This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Josh Philpot speaks of the heightened awareness of death that has surrounded us this last year or so. This overt awareness has come primarily due to Covid19 and the deaths associated with it. While it brings a reminder of death, and to some, great fear, we need to remember that death is an ongoing fact of this life, regardless of how or when it comes. As Christians, this is not something of which we are ignorant. The Bible clearly states that death is the result of sin, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

As Believers in Christ, we should think differently than the world around us about the loss of life, the expiration of our physical earthly bodies. While we should not be preoccupied with death, we should be mindful of it; we should be prepared and ready, for it can come at any time. In thinking about death, Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell to share how he would help a church member, or anyone for that matter, to be prepared for death.

Dr. Caldwell says, if we believe the Gospel and have trusted Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Scriptures make our future clear. We are not in the dark about what is on the other side of death; we have a sure hope. There is life beyond what we now know, a life that is an everlasting joy in the presence of God our Savior. When we die, our soul enters the presence of the Lord (2 Cor.5:8), so we are not to grieve as those who have no hope (1Thess.4:13). Then one day, we will have a new body that matches the new us, and we will live forever, body and soul, in the presence of the Lord. But even now, if our eyes should be closed in death, we would wake up in the presence of Jesus. So if we believe the Gospel, there is no reason to be afraid.

Dr. Caldwell tells us that the New Testament Scriptures teach us that the death and resurrection of Christ make the process of death something that we do not have to fear. The Apostle Paul writes about this to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:53-57, which Dr. Caldwell reads. He reminds us that Christ’s triumph over death and the grave means we have no reason to fear it. So if someone wants to prepare and be ready for the reality of death, he would say to them: Believe the Gospel, believe the Word of God, and believe the promises of God.

Dr. Philpot mentions that the Bible speaks of a peace that passes all understanding. He speaks of Paul giving us a surety that Jesus has accomplished the victory over death and of Paul elsewhere speaking of death as gain. Would Dr. Caldwell then say that this means Christians should never fear physical death?

Dr. Caldwell says that there can be a dread associated with the circumstances of death for sure. Thinking about some of the kinds of actions or incidents that bring about death can very well be something that would challenge us. Consider just one, burning to death. But this is where that peace comes into play. Our God is able to sustain us, even amid those kinds of fears. We have to trust Him and know that His grace is sufficient. Dr. Caldwell shares about a recent incident where the Lord sustained a member of our congregation.

This man went through a situation where he faced a real possibility of death. While going through that situation, he shared that the Lord had given him a supernatural sense of peace and rest. Dr. Caldwell tells us that this is an example of what Believers have access to when they believe God at His Word. Our God is real and living. His Spirit lives in us and is present with us. We have to learn to depend on the Lord. Whatever we experience from Him, we experience from faith. It, therefore, requires us to believe Him, believing His promises and the truth that we are safe in His hands.

Death is a disturbing actuality. The fear of death can cause us to do many things in the attempt to outrun it and outlive it, but it is inevitable. Yet, if we know Christ salvifically, we have no reason to fear death. He has defeated death and the grave. He is our hope and our life. We can live for Him without the fear and sting of death and can face death knowing we will enter His presence the very day we die; what a glorious reality. So let us be mindful of it but not be preoccupied with it. Let us be prepared and ready for it by living out each day He gives us Corem Deo.

Would you like to hear and learn more about things discussed in this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast? Consider sitting down with your Bible to listen as Pastor Richard Caldwell exposits the Word of God, delivering sermons that speak to this very subject matter.

The All Sufficient Sacrifice

Fearless Expectations

The Fear Free Life

The Life of Peace – Joy

The Life of Peace – Trusting Prayer

The Question

God’s Grace on Death Row

The Greatness of the Believer’s Future Glory

Christ’s Resurrection & The Believer

Instant Immortality

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This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, we will be considering the teaching of Jesus from Luke 14. After reading Luke 14:25-27, a listener has questions. They want to know what Jesus means when He uses the word hate and says we cannot be a disciple unless we do so. Does it really mean that we are to harbor hatred towards our family to follow Jesus? Or is this hyperbole? Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell if he would explain this and give his thoughts on the text. Dr. Caldwell will take us to the Word of God, read the passage in question, and explain what it teaches about being a disciple of Christ.

