Help Me Teach The Bible

The book of Ecclesiastes raises so many questions. Who is Qoheleth? Who wrote the book? Is life really meaningless? Are we supposed to just eat, drink and be merry?After putting it off for forty years as many fine preachers and teachers have done before him, Harry Reeder, senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, finally preached through Ecclesiastes. In our conversation, we talked about the things that make the book challenging to teach and how to organize teaching through the book. According to Reeder, Ecclesiastes has a lot to teach us about how to approach life and death, as well as the promise of life beyond death.Recommended resources:Preacher’s Toolkit: How Should I Preach EcclesiastesEcclesiastes: Why Everything Matters (Preaching the Word) by Philip Graham RykenLiving Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David GibsonEcclesiastes: A 12-Week Study by Justin HolcombSermon Series on Ecclesiastes by Harry ReederSermon series on Ecclesiastes by Kevin DeYoung

In these days of COVID-19, plenty of people are asking if the virus is a judgment from God, if he is sending a message to us.I recorded this conversation on the book of Joel with Paul House, professor of Old Testament at Beeson Divinity School, prior to the spread of the virus, but his points about God’s message in disaster to call out to the Lord has proved to be timely. Disasters, he says, should cause us to ask, “What have we as a people and a nation been doing? It certainly hasn’t been looking to the Lord. So without going into direct causation, these are meant to get people to repent."House presents the book as Joel preaching on Deuteronomy 28 and Exodus 34, using vivid imagery to warn of the awful reality of God’s judgments. Joel calls the people of God to turn toward God, assuring them that "even now, if they return to the Lord with all their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning, he will be gracious and merciful and relent from disaster."  House offers insight on the locusts in the book, the meaning of the the Day of the Lord, and how to present the mercy of Christ for sinners from the book of Joel.Recommended Resources:Sermon Series on Joel by Sinclair FergusonSermon Series on Joel by Christopher AshMessage on Joel by John PiperESV Expository Commentary: Daniel-MalachiThe Restoration: God’s Precious Promise for the Future by Willem VanGemeren

I spoke to Brian Tabb, academic dean and associate professor of biblical studies at Bethlehem College and Seminary, general editor for Themelios, and author of 1-2 Timothy and Titus: A 12 Week Study in the Knowing the Bible study guide series from Crossway. In our conversation, Tabb answers the question, “What is the book of Titus about?” in several ways including, “Titus is about the gospel at work,” “It’s about being saved for good,” and “Titus is about the organic connection between what is taught and caught.”Over the course of our conversation Tabb helps Bible teachers understand the unique setting of the ministry of Titus—the island of Crete and Cretans who have been saved by grace—as well as the role of good works in the life of a Christian. We also talk about what it looks like to “adorn the gospel” in the way we live it out.Resources recommended by Brian Tabb:The Letters to Timothy and Titus (The Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Robert W. Yarbrough1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) by Robert L. Thomas and Andreas J. KöstenbergerCommentary on 1-2 Timothy and Titus (Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation) by Andreas J. KöstenbergerRecommended Audio Resources:Talks on Titus by Carrie SandomTalks on Titus by Jamie ChildSermons on Titus by Alistair Begg

Colin Smith, senior pastor and president of Unlocking the Bible, discusses teaching Lamentations and its relevance in times of grief. He explains the structure of his sermon series and how the book points to the greater prophet, Jesus. The podcast explores the themes of tears, hope, and healing in Lamentations, emphasizing the necessity of expressing emotions and finding comfort in God's grace.

We have four gospels. Each of the gospels tell the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in different ways, targeting different audiences, and with different purposes.In this conversation, I asked Benjamin Gladd, associate professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, and author of the new book, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament, to walk listeners through the book of Luke looking for the particular larger biblical themes Luke seems to be most concerned with impressing upon his readers. The kingdom of God is a focus of each of the gospels, but Gladd suggests that Luke is most concerned with how a person gets into the kingdom, which is through faith in Christ. In addition, Gladd highlights the themes of the nations and Gentiles, Jesus as the obedient son, his journey narrative as a second exodus, the temple, and paradise, suggesting that at the resurrection of Jesus, heaven itself changed.Suggested resources:The Story Retold: A Biblical Theological Introduction to the New Testament by G.K. Beal and Benjamin L. GladdFrom Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God by Benjamin L. GladdHidden but Now Revealed: A Biblical Theology of Mystery by G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. GladdLuke (2 Volumes) Reformed Expository Commentary by Phlip RykenLuke: A 12-Week Study by C.D. Jimmy Agan III 

Professor William Wood discusses the book of Zephaniah, highlighting the theme of humbling oneself, connecting promises to priests' clothing, exploring the day of the Lord, discussing the historical context and its possible connection to Deuteronomy, reflecting on the fulfillment of the day of the Lord, exploring grand reversals and restoration, and emphasizing the importance of proper worship and heavenly-mindedness.

