Book Review: Family Discipleship – Leading Your Home Through Time, Moments, and Milestones

A review of Matt Chandler and Adam Griffin’s book Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home Through Time, Moments, and Milestones” shouldn’t need a lot of detailed discussion. It’s a short read, with just 147 pages, and fairly simple read at that. The book though, does pack a punch in a very specific way and has a drawback that I wasn’t expecting. So, there will be a little more discussion than the short read made me think I’d be offering.

Disclaimer: I am a part of the Crossway book review program that provides a free copy of the book in exchange for a review. In no way does the program dictate what is or isn’t said or ask for any kind of favorable treatment. The review is my own.

Chandler and Griffin indicate up front that the goal of the book is to “prepare you to equip your family for the work of ministry and to help them grow up in every way into Christ (Eph 4:15), following a plan that is well thought-out and sustainable,” (Chandler and Griffin, Kindle Location189). The goal is admirable and biblical, but do they achieve their goal? To some degree, yes. They give the framework for a parent or guardian to build a well thought-out and sustainable plan that can be effective in equipping their family for ministry and grow into Christ. But they do not seem to intend to give a comprehensive approach filled with the intricacies a parent will inevitably need to develop for themselves regardless of what a book attempts to lay out for them. Nor do they consider that the words “Family” or “home” as found in the title includes more than just children.

Perhaps being a dad myself, maybe I was reading selectively, but the scope of the book seems much more focused on instilling a living faith into children than it is on approaching others that may be in your family that need to be discipled. It’s approach though hits on a lot of the same marks of other frameworks presented by other books I’ve read in the past and have implemented in my own children’s lives (See the book Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis). And the suggestions they gave are immensely practical with extensive ideas for how to implement them.

In addition to the lists of ideas they present, which are a boon to the book if for nothing else than the amount of ideas, Family Discipleship itself creates such a broad framework that it can be applied to just about any parenting scenario. Starting off by laying a foundation for the framework, they launch off into three main areas by discussing “modeling”. Here they are clarifying for parents that living out their own faith is as important to their children’s faith as anything else. This is a call to integrity for parents that sadly is needed. A vibrant relationship with Christ in the parent is a significant factor in helping a child grow into Christ (though not the only factor).

Chandler and Griffin continue on to discuss three main “topics” of discipling your family (children); time, moments and milestones. In time, they address the day to day events and the consistent practices a parent may implement in their family to create an atmosphere of faith. When approaching “moments”, these are the situations when you take unplanned moments and use them to launch into a spiritual conversation, object lesson, or memorable event. And then milestones are planned special events that mark the growth of a family member as they develop into a vibrant walk with Christ.

Watch a short video on my response to this book.

There are a two things about this book though that I wasn’t thrilled about. First, the individuals quoted in this book are mostly reliable theologians. But a couple of the individuals quoted are individuals that have a questionable if not controversial theological bent that seem to be included to appeal to a broader base of Christianity. Secondly, as you may have already caught on, I do think the book could have helped apply the principles in the book to other family members or added another section describing how to change the approach for that purpose.

Ultimately, when you read Family Discipleship, you get the sense that parenting is a noble, holy, and sacred calling. You leave with enough creative juices and foundational principles to be able to build out an entire strategy for helping your children (and possibly others if thinking creatively) grow into Christ and to be equipped for ministry. Would I commend this book to you? Emphatically, yes! The ideas and the principles are something every parent, hoping to help their families grow into Christ, should be able to apply and the multitude of ideas are great opportunities to implement this book immediately.

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Reframing Emotions From A Biblical Worldview

by: Travis Stockton

I recently have finished the series on Disney + called Wanda Vision (slight spoiler alert). I do not normally endorse a lot of media and content from producers or publishers that I am not willing to thoroughly back the majority of their content and Disney is dubious, at best, with a great deal of their content. But this show is worth watching. Especially if you enjoy experiencing the full gamut of human emotions such as love and grief.

One specific quote stands out from the season finale that I apparently am not alone in obsessing over. Memes abound and the internet apparently buzzed with activity over this quote. And it’s easy to see why; while the quote seems simple, it points to something deeper.

What is grief? If not love persevering? : death

If you have ever experienced grief, this quote hits home. And Scripture tells us why. God is love (1 John 4:7-21) and as His image-bearers, love is an essential part of our relationship with others. The loss of the object of that love results in grief. It’s a more biblical viewpoint of an emotion that is often viewed from a worldview that lacks hope. This then is the point of this blog post.

What if we reframed emotions in a more biblical light. What if we regularly referred to and defined emotions in a way that allowed God’s truth to permeate those emotions. So that our own minds would begin to accept the inherent biblical truths that surround those emotions. What if we stopped allowing the world to define the core concepts to our lives such as our emotions and instead allowed God to define them?

Let us attempt to do that now then. With emotions being multi-faceted, and this being a simple blog post, this will obviously fall short in some fashion. They will not be an exhaustive treatment of the emotions by any stretch. I hope though that it will be a beginning framework to build from.

Grief is love of another that lingers after they are gone.

Fear is a subconscious lack of trust in God’s sovereignty.

Anxiety is an acute sense of isolation from God and a lack of confidence in our ability to face our fear.

Anger is our response to not receiving from God what we want.

Happiness is a glimpse of the promises of heaven.

Joy is a constant awareness of the goodness of God.

Love is a commitment to passionately pursue God’s best for another.

What would happen if we were consistent in reframing our emotions so that the inherit hope of our faith permeated the way we talk to others about how we feel? Would we start to believe it more fully? Would those around us long to know God’s truth more? Would God be more glorified?

For Systematic Study: God’s Character

In May of last year, I started a project that I have not got back around to until now. I have a strong desire to know what Scripture says about specific topics without any of the commentary that a systematic theology provides. I want to know, systematically, what I believe Scripture says about a particular subject. Last year, I focused on the topic of Scripture. Today, I have taken the time to do what I did with For Systematic Study: Scripture, and now have done it for God’s Character.

I have taken seven theology texts (primarily Systematic Theologies) and found the relevant chapters of those texts for the topic at hand and collected the list of Scripture references from each text. I have then compared the Scripture references to each other to see if I can attempt to find the most relevant passages on the topic at hand. This allows me to then consider which passages are consistently referenced by theologians that are attempting to give a systematic review of Scripture’s teachings on the subject.

The texts consulted are as follows:

  • Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004.
  • Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2013.
  • Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998.
  • Enns, Paul P. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989.
  • Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999.
  • Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.
  • Lewis, Gordon R. Decide for Yourself: A Theological Workbook. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2012.

I will present each of the text’s citations individually in a condensed format for sake of space and then provide a couple of different lists of the common Scripture references found when comparing the different texts. I will also provide a final, full list of the Scripture references. I’ve done my best to provide page references to aid in review of the context these passages were cited in since these references have not been paired down based on the context, since the context was not reviewed and will likely include passages that do not immediately tell us much of anything about the concerned topic without the context. However, because we are seeking common passages in a variety of texts, it is hopeful that these passages will be kept to a minimum.

Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004, 156-225.