Dr. Caldwell reminds us that the best interpreter of Scripture is Scripture. So when we do this with this passage, what becomes evident is that Jesus is not using the word hate in the sense of personal animosity. To follow Him does not make us hateful toward other people in our life. The word hate is used here in the sense of choice, of preference. What Jesus is saying is to be His disciple, He must have first place. He must have first place in our lives in everything, which includes even our most intimate relationships.

Dr. Philpot wonders if the word hate is used here for shock value. But Dr. Caldwell says, no, he does not see it that way. As he stated, he sees it used in the sense of choice. Jesus is speaking about ultimate priority, choosing one thing over another, about our devotion. Our loyalty and allegiance to Him must be preeminent. All other loves must be subordinate to our loving Him. Where this becomes evident and plays out is usually in our closest relationships. Our love, and commitment to Jesus, will often be interpreted by our family members as hatred.

Dr. Philpot wonders if this is similar to other sayings of Jesus in Scripture. Jesus speaks of bringing a sword that divides, speaking in terms, of the gospel and accepting Him as Lord and Savior. Is this the same as this passage in Luke?

Dr. Caldwell says there is no doubt that the gospel is a sword. It unites, but it also divides. When we come to Christ in salvation, and other members of our families do not, there is now a difference, a separateness. So here, the gospel is like a sword that divides. This divide causes conflict to enter our lives and brings difficulties in our relationships that were not there before. Our relationship with Jesus has priority over these other relationships. To them, it seems as though we hate them, even though we really do love them.

Lastly, Dr. Philpot and Dr. Caldwell speak of what is meant in this passage to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Dr. Caldwell explains that the primary way the word disciple is used in the New Testament is a follower of Christ. It is someone who knows Jesus through salvation. You cannot be a follower of Christ unless you receive Him for who He is and He is Lord. Every believer is called to acknowledge the lordship of Christ and show Him preference over all earthly ties.

Our priorities before coming to Christ are many and varied. Jesus makes this clear in His teachings throughout the Gospels as He warns against faint-hearted attachments to Himself. He desires us to see that to be His disciple is costly. We must be willing to give up everything for Jesus, possibly even our own life.

If you would like to hear additional teaching on this passage and others that speak of being a disciple of Christ, consider listening to the following sermons by Pastor Caldwell:

The High Cost of True Discipleship

Count the Cost – Parts 1 & 2

What Every Christian Should Recognize About Salvation

The Priority & Urgency of Following Jesus – Parts 1 & 2

Plowing a Straight Row

The Peacemakers

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What is church planting? Why plant a church? Is there a specific model or way that church planting ought to take place?

Founders Baptist Church of Spring, Texas, of which Dr. Richard Caldwell is the pastor, has begun the process of a church plant. They aim to establish this new body of believers in Katy, Texas, in February 2022. So today, on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Josh Philpot sits down with Dr. Caldwell to talk about church planting. Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell to share what the impetus is for the church planting effort. He also asks him to talk a little about the process. Then additionally, he asks Dr. Caldwell to share what he would like to see happening in church planting efforts, not only by Founders Baptist but across the country.

Dr. Caldwell tells us that the impetus for church planting is evangelism and discipleship. It is fulfilling the great commission by obeying the instructions of our Savior. So the zeal that Founders Baptist has to plant a church comes from the desire to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the way that He commissioned us. Founders Baptist Church believes that it should be churches that plant churches, not individuals or organizations. Looking at the New Testament and observing how churches came into existence is the model for how the church is to replicate or give birth to other churches.

He tells us that another motivation that fuels the desire to plant churches is knowledge of the need. Dr. Caldwell gives a brief explanation of the greater Houston area. He shares that Houston does not have many churches that represent what Founders Baptist would love to see in local churches. These things include but are not limited to expository preaching, a high view of church membership, and the discipline of church members.

