23-0730p - Detailed Summary

The discussion of the reading extends to the theological interpretation that Jesus, as part of the Godhead, is the actual builder of everything, referencing Hebrews 1 and John 1. The speaker explains that Moses served as a servant in God’s house, while Jesus is over it as a son, with the congregation being the house if they hold firm in their faith.

The speaker reflects on the church’s journey through various scriptural studies since 2015, particularly focusing on the books of Romans and Hebrews. They discuss the distinction between elementary teachings and solid food teachings as outlined in Hebrews 6, which includes six foundational topics. They delve into the concept of confession, clarifying that Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, is the rock upon which the church is built, not Peter himself. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding these teachings to grasp the deeper doctrines like righteousness, which is not considered an elementary teaching.

The discussion shifts to the doctrine of baptism, explaining its dual nature as both an elementary teaching, where it’s taught as a command to repent and be baptized, and as a deeper, solid food teaching about being united with Christ in death and resurrection. The speaker stresses that the saving aspect of baptism is through faith and obedience to God’s promise, not merely the act of immersion itself. This part of the sermon highlights the need for spiritual maturity to understand these deeper meanings.

The speaker revisits the metaphor of Jesus building His church on a rock, identifying this rock not as Jesus himself but as the confession of truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. They reference a study from "The Truth Project" by Del Tackett, which explores the concept of truth as reality, contrasting this with the modern skepticism of absolute truth. This discussion is tied to the biblical narrative where Jesus before Pilate claims to testify to the truth, linking this to the foundation of the church.

The speaker introduces a brief discussion on how biblical teachings relate to government, referencing the founders of the United States who drew inspiration from the Bible in forming the nation’s government. They mention Benjamin Franklin’s admonition to his peers to align more closely with biblical principles during the formation of the Constitution, underscoring the religious underpinnings of American governance.

In this segment, the speaker discusses the metaphor of Christians as builders upon the foundation laid by Jesus Christ, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11. He emphasizes that while the foundation is set, Christians must build upon it with care, questioning what exactly they should construct - whether it’s about being a Christian or expanding the community. He likens the church to a choir, where the focus is often on increasing numbers rather than on enhancing the skills or understanding of being part of the choir. The speaker then references "The Truth Project" by Dr. Del Tackett, appreciating how it builds on the foundation of truth, not just on individual doctrines like baptism or denominational differences, but on fostering a biblical Christian worldview.

Here, the speaker connects the Bible’s teachings to all aspects of human life, including labor, philosophy, and sexuality. He highlights the morning’s lesson, which discussed the degradation of humanity, particularly focusing on how sexuality plays a prominent role in this degradation. He mentions an example from Italy regarding transgender participation in beauty pageants to illustrate current cultural issues.

Continuing from the previous point, the speaker describes the implications of cultural shifts towards what he sees as moral degradation, using the term "scoffer" and "depraved mind" from scripture to critique contemporary societal norms.

The speaker expresses concern over proposed hate crime legislation that would penalize misgendering, linking this to the concept of a "depraved mind" from the Bible. He uses this to argue that society has lost its rational foundation, drawing a parallel with Nebuchadnezzar’s loss of sanity. He suggests that change in individuals comes through building trust and prayer, referencing Del Tackett’s new project, "The Engagement Project," which deals with engaging with irrational individuals.

The speaker shares a personal anecdote from Del Tackett about neighborly love and building relationships despite personal inconveniences, emphasizing the practical application of Christian principles in daily life.

He advocates for a shift from confrontational tactics to building relationships as a method of evangelism, suggesting that previous approaches of argumentation and condemnation are ineffective.

The speaker praises Del Tackett for focusing on building a biblical worldview rather than denominational differences, suggesting that many Christians, even those who consider themselves religious, might be conformed to worldly views rather than biblical ones due to a lack of understanding of what a biblical worldview entails.

He proposes starting small group studies based on "The Truth Project" to better engage with and teach the congregation in a more intimate, relationship-building setting. The speaker argues that this method would yield better results in understanding and applying biblical principles than larger, more formal classes.

The speaker briefly discusses the biblical requirement for kings in Israel to personally write down the law, paralleling this with the responsibility of Christians to engage deeply with scripture.

He extends this analogy, explaining that Christians, seen as kings and a royal priesthood, have a role in building upon the foundational truths of the faith, with Jesus as the cornerstone.

Finally, the speaker touches on how the teachings of the Old Testament prophets are integral to the church’s foundation, as described in Ephesians 2:19-22, emphasizing that all parts of scripture align with Christ. He concludes with a hope to implement these teachings in a way that fosters spiritual growth and understanding within a community setting.