Ge 1:1, 10, 27, 31; 6:6; 8:1, 21; Ge 18; 32:28–30; Ex 2:24; 3:14; 8:19; 13:21–22; 15:3, 16, 26; 20:4–7, 16; 24:9–11; 25:22; 32:9–14; 33:11, 19–23; 34:6–7; Le 18:21; 26:12; Nu 11:23; 23:19; Dt 4:6–8, 23–24; 8:3; 10:14; 16:22; 29:29; 32:4, 6, 11; 33:10; Jdg 13:21–22; 1 Sa 4:4; 15:10, 29; 23:11–13; 2 Sa 7:28; 24:14; 1 Ki 8:27; 2 Ki 13:19; 16:3; 17:17; 2 Ch 16:9; Job 9:4; 11:5; 12:13; 28:24; 36:26; 37:16; 41:11; Ps 2:5; 9:7; 11:4–5; 12:6; 15:2; 16:11; 19:1, 7, 14; 23:1; 27:1; 33:11; 34:8; 36:9; 42:1–2; Ps 50; 55:1; 68:1; 73:25–26; 78:40; 84:11; 90:title–91:1; 100:5; Ps 102; 103:8, 13, 17; Ps 104; 106–107; 111:10; 119:68, 114, 132; Ps 139; 141:6; 145:3, 9; Ps 148; Pr 1:7; 3:5–6; 4:24; 9:10; 11:2; 12:22; 13:5; 15:29; 18:10; 30:5; Ec 3:11; 12:7; Is 6:1, 3; 25:8; 30:27; 31:4; 33:22; 38:1–6; 42:8–9; 43:7, 25; 45:21; 46:9–11; 53:7; 54:5, 8; 55:9; 59:1–4; 61:10; 62:3–5; 63:9–10; 66:1–2; Je 7:18–19, 31; 10:10–11; 18:17; 19:5; 23:23–24; 31:35; Am 9:1–4; Jon 3:4, 10; Zep 3:17–18; Zec 8:17; Mal 3:6; Mt 5:7–8, 16, 43–48; 6:8–9; 7:11; 9:27; 10:29–30; 11:21, 23; 13:35; 22:37–38; 23:37; 25:34; Lk 6:27, 33–35; 18:19; 23:46; Jn 1:3, 18; 3:16, 35; 4:20–21, 24; 6:46; 8:44, 58; 13:35; 14:9, 23, 31; 15:13; 17:3, 5, 17, 24, 26; Ac 7:48; 14:10–11, 15, 17, 26; 17:24–25, 28, 30–31; Ro 1:7, 20; 3:23–24; 4:16; 5:5, 8; 8:9–10, 16, 28–29, 32; 9:15; 11:6, 33, 35–36; 12:2; 13:10; 16:20, 27; 1 Co 1:3, 18–21, 24, 27, 29–30; 2:10–11; 6:17; 8:6; 13:4–7, 12; 14:14; 15:10; 16:23; 2 Co 1:2–4; 3:17–18; 4:2; 12:7–10; Ga 2:20; 4:4–5; 6:10; Eph 1:4, 11–12; 3:6, 9–11; 4:25, 30; Php 1:23–24; 3:3; Col 1:15–17; 2:9; 3:9–10; 1 Th 5:18; 1 Ti 1:17; 6:16; 2 Ti 2:19; 3:17; Tt 1:2; Heb 1:2–3, 10–12; 2:17; 4:13, 16; 6:18; 10:24; 11:10; 12:10, 23, 29; Jas 1:5, 17; 3:13–18; 5:11; 1 Pe 1:20; 4:19; 5:10; 2 Pe 3:8; 1 Jn 1:5; 2:15; 3:2, 20; 4:8, 10–12, 19; 5:3, 20; Re 1:4, 7–8; 4:2–3, 5, 8, 10–11; 5:6; 13:8; 21:3, 8, 22–26; 22:2–5, 16; 2 Co 13:14; Ge 2:3; 18:14, 25; 50:20; Ex 19:4–6; 20:11; 26:33; 29:44; 30:25–33; 32:9–10; 34:7, 14; Le 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:26; Nu 14:18; Dt 4:24; 5:9; 9:7–8; 29:23; 2 Ki 22:13; Job 38:12, 34–35; 39:19, 26; 40:2, 4, 8–9; Ps 18:30; 19:8; 22:3; 24:3, 8, 10; 27:4; 29:11; 71:22; 73:25; 78:41; 85:8; 86:15; 89:18; 99:3, 5, 9; 103:title–104:2; Ps 115; 119:165; 121:4; 145:8; Pr 3:17; 4:18; 8:30–31; 21:1; Is 1:4; 5:19, 24; 9:6–7; 26:3; 45:19; 48:9–11, 22; 54:11–12; 55:12; 57:19, 21; 59:8; Je 32:17, 27; Eze 33:11; Da 4:32, 35; 12:3; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3; Zep 3:17; Zec 14:20–21; Mt 3:9; 5:48; 6:10; 7:21; 11:25–26, 28; 12:50; 13:43; 17:2; 18:14; 19:26; Lk 1:37; 2:9; Jn 3:36; 5:17; 14:27; Ac 2:23; 4:27–28; 9:31; 21:14; Ro 1:10, 18; 2:4–5, 8, 18; 3:23, 25–26; 5:9–10; 8:6, 25; 9:18, 20–22; 11:36–12:1; 13:1; 14:17; 15:32–33; 1 Co 4:7, 19; 13:4; 14:33; 15:27–28, 43; 2 Co 6:14–7:1; 11:2; Ga 1:3; 5:22–23; 6:18; Eph 1:10, 12, 23; 2:3, 14, 21; 3:20; 4:2, 10; 5:17, 26–27; Php 2:15; 4:9; Col 1:11; 3:6, 12; 1 Th 1:10; 2:16; 5:9, 23; 2 Th 3:16; 1 Ti 1:11, 16; 2:4; 6:15; 2 Ti 2:13; 3:10; 4:2; Tt 2:10; Heb 1:9; 3:11; 12:14; 13:20; Jas 1:13, 19; 4:13–15; 5:7–8; 1 Pe 1:16, 18–19; 2:20; 3:4, 17, 20; 2 Pe 3:9–10; 1 Jn 5:14; Re 2:2–3; 6:16–17; 19:15.

Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2013, 304-420.

