We recently emptied out our church library to make some room for future projects, and it got us thinking all about books! Books can be an incredible blessing from the Lord when it comes to understanding his word and the concepts within it better, and yet there is only so much time in a day to read! So how do we discern which books are helpful for our growth, and which are a waste of time? Should we read authors or perspectives we disagree with? If we want to read more, where should we start? Josiah and Andrew tackle all of these questions and more this week on the podcast.

It's with his typical insight and simplicity that theologian Warren Wiersbe opens his commentary on James:

"Not everybody who grows old, grows up. There's a vast difference between age and maturity. Ideally, the older we are, the more mature we should be; but too often the ideal does not become the real. 

"The result is problems—problems in personal lives, in homes, and in churches. As a pastor, I see more problems in these areas caused by a maturity than by anything else. If Christians we just grow up, they would become victors instead of victims. 

"The epistle of James was written to help us understand and attain spiritual maturity: "… That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4). I like the way J. B. Phillips puts it: '... and you will find you have become men of mature character, men of integrity with no weak spots.'"

To help us explore this maturity-encouraging, growth-inspiring, God-inspired writing we welcome Dr. Fred Chay to the podcast. Dr. Chay is the founder of Grace Line Ministry, professor of theology and dean of the doctoral studies program at Grace School of Theology, and managing editor of Grace Theology Press.

When thinking of the conclusion of Matthew's gospel, the so-called Great Commission often comes to mind for many believers. But as we explored chapter 28 this past Sunday, we saw there is more to this text as well. This week on the podcast, Josiah and Andrew discuss the Great Commission alongside our Great Imperfections that ultimately push us to rely on Christ's Great Provision; all concluding with their reflections on our church's near-three-year journey through this opening New Testament book.

Coming

Prayer is just as essential to ministry as it is to the life of every believer, and yet many of us still wrestle with questions or struggles in our prayer life. Why do we need to pray if God already knows everything? How do we overcome the typical obstacles in the way of our healthy prayer life? How do we distinguish between prayer as a discipline and prayer that is legalistic? This week on the podcast, Andrew and Tim seek to answer these questions and more, inspired by a book they both read recently that addresses this very topic.

One author has summarized the books of Colossians and Philemon with the following sentence: "When Christians know the supremacy of Christ in his person and work, they will be transformed and learn to live in his ways as the body of Christ, including forgiving and being reconciled with one another." Assuming that's an accurate representation of the little latter letter—and we'll see (again) in this episode that it is!—it contains a disproportionate amount of significance for every believer. The unsurprising greatness of Jesus's identity and ministry? Check. The transformation of sinners into his likeness? Check. The need for forgiveness within the body of Christ? Um, check!

Thankfully, the theologian who wrote that summary sentence has offered to help us unpack it rightly today. Dr. Adam Copenhaver currently serves as the pastor of Grace Church of Mabton in Mabton, Washington, where his ministry focuses especially on the teaching and preaching of God’s word. He has also published a number of works including that which was quoted above, a commentary on Paul’s letter to Philemon.

The Passover meal has been eaten, Judas has done his betrayal, and as we conclude Matthew 26 and begin chapter 27 we see Jesus facing various trials, each marked by the failure and guilt of man. And while we know with hindsight, as those who have read the story, that Jesus needed to die, it doesn't make these scenes any easier to stomach. The injustice is rampant and the trials are anything but fair, and at the end of it all, the innocent Christ is condemned. As readers 2000 years later, what are we to do with this pivotal event in Christian history? How does the guilt of Jesus' accusers point us to see our own sin on display and the many times that we put Jesus on an unfair trial of our own? Josiah and Andrew discuss all this and more on this week's podcast.

In his 2007 book, "Opening Up Titus," David Campbell helpfully introduces this third pastoral epistle.

And to help us better understand all of this we welcome back to the podcast Jonathan Ward. Jonathan serves as the Associate Professor of Bible and Theology at the Owen Sound Campus of the Word of Life Bible Institute right here in Ontario. He is a graduate of New Brunswick Bible Institute, Baptist Bible Seminary, and holds a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary.

The middle section of Matthew 26 shows us the beginning of Jesus' misery as he moves ever closer to the cross, and in this garden narrative, we witness the suffering that befalls him. Yet while it's hard to imagine the anguish he was going through at this time, this is also one of Jesus' most relatable moments for many of us as we are faced with trials and suffering in this life. So what does it look like to "suffer well", as Jesus did, relying on a strength greater than his humanity? This week Josiah and Andrew return to the topic of suffering, and what it means to view ourselves, and our God, rightly, in light of what scripture has shown us.

Agreeing to serve as our guide through this powerful and personal little letter is Dr. Paul Benware. Dr. Benware is a well-known and well-studied theologian and teacher who has written many books and articles and has taught through much of the canon all over the world. In fact, much of his helpful teaching can be found online for free at www.paulbenware.com.