Expedition 44

Scot McKnight joins Dr. Will Ryan and Matt to talk about the church. In this episode we discuss Scot’s book “A Church Called Tov” about resisting toxic church culture and forming a goodness (tov) culture that promotes healing in our churches. Follow Scot McKnight: A Church Called Tov https://www.amazon.com/Church-Called-Tov-Goodness-Promotes/dp/1496446003/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+church+called+tov+sc...

Revelation 3:1-6 Background Sardis was a fortress city. It was surrounded on 3 sides by extremely steep cliffs. As a result, it was considered to be so impenetrable that “to capture the acropolis of Sardis” became a euphemism for achieving something impossible. In the 5th century BC Cyrus king of Persia caught Sardis’ army by surprise and besieged the city. Even after this the people of Sardis bel...

Revelation 2:18-29 Background  • In the ancient world Thyatira was not very important like Ephesus or Pergamum.   • It was founded as a military outpost to protect the governmental seat of Asia in Pergamum.   • It did become a bit of a trade city because many people traveled through it.   • It was known for its trade guilds (It was a blue-collar city) such as wool and linen wor...

Revelation book recommendations    The Sermons to the Seven Churches in Revelation (Jeffery A.D. Weima)  Understanding the Seven Churches of Revelation (Dr. Jonathan Welton)  Unholy Allegiances (David deSilva)  Apocalypse and Allegiance (J. Nelson Kraybill)  The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia (Colin J. Hemer)  Revelation (Interpretation Commentary Series)...

Background  • Pergamum was the seat for the Roman Governor for the region. So, if Ephesus was like New York (Financial and commerce center), Pergamum would be like Washington DC (governing and legal center).   • They had the 2nd largest library at the time (Alexandria had the largest)  • In 29 AD Pergamum was the very first city to erect a temple to a Caesar (Augustus)  • Those...

Smyrna  Revelation 2:8-11    Background  • Smyrna was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia Minor in the 1st Century   • 195 bc Smyrna built a temple to Roma   Remember the big idea is faithful witness!  • Smyrna is 1 of 2 of these churches that gets praised and not correction in Revelation.    Jesus’ description (v8)   Poverty and Riches...

Interview with Keith Giles on the Church, the Kingdom of God, and Politics. Keith Giles is a former pastor who left the pulpit over a decade ago to follow Jesus. He’s the author of several books, including “Jesus Untangled: Crucifying Our Politics To Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb” in the "Jesus Un" series. Keith is the host of the podcast 2nd Cup with Keith. www.keithgiles.com  Content Discla...

Faithful Witnessing is actually the big idea in revelation  Revelation 1:4-6   Revelation 2:1-7  It is interesting that much of our New Testament was written to the church in Ephesus: Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1-3 John, and Revelation. Also, the Gospel of John was likely written by John when he was in Ephesus. We know that Paul and Timothy also ministered in this church.  &nb...

Article: https://expedition44.com/2022/07/11/the-church-series-pt1-introduction/ Matt's Sermon on the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2: https://subspla.sh/r8zp4j5  We have spent our lives trying to be good Christians that “go to church”. However, you would be hard pressed to find anything that looks like modern day American church anywhere in the pages of the Bible. It might even surprise yo...

Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Leak   • Molech is the act of sacrificing babies   • or the god himself History is filled with barbaric cultures - ancient Canaanites The Bible mentions Molech about ten times. Here are a couple of them.  — Leviticus 20:2 Jeremiah 32:35 THE PROBLEM OF EVIL:   “why does God allow all this evil to happen in the world?” and “Why does he not put a stop to...

1. Creation teaches mutuality  • Men and Women each created in the image of God  • “rib” vs. side/half  • Ezer- helper= Savior  • If you get creation wrong, you get it all wrong- Paul and etc.     2. Men ruling over women is a result of the fall and desecration of the world  • If Jesus’ death and resurrection reverses the effects of the “fall” it disproves c...

1. Were Adam and Eve the first Human Beings  2. Were Adam and Eve real people or just a typological example  3. What about Science  4. How should we best interpret the story of Adam and Eve?   MY BASIC PREMISE:  1. I believe God created Adam and Eve by His direct hand and in His image and that they were actual people but also serve as a typology, they were the first priest...

We are going to be uploading some of our sermons and messages periodically during the downtime between our YouTube/Podcast series'. This was a message by Matt at Mt. Zion Christian Church on 3/20/2022. ______________ Matthew 5:21-26 We bear God’s name by living out the heart of the Law.  Exodus 20:7 Anger pushes us in the same direction as murder in that we make ourselves judge over others.&n...