Ge 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 14; 2:7, 17; 3:5, 8a, Ge 3:8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16; 4:15; Ge 6, 5, 6, 8; 8:21–22, 21; 9:6, 15–16, 24–27; 11:5, 6; 12:3; 14:19, 22; 15:5, 13–16; 16:13; Ge 18, 14, 16–33, 20–21, 21, 25; 20:6; 21:33; 22:12, 13; 24:27, 49; 26:14; 27:27–29, 39–40; 29:17–18, 30, 31; 30:1, 27; 32:5, 22–32, 30; 33:8, 10, 11, 15; 34:11; 41:8, 38; 43:29; 45:5–8; 47:29; 49:1; 50:20; Ex 2:23–25; 3:5–6, 6, 7–9, 14; 4:24; 6:5, 7; 7:5, 11–12; 8:22; 12:16; 14:4; 15:11; Ex 16, 6–10, 23; Ex 19–20; 19:5, 6, 10–13, 12–13, 20–23, 23, 24; 20:2, 3, 4–6, 5b–6, 5, 7, 8–11, a, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17; 21:24; 22:22, 31; 23:6–7; 24:1, 10, 11, 17; 26:33; 28:3; 30:25; 31:3, 6, 10; 32:9–14, 9–10, 12, 14; Ex 33, 12–17, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22–23, 23; Ex 34, 6–7, 6, 7, 8, 14; 35:31; Le 5:4; 10:2, 6; 11:44, 45; 18:21; 19:1–2, 2, 15, 17; 20:7, 10, 23; 24:12; Nu 1:53; 5:11–31, 15; 6:24–26, 26; 10:29; 11:17, 23, 25–29, 33; 12:3, 8; 14:18; 16:46; 18:5; 22:1–24:25; Nu 23–24; 23:19; 24:2, 13; Dt 1:16–17; 4:6–8, 8, 15, 24, 30–31, 37; 5:8–10, 12–15, 15, 29; 6:5, 15; Dt 7, 1–6, 6, 7–8, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13; 9:3, 4–6; 10:14, 15, 18; 13:1–5, 3, 17; 16:18–20; Dt 18, 10, 18–20, 21–22; 23:5; 24:19; 25:1, 16; 26:12–13, 15; 30:3, 5; 32:1–43, 4, 16, 21, 29, 39, 40; 33:1–29, 3, 27a; 34:9; Jos 2:14; 9:20; 22:20; 24:19–20, 20; Jdg 3:10; 6:23, 24, 34; 11:29; 13:22, 25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 19:20; 1 Sa 2:2, 3, 35; 10:1–8, 1–7, 2, 6, 9–11, 10; 11:6; 12:6–11, 7; 15:29, 35; 16:7, 13; 20:8; 23:7–13, 12; 2 Sa 22:26, 36; 23:2; 1 Ki 3:28; 4:31, 32–33; 7:14; 8:27, 39; 13:1–4, 2; 18:20–40; 2 Ki 2:9, 15–16, 16; 6:12; 8:12, 13; 10:29–31; 13:23; 19:27–28; 21:23–24; 22:1–7, 11–20, 13; 23:1–3; 1 Ch 16:29, 34, 41; 27:24; 29:11; 2 Ch 2:6; 7:3, 6, 11; 16:9; 19:10; 20:6, 21; 24:18; 30:9; Ne 1:5; 7:5; 9:6, 8, 17, 19, 20, 30, 31, 32; Job 13:11; 23:13; 41:11; 42:2; Ps 1, 1; 4:8; 5:4, 5; 6:4; 7:6–13, 17; 8:5; 9:7–8, 8, 9, 18; 10:10–14, 11, 14; 11:4, 5; 12:5; 13:1; 16:11; 18:1, 25, 35, 50; 19:1, 7–9, 7, 10; 22:1–5, 26; 24:1, 7–8, 7; 25:9, 10; 26:3; 27:4; 29:2, 11; 30:4, 5; 31:2–3, 16; 33:6, 11, 13–15, 13–14, 18–20; 34:8–10, 15–22, 15–16; 35:8, 10; Ps 36, 1–4, 5–10, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; 37:1, 11, 28; 38:9; 40:8, 10, 17; 44:3, 21; 46:1; Ps 50, 4–6, 8–15, 10–12, 10–11, 14, 15; 51:1, 4, 18; 56:4, 8, 10; 62:12; 65:5–13; 67:5; 68:5; 69:16; 72:1–4; 73:1, 11, 28; 78:38; 81:13–14; 82:3–4, 3, 8; 84:11; 85:9–10, 12; 86:5, 15; 89:2, 11, 34–37; 90:4, 8, 9–10, 17; 92:2, 15; 93:2; 94:7, 10, b, 11; 96:10, 13; 97:3, 10; 98:2–3, 9; 100:5; 101:3; 102:24, 25–27, 27; 103:1, 5, 8–10, 8, 21; Ps 104, 24, 30, 31; 106:1; Ps 107, 1; 109:21; 110:4; 111:4, 10; 112:4; 113:7; 115:3; 116:1–4; Ps 118, 1; Ps 119, 98–100, 104, 113, 128, 138, 142, 163, 165; 122:8; 135:6; Ps 136, 1, 5, 25; Ps 139, 1ff, 1–24, 1, 2, 4, 7–10, 7, 16b, 17–18, 21–22, 23–24, 23; 140:12; 141:10; 143:1–4, 10, 11; 144:1; 145:8, 9, 13, 15–16, 17, 20; 146:5–6, 7–9, 8, 10; 147:4, 5; 149:4; Pr 1:3, 7, 18–19, 31; 3:2, 19; 4:5, 7, 11; 5:21; 6:6, 9, 16–19, 34; Pr 8–9; 8:17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 30; 9:1–4, 10; 10:12, 16, 26; 11:8, 20; 13:4; 15:3, 11, 29, 33; 16:5, 16; 17:15, 16; 20:4; 21:2, 30; 24:2, 12; 26:16, 27; 28:10; 29:6; Ec 12:13; So 8:6; Is 1:1, 4, 17, 24; 5:19; 6:1, 3, 5; 9:6–7, 6, 7; 10:20; 11:1–9, 1–4, 2, 3b–5; 12:6; 13:9; 14:24–27, 24; 17:7; 26:3; 29:14b, 15f, 15; 30:18; 31:3; 33:14; 38:1–5; Is 40–49; 40, 4, 12–14, 12, 13–14, 19–20, 21, 26, 27, 28; 41:2, 4, 7, 21–23, 26; 42:1, 8, 9, 10, 21; 43:9–12, 12, 13; 44:7, 15–17, 28–45:13; 44:28; 45:8, 21, 22, 23, 24; 46:6, 10, 11, 12–13; 47:10; 48:3–7, 9, 11, 18; 49:26; 51:5; 52:13–53:12, 3; 54:9, 10; 55:3, 8, 11; 57:15; 59:2, 21; 60:16; 61:1–2, 1; 62:3, 8; 63:9, 11–14; 65:2; 66:1–2, 1–2a, 1; Je 1:5; 4:28; 6:11; 7:2b–7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 31; 8:9; 10:3–5, 7, 12; 12:8; 16:16–18, 17–18; 17:10; Je 18, 1–4, 5–10, 7–10; 19:5; 20:12; 22:16; 23:20, 23–24, 24, 39; 25:9, 11; 26:2–3, 3, 13, 19; 30:24; 31:3; 32:17, 27, 35; 33:22; 37:6–10, 9–10; 39:15–18; 44:21, 26; 49:13, 20; 50:29, 45; 51:14, 15; La 3:31–36; Eze 1:12, 20; 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 5:11; 8:3, 12; 11:1, 2, 5, 24; 12:3; 14:16, 18, 20; Eze 16, 1–63, 8; 18:23, 31–32; 20:3, 31, 33; 21:18–23; 24:14; 26:1–14; 30:10; 33:11, 11, 27; 35:6, 11; 37:1; 39:25; 43:5; Da 2, 22; 4:17, 35; Da 9; 11; Ho 1–3; 1:2–11; 3:1–5; 5:3; 9:15; 11:1, 7–8, 9; Joe 2:13–14, 13, 28; 3:4, 7; Am 1:3, 6, 9, 13; 2:1, 4, 6; 3:2; 4:2; 5:15; 6:8; 7:1–6; 8:7; 9:1, 2–3; Ob 15; Jon 3:4b, Jon 3:4, 9, 10; 4:1–2, 2; Mic 3:8, 11; 5:2; 7:19–20, 20; Hab 2:8, 18–20; Hag 2:5; Zec 2:12; 8:6, 14, 17; 12:10; Mal 1:2, 3; 2:14; 3:6; Mt 2:6, 15, 17; 3:3, 7, 9, 16, 17; 4:1, 14–16; 5:3–11, 8, 21–22, 43–48, 44–48, 44–45, 45, 48; 6:32, 33; 7:2, 11, 12, 21; 8:12, 17; 9:6; 10:5–8, 20, 30, 37; 11:20–24, 25–26, 28–30; 12:17, 18, 50; 14:14; 15:3–9, 32; 17:5; 18:21–35; 19:4, 8, 9, 26; 20:20–26, 25–28, 28, 34; 22:13, 37; 23:2–3, 37; 24:2, 51; 25:30, 31; 26:24, 53; 27:46; 28:18–20, 19, 20; Mk 10:27; 13:1–30, 32; 14:36; Lk 1:17, 35, 37, 51–53; 2:14, 52; 4:14, 16–21, 18–19, 34; 6:33; 7:9; 8:48; 10:5; 12:37, 42; 13:34; 14:26; 15:11–32; 16:1–8, 15, 25; 17:10; 18:7, 23–27, 27; 19:41; 21:23; Lk 24, 36–43, 36–40, 36; Jn 1:1, 12, 14–17, 14, 18, 29; 2:11, 14–17, 21, 24–25, 25; 3:5–8, 15–16, 16, 17–21, 17, 18–21, 34, 36; 4:23, 24, 34, 42; 5:24, 37; 6:33, 46, 51, 63, 64; 7:17, 18; 8:12, 50, 54; 9:5; 10:38; 11:35; 12:23, 25, 28, 31, 47; 13:18–19, 31, 32, 34–35, 38; 14:9, 10–11, 13, 16–17, 20, 21, 23, 27, 30, 31; 15:12, 13–14, 26; 16:11, 13, 14, 30; 17:1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26; 20:31; 21:15–17, b, 18–19; Ac 1:3, 7, 8, 24; Ac 2, 4, 23, 27; 3:14; 4:27–28, 33; 6:10; 7:49–50, 51; 8:39–40; 10:36; 11:23; 13:43; 14:3, 14–18, 17; Ac 15, 5, 10–11, 15–18; 17:24–30, 24–28, 24–27, 24–25, 26–30, 26, 28, 30; 18:27; 20:24, 32; Ro 1, 2, 7, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28; 2:4, 8, 10, 11; Ro 3, 9–18, 12, 21–24, 21–22a, 24, 25–26, 25, 26; 4:4, 15, 16; 5:1, 8, 9, 12–19; 6:3–14; 8:1–17, 8, 9–10, 18, 27, 28, 31–39, 32, 35–39, 35, 38–39; 9:5, 11, 13, 15, 18–19, 22; 11:6, 33–36, 33, 34, 35–36, 36; 12:2, 3, 6; 13:4–5; 15:4, 19, 33; 16:20, 24; 1 Co 1:2, 3, 18–2:16; 1:18–2:15; 1:18, 21, 23–24, 24, 25, 30; 2:2, 4, 7, 8, 10–14, 13, 16; 3:10, 16, 18–23; 4:5; 6:15, 19; 7:40; 8:1–3; 11:7; 12:1–11, 3; 13:8–12, 12; 15:3–8, 10, 45; 16:23; 2 Co 1:2, 3; 3:6, 17, 18; 4:6, 17, 18; 5:14–15, 21; 6:2b; 8:7, 9; 9:8; 10:1; 11:11; 12:2–3, 9b–10, 9; 13:11, 14; Ga 2:9, 20, 21; 4:4–5, 4, 6, 8–9, 9; 5:16–26, 20, 22; 6:16; Eph 1:4–5, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 18–23, 19–23; 2:1–7, 2, 3, 4, 8–9, 10, 13; 3:7–8, 10, 11, 17–19, 17b–19, 17, 20–21; 4:7, 22–24, 26–27, 30, 31; 5:2, 6, 10, 17, 22–33, 25; 6:6, 9, 10–20, 10; Php 1:9–10; 2:1–11, 13; 3:21; Col 1:15, 27; 2:3; 3:1, 6, 8, 10, 16, 25; 1 Th 1:5, 10; 2:4, 7, 16; 4:3; 5:9, 18; 2 Th 1:8; 2:7, 8; 1 Ti 1:11, 17; 2:1–2, 1, 2, 4–6, 4, 5–6, 8; 5:8; 6:15; 2 Ti 1:9; 2:13, 24; 3:15, 16–17, 16; Tt 1:2, 7; 3:2; Heb 1:10–12, 10, 12; 2:9, 10, 17; 3:11; 4:3, 12–13, 13, 15; 5:8, 14; 6:4–6, 17–20; 7:21; 8:13; 9:8, 14; 10:22, 31; Heb 11, 3, 6, 7, 27; 12:28, 29; 13:8, 20, 21; Jas 1:5, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19–20; 2:1, 21; 3:13–18, 15, 17–18, 17; 4:1–3, 8; 1 Pe 1:2, 3–7, 11, 12, 15–16, 16, 17; 2:13–3:22; 2:21–25; 3:8, 18; 4:2, 6, 12–19, 13–16; 2 Pe 1:16–18, 21; 3:8, 9, b, 13; 1 Jn 1:1–3, 1–2, 5, 9; 3:1, 2, 16, 17, 20b, 1 Jn 3:20; 4:7–21, 8, 9–10, 10–11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 20; 5:3; Jud 22, 23; Re 1:5, b, 7; 2:6, 7, 15, 21, 23; 4:11; 5:11–12; 6:16–17; 7:9–12; 14:10, 13, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 6; 18:6–7; 19:10, 15.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998, 289-345.

