X44 KINGDOM COVENANT PATRIOTISM / NATIONALISM DISCUSSION Dr. Will Ryan, Dr. Steve Cassell, and Pastor Matt Mouzakis 2 masters Remnant vs salvific instruments Rival kingdom vs reclaimed kingdom Who is fighting the Battle? American Govt as pagan or potential Christian Churches involvement in government
Revelation 3:14 -22 Background/History Laodicea was named after Laodice the wife of Antiochus II, the founder of the city. Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae were the 3 major cities in the Lycus valley and build among the Lycus river. In the first century Laodicea was the banking capitol of Asia minor (It was the home of the millionaires) Laodicea was destroyed by an earthquake in 61 AD and when offered aid to rebuild from Rome it refused because they were so rich that they were self-sufficient ...
Revelation 3:7-13 Background Philadelphia is 25 miles SE of Sardis in the Hermes Valley. It is the youngest of the churches in Revelation. Philadelphia means “brotherly love”. When King Eumenes II of Pergamum founded the city of Philadelphia he named it after his younger brother and successor Attalus Philadelphus. Attalus got the nickname Philadelphus (The one who loves his brother) because Attalus was deeply loyal to his brother to the point when the Romans offered to help Attalus overthrow his...
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+scot+mcknight&qid=1661285141&sprefix=a+church+calle%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1 Blog https://www.ch...
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 believed they were safe but on the 14th day of this siege a few Persian troops claimed the cliff where ...
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 workers. It became known for its purple dye (Lydia in Acts 16 was in this line of work). • There were also a lot of metal and bron...
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) (Eugene Boring) A Slaughtered Lamb (Gregory Stevenson) Reading Revelation Responsibly (Michael J. Gorman) The Triumph of the Lamb (Dennis E. Jo...
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 in Pergamum also worshipped the god Asclepius, who was a healing God in the form of a serpent. They also were the center for...
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 (v9a) • No health and wealth gospel is being preached to the church in Smyrna • Some have argued that ptocheia (poverty) is a very strong word for this concept meaning th...
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 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the media or comments on this channel are those of the speakers ...
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. Ephesus was the home to many major temples. The patron God of Ephesus was Artemis who was the goddess of food and fertility/chil...
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 you to know that the word “church” isn’t in the Bible. We have created the traditional concept of what we ca...
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 it?” Canaanites: God was patient for 400 years and then decides it’s judgment day. It is one of the times in history that God a...
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 complementarian roles 3. The idea of gender “roles” is not biblical. “Giftings” is a more biblical approach. • The Spirit always gives gifts indiscrim...
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 priests in the line of the Messiah but likely not the first people on earth. 2. God inaugurated creation in 7 days as a cosmic temple 3. ...
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. The heart of someone living in the kingdom is empty of contempt towards others made in God’s image. Anger, ...
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” is the Hebrew word “shamar” meaning to watch or guard. The duties of the Levitical priests are fou...
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 Evangelical Review of Theology and is the author of “The Perfection of Our Faithful Wills” (Wipf &...
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 holocaust to the apartheid in Africa, Romans 13 has been used to justify the “divine right of kings” and t...
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. · Suffering is not something we should look for, but it is something we should be willing to do for Christ. It shows our participation ...
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 be seen as a test of allegiance o Suffering is bearing witness for Christ and a cause to rejoice o Suffering looks like shame to the world, but it is actually glory o Those who suffer i...
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 Enoch12:4-13:2 Baptism 1 Peter 4:1-6 The Purpose of Christ Separate from the world Gospel preached to ...
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 and Atonement Conclusions Slaves (and all believers) are to be like Jesus displaying an attitude in su...
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 referred to neither a sacrifice for sin nor a punishment for transgression, but a price of release or a pr...
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 Family language in 1 Peter Salvation, inheritance, & resurrection Faith and testing/trials Prophecy Application We are primarily Gentiles living in a post-Christian natio...
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 suffer the alienation of being a visiting foreigner in our own culture wherever its values conflict wit...
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 • The Hebrew and Greek terms we’ve looked at denote someone who is whole, intact, mature, and wholehearted. In no instance do they denote what our English word perfect communic...
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 the Exile Nationalism is an “idol” Mark of the Beast Live as Exiles Romans 12:2- Be transformed by the renewing of our minds… We don’t think in the ways of this world....
The importance of land begins early in the biblical narrative in Eden. This is where heaven and earth overlap. Where God dwells and walks with his priests in the garden which is sacred space. Sacred space is the place were God and humanity dwell together. With Israel the promise land, the land of Israel, was sacred space. God’s temple was there, and he dwelt with his people. The temple was the new place where heaven and earth overlapped. Israel was exiled for polluting the land with their false ...
Law as Grace The Torah was Grace. God didn’t say get right and then I’ll free you from Egypt. Torah was Israel’s instructions on how to live in a wise way and how to properly represent God in the world. Not necessarily rules but a way of life. What is the Sermon on the Mount? The context is about the kingdom of God (Matt 4). So this is the kingdom ethos… the “law of the Kingdom” The Sermon on the mount is an all-out assault on the ego… a call to be crucified and live the Jesus way. Beatitudes Ma...
