Deconstructing the Barbie Movie | with the Women of CIA 2023

The Barbie movie is a certified box office hit, but in between the pink sparkles and choreographed dance numbers what message does it send to viewers? Many Christians and conservatives are concerned that the film is another source of woke propaganda and indoctrination. Are they right? Or is it just a feel-good comedy that has received unfair criticism?

In this week’s podcast, the ladies of CIA 2023 come together to share their (surprisingly!) varied thoughts and opinions on the movie. Join Phoenix Hayes, Alisa Childers, Natasha Crain, Hillary Ferrer, and Melissa Dougherty as they discuss the good, the bad, and even the humorous moments displayed in the film. Making an analysis from a biblical perspective, the ladies also touch on questions like:

  • Does the movie include any elements of truth?
  • What does it mean to be a woman in today’s world?
  • What is the underlying message of the film?
  • How are families, women, and men portrayed in the movie and by Hollywood in general?
  • How can you prepare and encourage your kids to think critically about movies?

Much more than a movie review, this conversation will touch on issues of radical feminism, toxic masculinity, motherhood, and “the patriarchy”. Whether you’ve seen the film or not, you’ll be sure to enjoy this roundtable discussion as the ladies address many of the recurring themes that lie just beneath the surface of the film and how those themes are direct parallels to what we’re seeing in society today.

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

 

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Why We Praise God

Christian apologists are accustomed to dealing with the “straw man” fallacy. This is where the skeptic paints a false picture of a theistic position, making it easier to ridicule or defeat, and then concludes, triumphantly, that his skeptical view prevails. But not every challenge that misstates our views is intentional. At times, the challenger simply fails to grasp what it is that Christianity holds.

Take for instance the doctrine of Hell – the concept of eternal punishment. Many atheists take this doctrine as evidence that primitive men invented Christianity to control others by threat of eternal punishment. They then reject Christianity because they believe that any God who would punish someone for “failing to worship him properly” would be unworthy of worship. I have heard this argument presented a variety of ways, but common among them is an accusation that the God of the Bible is some kind of “petty egomaniac” whose ego we need to ceaselessly stroke to avoid eternal damnation. Let’s take a look at what is being missed in this challenge and how we might respond.

Is God an Egomaniac?

It is simply mistaken to assert that God “requires ego stroking,” because such a view completely misses God’s true nature. The term “ego” refers to self-esteem and can be defined as “somebody’s idea of his or her own importance or worth, usually of an appropriate level” or it can mean something more pejorative, as in “an exaggerated sense of self-importance and a feeling of superiority to other people.” Either way, the term cannot be applied logically to God. God does not lack any knowledge, including self-knowledge. He doesn’t have an “idea” of his worth; quite the contrary, he “knows” with certainty that he has infinite worth. He can’t have an “exaggerated” sense of self-importance because one cannot add to infinity. He literally is the most important, amazing, immense … you name the superlative… being possible. To the extent that he feels superior to his creation, it is because, well, He is. His knowledge of that fact is not arrogance; it is instead factual.

Human Beings are Egomaniacs

There is a likely cause for this inability to see God clearly. Too many people today focus far too much on their own egos, and their own wants and desires and needs. In so doing, they forget that they are not God but are instead created, and therefore, lesser beings. Nonetheless, they crave recognition, and they desire others to see them at their best and to laud them; isn’t that what most social media platforms are set up to do? In contrast to us flawed mortal beings, God actually deserves recognition for what He is, for such recognition is an accurate reflection of the way reality is. Consider: I naturally recognize when someone or something is “superior” to me; I naturally feel awe and a desire to praise something excellent, outstanding, virtuous, awesome. That’s why people like to watch the Olympics, because of that sense of awe generated when a superior athlete performs. Awe is the natural reaction to witnessing greatness.

   “Awe is the natural reaction to witnessing greatness.”