Jn 4:24; 1:18; 1 Ti 1:17; 6:15–16; Jn 4:21; Ac 17:24; Lk 24:39; Ex 3:14; Ge 4:26; 12:8; Ps 20, 7, 9; Ex 20:7; Ge 3; Ex 20:3; Heb 11:6; Je 10:10, 11; Jn 5:26; 1 Th 1:9; Ge 1:1; Mt 6:25–33; Ac 17:25, 24–25; Je 23:23, 24; Ps 139:7–12; Mt 28:19–20; Ac 1:8; 1 Ki 18:20–40, 27; Ps 90:1–2; Jud 25; Eph 3:21; Is 44:6; Re 1:8; 21:6; 22:13; Ps 147:5; Pr 15:3; Mt 10:29, 30; Heb 4:13; Ro 11:33; Ps 104:24; Ge 17:1; 18:10–14; Je 32:15, 17; Mt 19:26; 2 Ki 6:5–7; Mk 4:35–41; Mt 14:22–33; Ac 17:26; Ps 115:3; Heb 6:18; Eph 1:5, 9; Php 2:13; Ps 102, 26–27; 33:11; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17; Nu 23:19; La 3:22–23; 1 Jn 1:9; Ex 15:11; 1 Sa 2:2; Is 57:15; 6:1–4; Ex 3; 19; 26:33; 1 Ki 6:16; Ps 99:3; Hab 1:13; Jas 1:13; Job 34:12; Le 11:44–45; 19:2; Mt 5:48; Le 1:3, 10; 3:1, 6; 4:3; Is 6:5; Lk 5:8; 2 Co 6:14–7:1; 1 Th 3:13; 4:7; Eph 5:27; Ps 99:9; Re 15:4; Ps 19:7–9; Ge 18:25; Je 9:24; Lk 10:27; Ge 2:17; Ro 6:23; Dt 7:10; Ps 58:11; Ro 12:19; Dt 7:9; 1 Sa 8:3; Am 5:12; Ps 73, 17–20, 27, 24; Am 5:15, 24; Jas 2:9; Je 10, 5; Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 5:20; Re 3:7; 6:10; 1 Sa 15:29; Tt 1:2; Jn 17:17; Dt 25:13–15; 2 Co 4:2; 1 Th 5:24; 1 Co 1:9; 2 Co 1:18–22; 2 Ti 2:13; 1 Pe 4:19; Ge 3:15; Ec 5:4–5; Ps 61:5, 8; 66:13; Jos 9:16–21; 1 Jn 4:8, 16; 2 Co 13:11; Jn 14:31; Mt 3:17; Jn 3:16; Dt 7:7–8; Jn 15, 9–17, 11, 13; 1 Jn 4:10; Ro 5:6–10, 8, 10; 1 Co 13; Lk 15; Ge 1:27; Ps 145:16; Mt 6:26, 28, 25, 30–33; 10:30–31; 5:45; Ac 14:17; Ex 34:6; Eph 1:5–8; 2:7–9; Tt 2:11; 3:3, 4–7; Ps 103:13; Dt 5:10; Ps 57:10; 86:5; Ex 3:7; Mk 1:41; Mt 9:36; 14:14; Mk 6:34; Mt 9:35–36; Ps 86:15; Ro 2:4; 9:22; 1 Pe 3:20; 2 Pe 3:15, 9; Mk 16:7; Jn 15:12; Mt 10:8; 6:12; 18:23–35; 1 Jn 2:7–11; 3:11–18; Lk 5; 1 Sa 3:10; Ac 17:27–28; Job 27:3; 33:4; 34:14–15; Ps 104:29–30; Ge 1:2; 2:7; Is 63:11; Mic 3:8; Hag 2:5; Mt 6:25–30; 10:29–30; 25:31–40, 40, Mt 25; Is 55:8–9; 6:1–5; Ps 113:5–6; 123:1; Jn 8:23; Eph 4:6

Enns, Paul P. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989, 187-197.

Jn 4:24; Ex 20:4; Ge 3:8; 1 Ki 8:29; Ps 34:15; Is 65:2; Ex 3:14; Jn 5:26; Da 5:23; Ac 17:28; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17; Jn 3:16; Dt 6:4; Ex 15:11; 1 Ti 2:5; 1 Co 8:6; 1 Jn 5:21; Is 44:8–10; 45:5; Nu 23:19; Ro 3:3–4; Jn 14:1, 2, 6; Heb 6:18; Tt 1:2; 1 Jn 4:8, 10; Jn 5:42; Ro 5:5, 8; 8:35, 39; 1 Jn 4:11, 19; Re 1:5; Is 57:15; Le 11:44, 45; Ps 11:4–6; 90:2; 102:12; 1 Ki 8:27; Is 66:1; Je 23:23, 24; Ac 7:48, 49; Ps 139:7–12, 1–6; 147:4; Mt 6:8; 10:28–30; Ps 139:1–4; Mt 11:21; Da 2:36–43; 7:4–8; Mt 24:25; Re 6–19; Ge 17:1; 28:3; Is 13:6; Eze 1:24; Joe 1:15; Mt 19:26; Ps 139:13–16; Je 32:17; Ps 115:3; Eph 1:11; 2 Ti 2:13; Hab 1:13; Jas 1:13; Ge 18:14; 1 Pe 1:5; Ps 110:5; 1 Pe 1:25; Mt 5:18; Ru 1:8; Heb 4:16; Ro 9:23; Eph 2:4; Tt 3:5; 1 Pe 1:3; Is 55:7; Ps 102:13; Ro 11:30–32; 15:9; 9:15–16, 18; Ps 5:7; 6:4; 13:5; 17:7; 18:50; 21:7; 23:6; 31:7, 16; 57:3; 69:13–16; 85:7; 143:8; Nu 14:19; Ps 51:1; 33:18; 42:8; 94:18; 119:75, 76; Ro 3:24; Eph 1:7; 2:8; Jn 1:18; Ro 1:5; 5:2, 17, 15, 20; 12:6; Eph 4:7; 3:2; Ps 99:4; Ro 1:32; Is 3:10, 11; Ro 2:6; 1 Pe 1:17; Dt 7:9; Ps 58:11; Ro 2:7; Ge 2:17; Dt 27:26; Ga 3:10; Ro 6:23

Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999, 39-50.

