Unscripted: Coronavirus and Acts 2:42-47

Bryan Catherman and Jared Jenkins sat down to record a timely podcast (if there is such a thing in light of all the changes happening right now). They are looking at what believers might think about coronavirus/COVID-19 and how Acts 2:42-47 should inform us. We want to encourage you to take some time and listen in to this conversation. (And also, now you can see our “hi-tech” studio and gear!) Listen to the podcast, “Coronavirus and Acts 2 Today” here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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The Spector of Fear Doesn't Have to be Scary

For years I have taken tremendous comfort in James 1:2-4. Those verses read, "Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."

I've experienced trials in life. Perhaps you have too. In most of the tests I have endured, it always seems that there was help out there, coming. Even when we have regional emergencies like tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or forest fires, other people from safe places come running to help. Funds come pouring in to rebuild. When I was in Iraq during the first year of the war, there were rolling blackouts, no gasoline, and limited food, but there was hope. Resources were pouring in from outside. Refugees run toward hope, no matter how hard things get.   

Some in our communities haven't yet experienced fearful unknowns as an adult. There have been scares before. The aftermath of 9-11. Y2K. The Cold-war. The civil unrest of the '60s and the Vietnam War draft. Just think about the four years men and women were rationing and growing victory gardens while sending off their family members to die during WWII. They were afraid of the real threat of Nazi and Japanese domination.  

Now think about some of these same things for the people who were a little closer. Ever read the Diary of Ann Frank? Have you ever stopped to think that people lived through and rebuilt Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Imagine trying to raise a family in Vietnam in the late '60s. Remember how Communist-Russia had food shortages and sickness? I often think about how hard it must have been for the average Iraqi I encountered. And the victims of ISIS, let's not even get started with that one.  

Right now, it feels like we are in a crushing trial. It seems scary. We're worried about all our idols. But this is not the first time God's people have seen trials. Church history is full of trials, at levels much worse than this. The Bible is loaded with examples. But the Bible is also full of God's promises, instruction, and encouragement. James 1:2-4 is but one example.  

Brothers and sisters, I know this is scary. I know it looks like things could get worse. I know that's hard to hear; I don't even like typing those words. But there is one from a safe place here to help. Jesus has this, and He has you, even as the idols are crumbling and true believers tested. 

How? 

Take a good look at the things you think and believe right now. What's true? What's speculation? What's a lie? Are you filling your head and heart with lies? Are you speaking those lies to yourself? That's darkness. Jesus is Light that's come into the world, and the darkness must flee. What is His Truth? What does His Word speak about the lies in your head and heart? Are you filling your soul with His Words? Are you spending as much time hearing God's Truth from His Bible as you spend scanning social media and the news? Are you resting in God's Truth? If not, might now be the best time to start?  

Here's a practical tool to help you speak the Truth of God to yourself. Likely it's time for a refresher. And I suspect you have a little extra time. Why not watch the video and see if you might find hope, comfort, and courage in Jesus Christ. 

For the Kingdom!
Bryan Catherman

There's Got to Be a Better Church Planting Conference Out There

In May of 2020, the church I planted will celebrate her 5th birthday (if that's an appropriate way to say that). Most church planters, if they are like me, have been to more than a few conferences focused on church planting. Much like many of the books written on the same topic coming to the end of a church-planting conference is often disappointing, maybe even discouraging. Why?  

It's great to fellowship with other planters. Swag is usually good. Networking is fruitful. So what's the problem? I think it's because most church planting conferences and church planting books focus on best practices. If you've been to a church planting conference, you know what I mean. 

It starts with the speakers. No conference is going to find some guy who planted a church that took two years to grow to 60 and then went along like that for 15 years. No. What the conference wants (as do the planters if they are honest) is a big-name planter who was surprisingly blessed to plant one church that ended up tremendously well attended, really fast, and stayed huge with ease. It doesn’t hurt if were branded well and the lead pastor is cool. The same is true for the breakout session speakers. Then the conference assigns these speakers topics that hinge not only on best church planting practices of the past, but subjects in which the speakers have excelled beyond what most planters can ever experience.  