Oftentimes Nehemiah is the book that gets preached through when a church building campaign comes around. Or Nehemiah is used as an example of a prayerful, strategic, and effective leader for a series on leadership. But is seeing and teaching the book of Nehemiah through the lens of wall-builder or inspiring leader the best way to approach the book?Aaron Messner, senior pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia, suggests there is more. The building language of the book of Nehemiah is showing us something about the building up of God's covenant people, the church, which is being built with living stones led by one greater than Nehemiah.Recommended Audio ResourcesSermon series on Ezra, Haggai and Nehemiah by Aaron MessnerSermon series on Nehemiah by Alistair BeggSermon series on Nehemiah by Derek ThomasRecommended Print ResourcesNehemiah: Rebuilt and Rebuilding by Kathleen Buswell NielsonEzra and Nehemiah: A 12-Week Study by Kathleen Buswell NielsonExalting Jesus in Ezra and Nehemiah by James Hamilton, Jr.

The podcast explores the book of Habakkuk and its relevance for teaching. They discuss the questions Habakkuk had for God and how God's answers were difficult. They highlight the importance of writing down what God shows us and the faith-filled determination of Habakkuk. They also mention recommended print and audio resources for further study.

The book of 2 Kings begins with the prophet Elijah being taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, and it ends with Jerusalem being destroyed by fire with plenty of action and intrigue in between. So how do we make the most of teaching this book, clearly presenting its message and getting to the greater Elisha and the greater king it points toward?Andrew Sach, pastor of Grace Church Greenwich in greater London, has been teaching (and, interestingly enough, rapping) through the books of 1 and 2 Kings. He is also working on a book on 1 and 2 Kings for his Dig Deeper series. Having listened to some of his messages in person and others online, I noted nine things Andrew did as a teacher that make his teaching clear and compelling, which we worked through in our conversation. Andrew  demonstrates how Elijah and Elisha relate to John the Baptist and Jesus at numerous points in their stories. He also talks about how the story of the northern tribes of Israel presents an opportunity to get to Christ as the ultimate prophet, while the southern tribes of Judah present an opportunity to get to Christ as the true king.Suggested Audio Resources:Sermon series on 2 Kings by Andrew SachChapel series on 2 Kings by Gary Millar “Life Among the Remnant,”a sermon series on 2 Kings,  by Dale Ralph DavisPrint resources:Dig Deeperby Nigel Beyond and Andrew Sach2 Kings: The Power and the Fury by Dale Ralph Davis1-2 Kings: A 12-Week Study by Gavin Ortlund1 Kings(Reformed Expository Commentary Series) by Philip Ryken

Hosea is a book that tells a heart-breaking story—for some a perplexing story—about a prophet told to marry a prostitute. It’s a book that is filled with cycle after cycle of promises of judgment. But, according to David Murray, professor of Old Testament and practical theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Hosea is a book that gives teachers the opportunity to present people with vivid pictures of God as a faithful husband intent on loving his unfaithful wife, a parent whose heart is twisted up inside him over the impact of his child’s sin, and so much more. In context of all of God’s uncomfortable promises to judge his people in heart-breaking ways, Murray points out God’s repeated promises throughout the book to live, to save, to redeem, and to restore his people to himself after they’ve wandered away from him. Mentioned in this episodePreparing a sermon using The Compelling Communicator (video demonstration)Murray’s Top Online Articles on Christ in the Old Testament30 “I Wills” from HoseaJesus on Every Page by David MurrayExploring the Bible Together: A 52-Week Family Worship Plan by David Murray (releases May, 2020)Meeting with Jesus: A Daily Bible Reading Plan for Kids by David Murray (releases March, 2020)The Word of the Lord video session on Hosea by Nancy Guthrie