Ps 90:2; Ge 21:33; Re 6:9–11; Is 40:13–14; Le 11:44; Jos 24:19; Ps 99:3, 5, 9; Is 40:25; Hab 1:12; Jn 17:11; 1 Pe 1:15; Re 4:8; 1 Jn 1:5; Is 6:3, 5; Lk 5:8; 1 Jn 1:7; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17; Ge 6:6; Jon 3:10; 2 Ti 2:13; 1 Ki 8:27; Ac 17:24–28; 1 Jn 4:8; Eph 2:4–8; Ro 5:5; Heb 12:6; Ac 14:17; Eph 2:4; Jas 5:11; 1 Pe 3:20; 2 Pe 3:15; Mk 9:45–48; Ge 17:1; Ex 6:3; 2 Co 6:18; Re 1:8; 19:6; Tt 1:2; Jas 1:13; Ac 12:2; Ps 33:9; Heb 1:3; Ps 114; 2 Co 13:4; Ro 1:16; 1 Pe 1:5; 1 Co 6:14; Eph 1:19; Ps 139:7–11, 8, 9, 11–12; Re 4:2; 2 Ch 7:2; Ga 2:20; Re 14:10; 2 Th 1:9; Ac 15:18; Ps 147:4; Mt 11:21; Ps 139:16; Heb 4:13; Ps 11:7; Da 9:7; Ps 19:9; Ac 17:31; Jn 4:24; Eph 1:11; Ps 135:6; Pr 16:4; Eph 1:14; Jn 17:3; Ro 3:4; Heb 6:18; Dt 6:4; Eph 4:6; 1 Co 8:6; 1 Ti 2:5

Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.

Ga 5:22–26; Ho 5:12, 14; Heb 12:29; Ps 82; Ge 17:1; Mt 28:19; Ex 24:1–8; Mt 26:26–29; 1:1; Ge 12:1–3; Mt 8:11–12; 15:21–28; 28:18–20; Jn 4:24; 1 Jn 1:5; 4:8; 2 Co 4:6; Ge 2; Jn 4:23–24; 1 Ti 6:16; 1:17; Jn 1:18; 2 Co 4:4; Col 1:15; 1 Ki 8:27; Ps 90:2; 102:26–28; 139:7–8; Je 23:23–24; Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8; Ps 115:3–8; 139:7–12; Da 4:35; Ps 139

Lewis, Gordon R. Decide for Yourself: A Theological Workbook. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2012, 155-168.

Ge 1:1; 1 Ki 8:27; Ps 102:26–27; Heb 1:10–12; Pr 3:19; Ac 17:24; Jos 3:10; 2 Sa 22:47; Job 19:25; Ps 42:1–2; 84:1–2; Mt 16:16; Jn 6:57; 2 Co 6:16; 2 Ti 2:13; Jn 4:24; Lk 24:39; Jn 1:18; 5:37; 1 Ti 1:17; 6:16; Col 1:15; Heb 11:27; Ps 117:2; Jn 21:17; Ac 15:18; Ro 11:33; Heb 4:13; 1 Jn 3:20; Nu 11:1; 2 Sa 11:27; Ps 7:11; 104:31; 147:11; Lk 15:7, 10, 22–24, 32; Is 14:24, 27; Da 4:35; Lk 1:37; 7:30; Ex 20:1–17; Ps 81:12; Ro 1:24; Ac 14:16; Ps 90:2; 139:7–10; 99:3, 5, 9; 1 Pe 1:15–16; Ps 92:15; 1 Jn 1:9; Ps 86:5; 1 Jn 4:8, 16; Ps 116:5; Ex 34:6

Grudem, Erickson, and Frame had a total of 36 passages in common in the Scripture they cited in regards to God’s Character.

Ge 1:1; 18:25; Ex 3:14; 20:7; 26:33; 34:6; Le 19:2; Nu 23:19; 1 Sa 15:29; Ps 33:11; 86:15; 104:24; 115:3; Je 32:17; Mal 3:6; Mt 5:48; 10:30; 19:26; Jn 1:18; 3:16; 4:24; 14:31; Ac 14:17; 17:24–25; Ro 2:4; 5:8; 9:22; 11:33; 1 Ti 1:17; 2 Ti 2:13; Tt 1:2; Heb 4:13; Jas 1:13, 17; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Jn 4:8

Frame and Erickson had a total of 69 passages in common in the Scripture they cited.

Ge 1:1, 2; 2:7, 17; 3:15; 18:25; Ex 3:14; 15:11; 20:3, 7; 26:33; 34:6; Le 19:2; Nu 23:19; Dt 7:7–8, 9; 1 Sa 2:2; 15:29; 1 Ki 18:20–40; Ps 19:7–9; 33:11; 86:5, 15; 104:24; 115:3; 147:5; Pr 15:3; Is 6:5; 57:15; Je 23:24; 32:17; Am 5:15; Mic 3:8; Hag 2:5; Mal 3:6; Mt 3:17; 5:45, 48; 10:30; 14:14; 19:26; Jn 1:18; 3:16; 4:24; 14:31; 15:12; Ac 1:8; 14:17; 17:24–25, 26; Ro 2:4; 5:8; 9:22; 11:33; 2 Co 13:11; Eph 1:5, 9; Php 2:13; 1 Ti 1:17; 2 Ti 2:13; Tt 1:2; Heb 4:13; 11:6; Jas 1:13, 17; 2 Pe 3:9; 1 Jn 1:9; 4:8, 16

Frame and Grudem jumped to 204 passages in common.

Ge 1:1, 10; 6:6; 8:21; 18:14, 21, 25; 50:20; Ex 3:14; 20:4–6, 5, 7, 11a, 16; 26:33; 32:9–14, 9–10; 33:19, 20, 23; 34:6–7, 6, 7, 14; Le 18:21; 19:2; Nu 11:23; 14:18; 23:19; Dt 4:6–8, 24; 10:14; 32:4; 1 Sa 15:29; 1 Ki 8:27; 2 Ki 22:13; 2 Ch 16:9; Job 41:11; Ps 11:4, 5; 16:11; 19:1, 7; 27:4; 29:11; 33:11; 36:9; Ps 50, 10–12; 84:11; 86:15; 90:4; 100:5; 102:25–27; 103:8; Ps 104, 24; 106:1; Ps 107, 1; 111:10; 115:3; 119:165; Ps 139, 4, 7–10, 16b; 145:8, 9; Pr 1:7; 9:10; 15:29; Is 1:4; 5:19; 6:1, 3; 9:6–7; 26:3; 45:21; 48:11; 59:2; 63:9; 66:1–2, 1; Je 7:31; 19:5; 23:23–24; 32:17, 27; Eze 33:11; Da 4:35; Jon 3:4b, 10; 4:2; Zec 8:17; Mal 3:6; Mt 3:9; 5:8, 43–48, 48; 7:11, 21; 10:30; 11:25–26; 12:50; 19:26; 23:37; Lk 1:37; Jn 1:18; 3:16, 36; 4:24; 6:46; 14:9, 23, 27, 31; 17:5, 24, 26; Ac 2:23; 4:27–28; 14:17; 17:24–25, 28; Ro 1:7, 18, 20; 2:4, 8; 3:25–26; 4:16; 5:8, 9; 8:9–10, 28, 32; 9:15, 22; 11:6, 33, 35–36, 36; 12:2; 15:33; 16:20; 1 Co 1:3, 21, 24, 30; 13:12; 15:10; 16:23; 2 Co 1:2, 3; 3:17, 18; 13:14; Ga 2:20; 4:4–5; 5:22; Eph 1:4, 11; 2:3; 3:10, 11; 4:30; 5:17; Col 1:15; 3:6, 10; 1 Th 1:10; 2:16; 5:9, 18; 1 Ti 1:11, 17; 2:4; 6:15; 2 Ti 2:13; Tt 1:2; Heb 1:10–12; 2:17; 3:11; 4:13; 12:29; 13:20; Jas 1:5, 13, 17; 1 Pe 1:16; 2 Pe 3:8, 9; 1 Jn 1:5; 3:2, 20b; 4:8, 12, 19; 5:3; Re 1:7; 4:11; 6:16–17; 19:15

All of the scriptures cited are listed below.