Dr. Caldwell speaks about the importance of the planting pastor needing to have a firm commitment to the New Testament concept of the church. He explains this man must understand that the church planting process will be difficult. Both he and his family must be prepared for that as it will not be easy. By holding to and being committed to a New Testament concept of the church, the effort most likely will not explode overnight. The process includes vetting persons regarding their confession of salvation because Baptists believe only saved people should be church members. Dr. Caldwell shares some of the things that will need to take place in the planting process.

He explains that before the church plant can stand on its own, it needs to be under the authority of a church with a plurality of elders and mature leaders. They will need to submit themselves to a healthy mature congregation that will oversee the process from the outset. He shares further that there are all sorts of issues that make it a long-term project. Therefore, whoever the planting pastor is, he will need to be prepared for a very patient process and embrace all these things from his heart.

Other questions Dr. Philpot asks include: What did Dr. Caldwell do to see the church plant he was part of grow? What did their small group do, and how did they go about doing what they did?

Dr. Caldwell answers both in saying that they did just what Founders Baptist is doing now and shares some examples. He says they were not great strategists and did not have a great church planting strategy. They aimed to practice what they saw regarding New Testament church ministry, and the Lord blessed it. That, he says, is the focus of the church plant that Founders is doing now. Dr. Caldwell shares that Daron Roberts will be the planting pastor for the church in Katy, Texas. He tells us that Daron is a man called by God and evidences that with gifting.

He has a heart for ministry that is vibrant and zealous. By God’s grace and will, Founders will surround him with men who match him with that same kind of calling and giftedness, but not for the same role. Dr. Caldwell says that in time the Lord will grow that church the way He means to, and we will be satisfied and thankful with that.

If you are interested in learning more about things spoken of in the episode today, consider listening to the sermons below. There are eight messages, six preached by Dr. Caldwell and two by Daron Roberts. As these godly men diligently exposit the Word of God, may their sermons equip and encourage the saints for the work of ministry. 

The 13 Marks of an Effective Church – Parts 1 & 2
The Word of God Advancing
The Ministers of the Word in the Life of the Church
The Men Who Lead the Church
A Healthy Church
When One Hears Psalm 23
Five Sermons to Preach to Ourselves from Psalm 103

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The Lord’s Supper is the topic for this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. We are commanded to take the Lord’s Supper, but why, why do we take it? Why is it required for Church members? Why should it only be taken in a church setting? Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot desire to help us better understand this ordinance and aim to guide us to think carefully and biblically about it.

Dr. Caldwell shares that we do this because we believe that the Lord gave this ordinance to the Church, given for His people. It is not meant to be practiced any way we want, nor on an individual basis. It is to be practiced in relation to the proper relationship with our Lord. The example we see in the New Testament is that of believers partaking of the Lord’s Table together, as His body.

As they do this, the gospel is declared. Chiefly it is a remembrance of Christ Himself. And yes, it is about the believer’s relationship to Christ. But it is not just the individual believer’s relationship that is communicated here; it is also about the rest of the body of Christ. Dr. Caldwell shows the extent of this relationship through the corrective instructions that Paul gives to the Corinthian Church.

Dr. Philpot mentions a long-enduring question about whether Christ is actually present in the Lord’s Supper. He shares, in Baptist ecclesiology, there is this sense or idea of the Lord’s Supper as a memorial and done in remembrance. In the ordinance, we are remembering the body and blood of Christ, the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus. He asks Dr. Caldwell if he thinks that Jesus is present in any sense in the taking of the Lord’s Supper.

Dr. Caldwell says that he does believe that Jesus is present. He explains that he sees the elements as symbolic, not changing in any way. However, those elements represent us fellowshipping around the Lord’s Table. We fellowship with Christ spiritually, and this is an act of worship.

We must come to the Table prepared to fellowship and worship our Lord. So, as we do this, there is the opportunity to examine ourselves. There is an opportunity to confess our sin and make sure we are right with Christ.

Dr. Philpot asks if this is self-disciplinary then in some sense? Or maybe there is this built-in discipline for the Church because it requires reconciliation before it is taken? Would there then be consequences if someone does not reconcile before taking the Lord’s Supper?