After hearing all these best practices, the planters leave feeling inadequate to do the work the Lord called them to do. I've left a few conferences feeling like any story I could tell would be the "What Not to Do" breakout and the "How to be a Mediocre Church Planter" book.  

But what if there was a different way?  What if there was a different conference?

I would be interested in the church planter conference that didn't require every speaker to be a successful, popular church planter. One where experts in actual tools for ministry could share the tool, and then the planter (who should be more than capable of thinking and processing) could apply the tool and the training as needed, if at all.   

I'm thinking about breakouts that offer instructions for sermon preparation with limited time. Maybe biblical counseling tools. Church administration help. How about a lawyer to discuss the changing issues brought by cultural shifts? What about discipleship tools that create more than future church planters, but instead faithful saints who love Jesus and bring Him glory? Could the main sessions be more like T4G sessions that bring instruction from God's Word rather than best practice success stories that, even if repeated perfectly, won't likely produce the same results? After five years, that's the conference this church planter is looking for.  

Allow me to provide an example. Imagine if Dr. Wilson were a breakout speaker on the topic of theological reflection. (Most young church planters probably don't know who Dr. Wilson is unless they did seminary work at Gateway Seminary, but that doesn't matter.) Dr. Wilson has recently written a book called A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education  (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Academic, 2020). He has taught doctoral candidates theological reflection for years. I've sat under his instruction and found it extremely helpful, especially in church planting. 

Watch the following sample video of Dr. Wilson discussing what theological reflection is and how it's a helpful ministry tool. (He is a dynamic speaker and teacher in the classroom environment, so please overlook that lack of back-and-forth engagement because it's a video format rather than a breakout.) While you watch this video, notice that it doesn't require his story. It requires his expertise. And he appeals to Scripture before he appeals to practice. That's what church-planters need! (Also, you may notice that I selected an example that just so happens to pit best practices against theological reflection. Yes. That was intentional. You’re welcome.)  

Maybe I'm alone in this. Perhaps I'm the only church planter who is growing tired of the nearly-impossible best practices church planting conferences. Could I be the single church planter who has left a church planting conference feeling inadequate? I don't think so.  

Therefore, I'm on the lookout for something different. If you know about a conference like I'm suggesting, please let me know.  There’s got to be a better church planting conference out there, right?

It's the Darkness that Changes, Not the Gospel

The gospel is seen brightest against the darkest backdrop.   

Nothing has taught me the truth of this more than church-planting in Rose Park (a neighborhood in Salt Lake City). We can find brokenness everywhere, but pastoring Redeeming Life in a broken community has put it front-and-center in my ministry. Suicides and suicide interventions, loss of family members and babies, illness, cancer, arrests, depression, and all sorts of things are just part of the ministry of a pastor. Sin still abounds, even in the church. Sexual immorality, greed, lack of forgiveness, anger, gossip, backbiting, and so-on. We have that, too.  

But recent events have reminded me that the brightness of the gospel doesn't change. Instead, we find the change in the depravity of the backdrop. The gospel is consistent, always.   

The other thing that these events have reminded me is that no matter how bright the gospel and how dark the backdrop, blind eyes still see nothing. God must open eyes if anyone is ever to see the gospel. Our job is to shine the gospel brightly--lifting it high, not putting it under the bed, or keeping it covered by a basket. Yet, as a Christian, I see the backdrop and the bright-shining-gospel.  

Not long ago, my friend shot his ex-wife and her fiance. The fiance is dead, the ex-wife is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds and emotional trauma, and my friend is gone too. Five children, parents, siblings, other family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers will forever remember February 7th and weep. It's a dark backdrop.  

Since the day we moved into the neighborhood, I've been praying for my neighbors and their three children. We've broke bread together. Their kids and our kids play together. They've attended church with us a few times, and we've driven their girls to our student ministry. We read the Bible together, and I've discussed the beautiful good news of Jesus Christ. As I do with everyone I pastor, I've called them to repentance and encouraged them to turn to Christ. I believe we've shined the gospel into their dark world.  

Blindness? Maybe. It isn't very easy to see if the seeds of the gospel have germinated. Turning to worldly hope in an ever-darkening world may not bring them to any light. The light of the World is Jesus, and there is no other Light. Yet it seems they, like so many others, sought light elsewhere.  

