By Mike Peek

I am writing today to update you on what the Lord has been doing this past year and my plans for next year. This past March 13th, I posted a blog titled “ Breadth and Depth ,” named so after the departed Jerry Bridges. In that blog post I announced that I would begin classes at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary , working towards a Master of Theological Studies. I began graduate studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, March 21st of this year. Last week I completed my fourth class in that educational pursuit. The first four classes of the program are called Bible Survey classes. We were required to read every book of the Bible, do a great deal of reading about each book in the Bible, discuss what we read with the other students, and write several papers. Some of my papers (not all) have been posted to this blog. The subject matter that you see on this blog will likely change over the next year, because this spring I will be taking Church History courses, a Hermeneut...

In an on-line search for the noun apologetics, a definition is given; “ Reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.” 1  A Christian website gives this definition of apologetics, “ Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith.” 2  Now to the verse often sighted for Christian apologetics, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15) Some have taken this to mean debating atheist on a stage in front of an audience about the existence of God. I am not writing to discredit that enterprise, but rather to give a philosophy of apologetics based on what has been written in 1 Peter. The on-line definition from google as well as the definition from the website quoted would indicate debate, but I do no...

The book of James begins with this passage; “James, a bond- servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.” (Jas 1:1) Who wrote the book? Though there has been much discussion about authorship the only real viable answer is James the brother of Jesus. This view also has much support from ancient tradition. 1 Who is the audience? The first verse says, “To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” (Jas 1:1b) Is he literally writing to the twelve tribes of Israel or is it metaphor for the chosen people of God? At face value this could mean that the letter was written to Jewish believers who were dispersed outside of Palestine, but the apostle Paul contends that the true Israel of God is spiritual and not ethnic. Therefore, in that since it could be written to all believers who are facing the hardships of being citizens of the kingdom of God who are presently dwelling in the kingdom of man. Because of its placement in the...

     In Matthew Chapter 26, before his betrayal and arrest, the Lord took with him Peter, James, and John. The Lord on that fateful night told them, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mat 26:41) Paul in all of his epistles spends a great deal of time talking about the Spirit and the Flesh. Today I would like to analyze the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from Paul’s epistle to the Galatians.      According to T. Paige, Paul’s concept of the Holy Spirit came from three main sources; (1) The Old Testament, (2) Intertestamental Judaism, and (3) Christian thought. Paul’s Old Testament understanding of the Spirit was God’s presence and power. 1  As of note Paul did not have a Hellenistic idea of the Spirit as something being at the beck and call of man. Paul understood that the Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit, and because God is One there is only one Spirit in all. 2  Paul beli...

Being both a Registered Nurse and a Theology student I know and understand that there are both physical and spiritual causes for depression. Believers are often told that we should not be despondent, but should be joyful at all times because of the hope that is in us. In fact Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit. (cf. Gal 5:22) Yesterday evening before sitting down to write, I met as is our costume on Wednesday nights with my local church for a fellowship meal and prayer. I was humbled by the prayer request. A man struggling with his father’s decisions after the death of his wife (the man’s mother). A husband and wife whose adult daughter is confused about her gender. A missionary and friend who is detained in Turkey, and his wife deported. And these are just a few examples of some of the things that our brothers and sisters are struggling with today. I believe that the root cause of depression in a believer is a tendency to walk according to the flesh rather than according to the...

When asked by the Pharisees about marriage, more specifically about divorce, the Lord gave this answer; "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ' For this reason A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh '? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." (Mt 19:4-6) This was not asked because the Pharisees wanted an answer, but because they were challenging the Lord’s authority as the new and better Moses. Their follow up question demonstrates that point, but I have quoted the Lord’s words because in saying it, the Lord defined marriage from creation. The more a society as a whole becomes sexually immoral, the more likely it is that sexual immorality will invade the church. Sex was created by God and given to men and women with a two fold purpose; (1) it binds the man and woman together, (2)...

Dunn said about The Letter to the Romans, “It is most important as being the first well-developed theological statement by a Christian theologian which has come down to us, and one which has had incalculable influence on the framing of Christian theology ever since--arguably the single most important work of Christian theology ever written.” 1  Christianity in Rome likely began in the Jewish synagogues. Roman gentiles came into the church, but in 49 A.D. Jews were expelled from Rome. When Jewish Christians began to return to Rome there was likely tension between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians regarding orthopraxy (right action). 2 It is obvious that Paul, in writing his theological statement that we call Romans had many purposes for writing it, but one of those purposes was to heal either potential or real division in the churches in Rome between Jewish and Gentile Christians. 3  Therefore, the apostle begins the letter after a long greeting with a themat...