Dr. Caldwell says to answer this question, it is best to let the Word of God speak. He turns to 1 Corinthians 11 and reads from verses 17 to 23 and then 27 to 34 and explains as he goes along. Paul informs the Corinthians they have trampled underfoot the true significance of the death of Christ represented symbolically at the Lord’s Table. This is a serious matter.

To make a mockery of the Lord’s Table is to open ourselves up for discipline from the Lord. Paul makes clear to the Corinthians they are experiencing the consequences of having done this. So, in this chapter, Paul gives instructions on how, what, and why they are to do as instructed when they partake of the Lord’s Table. Then in verses 33 and 34, Dr. Caldwell explains that Paul gives further clarification and instructions for them to follow so that they will not be gathered for receiving judgment.

Other questions answered in this episode regarding the Lord’s Supper are: How often should we take the Lord’s Supper? Should people be led through an online service to take the Lord’s Supper in their homes? The Lord’s Supper is also referred to as the Lord’s Table and as Communion.

If you would like to hear more in-depth teaching on this subject matter, consider listening to the following sermons exposited by Pastor Caldwell from the Word of God:

A Powerful Table for Perpetual Blessing

Monumental Change

Upper Room Riches – Parts 1 & 2

Time for Correction

The Lord’s Supper

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Is there an appropriate age when we should allow our teenager(s) to date? Should we set up rules and guidelines for their dating? How should we go about this?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, host Dr. Josh Philpot asks Dr. Richard Caldwell, how should Christian parents think about their teenager(s) dating? Is there a right way and a wrong way? What guidelines would he suggest on dating in general?

Dr. Caldwell says that there is a broad spectrum among Believers about how to handle this. There is one end of the spectrum where there are arranged marriages where one never dates before marrying. Then there is the other end where dating 30 or so individuals before one gets married is acceptable because it doesn’t matter how many people you date. However, he would say we need to think through this with great care because it does matter.

When dealing with a male/female relationship that involves romanticism, desires for another that are attractional in nature, we are dealing with some potentially dangerous issues. He agrees that as Christian’s we want to be intentional about our dating. We need to think about things like: Why are we dating? Who are we dating? What is their character? Are they someone I would want to marry and spend the rest of my life with? Are they a Christian?

Dr. Caldwell says his personal view is that the initial going out with someone does not have to be a serious talk about marriage. Dating can be a healthy way to learn how to socialize with the opposite sex. Through dating, we can discover characteristics in others that we may like and dislike. It can be a time for gathering information about each other that we don’t already know. However, he also shares that he doesn’t think that a young person is prepared to date unless they have worked out for themselves a set of standards from God’s Word.

These standards would involve what their dating relationship(s) will look like that they are unwilling to compromise, even if it means losing other dates. They have a concept of what it means to honor Christ in their dating, and they have worked it out from Scripture. They can explain it, and they are not going to compromise it.

The Bible doesn’t directly address dating. Dating is more of a western idea that seems to have evolved from the earlier concept of courtship. What we would see primarily in the Bible are cultures that involved arranged marriages. So we won’t find dating standards there. But what we will find are principles that are good and safe. Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell to share some of those, and he does.

So then, when it comes to dating, says Dr. Caldwell, we would take the principles, the standards arrived at from the Scriptures, and apply them. Ask the questions, do you love the Lord; do you want to honor Him in this decision? Then move forward and don’t compromise; live for Christ. These are the ways that Dr. Caldwell has guided his own children. Telling them further that the chief thing is, if you find someone who loves Christ, they will love you. You don’t have to date many people to find the right person.

To hear more about the subject matter discussed in this podcast, consider listening to the following sermons exposited by Pastor Caldwell:

A Generational Plan for Discipleship

The Believing Life

Living for the Will of God

Biblical Separation – Parts 1 & 2

Foundational Matters for Healthy Matters

The post At What Age Should My Teenager Date? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot sit down to talk about the social justice movement. This movement happening in the culture has made inroads to churches in our nation and around the world. Dr. Philpot shares that according to some Old Testament Scripture passages, it certainly seems that the Church should be an advocate for social justice. He reads Isaiah 1:17 and Micah 6:8, saying that in these passages, God is commanding justice. These seem to imply that every believer ought to advocate for the kind of justice God commands. But is this the case? Is that what God calls us to do? Is the Church to be an advocate for social justice? The word social does not appear before God’s commands, biblically speaking. So how should we understand this? What is our place as individuals, and what is the Church’s place or role regarding justice and righteousness in the culture?