We feel that emotion even if we don’t particularly like the person who is performing so well. For example, a beautifully executed soccer goal still inspires awe even if your favorite team’s rival scored it to win the game. Since God embodies not just “greatness” but utter perfection, it is indeed appropriate for us to acknowledge Him; this acknowledgement, naturally, finds its expression in praise and worship. Responding this way is the correct response not because God somehow needs or desires it (He is a perfect being after all and therefore has no “needs”), but because our refusal to accurately assess him hurts us. In other words, knowing this reality about God but nonetheless rejecting him means we are living a lie, that we are trying to defy the natural order of things. This harms us, not God, because at a most elemental level we need to accurately view and understand reality to remain safe within it. We avoid, for example, stepping off tall buildings because we understand that gravity works a certain way. Our survival requires us to accurately assess the things that are going on around us and not pretend that they are something else.

Worship is an Accurate Report on God’s Value

As Christians, we therefore praise and worship God because we accurately see him. This response to our creator is quite simply the fitting and due response to the fact of his perfection. To deny this – to ignore God’s centrality – is to live a lie, no different than refusing to believe that the laws of nature exist.

How does this relate then to the doctrine of hell? Well, we don’t pray or “ego stroke” our way out of eternal separation from God. Salvation is a gift from God, one available for us to accept, just as eternal separation from God is a choice we make. Consider how justice works: a person who spends his life rebelling against authority, and insisting on doing whatever he pleases, following no rules other than what he wishes to do, will eventually find himself in jail. He will have identified himself as someone who cannot handle freedom, who cannot live in society, for he does not respect what it entails. He will find himself alone and separated. But this separation will have been his own fault, based on his insistence on doing things his way. It will not be because he failed to say the right things to the sovereign, but because the just response to rebellion is punishment and separation.

We see this as human beings, though our sight is far from perfect. A perfect God sees our choices and actions with perfect clarity. We can’t talk our way out of the consequences of our choices, but thankfully God does provide a way for us to be saved… if we will only open ourselves to receiving it.


Recommended Resources Related to this Topic

Hell? The Truth about Eternity (MP3 Set), (DVD Set), and (Mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek
Short Answers to Long Questions (DVD) and (mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
Was Jesus Intolerant? (DVD) and (Mp4 Download) by Dr. Frank Turek
What is God Really Like? A View from the Parables by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD, Mp3, and Mp4)
What is God Like? Look to the Heavens by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)

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Al Serrato earned his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1985. He began his career as an FBI special agent before becoming a prosecutor in California, where he worked for 33 years. An introduction to CS Lewis’ works sparked his interest in Apologetics, which he has pursued for the past three decades. He got his start writing Apologetics with J. Warner Wallace and Pleaseconvinceme.com.

 

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What Will You Say When Mormons Come to Your Door? | with Dr. Corey Miller

When Mormon missionaries come knocking on your door, what will you say? In this week’s episode, we ask 7th generation Mormon, now Christian, Dr. Corey Miller, that question and many others.

Corey currently serves as President and CEO of the Ratio Christi college campus ministry and joins Frank to discuss his new book, ‘Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message‘. Being raised as Mormons themselves, Corey and co-author Ross Anderson are familiar with the core doctrines of the Mormon faith and are using this book to help Christians learn how to strategically engage the Mormon community. In this podcast, Corey and Frank discuss questions like:

  • What is the psychology of Mormonism?
  • What are some of the key differences between Christianity and Mormonism?
  • How and why did Corey convert from Mormonism to Christianity?
  • What is Ratio Christi’s mission and strategy for reaching high schoolers, college students, and professors?
  • How can Christians help support Ratio Christi?

In the words of Joseph Stalin, “Ideas are more powerful than guns.” Ratio Christi, which translates to “Reason for Christ”, is actively training young people and educators how to discern between right and wrong ideas through its model of thoughtful Christianity. Using both the heart and the mind has proved to transform the lives of students on campus, with the future hope of transforming the culture of tomorrow and reclaiming the intellectual voice of Christ in universities across the country.