I mourn my friend and neighbor. I weep for what will come of all the children involved. I'm sad. But my heart breaks even more for those of us who are not blind to the beautiful light of the gospel but still seem content with the dark backdrop. 

The closer we get to the gospel, the lighter and lighter the backdrop becomes. The gospel pushes out the darkness. It must flee! So why do those of us who can see the light neglect to move closer to it? We should be like moths. Instead, we seem okay with some of that darkness. But from experience, I can promise you: darkness only breeds more darkness.   

Instead, hear the gospel. See the gospel. Run to Jesus, grab on, and never let go. Hear the words and see the light of 1 John 1:5. "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

SBU: "Talk Amongst Yourselves (Luke 13:1-5 & Proverbs 1:1-7)

Join Bryan Catherman and Jared Jenkins as they discuss Luke 13:1-5 and Proverbs 1:1-7. The first Scriptures help us address the questions we have about when bad things happen. How do we make sense of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and the others on board? What about the tower that fell and killed 18 people? How about other tragic events? Jared and Bryan take some time to talk about how Luke 13 speaks into disasters. Then they look at Proverbs 1:1-7. Is knowledge and wisdom a created thing? From where do these things come? God has an answer. Listen to this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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SBU: "Talk Amongst Yourselves" (Philippians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11, and the Rapture)

In this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted, Josiah Walker and Bryan Catherman discuss Scripture verses they once understood differently than they do today. Context is king! They look at Philippians 4:13, Jeremiah 29:11, and Jesus’ discussion of the end times. Listen to this episode of our “Talk Amongst Yourselves” series here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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SBU: "Talk Amongst Yourselves" (Pharaoh's Hard Heart and Deuteronomy 9)

Josiah Walker joined Bryan Catherman to talk about tools for keeping up with a reading plan, Pharaoh’s hard heart, and Deuteronomy 9. In this series, “Talk Amongst Yourselves” is simply about selecting a passage of Scripture that the speakers thought was interesting, convicting, or compelling from that day’s devotional reading. In this episode, Josiah discussed some thoughts from God hardening Pharaoh’s heart and how God seems to have the entire thing rigged. Bryan shared some thoughts on Deuteronomy 9. Listen to this episode, “Pharaoh’s Hard Heart and Deuteronomy 9” here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
RSS Feed | Spotify | iTunes | Google Play Music | TuneIn | Stitcher | iHeartRADIO

A Guide to Theological Reflection by Jim L. Wilson and Earl Waggoner

Wilson, Jim L., and Earl Waggoner.  A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Academic, 2020.  

Almost as if going back to my doctoral studies, Jim Willson and Earl Waggoner have provided us with a look into the process of theological reflection in ministry courses and field education. Their book is titled, A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education, published by Zondervan Academic in 2020. It's a textbook, of sorts, but it's not overly complicated or robust. A manual might be a better way to think about the book, only add some theological and philosophical underpinnings. It's much more than a how-to, but it certainly includes instruction and examples.  

The back cover claims, "It [the book] provides direction for students, ministers-in-training, mentors, and advisors, laying a theoretical foundation for theological reflection and giving step-by-step instructions for its practical implementation." The pages between the front and back covers achieve this claim.  

The first section of the book offers a look at what theological reflection is, and in many ways, what it is not. Definitions are discussed, biblical precedence and grounding offered, and a survey of previous models provide the foundation for their Reflection Loop model. The second section--and the bulk of the book-- is an offering of tools and instruction for using, teaching, and implementing theological reflection, specifically the Reflection Loop model. In this section, artifacts (as they call them) and examples from students help demonstrate the various tools. (Full disclosure: mine and some of my peer's theological reflection during our time at Gateway Seminary were used as examples. They are genuinely from actual students using real theological tools.)  

I used something similar to the Four Task model for theological reflection during my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), and Dr. Jim Wilson taught me the McCarty model while I was studying under his leadership at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (now called Gateway Seminary.) It was clear that Dr. Wilson was evaluating the McCarty model and working on what eventually become the Reflection Loop model. While somewhat similar to other models, the Reflection Loop does indeed add stronger components to theological reflection. And after explaining the model, the examples and instruction drive home the value of Wilson and Waggoner's model. 