Dr. Caldwell shares that this terminology is supercharged at the moment. A lot of what is being done in the name of social justice is not social justice. This justice is mislabeling because it does not represent the justice of God. He tells us that instead of taking the world’s categories and trying to figure out how we are to relate to them, we ought to look at these things and say what the biblical categories are. We should ask how are we to be thinking as a believer and then be faithful to that. He then proceeds to explain some of what this looks like. He repeats himself when saying the problem we have right now is that a lot of what is going on in this name, social justice, is not justice.

Dr. Caldwell wants to explain why he has said this and why he repeats it. To do so, he takes us to Exodus 23 and reads verses 1-9, telling us that it is a great passage that addresses what is going on in our culture. Following are excerpts from what he shares that stand out to him:

1. True justice is never built on falsehoods. Justice is not built on strawmen. Justice is not arrived at nor administered faithfully by taking truth and twisting it, making it something that it is not.
2. You do not arrive at justice when you show favoritism. We are not to tip the scales by being partial or showing favor, one over another.
3. We have specific warnings about vengeance. We are not to operate in hatefulness, in unforgiveness, nor with a sense of personal vengeance.

So, a lot of what is going on today in the name of justice is just this; it is reverse hate. These ways are anti-biblical; this is not what God calls His people to be, neither individually nor corporately. The first priority of the Church is the soul. The Church’s aim is to be vertical, not horizontal. We are to demonstrate God’s love in the Church in the way that we treat each other. Then we do good to all as opportunity is given. But it begins in our own set of relationships, in our homes, our churches, in those spheres where we live it out. However, it is not by the standards of lost men but by the standards of God’s Word. We are looking for what is right. We are looking for what pleases Him.

Dr. Philpot and Dr. Caldwell briefly discuss how the Old Testament applies and does not apply to us today and why this is so. They share the importance of drawing principles out of it to understand how we should think about justice socially. Dr. Caldwell reminds us that God’s justice is even-handed and right; His justice is not based on social-economic situations. These are the things that should guide our minds and our lives as members of His Church. They then discuss the difference between an individual advocating for these principles mentioned versus what the Church should do. Dr. Caldwell also shares whether he would ever lead the local church he pastors to join a social movement in advocating for justice.

Lastly, anticipating some objection, Dr. Philpot believes that a vast majority of people would say yes, do not show partiality; yes, we are to advocate for justice for both the poor and the rich. But, there would be this interjection that the ‘system’ is naturally bent towards advocating for the rich person over the poor; the ‘system’ is corrupt. He asks Dr. Caldwell how he would respond to this in terms of biblical justice?

In his answer, Dr. Caldwell shares about theocracy, God’s law, government, and sin. In doing this, he explains how the way the economy ran in New Testament days is really no different than the way it runs today. It is due to sin; sin is systemic; it is in every one of us. The world ‘system’ reflects what is in us, our sinfulness. Until Jesus comes, this world is going to manifest ‘systemic’ sinfulness. Yet, as people are converted, as they come to Jesus, they cannot live that way anymore. It is through the preaching of, hearing and believing the gospel that this change comes. Change is affected one heart, one life at a time. That is how societies become better. But there is no society that is going to be what God means for it to be until Jesus ushers in His kingdom. To think that we can, are able, and will transform this world any other way is an illusion – It will not happen!

To hear more about the role of the Christian and that of Christ’s Church in the world, consider listening to the following messages delivered from the Word of God by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

Hold The Line

A Christian Response to Sowers of Discord

The Goal of Our Ministry – Parts 1, 2, & 3

God’s Love in the World of Unbelievers

The Peaceful Love of God

The Christian’s Relationship to Governing Authorities

The Unfulfilled Obligation

The Love That Makes Enemies

A Love the Christian Must Reject

The Hatefulness of Hypocrisy in Religion

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The day of recording this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast was September 11, 2021. This day marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on our nation that occurred, September 11, 2001. Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot sat down to talk about that sorrowful day of 2001. They discuss how it unfolded for Dr. Caldwell, how it impacted him, and how he sought to shepherd his congregation in the days and weeks after.

