Louisville?

Dr. Chase’s Books + Resources

“Biblical Theology” on Substack

40 Questions About Typology and Allegory

Resurrection Hope and the Death of Death (Short Studies in Biblical Theology)

Short of Glory: A Biblical and Theological Exploration of the Fall

Hope for All the Earth: Understanding the story of the Old Testament

ESV Expository Commentary: Daniel–Malachi (Volume 7)

The Gospel is for Christians: Second Edition

Behold Our Sovereign God

MIDTOWN RESOURCES

Check out MidtownBiblicalLiteracy.com for videos, book recommendations, and Bible reading plans

“The Hebrew vs the Christian ordering of the Old Testament"

How-to Study the Bible handout

How to Study Historical Narrative handout

How to Study Wisdom Literature handout

How to Study the Prophets handout

How to Study the Psalms handout

How to Study the Gospels handout

How to Study the New Testament in light of the Old Testament handout

OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED

ESV Reader’s Bible - The format is great for reading the Bible in larger chunks!

The Action Bible by Sergio Cariello 

Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell

Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

SERMONS

Ghosts and Ancestors sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

Ruth sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

Wisdom sermon series -  Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

How Long O LORD series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

The Psalms series -  Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch 

The Gospels series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

Hebrews series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

TEXT-IN QUESTIONS

Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.

To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.

Music by Levvy and Midtown Music

Find out more at Weird Tower Collective

Sermon by Jake Blair on October 20, 2024.

This week, we look at one of the most foundational concepts in the Old Testament: the temple, the priests, and the sacrifice. While these might sound strange and foreign in our present-day culture, we'll learn why they matter to us and what they tell us about following Jesus.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Sermon by Jon Ludovina on October 13, 2024.

This week, we look at Hebrews 3:7-19 which includes a repeated call from an Old Testament story: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." What is the nature of that rebellion, and how is hardening your heart spiritually dangerous? How can we guard our hearts from the deceitfulness of sin?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Sermon by Jake Blair on October 6, 2024.

This week, we look at Hebrews 3. In this chapter, the author focuses on one of the most towering figures of the Old Testament, Moses, and how, as great as he is, he ultimately falls short. So how is Jesus better than Moses, and what does this mean for us as followers of Jesus?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Sermon by Jake Blair on September 29, 2024.

We began our new series last week discussing how Hebrews cites hundreds of Old Testament stories, characters, and ideas that all culminate in the person of Jesus. This week, as we look at Hebrews 1-2, the author cites an Old Testament concept that, although it may be foreign to us, is profoundly significant to understanding who Jesus is.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Sermon by Jake Blair on September 22, 2024.

Near the tail end of our Year of Biblical Literacy, we come to the rich, dense book of Hebrews. It’s full of callbacks and history, threads pulled from all across the Old Testament. The author assumes intimate knowledge of the old covenant –the sacrificial system, the tabernacle, the promised land–and then shows that they were incomplete, only “copies and shadows.” 

Each is an arrow pointing to Christ, who himself becomes the mediator of the new covenant–the perfect high priest, the meeting place between God and man, the source of eternal rest for those united to him.

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

Sermon by Jon Ludovina on September 15, 2024.

This week, we look at Mark 9:33-37 and how Jesus redefines greatness for his disciples. So, what does being great in the kingdom of God look like, and how can we experience that now?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.

For this episode, we interview Dr. Jonathan Pennington. Jonathan Pennington is associate professor of New Testament interpretation and director of research doctoral studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as the associate pastor of preaching at Sojourn Church East. He is the author of The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew, and Reading the Gospels Wisely.

Timestamps:

3:18 - What were your initial impressions of the Bible?

6:18 - How did you first learn to study the Bible?

9:56 - Why did you decide to pursue seminary and doctoral work?

14:15 - What drew you to write on the Sermon on the Mount?

17:49 - What are the common misconceptions of the Sermon on the Mount?

25:01 - What foundational things to know about the Gospels?

29:16 - Why did you write the book Come and See?

32:57 - Is the point of studying the Bible to put it into practice?

35:33 - What does studying the Bible look like for you now?

37:25 - What’s your favorite Taylor era?

DR. PENNINGTON’S BOOKS + RESOURCES

The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary

Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew

Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction

Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life

Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture

Small Preaching: 25 Little Things You Can Do Now to Make Your Preaching Better 

Reading the New Testament as Christian Scripture: A Literary, Canonical, and Theological Survey 

“Have You Accepted Jesus as Your Lord and Philosopher?” on The Gospel Coalition

“3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Sermon on the Mount” on The Gospel Coalition

The Human Flourishing podcast - Apple | Spotify 

MIDTOWN RESOURCES

Check out MidtownBiblicalLiteracy.com for videos, book recommendations, and Bible reading plans

How-to Study the Bible handout

How to Study Historical Narrative handout

How to Study Wisdom Literature handout

How to Study the Prophets handout

How to Study the Psalms handout

How to Study the Gospels handout

SERMONS

Ghosts and Ancestors sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

Ruth sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

Wisdom sermon series -  Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

How Long O LORD series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

The Psalms series -  Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch 

The Gospels series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch

TEXT-IN QUESTIONS

Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.

To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.

Music by Levvy and Midtown Music

Find out more at Weird Tower Collective

Sermon by Jon Ludovina on September 8, 2024.

This week focuses on the story of the rich young ruler from Luke 18:18-29 and how he, though he had nearly everything in this life, couldn’t experience Jesus’ kingdom. So what might be keeping you from experiencing Jesus’ kingdom? What idols might have their hold on you?

This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.