Lord, This Is A Hard Saying!

Once again we have some awesome readings to crawl through. In Acts 10 we see Peter on a role. Along with his fellow apostles we see the acting out of Isaiah 66. Psalm 98 reminds us that Jesus does the Yahweh things. In John 15 we meditate on what the Love of God really looks like, and in 1 John 5 we find that our victory is already won, and it's Christ who won it for us on the cross.

When reading the New Testament, it's imperative to go back and read the Old Testament chapters which the New Testament authors cite. When Peter tells the Scribes and Priests that Jesus was the stone which the builders rejected, he's citing Psalm 118 and everything that goes with it. We then move to John 10, where Jesus says he's the Good Shepherd. This brings Ezekiel 34 to mind, and Jesus says a whole lot by simply saying he's the Good Shepherd.

Theodicy: The Problem of Suffering We wrap up our class on Hard Sayings with the question of theodicy, or the problem of suffering in light of an all-powerful, all-knowing, benevolent God. “For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.” --Psalm 73:3-6 Why does God call some Christians to suffering while others are called in times of peace and prosperity? Well, as we’ve learned, earthly prosperity is often very bad for the soul. And when our priorities are straight, we see that the riches and comforts of this world pale in comparison to the eternal riches which are ours through Christ Jesus. God blinded Paul in order that he might see the Gospel. God may still sometimes blind us for our own good, in order that we might see, and it’s for the good of our eternal souls. That said, as was with Job, sometimes the answer from God is simply “trust me and my eternal promises.” And…it’s worth noting, too, that often the righteous judgments of God are hidden or delayed in this life, but will be fully displayed on the last day, when all will be naked and exposed before the one to whom we must give account. On that day, you better have Christ as your advocate when you stand before a holy God burning with righteous justice. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

Today we discuss the New Covenant verses the Old Covenant, and why we don’t practice all the Old Covenant laws anymore. From the moment after Christ ascended, the early church had several topics to work through, including circumcision and dietary laws to name a few. Paul, Peter, and the author of Hebrews have more than a few things to say on the subject. We discuss several forms of Judaizing which some Christians still struggle with today, and we’ll find that the New Testament isn’t silent, and understanding the extremely important, but often overlooked, topic of the New Covenant sheds important light on the subject. Rejoice! For we are under a New, Better Covenant! You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.” --Jesus Too often we make Jesus fluffy. He surely is compassionate and merciful, and he came to be a servant, but he also wields a proverbial giant two-edged sword. Today we discuss this and the cost of discipleship, which is not always sunshine and roses. We see, however, that the costs are not even worth comparing to the eternal gifts he freely gives.

Really? A talking snake? Why doesn’t this seem to faze Eve? Really it begs a couple other questions: Could animals talk? Who did Eve think she was talking to? Did it really happen this way? Today we look at the serpent in Genesis 3 and the theme it carries forward through the rest of the bible all the way to Revelation. We’ll find that God sends snake wranglers to combat the forces of evil along the way, arriving eventually at Jesus who defeats sin, death, and the power of the devil on the cross. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15 You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” In Luke 16, Jesus shares the intriguing Parable of the Dishonest Manager, a story that challenges conventional thinking and provokes deep reflection. All of the characters are bad, and it centers around a manager who, upon facing firing, cleverly reduces the debts of his master's debtors to secure his own future. Surprisingly, Jesus points to this dishonest manager as an example, not for his unethical actions, but for his shrewdness in planning for the future. It’s a parable that makes you think about what’s really important to you, and whether your decisions and actions actually line up with your values. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

The Conquest of Canaan has been a stumbling block for many Bible readers over the millennia. Why would a loving God have his people conquer a land with people already in it? There is much to this story, which unfolds over several books in the Old Testament. We discuss God’s “Plan A” in Exodus and we see how God’s goodness is expressed in both his mercy but also his right justice. Also, τοὺς γίγαντας! For more on τοὺς γίγαντας, listen to this episode of A Word Fitly Spoken: https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/they-might-be-giants/id1345670870?i=1000581016307 You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” –Hebrews 6. Can apostates return to the fold? Are those who fall out of the faith sealed in their unbelief? Hebrews 6 has caused more than a few Christians to experience unwarranted fear, but the book is actually one of immense comfort to the Christian, as we have a great High Priest in Christ who intercedes for us even today. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret⁠ All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

Why would God harden someone’s heart? What about free will? This week we talk about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and Paul’s application of the subject in Romans 9. God tells Pharaoh, “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” We look at the process of the plagues, Pharaoh’s role, and the wider story of God’s plan of salvation for his people. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret The first referenced article: On Silicon Valley religion and the death of atheism. https://www.staseos.net/post/deus-ex-machina You can find all of the great Dr. Adrian Gaty’s writings here: For The Federalist: https://thefederalist.com/author/adriangaty/ His Substack: https://substack.com/@gaty All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

Did the Israelites, right after being freed from slavery, immediately start practicing it amongst themselves? Did God allow fathers to sell their daughters for extra cash? The answer, despite what Reddit Atheists will claim, is no; and quite frankly we could probably learn a few things about how to order our lives from them. Join us this week and see how. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

“Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.” How should Christians deal with the intense emotions we might feel against unrighteousness in the world? How should it affect our prayer life? Is it okay to pray against certain people? Today we cover “imprecatory” psalms, prayers which ask God to bring his vengeance down upon the wicked. We explore if these types of prayers still have a place for the Christian today. You can find any class handouts (PDF) here: https://electricsystemconsulting.com/secret All music recorded by Jonathan. Intro and outro music was played on a Seagull Merlin Strumstick Dulcimer. Interludes are a regular 6-string guitar.

Buckle up, buttercup! We’re going to tackle some uncomfortable and challenging sections of scripture. Often when Christians read certain topics in scripture, they do exactly the wrong thing: shy away, skirt the text, or ignore it altogether. So strap in and let’s wrestle with some challenging sections. When we put down our guard, lean into the text, and let it speak, we often find there the largest blessings, and discover ourselves the closest to grace.