In his initial response, Dr. Caldwell tells how he learned about what was taking place and how surreal it seemed during that time. He says that he had no sense of the gravity of what he was seeing, but as the day progressed, things became more apparent. Dr. Caldwell then goes on to share more about his experiences of 9/11/2001 and the days that followed. As he does this, he tells us that on the first anniversary, he preached from the text of Luke 13:1-5. He shares this text is what was always at the front of his mind when he would talk with people about 9/11. Having shared this with us, Dr. Caldwell reads from Luke 13 and explains that the message of this text is of great significance for us all to hear and be wide awake to.

He points out that there are no words of comfort from the Lord here. Instead, what we find are words of warning. There is a call in the words of Jesus for those hearing Him to examine themselves. Given this, as the days, weeks, and months passed after 9/11, Dr. Caldwell explains that he sought to encourage, comfort, and grieve with those who were weeping. Yet, at the same time, he wanted to convey to people the importance of seeing this as a wake-up call to their spiritual condition. God is not silent about these things. The words of Jesus remain true today for all people everywhere. We need to examine ourselves; we need to ask ourselves where do we stand before the Lord.

But what is the ultimate purpose behind these things; why does God allow these things to happen? Why is it that people are drawn together in these types of tragedies and times of crisis? How can the church worship and sing songs of praise during these times when our hearts are full of sadness, and the only desire is to lament? These questions and more are asked and discussed in this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot help us to look back and remember the events of 9/11. But they also want us to look forward. They want us to consider, contemplate, and be prepared. Are we ready to stand before the Maker of Heaven and Earth?; Are we prepared for eternity?; Is Jesus our Lord and Savior?; Have our sins been forgiven?; Are we right with God?

Do you want to understand these things better? Do you want to know what God says about these things? Are you prepared to listen to what He has to say about them? For deeper insight, consider listening to the following sermons from the Word of God given by Pastor Caldwell:

Lessons From 9/11

Repent or Perish

A Love Rejected That Conquers

Royal And Tearful

Beware Of A Hardened Heart

The Blessed Mourners

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Technological advances have made the production, distribution, access, and retrieving of information far less effortless than we could have imagined just a few decades ago. Thanks to this progress, we have unparalleled access to countless and diverse media sources and information. We have access to the internet that offers up billions of web pages. We have hundreds of television channels and radio stations, nearly three million podcasts, over two million apps for most smartphones, hundreds of daily emails to contend with, and so much more.

Is it surprising that people find themselves overloaded with information and not knowing what to do with or about it? As Christians, how should we think about this? What should our response be to all the media we are bombarded with? This will be the topic of discussion for this week’s Straight Truth Podcast. Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot seek to guide and encourage us biblically as they discuss the overwhelming onslaught of information everywhere we turn.

Dr. Caldwell tells us that it’s good for us to remember that the ways we live right now weren’t even possible 40/50 years ago. Before the internet age and smartphones in our hands that constantly buzz, ring, and alert us to something [new], people didn’t live like this. We cannot possibly keep up with all the information that comes our way.

We weren’t meant to live this way, carrying around the troubles of the world. Dr. Caldwell believes this kind of living is counter-productive; it may even explain some of the anxieties that we see in people. This includes God’s people. We are all walking around trying to live lives we were never meant to live. So what should we do? How should Christians handle dealing with the mass amount of information that just comes at us even if we aren’t seeking it?

Dr. Caldwell says that we need to discipline ourselves and live the lives that God has given us. We have to be intentional about the things directly around us and deliberate to avoid other things that are not. He reminds us that we all have a responsibility to care for the people and things that the Lord has placed in our care. We want to be faithful where God has placed us, and this will mean intentionally tuning out many other things so that we give our attention where it needs to be.