Ge 1–3; 4:15, 26; Ge 6; 8:1, 21–22; 9:6, 15–16, 24–27; 11:5–6; 12:1–3, 8; 14:19, 22; 15:5, 13–16; 16:13; 17:1; Ge 18; 20:6; 21:33; 22:12–13; 24:27, 49; 26:14; 27:27–29, 39–40; 28:3; 29:17–18, 30–31; 30:1, 27; 32:5, 22–32; 33:8, 10–11, 15; 34:11; 41:8, 38; 43:29; 45:5–8; 47:29; 49:1; 50:20; Ex 2:23–3:22; 4:12, 24; 6:3, 5, 7; 7:5, 11–12; 8:19, 22; 12:16; 13:21–22; 14:4, 13, 31; 15:3, 11, 16, 26; Ex 16; 19–20; 19:3–6, 4–6, 10–13, 20–24; 20:2–17; 21:24; 22:22, 31; 23:6–7; 24:1–11, 1–11, 17; 25:22; 26:33; 28:3; 29:44; 30:25–33; 31:3, 6, 10; 32:9–14; Ex 33–34; 35:31; Le 1:1, 3, 10; 3:1, 6; 4:3; 5:4; 10:2, 6; 11:44–45; 18:21; 19:1–2, 15, 17; 20:7, 10, 23, 26; 24:12; 26:12; Nu 1:53; 5:11–31; 6:24–26; 7:89; 10:29; 11:17, 23, 25–29, 33; 12:3, 8; 14:18–19; 16:46; 18:5; Nu 22–24; Dt 1:16–17; 4:6–8, 15, 23–24, 30–31, 37; 5:8–10, 12–15, 29; 6:4–5, 15; Dt 7, 18–19; 8:3; 9:3–8; 10:14–15, 18; 13:1–5, 17; 16:18–20, 22; Dt 18; 23:5; 24:19; 25:1, 13–16; 26:12–13, 15; 27:26; 29:23, 29; 30:3, 5; 32:1–43; Dt 33; 34:9, 11–12; Jos 2:14; 9:16–21; 22:20; 24:17, 19–20; Jdg 3:10; 6:23–24, 34; 11:29; 13:21–22, 25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 19:20; Ru 1:8; 1 Sa 2:2–3, 27, 35; 3:4–14, 10, 21; 4:4; 8:3; 9:15; 10:1–11; 11:6; 12:6–11; 15:10, 29, 35; 16:7, 13; 20:8; 23:7–13; 2 Sa 7:28; 22:26, 36; 23:2; 24:14; 1 Ki 3:28; 4:31–33; 6:16; 7:14; 8:27, 29, 39; 13:1–4; 18:20–40; 22:19; 2 Ki 2:9, 15–16; 6:5–7, 12; 8:12–13; 10:29–31; 13:19, 23; 16:3; 17:17; 19:27–28; 21:23–24; 22:1–7, 11–23:3; 1 Ch 16:29, 34, 41; 27:24; 29:11; 2 Ch 2:6; 7:2–3, 6, 11; 16:9; 19:10; 20:6, 21; 24:18; 30:9; Ne 1:5; 7:5; 9:6, 8, 17, 19–20, 30–32; Job 9:4; 11:5; 12:13; 13:11; 23:13; 27:3; 28:24; 33:4; 34:12, 14–15; 36:26; 37:16; 38:12, 34–35; 39:19, 26; 40:2, 4, 8–9; 41:11; 42:2, 5; Ps 1; 2:5; 4:8; 5:4–5, 7; 6:4; 7:6–13, 17; Ps 8, 5; 9:7–9, 18; 10:10–14; 11:4–7; 12:5–6; 13:1, 5; 15:2; 16:11; 17:7; 18:1, 25, 30, 35, 50; 19:1–6, 1, 2–4, 7–10, 14–20:9; 21:7; 22:1–5, 26; 23:1, 6; 24:1, 3, 7–8, 10; 25:9–10; 26:3; 27:1, 4; 29:2, 11; 30:4–5; 31:2–3, 7, 16; 33:6, 9, 11, 13–15, 18–20; 34:8–10, 15–22; 35:8, 10; Ps 36; 37:1, 11, 28; 38:9; 40:8, 10, 17; 42:1–2, 8; 44:3, 21; 46:1; Ps 50; 51:1, 4, 18; 55:1; 56:4, 8, 10; 57:3, 10; 58:11; 61:5, 8; 62:12; 65:5–13; 66:13; 67:5; 68:1, 5; 69:13–16; 71:22; 72:1–4; Ps 73; 78:38, 40–41; 81:13–14; Ps 82; 84:1–2, 11; 85:7–10, 12; 86:5, 15; 89:2, 11, 18, 34–37; 90:title–91:1; 92:2, 15; 93:1–4, 2; 94:7, 10–11, 18; 96:10, 13; 97:3, 10; 98:2–3, 9; 99:3–5, 9; 100:5; 101:3; Ps 102–104; 105; 106–107; 109:21; 110:4–5; 111:4, 10; 112:4; 113:5–7; 114:1–116:4; Ps 118–119; 121:4; 122:8; 123:1; 135:6; Ps 136; 139; 140:12; 141:6, 10; 143:1–4, 8, 10–11; 144:1; 145:3, 8–9, 13, 15–17, 20; 146:5–10; 147:4–5; Ps 148; 149:4; Pr 1:3, 7, 18–19, 31; 3:2, 5–6, 17, 19; 4:5, 7, 11, 18, 24; 5:21; 6:6, 9, 16–19, 34; Pr 8–9; 10:12, 16, 26; 11:2, 8, 20; 12:22; 13:4–5; 15:3, 11, 29, 33; 16:4–5, 16; 17:15–16; 18:10; 20:4; 21:1–2, 30; 24:2, 12; 26:16, 27; 28:10; 29:6; 30:5; Ec 3:11; 5:4–5; 12:7, 13; So 8:6; Is 1:1, 4, 17, 24; 3:10–11; 5:19, 24; 6:1–5, 8–9; 9:6–7; 10:20; 11:1–9; 12:6; 13:6, 9; 14:24–27; 17:7; 22:14; 25:8; 26:3; 29:14–16; 30:18, 27; 31:3–4; 33:14, 22; 38:1–6; Is 40–49; 51:5; 52:13–53:12; 54:5, 8–12; 55:3, 7–9, 11–12; 57:15, 19, 21; 59:1–4, 8, 21; 60:16; 61:1–2, 10; 62:3–5, 8; 63:9–14; 65:2; 66:1–2; Je 1:5; 4:28; 6:11; 7:2–7, 10, 12, 14–16, 18–19, 31; 8:9; 9:24; Je 10; 12:8; 16:16–18; 17:10; Je 18; 19:5; 20:12; 22:16; 23:20, 23–24, 39; 25:9, 11; 26:2–3, 13, 19; 30:24; 31:3, 35; 32:15, 17, 27, 35; 33:22; 37:6–10; 39:15–18; 44:21, 26; 49:13, 20; 50:29, 45; 51:14–15; La 3:22–23, 31–36; Eze 1:12, 20, 24; 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 5:11; 8:3, 12; 