Learning and practicing theological reflection was extremely valuable during my time at Gateway, and now the same tools and instruction are available in A Guide to Theological Reflection.  I can't imagine the book will be the next popular read for every-day pastors. Still, I do believe the material in these pages would sharpen the pastor in most areas of his ministry if he were to read this book and practice more theological reflection. Anyone engaging in ministry field-training should consider implementing the tools found in the pages of Wilson and Waggoner's work. And professors responsible for internships and boots-on-the-ground learning should incorporate this book into their planning and mentorship. CPE and chaplain instructors might also benefit from reading this book. Even pastors implementing internships or residencies with their churches could use A Guide to Theological Reflection. 

Purchase A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education by Jim L. Wilson and Earl Waggoner here. 

Book Recommendation: From & Before God by Sugel Michelén

Michelén, Sugel.  From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching. Nashville, Tenn: B&H, 2019. 

In a time when preachers seem more concerned with giving their hearers a high-five than they are about giving them the meaningful, life-changing, Truth of the Word of God, Sugel Michelén's work, From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching is a liferaft in a shipwreck. Not that the hearers in the congregation are any better. Too often, they are trying to save the deck chairs while the boat is breaking apart, asking, even demanding a high-five from the preacher. But if done correctly, expository preaching is the best safeguard from this disaster. 

Michelén gives us a 250-page book in three parts. Part one is the theological grounding for preaching, especially expository preaching. Part two dives down a little deeper into the nuts and bolts of expository preaching. And part three is practical instruction for preparing and delivering expository sermons. Following part three is a sample sermon on Exodus 17:1-7 that the author and reader built along the way.  

Before going on, here's a brief video recommendation I did for this book: 

In many ways, From & Before God is an expanded version of David Helm's book Expositional Preaching: How We Speak God's Word Today. With the extra pages, Michelén provided a more extensive focus for the broader opportunities for where preachers might preach, a how-to with practical examples, and an expanded argument for this kind of preaching. He also brought in extensive support from other sources. The recommended reading list in Michelén's book might be one of the most solid lists on preaching I've found to date.  

Also encouraging is the origin of this book. This author is not another American telling the rest of the world how to preaching. Sugeal Michelén is from the Dominican Republic, and a quick YouTube search will yield a cornucopia of his expository sermons in Spanish.   

Mark Dever wrote the introduction, and David Helm, Joel Beeke, Bryan Chapell, Paul Washer, John MacArthur, D. A. Carson, and others have already recommended this book. Although not as significant, I add my name to that list.  From & Before God is an excellent book for preachers just getting started and preachers who have been preaching for many years. It might also be worth reading if you listen to sermons and what to have a better foundation for what a sermon should be.   

Purchase From & Before God: A Practical Introduction to Expository Preaching where ever you buy your favorite books. . . or just follow this link to Amazon.

Does Everyone Get Saved in the End?

As a teacher of the Bible and a pastor of a local church in an unChristian area, I get lots of questions. My wife and I recently had a lost person ask if everyone gets saved in the end.  The gentleman even had some thought that Satan, a fallen angel would be saved too.  This in part because there are many in the area where I pastor who believe angels are humans in a preexistent state who have yet to receive a physical body or have returned to heaven after death but able to be messengers back to earth.  This idea rejects the Bible's teaching that angels are a different species than mankind.  In this line of thinking, if everyone gets saved, than Satan must saved too.  Additionally, the man tried to use Scripture to justify his pseudo-question/argument, except he twisted the Scripture.  

Universalism is widely believed, especially among the false-gospel practiced in my part of the country. It should be discussed and the Bible should be studied to see God’s Truth. While there are many ways to respond to such questions, here’s a look at how I approached it on this particular occasion.  

Question.

"If in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, does that mean everyone will be saved to include the devil?

Answer.

In short, the Bible does not teach that everyone will be saved. There are Scriptures about those who will be cast out. There are strong warnings for a reason. Bowing and confessing to God that he is who he claims to be is not the same as repenting and believing by faith rather than at the moment one is standing before the all-powerful Judge. Furthermore, angles will not be saved, and angels long to look into salvation reserved for humankind.