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST along with an EXCLUSIVE interview with Corey–where he explains how you can use your apologetics skills to bring the Ratio Christi movement to your local community–be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Ratio Christi website: https://ratiochristi.org/

Corey’s book: https://a.co/d/61qxOV6

 

 

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Dave Rubin on Politics and Religion

What do we make of religion and politics in today’s ongoing culture war? In the words of Ben Shapiro, “Facts don’t care about your feelings.” But does the left-wing care about the facts? As the far left continues to lead primarily by feelings and emotions, many are shifting away from its current radical extremism and finding solidarity with conservatives. But can liberals and conservatives truly find common ground?

In this highly anticipated interview, New York Times best-selling author, comedian, and TV personality Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report joins Frank to share his journey out of leftism and reveals why he’s choosing to use his platform to champion and moderate civil, open conversations between people who have opposing worldviews. They address questions like:

  • How did The Rubin Report get started?
  • If Christianity were true, would Dave become a Christian?
  • How is The Rubin Report different from other political shows?
  • What do classical liberals believe?
  • How has the Democratic Party become the party of government censorship, big tech censorship, and cancel culture?
  • Although Dave identifies as gay, he doesn’t agree with many of the LGBTQ political goals. Why not?

Not afraid to tackle hot-button social and political issues, The Rubin Report has been a safe space for dialogue, challenging viewers from all walks of life. This episode is sure to be a step in the right direction for unity among liberals and conservatives.

PLEASE NOTE: Yes, we know that Dave Rubin is an openly gay man. CrossExamined.org does not always agree with and affirm all the held beliefs of our guests. Dave did not agree with everything Frank said when he was on The Rubin Report last month either. However, it is good to have dialogue and ask questions of non-Christian guests to see if they are open to Christ, as you will hear Frank do with Dave. We also welcome guests who can add value to specific topics on which we do agree. Despite our noted disagreements, Dave gets a lot right.

Dave’s Books:

Don’t Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason

Don’t Burn This Country: Surviving and Thriving in Our Woke Dystopia

Frank on The Rubin Report:

https://youtu.be/1ggnhLrnyPI

 

 

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A Crash Course in How to Study the Bible, Part 2

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NT Greek Scholar, Dan Wallace stated, “As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers—that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right.” Well said. But how do we do that? Here is a simple acrostic that can help you remember some key principles when seeking to decipher the proper interpretation: I.N.T.E.R.P.R.E.T.A.T.I.O.N.

Inspect other translations to discover textual difficulties

By comparing different translations you’ll notice textual variants amongst the translations that will reveal problems to sort out. Take for example 1 John 5:7-8 where debate exists regarding the Comma Johanneum which refers to the addition discovered in the KJV/NKJV. Critical scholars tend to view this passage as an addition to those texts to reinforce trinitarian theology. I won’t solve the debate here but only use this as an example of the types of resolutions you’ll be left to sort out when comparing translations.

Never impose current definitions and cultural customs on ancient definitions and customs

That’s because words may vary from context to context. You don’t want to consult Webster’s English Dictionary to learn what the Hebrew word for covenant means, but instead you’ll want to consult a Bible dictionary.

Tease out the main viewpoints for the passage you’re studying

You can do this by exploring various commentaries from authors holding to different interpretative positions. If you’re studying Judges 11:29-40, you’ll soon discover that there is a debate on whether Jephthah literally sacrificed his daughter or whether her virginity was sacrificed. By weighing the options, you can make a better-informed decision even if in the end, you remain unsure.