11:1–2, 5, 24; 12:3; 14:16, 18, 20; Eze 16; 18:23, 31–32; 20:3, 31, 33; 21:18–23; 24:14; 26:1–14; 30:10; 33:11, 27; 35:6, 11; 37:1; 39:25; 43:5; Da 2, 28, 36–43; 4:17, 32, 35; 5:23; 6:26–27; 7:4–8; Da 9; 11; 12:3; Ho 1–3; 5:3, 12, 14; 9:15; 11:1, 7–9; Joe 1:15; 2:13–14, 28; 3:4, 7; Am 1:3, 6, 9, 13; 2:1, 4, 6; 3:2; 4:2; 5:12, 15, 24; 6:8; 7:1–6; 8:7; 9:1–4; Ob 15; Jon 3:4, 9–4:2; Mic 3:8, 11; 5:2; 7:19–20; Na 1:3; Hab 1:12–13; 2:8, 18–20; Zep 3:17–18; Hag 2:5; Zec 2:12; 7:12; 8:6, 14, 17; 12:10; 14:20–21; Mal 1:2–3; 2:14; 3:6; Mt 1:1; 2:6, 15, 17; 3:3, 7, 9, 16–4:1, 14–16; 5:3–11, 16, 17–18, 18, 21–22, 43–48; 6:8–10, 12, 25–33; 7:2, 11–12, 21; 8:11–12, 17; 9:6, 27, 35–36; 10:5–8, 20, 28–31, 37; 11:20–26, 25, 28–30; 12:17–18, 39–41, 50; 13:35, 43; 14:14, 22–33; 15:3–9, 21–28, 32; 16:17; 17:2, 5; 18:14, 21–35; 19:4, 8–9, 26; 20:20–28, 34; 22:13, 37–38; 23:2–3, 37; 24:2, 25, 37–39, 51–25:46; 26:24, 26–29, 53; 27:46; 28:18–20; Mk 1:41; 4:35–41; 6:34; 9:45–48; 10:27; 12:36; 13:1–30, 32; 14:36; 16:7; Lk 1:2, 17, 35, 37, 49, 51–53; 2:9, 14, 52; 4:14, 16–21, 34; Lk 5; 6:27, 33–35; 7:9; 8:48; 10:5, 27; 12:37, 42; 13:34; 14:26; 15:1–16:8, 15, 25; 17:10, 28–32; 18:7, 19, 23–27; 19:37, 41; 21:23; 23:46; Lk 24, 25, 26–27, 36–43, 44; Jn 1:1, 3, 12, 14–18, 29; 2:11, 14–17, 21, 24–25; 3:5–8, 14, 15–21, 34–36; 4:20–21, 23–24, 34, 42; 5:17, 24, 26, 36, 37, 42; 6:31–33, 33, 46, 49, 51, 63–64; 7:17–18; 8:12, 23, 44, 50, 54, 58; 9:5; 10:35, 38; 11:35; 12:23, 25, 28, 31, 47; 13:18–19, 31–32, 34–35, 38–14:2, 6, 9–11, 13, 16–17, 20–21, 23, 27, 30–15:27; 16:11, 13–14, 30; 17:1, 3–5, 9–11, 17, 21–24, 26; 20:31; 21:15–19; Ac 1:3, 7–8, 16, 21–22, 24; Ac 2, 19–21, 23, 27, 42, 44, 47; 3:14, 21–24; 4:27–28, 33; 6:10; 7:1–53, 48–51; 8:39–40; 9:31; 10:36, 43; 11:23; 12:2; 13:43; 14:3, 10–11, 14–18, 15–17, 15, 17, 26; Ac 15, 4–22, 5, 10–11, 15–18, 25; 17:24–30, 24–29, 24–30, 27, 28, 30–31; 18:27; 20:24, 32; 21:14; 28:23–25, 25; Ro 1, 19–20, 19, 20–22, 24–26, 28, 32; 2:4–8, 10, 11–12, 11, 14–15, 14, 15, 18; Ro 3, 10–11, 12, 19–20, 21–26; 4:4, 15–16; 5:1–2, 5–10, 12–20; 6:3–14, 23; 8:1–17, 9, 14–16, 16, 18, 25, 27–29, 31–39; 9:5, 11, 13, 15–16, 18–23; 11:6, 30–12:3, 6, 19; 13:1, 4–5, 10; 14:17; 15:4, 9, 18–19, 19, 32–33; 16:20, 24, 25, 27; 1 Co 1:2–3, 9, 18–2:16, 10–16, 10–14, 16; 3:10, 16, 18–23, 21–4:6, 5, 7, 19; 6:14–15, 17, 19; 7:40–8:3, 6; 10:6, 7–10, 11; 11:7; 12:1–11, 18–28; 1 Co 13; 14:6, 14, 33, 37; 15:3–8, 10, 27–28, 43, 45; 16:23; 2 Co 1:2–4, 18–22; 2 Co 3, 6, 17–18; 4:2, 4, 6, 17–18; 5:14–15, 21; 6:2, 14–7:1; 8:7, 9; 9:8; 10:1; 11:2, 11; 12:1–4, 2–3, 7–10, 12; 13:4, 11, 14; Ga 1:3, 12, 15, 16; 2:9, 20–21; 3:10; 4:4–6, 8–9; 5:16–26; 6:10, 16, 18; Eph 1:4–12, 14, 18–2:10, 13–14, 21; 3:2, 6–11, 17–21; 4:2, 6–7, 10, 11–16, 22–27, 30–31; 5:2, 6, 10, 17, 22–33; 6:6, 9–20; Php 1:9–10, 23–24; 2:1–11, 13, 15; 3:3, 21; 4:9; Col 1:11, 15–17, 27; 2:3, 9; 3:1, 6, 8–10, 12, 16, 25; 1 Th 1:5, 9–10; 2:4, 7, 16; 3:13; 4:3, 7; 5:9, 18, 23–24; 2 Th 1:8–9; 2:7–8; 3:16; 1 Ti 1:11, 16–17; 2:1–2, 4–6, 8; 3:15; 5:8; 6:15–16; 2 Ti 1:9, 13–14; 2:2, 13, 19, 24; 3:10, 14, 15–17; 4:2; Tt 1:2, 7; 2:10–11; 3:2–7; Heb 1:2–3, 9–12; 2:3–4, 9–10, 17; 3:11; 4:3, 12–13, 15–16; 5:8, 14; 6:4–6, 17–20; 7:21; 8:13; 9:8, 14; 10:22, 24, 31; Heb 11, 1–40, 3, 6–7, 10, 27; 12:6, 10, 14, 23, 28–29; 13:8, 20–21; Jas 1:5, 12–13, 17–20; 2:1, 9, 21; 3:13–4:3, 8, 13–15; 5:7–8, 11; 1 Pe 1:2–7, 11–12, 15–20, 25; 2:13–3:22; 4:2, 6, 12–19; 5:10; 2 Pe 1:16–18, 16, 20–21, 21; 3:8–10, 13, 15; 1 Jn 1:1–3, 5, 7, 9; 2:7–11, 15, 20–28; 3:1–2, 11–18, 20, 24; 4:7–21; 5:3, 6–12, 14, 20–21; Jud 22–23, 25; Re 1:4–5, 7–8; 2:2–3, 6–7, 15, 21, 23; 3:7; 4:2–3, 5, 8, 10–11; 5:6, 11–12; Re 6–19; 21:3, 6, 8, 22–26; 22:2–5, 13, 16.