The longer discussion requires that we explore Scripture. I suggest opening your Bible and reading the chapters and verses in question first, then looking at my commentary. My commentary should only serve as a guide to see God's Word, but see God's Word, we must. So read that first and dig into that.

First, the context of Romans 14 (one of the places the Bible mentions every knee bowing) has to do not so much with salvation, but unity and who judges. Romans 14:1 opens by saying it's not worth disputing with a weaker brother but that we should have unity. An example is given about food laws. But in the end, God knows what's right and wrong, and God's Word and Revelation is the final authority. "In the end, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God" (Romans 14:10).

The Judge we will stand before will be recognized as the true Judge, fair, and powerful. Even if His sentence is for outer darkness, we will know it's a correct sentence. Then Paul appeals to Isaiah 45:23, from which is where the idea of every knee bowing before an all-powerful judge comes.

Isaiah 45 and 46 are about how those who rejected God and fought against Israel will one day see how wrong they were. While standing in front of the true God, they will see how their false idols were nothing and of no value. It is here in verse 23 that God says that every knee will bow and every tongue will swear and allegiance to God. However, verse 25 says all who enraged against God will come to him but be put to shame. The picture here is the guilty who rejected and fought against God are now trying to say, "Oops, yeah, you were right. I'll be on your team now." But God isn't going to let that fly. Jesus paid the price for our sins, but throughout the New Testament, we're called to repent and believe in Christ, not change our ways in the final courtroom.

We also see that Paul used Isaiah 45:23 in Philippians 2:10-11; only here, he is specifically referring to Christ and calling Jesus Lord. All will see that Jesus is Lord and bow down, but that does not mean they are confessing, in faith, belief, and repentance for the salvation of sins. At the judgment, it's too late.

If if were true (which it is not) that every person was going to be saved, how do we make sense of the overwhelming warnings about a coming hell and punishment? Here are but ten worth consideration:

Isaiah 66:22-24
Daniel 12:1-2
Matthew 18:6-9
Matthew 25:31-46
Mark 9:42-48
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Jude 7
Jude 13
Revelation 14:9-11
Revelation 20:10, 14-15

There are many more. And if all were going to be saved, why would John the Baptist warn that the ax is already at the base of the tree and every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10, Luke 3:9)?

In Luke 13:23, someone asked Jesus if only a few people would be saved? If everyone were saved in the end, this would be the moment Jesus would say so. However, consider what Jesus said:

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won't be able once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open up for us!' He will answer you, 'I don't know you or where you're from.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you're from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out" (Luke 13:24-28).

Getting back to the question, it would seem that every knee bowing is not indicating salvation. According to the Bible, every person will not be saved. And there is a clear Scripture about the end of the devil.

Revelation 20:10 says, "The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

The fate of sinners is not salvation but damnation. However, there's good news throughout the New Testament too. It's best summed up in John 3:16: "For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus suffered the death and damnation that all who believe in Christ and calls him Lord in this life (letting call all the shots) will not be cast out, but be in the presence of God forever.

A Challenge for the New Year

By Lisa Catherman

As one year ends and another begins, we often spend time reflecting on the things that we accomplished, the areas of joy and struggle, and the changes we'd like to make for the new year. It's funny how this arbitrary moment on the clock does this to us, but I know that it does. Over the years I've been a Christian, I've had some years that are better than others. Only one thing has truly made a difference—God.

I've had years and seasons of suffering. When I clung to God, I could still praise Him and rejoice that it was good even in the midst of the pain. But in other sessons when chose to turn away from God, to sin, to let bitterness, anger, or resentment consume me, I didn't count those seasons as joy.

I know we live in a sinful, fallen world full of brokenness, pain, and suffering, but we are not alone. I believe as we cling more to God, abiding in Him, he strengthens and equips us to live in this world. He never forsakes us! As you make News Years Resolutions, may I encourage you that your priority be to spend more time with God. Spend time in His word, pray more, worship more, give thanks to Him more. God loves you. He wants to woo you. He desires you! Respond.