We are going to be uploading some of our sermons and messages periodically during the downtime between our YouTube/Podcast series'. This was a message by Dr. Ryan at Mt. Zion Christian Church on 3/7/2021. _________ GEN 2:15 So the LORD God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. “Cultivate” is the Hebrew word “abad” meaning to work or serve. “Keep...

In this episode we had a conversation with Nick Quient about some biblical texts on marriage from and Egalitarian position. Nick Quient is a PhD candidate in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, AU. He also earned an MA in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary and a BA from Biola University. He has published in the Canadian-American Theological Review, Priscilla Papers, and the E...

1 Peter 2 and Romans 13 have some parallelisms. Yet in 1 Peter there’s no mention of 1) Taxes, 2) Wrath, 3) governing officials being God’s servants, and 4) the discussion of “fear” is in relation to God and not authorities in 1 Peter vs Romans. The American/Western interpretation of Romans 13 (4 myths) From Luther’s justification of the prince killing peasants in a revolt to Hitler and the holoca...

1 Peter Conclusions ·   Christoformity is the major theme of the letter. In mind and in behavior. ·  Christians should have the mindset of exile within the kingdoms of the world ·  Family identity permeates the letter. God is father and Jesus is our brother and example. The ethos of the family dictates what is honorable and not what society does. We bear God’s name. ·  Sufferin...

Topics in 1 Peter 4:12 -19  Fiery Ordeal  •      Christians should not see suffering as strange because of the backwards way of their kingdom Suffer for the Name  o   Christians should not be surprised at their suffering since they are in participation with Christ who suffered at the hands of the world.   o   Reproaches should b...

1 Peter 3:8- 4:11 Empire/rulers, Slavery/Masters, Patriarchy/Pagan Husbands. Sermon on the mount • Tapeinophron Psalm 34 Earlier Peter uses Psalm 34 (LXX) 1 Peter 3:13 -17 Suffering for Righteousness Be prepared to give an account Honor and Shame 1 Peter 3:18 -22 Died for sins o Peri/Dia- because of. o Huper- For a benefit Put to death/Made alive in Spirit Proclamations to Spirits in prison o 1 En...

Aliens and strangers Evangelism by behavior/christoformity • “Submission Authorities and Freedom 1st Century Slavery Treatment Suffering Favor with God Hypogrammos is the word for example here. It has a meaning of discipleship, a pattern to follow. Literally it means to follow in the footsteps. Peter’s use of Isaiah 53 Heb 9:28 uses the same word as 1 Peter 2:24 , anaphero (bare/bore) Isaiah 53 an...

1 Peter 1:13 - 2:10 Prepare your minds Future grace Obedient children Conformed Holiness and Sanctification • Watch Bible Project: Holiness • The root of holy (hagios) is the same word for saint. But a better term is to be a “holy one” Judgement based on works • Ransom: Lutron in Greek. Means the price of release or manumission (release from slavery). In its primary usage, the lutron/kōpher referr...

1 Peter 1:1-12   Topics in 1 Peter 1:1-2  Aliens/Exiles  Elect/Chosen  Dispersed/Diaspora  Foreknown  Trinitarian action in sanctification   In his introduction Peter exhorts his audience to view themselves as exiles in society, to be defined as set apart for obedience to Jesus and displaying him.     Topics in 1 Peter 1:3-12  Born Again ...

Significance of 1 Peter The life of Jesus and the believer’s life are inseparable in Peter’s thought . First Peter encourages a transformed understanding of Christian self-identity that redefines how one is to live as a Christian in a world that is hostile to the basic principles of the gospel. First Peter challenges Christians to reexamine our acceptance of society’s norms and to be willing to su...

What in world does God want?    We get 2 ditches: Legalism (Keep every law and be perfect) and Libertinism (Jesus paid it all so I do nothing). Both are wrong.      Walk before me and be perfect (Gen 17:1)  Be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect (Matt 5:48)   Tamim  Shalem  Righteousness  Jesus and perfection   Fulfilling the Law...

Christoformity  Image of God/Image of Christ   Bearing the Name/Faithfulness of Christ   The Example (Phil 2:1-11)/Kenosis Read Phil 2:1-11   The Kingdom of God and the Gospel   5 elements of the Kingdom   Kingdom as both present and future     The Gospel: Gospel mean good news. It was usually a royal announcement in the ancient world  The Way of t...