Evaluate and be able to critique heretical intepretations

Perhaps the best example of this is found in John 1:1. Jehovah’s Witnesses notoriously have butchered this verse in their New World Translation by translating the logos, i.e., the word, which refers to Jesus, as “a god.” Ironically enough, they argue that since the Greek lacks an article before the word logos that it can’t refer to God. And yet, in the same chapter they ditch their own rule of thumb when the article is missing in other cases, e.g., as in the case of John the Baptist, there’s no article, but they don’t translate the verse as saying, “There was a man sent from a god” (1:6). The problem is Jehovah Witnesses have forced their theology on the text instead of deriving their theology from it.

Recognize the time frame in which your passage was written

It’s important to remember this, especially when it comes to the application stage. If you fail to understand what commandments hold today versus those that no longer do you may find yourself applying parts of Scripture that are no longer necessary, like avoiding bacon when under the New Covenant you’re free to feast on that BLT (see Acts 10:15).

Purchase a good Bible software program to assist you in your studies.

Personally, I use Logos. What’s so great about having a Bible software program is the speed by which you can track down information. Gone are the days when I was preparing for ministry where the serious Bible student had his desk covered with all his various tools for study. Now at the tips of my fingers I can have a report produced within seconds of endless research.

Review various tools such as a Bible dictionary, commentaries, and word study aids

A good Bible software program will have all these resources, but if you opt out of that route you will at least want the tools listed above. Each is designed to help you faithfully interpret Scripture.

Evaluate the meaning behind metaphors, parables, apocalyptic imagery, and other figures of speech

This is where you’ll really sharpen as a student of Scripture. As you learn to distinguish various figures of speech and not just interpret them in an overly wooden sense, you’ll acquire a finesse regarding the use of biblical language.

Tap into the Spirit of God for wisdom to interpret accurately

Fortunately, when it comes to studying the Bible, we aren’t left to ourselves. No, as believers, the Holy Spirit is there to assist us in grasping spiritual truth (Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:10-14).

Aim to align your thoughts and feelings with God’s Word

It’s not surprising given the context we live in that there are some things in the Bible that are hard to relate to. When that happens, it’s important not to grant a favored status to our current way of doing things. But rather it’s our duty to understand the Word in the world it was crafted. If our thoughts and feelings struggle to absorb the truth of God’s Word, it can help to do more background work so we can better understand the original intent. What we don’t want to do is impose an alternative meaning to the text all because our thoughts and feelings couldn’t stomach the original point.

Trust that you’re dealing with God’s word

Here we’re reminded that as believers we are committed to biblical authority (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pt. 1:20-21). That means when we study the Bible, we recognize the difference between a ministerial and a magisterial approach to Scripture. The former approaches the Bible as a servant who sits under the authority of Scripture whereas the later approaches the Bible as one who stands in authority over it. The former is what we’re after when it comes to interpretation as believers.

Interpret difficult verses in light of clearer verses

Another way of stating this point is to interpret Scripture with Scripture. At least as much as you can without forcing various unconnected parts to fit together. Sometimes it’s helpful to interpret verses that are less clear with verses that are clearer. Take Acts 2:38. Many have interpreted this verse to mean baptism is necessary for salvation. But given clearer passages like 1 Corinthians 1:17 how might we avoid that conclusion?

Oppose building major doctrines on isolated unclear verses

A classic example of this is 1 Corinthians 15:29 which states, “…If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” This is one of those verses which boasts many interpretations, and it is so isolated without other proof texts to back it up we’re left basically in ignorance this side of heaven. And yet, the Mormon Church has built an entire salvific industry on baptizing people for the dead by featuring massive Mormon ancestry databases. To build such an elaborate doctrine on one isolated verse with no clear interpretation should be avoided at all costs.

Nail down the author’s intended meaning by summarizing it into an interpretive sentence

Having worked through both the observation and interpretation acrostics you should now be ready to identify a working interpretation of your chosen text. In many ways both acrostics are simply observatory tools aimed at arriving at a faithful interpretation. Once you’re ready you can capture your interpretation by boiling it down to a digestible sentence. Space prohibits me from writing out examples, but you’re essentially answering the question, “What is this passage talking about?” Your answer is hopefully a sound interpretation of the text.