"Building Healthy Churches" (9Marks) Book Club

I love the idea of a book club around a more significant theme, where each simple book feeds into one aspect of that theme. Building healthy churches is a good theme, and I'm thankful for Mark Dever's outline of books for just such a trek. In light of this idea, I'm starting three book clubs for 2020. Each will use the same monthly selected book. Participants can attend any one or more of the monthly meetings. Two meetings will be in-person, and one will be over Zoom.

The books will follow the video Mark provided (above).

January: Expositional Preaching, by David Helm
February: Biblical Theology, by Nick Roark & Robert Cline
March: Sound Doctrine, by Bobby Jamieson
April: The Gospel, by Ray Ortlund
May: Conversion, by Michael Lawrence
June: Evangelism, by Mack Stiles
July: Church Membership, by Jonathan Leeman
August: Church Discipline, by Jonathan Leeman
September: Church Elders, by Jeramie Rinne
October: Discipling, by Mark Dever
November: Prayer, by John Onwuchekwa
December: Missions, by Andy Johnson

9Marks offers all 12 books for $72 in a bundle. Follow this link to learn more.

Rules for Safe Play:
Anyone can participate in this book club; however, there are some rules so everyone can get the most out of the intention of this club.

1. Participants will be required read the month's selected book prior to the Zoom meeting in order to be a part of the discussion.

2. The discussion topic of this book club is the topic of the month's selected book (listed above). Therefore, we will not introduce topics that are off-topic or beyond the topic of the month's selected book.

3. This club is a conservative Christian book club and assumes the Bible is true and that the Bible is the Word of God. Conservative, orthodox Christianity is the assumed worldview of this book club.

4. 9Marks is an organization that is theologically reformed (a.k.a., Calvinists), as are the selected books and most of the book club participants. Therefore, we will not use these meetings to argue for or against reformed theology.

Zoom Meetings.
Zoom is an easy-to-use, video conferencing software that can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. SaltyBeliever.com has an account and can accommodate large groups. We'll also record the meetings and provide a link to those who were signed up but missed the meeting. Although subject to change, the Zoom meetings are scheduled as follows:

January 27th, 9 AM (MST)
March 2nd, 9 AM (MST)
March 30th, 9 AM (MST)
April 27th, 9 AM (MST)
May 18th, 9 AM (MST)
June 22nd, 9 AM (MST)
August 3rd, 9 AM (MST)
August 31st, 9 AM (MST)
September 28th, 9 AM (MST)
October 26th, 9 AM (MST)
November 23rd, 9 AM (MST)
December 28th, 9 AM (MST)

Sign up to receive an invitation to the Zoom meetings by following this link: https://forms.gle/tzVkhaLHw8EXQQgZ8

In-Person Meetings.
The Thursday group will meet at the 4th West Lee's Marketplace in downtown Salt Lake (255 North 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103). However, because it won't be open in time for our meeting in January, we'll use the Lee's Marketplace in North Salt Lake for January only (725 Redwood Road, North Salt Lake, UT 84054). Lee's has donuts, breakfast food, and coffee. And the new Store Director is a great guy.

The Saturday group will meet at the North Salt Lake Lee's (725 Redwood Road, North Salt Lake, UT 84054) and we won't switch to the downtown. We'll remain at this location for the year.

Below are the dates for the first two months for each group. We'll schedule the subsequent few times at our first meeting.

Thursday Group:
January 30th, 9 AM
February 20th, 9 AM

Saturday Group:
February 1st, 8 AM
February 22nd, 8 AM

Please let me know if you're planning to attend either of these two in-person groups. (If you don't have my number, email, or are connected with me on social media, you may contact me here.)