This is particularly important for the pastors and elders of our churches. Not only are they husbands and fathers who must care for their families, but they also have the added responsibility of shepherding the flock the Lord has given them. Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Philpot additionally discuss the role of pastors and elders to respond, comment, or speak out on all the things that go on in the world.

Dr. Philpot brings up another issue closely related to the church and Christians responding to outside information they receive. He asks if the Christian has a responsibility to weep with those who weep? Say a crime has transpired outside our city or state, in another state in our nation. This crime becomes national news. Are we to weep with those who weep?

Dr. Caldwell shares that whatever we are aware of as Christian human beings, we will feel sorrow over things that are sorrowful. But the weeping with those who weep statement (Romans 12:15) is in the context of local church fellowship. This, of course, applies to other believers that are outside our local church fellowship as we come into contact with them. But, it is not meant to be a general response to anything happening in the world. This weeping is relational in nature, and it is caring about people as you meet with them along the way. So we want to be careful in these situations, not giving voice to emotions that we don’t really feel. What we say and do should be genuine; it should reflect what we are genuinely experiencing.

Never in history has mankind had access to so much information. Almost daily, we are faced with more information than those in past generations would have faced in their lifetime. The result is information overload. The impact of this can cause us to suffer from increased tension and stress. Its effects may include anxiety, difficulty remembering due to short attention spans, mental exhaustion, difficulty in decision making, ill health, and more.

Yet, the information we are subjected to is not going to decrease. So as Christians, we want to be intentional and deliberate about keeping our minds and attention focused on the life that God has called us to. We must discipline ourselves to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in this age.

To hear more about how we can do these things, consider listening to the following sermons as Dr. Caldwell reminds us of the lives we are urged to live from the Word of God:

The Lives We Are Urged To Live

Love Tested By Life

Hold The Line

The Hatefulness of Hypocrisy in Religion

What We Want For People We Love

Our Helper In Prayer

A Christian Vision For Engaging The World – Parts 1 & 2

The post How Should Christians Deal With Media Overload? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

Should Matthew 7:7 be used in evangelism as a call for sinners to come to Christ? Does Matthew 7:7 teach that Christ is a gentleman and that He doesn’t force His way into our lives? Is this what this passage means and teaches about Christ?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss Matthew 7:7. This New Testament passage falls in the last chapter of three chapters (5, 6, & 7) that comprise Jesus teaching called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has addressed several topics in these chapters. How can we know what Jesus is teaching here? Does Matthew 7:7 teach how sinners come to Christ and how the door of salvation opens to them? Those in the realty business often say Location, Location, Location is everything.

When it comes to the Bible, it is Context, Context, Context. Context is everything. Therefore, when we aren’t sure of a biblical text or passage’s meaning, we should start by looking at its context. When we have determined the correct meaning of the text, we can then pursue making applications.

Dr. Caldwell responds that this passage, and the comments/statements made about Christ, might be said in response to what Calvinism teaches about salvation. There’s this idea that salvation involves bringing people against their will to receive Jesus, kicking and screaming. But that isn’t biblical. It is not what Calvinism teaches, nor what we believe.

Opposite this, we believe that salvation is a gracious work of God in the soul, regenerating us first, and faith follows. God graciously grants light to an individual’s soul to the degree that they come willing, of their own accord. God does not believe for us, neither does He force us to come. The doctrines of grace teach that it is a gracious work in our soul, and we come willingly.

He then says Matthew 7:7 has nothing to do with evangelism. The teaching we find in this passage, about asking, seeking, and knocking, is about persistence in prayer. The surrounding context helps us to see this, so Dr. Caldwell turns there and reads verses 7 through 11. He shares with us that these verses are about our being eager and persistent in prayer. We are to go on in our asking and seeking, knowing that God gives good things to His children.

Dr. Caldwell says that another text often used in evangelism is Revelation 3:20. He tells us that this verse in its given context is within a letter addressed to a church. It is given right after a call to repentance in verses 18 and 19. What Christ is calling for those in the church to do is to respond to His reproofs. Dr. Caldwell has heard it said, ‘well, the church at Laodicea was apostate, so this is evangelism.’ He goes on to say that this is questionable and further explains why he sees it as such.