Now that you’ve arrived at an interpretation, you’re ready to answer the application question, “How does it work?” To assist you with an answer, in my next blog I will walk you through our third and final acrostic—application.

  • Inspect other translations to discover textual difficulties
  • Never impose current definitions and cultural customs on ancient definitions and customs
  • Tease out the main viewpoints for the passage you’re studying
  • Evaluate and be able to critique heretical interpretations
  • Recognize the time frame in which your passage was written
  • Purchase a good Bible software program to assist you in your studies
  • Review various tools such as a Bible dictionary, commentaries, maps, and word study aids
  • Evaluate the meaning behind metaphors, parables, apocalyptic imagery, and other figures of speech
  • Tap into the Spirit of God for wisdom to interpret accurately
  • Aim to align your thoughts and feelings with God’s Word
  • Trust that you’re dealing with God’s Word
  • Interpret difficult verses in light of clearer verses
  • Oppose building major doctrines on isolated unclear verses
  • Nail down the author’s intended meaning by summarizing it into an interpretive sentence.

Recommeded Resources Related to this Topic

How to Interpret YourBible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)
The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (Book, Full DVD set, and Condensed DVD set)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart (Book)
The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald (Book)

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Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.

 

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The Holy Sexuality Project | with Dr. Christopher Yuan

Is unconditional love the same thing as unconditional approval? How do Christians navigate through tough conversations about sexuality with their teenagers? As more and more young people are falling into the trap of placing their identity in their sexuality and gender pronouns, it’s critical that parents and youth leaders be proactive in showing teenagers where their true identity lies. Are there any tools that are available to help them prepare for these conversations in advance?

In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Christopher Yuan joins Frank to discuss his brand-new video curriculum The Holy Sexuality Project, which is designed to disciple teens on biblical sexuality. During this episode, Frank and Christopher address questions like:

  • What is holy sexuality?
  • What did Jesus have to say about sexuality?
  • What are some common myths about homosexuality and the Bible?
  • Why do our sexual preferences matter if it doesn’t harm anyone else?
  • What is God’s purpose for sexuality besides procreation?
  • How did Christopher go from a life in prison to his first day of Bible college?

Christopher knows a thing or two about placing sexuality at the forefront of his identity. Prior to his radical conversion to Christianity, he lived much of his young adult life identifying as a gay man and even spent time in prison. His experience inspired him to help others avoid some of the pitfalls he encountered because of his own identity crisis. Talking about sexuality with teens doesn’t have to be complicated or uncomfortable. This affordable video curriculum will take the pressure off adults and help kids understand and embrace God’s ultimate plan for sex and marriage!

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

The Holy Sexuality Project video curriculum for teens: https://holysexuality.com/

 

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Examining the Evidence for the Destruction of Jericho – Part 2 | with Dr. Titus Kennedy

What can radio-carbon dating tell us about the timing of the destruction of Jericho? And how much does the archaeology seem to correlate with the biblical narrative? In this midweek podcast episode, author and archaeologist, Dr. Titus Kennedy, returns to continue the discussion on the evidence for Jericho’s destruction and his new research article, The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua.

Frank and Titus explore more of the archaeological findings that have been discovered near Jericho such as scarabs, the Amarna Letters, pottery, and much more! Should the book of Joshua be considered as a valid historical source for what happened at Jericho? Listen as Titus explains why there is a compelling case to be made for the biblical account of the fall of Jericho.