With the nuts and bolts out of the way, it’s time to sign up, get your books, and start reading. See you at a book club gathering!
Bryan Catherman

SBU: "Talk Amongst Yourselves" (Isaiah 66 and Galatians 5)

Bryan Catherman and Jared Jenkins each selected verses they found insightful, interesting, and personal from their devotional reading to discuss. In this episode of our series, “Talk Amongst Yourselves,” they chat about Isaiah 66:18-21 and Galatians 5:25. Actually, they look at these verses in context and have a discussion. Listen to this episode, “Isaiah 66 and Galatians 5” here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
RSS Feed | Spotify | iTunes | Google Play Music | TuneIn | Stitcher | iHeartRADIO

SBU: "Talk Amongst Yourselves" (Reading Plans, Isaiah 54, and Luke 13)

Bryan Catherman and Jared Jenkins have started a new, simple series. In this podcast series, they' are talking about Scripture that God illuminated to them during the week. In other words, these are Scriptures that the guys found interesting, insightful, or convicting. And then they just talk about them. Join in the conversation and think about what they are saying. Is it helpful? Do you have some thoughts on the passage? By listening, you can get a feel for how Pastors talk about Scripture when they get coffee together.

In this first episode, they start with the importance of having a reading plan. Then they talk about Isaiah 54:9-10 and Luke 13:22-29. Listen to this episode here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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SBU: "A Change of Affection: An Interview with Becket Cook" (part 2)

Becket Cook joined us on Salty Believer Unscripted to talk about his new book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption. And the guys chatted about much more. Can a person be a gay Christian? How should pastors approach the topic of homosexuality? How should Christians care for their LGBTQ+ friends and family while still holding to the truth of the Bible? What was Becket’s experience in the church then and now? What should someone struggling with same-sex attraction do? They discussed this and much more in our series, “A Change of Affection.”

Listen to the second part of our two part interview here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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SBU: "A Change of Affection: An Interview With Becket Cook" (part 1)

Author, Becket Cook joined Jared Jenkins and Bryan Catherman to chat about his new book, A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption. Cook is a Christian, but that has not always been so. Cook has also been at the pinnacle of a worldly career with worldly eyes and found it meaningless and empty. Cook’s identity was intertwined with his homosexuality. Yet, Cook felt empty. All of that changed when God changed Cook.

In this 2-part interview, Becket Cook shares his amazing story and talks about his book too. Listen to Part 1 here:

Buy A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption wherever you by your favorite books or follow the link.

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men?

Copyrighted image used as an educational sample for educational purposes.

* Be warned; this is about to get nerdy. But if you like grammar, Greek, history, or controversy, then you might enjoy what's coming. *

If you open to the King James translation of Luke 2:14, you'll find that it says, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." From this verse, we get many Christmas decorations, cards, and songs that say something to the effect of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men." Is this what the verse is saying?

The KJV verse is broken into three clauses. Glory to God, peace on earth, and good will toward men. However, if you open to most other translations, you'll find something a little different. The CSB, for example, reads, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!" This verse is constructed in two clauses. Glory to God and peace to those who have God's favor.

What's going on here?

Believe it or not, it's the difference of one letter: Sigma (like the s in English). But the location of the sigma (or lack thereof) makes a difference.

In the English language, we use word order to indicate which noun is the direct object (doing the action) and which is the indirect object (receiving the action). In Greek, this is determined by the ending of the word (case ending) because word-order is used for something else. In English, an apostrophe followed by the letter s indicates possession. In Greek, a different case ending suggests possession. The direct object is called the nominative case, and the possessive is called the genitive case.

In some manuscripts, the word is εὐδοκίας (note the last letter), and in others, the word is εὐδοκία (no ς on the end). By the way, this word means favor, good will, or pleasure. Without the ς the word is nominative (a direct object); with the ς the word is genitive (or the possession of another noun).

If the manuscripts that have the word in the nomitave case (direct object) are correct, then the last three words of this verse (ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία) are a clause on their own. Because word order doesn't matter but the case endings do, the statement would be "favor to people." This clause would mean the angels are singing about three things.

If the manuscripts in the genitive case are correct, then the favor toward people belongs to someone or something. It is modifying something, specifically something in the normative case (a direct object). If this is true, the direct object in this clause would be the word peace. On earth and favor toward people belong to peace.

Which is it? Which translation is wrong?

Here is yet another circumstance where the King James Version was correct at the time because the translators had a limited number of Greek manuscripts with which to work. There's a group of manuscripts that seem to have dropped the sigma, making the word a direct object. Given what they had to work with, they translated this in a way it should have been translated.