Sometimes we get it wrong. We can and do misunderstand or misapply the Word of God. There are times when we do both. But, we have a responsibility to show ourselves as approved workmen, rightly handling God’s Word. So, we want to make it our aim to study and understand it well. In doing this, it will also help in making proper applications. We want to remember that a Bible text may have multiple applications but only one meaning, and that meaning never changes.

It means the same today as it did when the author wrote. In seeking to understand the original meaning of a text, we must start with the context. First, we look at the surrounding verses of the text, then move to the chapter, and if necessary, the entire book/letter. Only by considering how a text fits within its context can we determine what it means and then move on to application(s).

To gain a fuller understanding of meaning and applications for biblical texts, consider listening to the sermon links included below. These are sermons that Pastor Caldwell has exegeted from the passages spoken about in the podcast today. Also included is a link for an entire conference held annually at Founder’s Baptist Church. The topic for that conference was Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God.

To gain a fuller understanding of meaning and applications for biblical texts, consider listening to the sermon links included below. These are sermons that Pastor Caldwell has exegeted from the passages spoken about in the podcast today. Also included is a link for an entire conference held annually at Founder’s Baptist Church. The topic for that conference was Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God.

Prayer, God’s Willingness & Our Reluctance

The Faith That Trusts in God

Laodicea, The Lukewarm Church – Parts 1 & 2

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

The post Misunderstood and Misused Passages About Evangelism appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

Should women be preaching in churches? Does 1 Timothy 2:12 say that women cannot be preachers? Or does 1 Timothy 2:12 refer to a different setting or context?

A listener has written in to say that his grandmother was a preacher for fifty years. He tells us that she taught the Word of God and was orthodox in her theology and doctrine. But he has heard this verse from 1 Timothy 2:12 and wonders about it. His thoughts have prompted these questions. So this week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot tackle this very controversial subject of women preachers. They take us to the Word of God, help us look at this text and others in their context, and address what God has said about it and why.

Dr. Caldwell says what we know from Scripture is that women preaching and leading in the church is forbidden. He then shares we all have people we love that have engaged in things, even perhaps sincerely, but they were just sincerely wrong according to Scripture. He says this is where we will all be tested, not just in this question but in every area of our lives. The question is, what is the final authority; is it us, culture, our opinions, the practices we grew up with, or is it the Bible?

He tells us the text Dr. Philpot has read is clear and that we couldn’t have a clearer text. In fact, Paul not only gives the standard, but he ties that standard to creation. In verses 13 and 14 of 1Timothy 2, Paul gives the “cause” for the statements he gave in verses 11 and 12 and makes it perfectly clear. Dr. Caldwell explains this text for us and reminds us of God’s good designs and purposes, saying for us to ignore these is to disregard God.

So what about those who respond saying this text is only speaking about the pastoral office, Dr. Philpot asks? The function, is not implied here. Can a woman preach to a congregation of men and women under the authority of the elders?

Dr. Caldwell says that this line of thinking ignores 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, which he shares. He explains that it is not just about preaching in the pastoral office. It is also about a kind of submission that even reflects God’s design for the home. Returning to 1 Timothy 2, we see that Paul does not even mention the office at all. So what is done in the church must reflect the Creator’s design for men and women. This is to show respect for His will for the church. But not for the church only, also for marriage, and for the home. At every point, the church is to remain submissive to the Lord.

Well, ok then says, Dr. Philpot. But, what about Deborah? She was called a prophetess, and she exercised a role of leadership. What about her, how do you explain that?

Dr. Caldwell explains that this is an Old Testament narrative. What we read here is not the norm; Deborah is an anomaly. What we read there is descriptive, not prescriptive. It most likely reflects judgment. Women leading is not prescribed for the New Testament Church. We must look at what is prescribed for the church. We cannot take what is descriptive and make it prescriptive.

To hear and learn more about this subject from Dr. Caldwell, consider listening to these sermons he has exposited from the Word God:

Women In Worship – Parts 1, 2, & 3

Reasons For Male Leadership

Regulating Prophecy

Biblical Manhood, Womanhood, Marriage & Family

The post Should Women Be Preaching in Churches? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.