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846

Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1

Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj

Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy:

Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7

Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp

The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA

 

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A Crash Course in How to Study the Bible, Part 1

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Imagine arriving at the lake each Sunday at 10AM to capture the mad skills of a gifted fisherman as he captures your lunch for the day. In doing so, do you think you’d learn to fish for yourself by simply marveling at his skills? Not likely. Sure, you’d learn some ins and outs about the sport, but you wouldn’t learn to fish for yourself. That’s because fishing is learned through participating not mere spectating. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day but teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.” It turns out that fishing is not only caught but taught. Similarly, when it comes to studying the Bible, many of us are like the spectator discussed above. We show up each week at 10AM for church, we marvel at the expositional skills of the pastor as he unpacks for us the weekly Word, yet we leave, bereft of our own skills to study the Bible. In many ways, Bible study methods should be discipleship 101 and yet there’s no shortage of Christians who’ve attended church for years without a single crash course on how to study the Bible. So here it is. A three-part crash course designed to equip you to study God’s Word on your own. To do this, I will devote three blogs to help you develop an approach to Bible study by using three words every serious student of the Bible is familiar with, namely, observation, interpretation, and application.

When it comes to Bible study, observation asks the question, “What do I see?” Interpretation asks the question, “What does it mean?” And application asks the questions, “How does it work?”

Observation: What do I see
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: How does it work?”“

It’s been said, “The difference between a good Bible student and a great one is the great one simply sees more. In this blog series I’ll introduce you to three acrostics using these key words to hone your Bible study skills. Beginning with observation, here’s how it looks, acrostic style: O.B.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N.

Observe Prayerfully

The Psalmist captures this idea nicely when he writes, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).  Similarly, as we delve into God’s Word it’s good to ask the Lord to open our eyes to accurately understand Scripture.

Begin by Seeing the Big Picture

You can do this by reading the passage you’re studying several times to get a feel for the lay of the land. What you’re in search of is the overarching idea. The point of the passage. The big idea.

Select the Style of Literature

This is important. Not all Scripture is to be approached in the same manner. That’s because the Bible is comprised of various genres such as narrative, history, law, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, gospel, epistle, and apocalyptic. If you approach historical sections as metaphorical or apocalyptic portions as overly literal, you’ll soon find yourself in theological trouble when you arrive at the interpretation stage.

Explore any Commands to Follow

It’s helpful to know if the passage before you has any commands to follow, but also crucial to remember where you are in the Bible as it relates to the given command. That’s because some commands no longer hold. If you aren’t careful, you may find yourself feeling bound to commands that already served their purpose but are no longer required. This is especially true as it relates to the Old Testament dietary law that was clearly eradicated with the inauguration of the New Covenant.

Record any Warnings Given

Warnings are evident throughout Scripture. All the way from Adam’s warning in the Garden of Eden to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) to the warning in Revelation to not add to God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). When the Bible issues a warning, observe it. Warnings are God’s way of trying to protect us. Therefore, stay alert.

Venture to Find Promises Proclaimed

This can be tricky, so be careful. Not every promise is recorded directly for us. We’ve all seen the abuse of Jeremiah 29:11, which refers to God’s promise to prosper His people after their time in captivity is fulfilled. Many of the people who would’ve heard this original message died in Babylon never to see it come to fruition. Knowing how to apply promises is crucial, especially to protect people from being disillusioned by God all because they claimed a promise that wasn’t intended for them.

Ask and Answer Questions of the Text

Perhaps you remember your six interrogative friends from grammar school. If not, no worries. These friends of old are Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How? We want to ask those questions of the passage we are studying. Who is it talking about? What is the big idea? Why was it written? How does it apply? You get the point.

Target Key People and Places

Here you’re looking to discover who the author is, who the recipients are, e.g., are they Jews, Gentiles, or both? You also want to discern the place from which the book was written and the location it was written to. Identifying key people and places will help you put the pieces of the puzzle together so you can capture a clear picture of the passage before you.

Inspect for Contrasts, Comparisons, and (Apparent) Contradictions

The contrasts may be between light and darkness, or sin and holiness, or truth and error. Comparisons might be between the rich and the poor, or the wise and the foolish, or a leader and his followers, or perhaps between heaven and hell. Regarding apparent contradictions, there are lots of them, but none of them lacks an explanation, so be encouraged.