However, thanks to a great deal of archeology and other finds, we have many more manuscripts than the KJV team had. Many of the manuscripts we have available today, came from a much earlier period. They demonstrate that the sigma had been dropped off at some point. Most manuscript experts and language scholars believe the genitive case is correct, and the presence of the sigma is right.

There are only two clauses, which seem clear and straightforward when diagraming and translating this verse.

While this may be problematic for your favorite Christmas song, we should have a correct understanding of this verse. There are theological ramifications here. As the TCGNT notes, "The meaning seems to be, not that divine peace can be bestowed only where human good will is already present, but that at the birth of the Saviour God's peace rests on those whom he has chosen in accord with his good pleasure" (111).

The Long Walk Home by Matt Carter

Carter, Matt. A Long Walk Home: Discovering the Fullness of Life in the Love of the Father.  Nashville, Tenn: B&H, 2019.  

Matt Carter has written a good book. It's not earth-shattering. It's not poetic. It's not mind-blowing. It's not fadish or trendy or bound in 2019. It's just a good book. But there's something refreshing about this good book among the many other popular-level offerings this year.  

It's easy to recommend this good book to a friend, regardless of where he or she might be on the Christian journey. It's easy to talk about The Long Walk Home by Matt Carter because it's a good book. Carter has written a good book; it's just that simple.  

In this book, Carter set out to answer the question, "If I go all-in following God, am I missing out on the best life has to offer?" Actually, he set out to answer many raw, honest questions, but this one is at the heart of them all. If the answer to this question is unsettled, it doesn't matter what comes of the other questions. "Does God really love me despite my failures?" Even if God does, what will it matter if I think I'm missing out on the best life has to offer? "Do my doubts and questions about faith make God think less of me?" Who cares if God thinks highly of me when I think I'm missing out on the best parts of life? "Do I have a future in the family of God despite my past?" Do I even want to be in the family of God if it means I think I'll miss out on something better?  
The most honest question lingering in the back of the mind is Carter's first question, and he does an outstanding job tackling this question. To get at the heart of this inquiry, Carter walks his readers through the story of the Prodigal Son. It's a famous parable told by Jesus, and it becomes the framework for the book.     

There were some other insightful and fascinating moments in the book. One I found the most thought-provoking (and could be an entirely separate book) was Carter's discussion on loneliness and the impact of social media. I have shared his thoughts on this with many people since reading the book. He hits the nail on the head and then deals with the problem. But it's not a new problem. The prodigal son had the same problem.  

If this book had any shortcomings, they are found it two places. First, the cover seemed to roll back too easily. I'm not one to be rough on my books, but the paper seemed to want to curl open naturally. This problem may seem minor, but those who don't like having their books stay open when laying flat on a table understand my issue. The second issue is also trivial and didn't give me any problem, but it might be worth mentioning. Carter is Generation X. Most of his personal stories and illustrations were well suited for Generation X readers. Some unimaginative readers may struggle to relate. For example, Carter shares stories about a time before social media. For most, this shouldn't be an issue, but it does cause the work to be more timely rather than timeless. 

I found Matt Carter's book so helpful that I'm planning on using it for a men's book club and study. I may also use his forthcoming study materials.  

Purchase The Long Walk Home by Matt Carter wherever you buy your favorite books. 

It's All About Jesus: "Jonah"

In this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted, Jared Jenkins and Bryan Catherman explore where we see Jesus Christ in the book of Jonah. The series is called, “It’s All About Jesus” and this episode is focused on Jonah. If you’re not already subscribed wherever you listen to podcast, we encourage you to subscribe. You can also listen to this episode, “Jonah” here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
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It's All About Jesus: "Proverbs"

In this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted, Jared Jenkins and Bryan Catherman discuss where we find Jesus in the book of Proverbs. It’s not just the fortune cookie of the Bible. It’s a book about Christ and it teaches us much about God. Even the Proverbs 31 women is more than a good earthly wife. Listen to this episode here:

Find more podcasts like this, as well as many interviews with Christian pastors, professors, authors, and others from all across the US and Canada on our Salty Believer Unscripted page. And be sure to subscribe to the Salty Believer Unscripted on your favorite podcast app, or use these links:
RSS Feed | Spotify | iTunes | Google Play Music | TuneIn | Stitcher