Writing for Exiles The Faithful God: Living as Exiles 16 May 202218 Oct 2021 Now that the text has been analyzed and situated in its proper context, the final step of the interpretive process is to apply it to Christians today. To do this,…
Writing for Exiles The Faithful God: Canonical Context 9 May 202218 Oct 2021 In WCF 1.9, the divines affirmed the analogy of faith which is the clearer Scripture interprets the murkier Scriptures. Therefore, Scripture as a cohesive whole interprets itself and makes many…
Writing for Exiles The Faithful God: Historical Context 2 May 202218 Oct 2021 While understanding how this passage contributes to God's overall plan of redemption is important, it is equally vital to understand the historical context of the contents in the passage as…
Writing for Exiles The Faithful God: Literary Context 25 Apr 202218 Oct 2021 While examining the details of a text helps the reader understand what the author is communicating, the text must be understood in its context. For no one has written a…
Writing for Exiles The Faithful God: Introduction & Text 18 Apr 202218 Oct 2021 "If God is so good, then why does evil exist? Why did God send a flood to destroy the whole world if everything he created was 'very good'? Why did…
Writing for Exiles Israeli Education for the Church: Living as Exiles 11 Apr 202218 Oct 2021 Now that 6:4-9 has been thoroughly exegeted and its theology fully considered, what does this passage have to do with the church today? The Person The first major focus of…
Writing for Exiles Israeli Education for the Church: Biblical & Theological Context 4 Apr 202218 Oct 2021 Peter writes in his second letter that God has given his people all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). As a result, God's people have his Word…
Writing for Exiles Israeli Education for the Church: Literary Context 28 Mar 202218 Oct 2021 The context of this passage is quite broad. Moses is addressing Israel and teaching them about the law (4:44-26:19).[1] He begins the core of his message reiterating the Ten Commandments given…
Writing for Exiles Israeli Education for the Church: Historical Context 21 Mar 202218 Oct 2021 After analyzing the text, it is important to situate it in its historical context. The surrounding events and this teaching did not happen in a vacuum; they happened in a…
Writing for Exiles Israeli Education for the Church: Introduction & Lexical Analysis 14 Mar 202218 Oct 2021 When it comes to Christian education—especially of young people—many questions run through peoples' minds. "Do I send my son/daughter to a private Christian school? Do I homeschool them? Send them…
Writing for Exiles One Body, Many Members (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) 7 Mar 202218 Oct 2021 Last year, as we came out of the first round of lockdowns in Pennsylvania, I started to get outside more and ride my bicycle—something I hardly did for the past…
Reading with Exiles Approach to Revelation & Eschatology 28 Feb 202220 Oct 2021 There are potentially 36 possible combinations of one's view of the end times—some more exegetically tenable than others. Due to the revelatory and apocalyptic nature of this book, it is…
Writing for Exiles The Means of Grace (Acts 2:42-47) 21 Feb 202218 Oct 2021 My guess is that you don’t need my help to uncover a saddening situation you encountered this week– maybe something with our nation, your family, a career, health diagnosis or…
Writing for Exiles Creativity & Copyright 16 Feb 202224 Jun 2021 I'll have to admit, this is a pretty niche series. However, in order to demonstrate the relevancy of our faith to all areas of life—even copyright law—I wanted to share…
Writing for Exiles Factional Leaders & Followers: Christologically Focused (Part 3) 7 Feb 202216 Oct 2021 How does 1 Corinthians 1 and Philippians 2 inform leadership and followership? First, factionalism damages the church. Factionalism creates damage by sowing pride in leaders. For someone in a position…
Writing for Exiles Factional Leaders & Followers: The Philippians Christological Solution (Part 2) 31 Jan 202216 Oct 2021 The Westminster Standards divides Christ’s life into two distinctive parts: his humility and exaltation.[1] Christ’s humility “consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the…
Writing for Exiles Factional Leaders & Followers: The Corinthian Leadership & Follower Problem (Part 1) 24 Jan 202216 Oct 2021 Every leader knows they have followers and the power to influence them. In an age of divisiveness, the leader’s power can—intentionally or unintentionally—create a cultic following. The followers will begin…
Writing for Exiles Human Sacrifice: A Reexamination of Jephthah’s Vow 19 Jan 202224 Jun 2021 Imagine, for a moment, a short story one would know well. The short story is memorable because of how well written and surprising it is. However, the short story has…
Writing for Exiles What is Sacrifice? 12 Jan 202224 Jun 2021 This post was originally part of a presentation at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School. It has been modified from its original version. I have the daunting task…
Writing for Exiles Suffering Well 5 Jan 202224 Jun 2021 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you…
Writing for Exiles How Do We Respond? 29 Dec 202118 Oct 2021 Fast forward 795 years. Benedict, Charlemagne, and Francis have long since passed from this life and into eternity, but their effects are still felt to this day. Without these men's…
Writing for Exiles Answering Our Dilemma: Saint Francis of Assissi 22 Dec 202118 Oct 2021 Saint Francis of Assisi, like Saint Benedict of Nursia, came from an affluent family.[1] As a result, he could have become anything he desired: in this case, a knight.[2] However,…
Writing for Exiles Answering Our Dilemma: The Carolingians 15 Dec 202118 Oct 2021 If there are two words that could sum up the relationship between the Carolingians and the state, they are "power struggle." The first confusing situation the church and state found…
Writing for Exiles Answering Our Dilemma: Saint Benedict of Nursia 8 Dec 202118 Oct 2021 Not much is known about Benedict's early life. However, the most popular place to start with Benedict is with his motivation for life. Benedict was lived in Nursia, a Roman…
Writing for Exiles Benedict, the Carolingians & Francis: Answering Our Dilemma 1 Dec 202118 Oct 2021 In my undergraduate program, my professors sought to form the whole person through a three-fold paradigm: the heart (be), head (know), and hands (do). In this model, classes in church…