Overview your Discoveries in Light of the Context

Here it’s important to remember that every text has a context. For example, consider Proverbs 5:15 says, “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.” Absent of context we’d never know that this is talking about enjoying sexual intimacy with one’s own spouse versus drawing sexual satisfaction from another person’s spouse. Wells in the ancient world were privately owned. You weren’t to steal another person’s water, but drink from your own well. So too in marriage, we’re to stick to our own spouse. Enjoy our own well. You see, context is key.

Note Words that are Repeated and Emphasized

Doing this will help you unlock what the passage is about. For example, turn over to Psalm 150 for a quick read and you’ll see what I mean. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the key word is praise, which clearly indicates the theme of the Psalm.

If you want to practice your observations let me encourage you this week to take this acrostic and read Philippians once a day over the next week, while jotting down your observations. You’ll be amazed at what you discover. And more importantly, you’ll be ready for the next stage, which is interpretation. But for that acrostic you’ll have to wait for the next blog. Till next time.

O.B.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N., in review:
Observe Prayerfully
Begin by Seeing the Big Picture
Select the Style of Literature
Explore any Commands to Follow
Record any Warnings Given
Venture to Find Promises Proclaimed
Ask and Answer Questions of the Text
Target Key People and Places
Inspect for Contrasts and Comparisons & Apparent Contradictions
Overview your Discoveries in Light of the Context
Note Words that are Repeated and Emphasized

Recommended Resources Related to This Topic

How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)
The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (Book, Full DVD set, and Condensed DVD set)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart (Book)
The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald (Book)

Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.

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Examining the Evidence for the Destruction of Jericho with Dr. Titus Kennedy

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Have there been any significant archaeological finds that support the biblical account of the fall of Jericho? Joshua 6 describes the details of the conquest, led by Joshua himself, that took place almost 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt. But what exactly have archaeologists been able to uncover during Jericho’s recent excavations within the last century?

In this week’s podcast, archaeologist, author, and Biola Professor, Dr. Titus Kennedy, joins Frank to discuss his new eye-opening research article entitled ‘The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua‘ where he analyzes the current existing evidence for the historical destruction of Jericho. Frank and Titus answer questions like:

  • Where is Jericho located and is the site contested?
  • How do archaeologists and scholars determine the dating of the destruction of Jericho?
  • Who are the main players that have contributed to excavations at Jericho?
  • Does the archaeology seem to support or discredit Jericho’s biblical account?
  • What conclusions have different archaeologists come to based on their data and findings?

 

For decades, skeptics, scholars, and archaeologists have disputed the details of this well-known story in the Bible. But where does the evidence actually lead? Dr. Kennedy has excavated all over the Middle East, and in this exciting new episode, he’ll reveal some of the fascinating artifacts that have been discovered near Jericho, and how these clues corroborate with the biblical narrative.

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846

Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1

Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj

Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy:

Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7

Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp

The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA

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Can the State Compel You to Violate Your Conscience? Plus Q&A

Does the government have the right to force Christians (or anyone else) to say or do things that violate their conscience and/or religious views? The Supreme Court recently ruled in the favor of a Christian graphic artist who the Court declared cannot be compelled to create designs with which she disagrees, including same-sex weddings. Was this decision an act of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, or a true act of justice?

In this midweek podcast episode, Frank reacts to an insightful article written by Dr. Michael Brown entitled ‘Questions for Those Who Differ With the SCOTUS Decision in Favor of a Christian Graphic Artist’ that addresses the Supreme Court’s ruling in this controversial case. Later in the episode, Frank responds to several listener questions about the deity of Christ, how to pray for loved ones who are embracing sexual immorality, and why God seemingly allowed people to lie in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 16) .

To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Dr. Brown’s article on The Stream: https://bit.ly/3rvtHze

 

 

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