I f I had to pick a single passage of scripture and say that it was my favorite, I would have to say that The High Priestly Prayer in John chapter 17 is that passage. It is my favorite for a number of reasons, but one of those reasons is in it the Lord prayed to the Father on behalf of the church for unity. (cf. John 17:20-23) In the epistle to the church at Ephesus 2:13-16 the apostle calls the Law of commandments the enmity. It is this enmity that divides the Jew and the Gentile. Paul established in Romans 1-3 that both Jew and Gentile are guilty, the Gentile without law and the Jew under the Law have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore, both the Jews and the Gentiles alike are justified through faith in Jesus Christ alone. J. D. G. Dunn in his Dictionary article “Romans, Letter to the” established three purposes for the apostle Paul in writing the epistle; missionary, apologetic and pastoral.1 With regards to Pastoral he said that Paul wrote to heal ...

In this blog post I would like to discuss the rationale for Jesus opponents. In order to understand their rationale, we need to ask and understand, who were the opponents? The main text for this post will be John 11:47-53. “Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.” (John 11:47) The chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council. The Sanhedrin (council) was the supreme Jewish religious, political and legal court in Jerusalem in New Testament times. 1  According to three Greek sources; the New Testament, Apocrypha and the Jewish historian Josephus there was a single body in Jerusalem. 2  The Sanhedrin consisted of lay aristocracy and priest who were sympathetic to Sadducean theology; it also consisted of Pharisaic scribes. According to both the New Testament and Jewish historian Josephus, during the first century the chief priest were the leading figures in the Sanhedrin ...

On a certain day one of the brothers and I were making much of Jesus Christ at a local college campus when one of the students came up and said, “Christianity is a death cult, you Christians worship death.” I do not know where, or from whom this young man got his information, but it could not be any further from the truth. Christianity is a religion of life, we serve a risen Lord; in fact, without the resurrection we are like the apostle Paul said to be pitied. (cf. 1 Cor 15:16-19) Christianity centers on the person of Jesus Christ: (1)    His bodily resurrection as witnessed by the apostles. (2)    The promised bodily resurrection of all the dead in Christ at his return. Christ’s resurrection is therefore a major theme in Acts, because it is the apostles witness of the resurrection of Christ and his promised return that motivates believers to spread the gospel. The Acts of the Apostles which is a narrative history of the first century Christian Church begi...

I think that it is a strong possibility that John chapter 20 is a new creation narrative keeping with the Johannine theme of the incarnation, God in human flesh. John 20:1-2 Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the first day of the week while it was still dark. In the Genesis narrative of creation there was darkness before God said, “Let there be light.” (Gn 1:2-3) John and Peter came running to the tomb, John peered into the tomb, but Peter when he arrived went inside. Peter saw the grave clothing, but when the beloved disciple saw it he believed that the Lord was risen, and yet did not fully understand the scripture. (Jn 20:3-10) In John 20:11-18 Mary stayed at the tomb weeping which was in a garden. She looked into the tomb and saw to angels in white sitting. I believe that this is a picture of “The Mercy Seat” that sat atop the Ark of the Covenant inside the holy of holies.  (Ex 26:33-34) We know that Mary Magdalene was a sinful woman, she a sinful woman gets the privil...

In this blog post I would like to talk about the way that we should view finances as followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus said; “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33-34) Does the Lord’s statement about possessions seem extreme? Does Jesus really mean to sell your possessions and give to charity? Why would he say such a thing? Don’t we need things in order to live? It seems that Jesus was in the habit of saying these kinds of extreme things about money and possessions. He told the rich young ruler virtually the same thing when he asked the Lord, “Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18) At the end of a discussion about keeping the commandments the Lord said to the rich young ruler, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribut...

Today I would like to talk about the subject of human suffering and how we as followers of Jesus Christ can seek the best for the other person who is facing suffering to the glory of God. You have likely heard someone say, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I know that the Scriptures teach us that no one is good, but I do not think that this is what is in mind when this question is asked. There are those who are following the Lord and seeking the best for their neighbor who undergo tremendous tragedy, seemingly without explanation. The thinking in most people’s minds when asking this question is that if you do good you get good and if you do bad you get bad. By profession I am a Critical Care Registered Nurse; which means that I help people, who, because of illness or injury are unable to sustain life without help. Everyone who is in the intensive care unit is there, because either they want to get well or someone else wants them to get well. I see a great deal of human suf...