Finally, I provide the Scripture references in the ESV translation for the 36 passages cited by Frame, Erickson, and Grudem as a good beginner’s study for the character of God. These would provide a great starting point for dwelling on who God is. May they foster in our hearts a desire to know him fully, a humility to know we never will, and an anxiousness to tell others what we learn.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 18:25
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 20:7
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Exodus 26:33
And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.

Exodus 34:6
The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

1 Samuel 15:29
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”

Psalm 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Psalm 86:15
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 104:24
O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 115:3
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Malachi 3:6
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Matthew 5:48
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 10:30
But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 14:31
but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Acts 14:17
Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

Acts 17:24–25
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 9:22
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

1 Timothy 1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Titus 1:2
in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

Hebrews 4:13
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

The Gospel in Healing America

It is 2020 and the world is on a whole new level of brokenness. The Coronavirus has brought in a host of issues that have exposed lines and cracks in the foundations of our country that seem to have been simply glossed over for years. Our country seems less The United States of America than it ever has and seems to have morphed into The Divided States of America.

A question has plagued me, ‘What can I do to heal this brokenness and
division?’. It has been a regular question the past few months. More so now at the end of August than it has even in the past few months. I long for an answer because I fear that if not healed, this division will break America.

I believe that the principle of what Jesus teaches in Mark 3:25 about how
Jesus cannot be from Satan as he fights against the very purposes of Satan
applies to more than just Jesus’ identity. I believe that, “… if a house
is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand,” can be
applied to a family structure, a company, or even a country. And it breaks me as a citizen of this country to think that we are seeing our country tear
itself apart.

But as I dwell on what part I having in helping to heal America, I am reminded that the goal of the gospel is not to unite a country’s citizens, to bring peace to a nation, provide social justice, or even mandate how a country should be run. The goal of the gospel is to allow those who believe, to enter into an eternally peaceful nation, where there is no inequity, and is ruled by a completely just God. To make sons and daughters of the enemies of God and invite them into a communal relationship that will NEVER be divided or broken.

My heart has yearned for our country to find unity, justice, and peace. But I
must refrain from using the gospel to meet my own desires and instead submit to God’s desires revealed in the gospel. Lest I make the gospel about me and eviscerate the good news of what is really good about it; that it is all about God. I must not allow the gospel to be gutted for the sake of meeting the immediate desire of seeing people here on earth experience a slice of heaven. 

Unity, justice, and peace can be byproducts of the gospel, and eventually will be included in the final reward of believers. But it is not promised in the here and now and is not promised for all. I have to be clear on this. The gospel is not primarily about the here-and-now as much as it is about the eternal life to come.

So, I must instead allow the gospel to shape my desires. To acknowledge that strife, war, division, and suffering are a part of the here and now in some measure and is a part of what God is using to point people to their need for Him. And that God’s goal for the gospel is to show people how worthy He is of worship even through these struggles.

That when we submit to Him, we are assured that one day we will experience unity with other believers and the God who created all things. That perfect justice will finally be meted out, that no wrong-doing will go unpunished and no God-honoring deed will go unrewarded. That eternal, deep-seated peace, deep-seated Shalom, will abide in the depths of every citizen of heaven.

Is this then a white flag on seeking God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in
heaven? Certainly not. Only a reorienting of my hearts understanding of the
purpose of the gospel. That it is intended first to transfer citizens of a
kingdom that will always be broken into a kingdom that has no flaw or
brokenness. And that this should be my driving force and hope and peace in the here and now. And all the while, I’ll pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.

Book Review: A Company of Heroes

The shape of God dictates what a hero looks like. If you are all about worshiping power, CEO’s and comic book heroes stand as the definition of what a hero looks like. If you’re all about money and bowing to that idol, the billionaires and entrepreneurs are at the top of the list. But if you’ve been broken, bound by chains, and a slave to sin; if you’ve been rescued by an all-powerful, all-knowing God that used other broken sinners to rescue you, then those who are willing to sacrifice bear witness to the good-news of the gospel are your heroes.

Tim Keesee apparently is of the latter type. Founder and executive director of Frontline Missions International, Tim brings us a book full of heroes worthy of emulation that are both relatable and encouraging. Stories of men like Ghafur who despite having his family and wife reject him, can’t help but rejoice in the brothers and sisters the Lord has brought him. Ghafur has decided to follow Jesus no matter the cost and echoes with his life the refrain, “I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back. No turning back.”

Mr. Keesee says this about another hero, Mei Li who lives in China; “The fearful little girl who put on her game face and met trouble head-on hasn’t changed that much-only now she isn’t taking the lead. Christ is, and she’s just following him- no regrets, no retreat,” (p. 63). Mei Li lives in a place where pastors were executed and thousands more died in prison. Her story intertwines with that of a Mr. Zhao, a pastor who went to prison when in college and was only one of two-hundred who survived. Both heroes working to bring good news into a spiritually oppressed country.

The book itself is an encouraging read that brings light to missions work. It fosters a heart for those that are both being reached and those who are being used by God to do the reaching. And while it is a quality book, the story telling can sometimes be a little difficult to follow. Jumping from one mission field to another, the stories are written in a ‘journal’ format that depicts the events from a first-person perspective. If you, like me, are reading through a number of books all at once and have long periods of time between readings, it can sometimes require a re-read of previous sections to refresh your memory of the hero and missions field you are currently reading about.

This can be remedied by reading straight through the book, or ensuring that you read each chapter as a whole before moving on to your next book. And because the book is written to read as a narrative, it’s easier to do than a text-book. Especially as you find yourself encouraged by the willingness of others to suffer for the sake of Christ.

Of the aspects of the book that I love, the one piece that encourages me more and more, is the witness of the fact that God is saving a people from every tribe, every tongue, every nation. And this book gives you a window into His work in that very vein. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! If you are looking for a reminder of what God is up to, if you are hoping to be encouraged towards missions work, or just want something to spur you on in your prayer life, read this book.

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The following book review is an ongoing effort on my part to find resources worth sharing that may help any and all who are looking to counsel others. It was also done in conjunction with Crossway’s Book Review Program and subsequently a free digital copy of the book was provided for my review.

For Systematic Study: Scripture

When I was at Grace College, I had a professor who assigned a book called, “Decide for Yourself” that was meant to be a theological workbook that gave you some basic passages that relate to a topic and then gave you a chance to respond to those passages with some guided questions as to what you could learn from them. The concept was amazing but I found the book still led the reader into some specific beliefs that the author held. I recognize this is inevitable of any book. But I really wanted to expand on that idea as I study different topics.

So, I’ve set out on a venture to begin analyzing mainstream protestant systematic theologies simply for their referenced passages on particular subjects. This will then allow me to review the relevant passages to a topic and try to decide for myself what I believe those passages are saying without any guidance other than the Holy Spirit’s. So I have taken the passages from the relevant chapters (note, because I am not reading each chapter, I may be pulling passages that may not seem immediately relevant to the topic but am including them in case there is something to the inferences pulled from these passages) of each theology text using Logos Bible Software’s “Save as a Passage” function to condense the chapter into a list. I then have attempted to find two or three texts that have a similar passage list and tried to distill them down to the most commonly cited passages to rule out some of the less quoted passages. I’m doing this with Logos’ “Merge” function in the Passage Lists feature that provides an “Intersection” of passages.

I have begun with the topic of Scripture. I will cite the text referenced, the passages cited, and then at the end will show which texts I used to distill out some of the most commonly cited passages.

The Texts

Wayne Grudem in his text Systematic Theology references the following passages in his chapters regarding Scripture.

Ge 1:3, 24; 2:16–17, 24; 3:15, 16–19; 4:3–4, 7; Ex 4:12; 17:14; 20:1–3; 24:4; 31:18; 32:16; 34:1, 27, 28; Le 11:44; Nu 22:38; 23:19; 33:2; Dt 4:2, 13; 6:6–7; 8:3; 10:4, 5; 12:32; Dt 18, 18–20, 19, 20–22; 25:4; 29:29; 31:9–13, 12–13, 22, 24–26; 32:47; Jos 1:8; 24:26; 1 Sa 10:8, 25; 13:13–14; 15:3, 18, 19, 23; 2 Sa 7:28; 1 Ki 13:21, 26; 14:18; 16:7, 12, 34; 20:35, 36; 21:19; 2 Ki 9:25–26, 36; 14:25; 1 Ch 29:29; 2 Ch 20:20, 34; 25:15–16; 26:22; 32:32; Ps 1, 1–2, 1, 2, 3; 12:6; Ps 19, 1, 7–14, 7–11, 7; 33:6; Ps 69; 109; 119, 1, 33–40, 44–45, 89, 96, 130, 165; Pr 20:12; 30:5–6, 5; Is 7:14; 30:8, 12–14; 38:4–6; 66:2; Je 1:7, 9; 6:10–12; 14:14; 17:9; 23:16–22; 29:31–32; 30:2; 36:2–4, 27–31, 29–31; 37:2; 51:60; Eze 2:7; 13:1–16, 1–7; Joe 2:28–32; Hag 1:12; Zec 7:7, 12; Mal 3:1–4; 4:1–6; Mt 1:22; 3:17; 4:4; 5:33–37; 9:13; 12:3–4, 3, 5, 7, 40, 41, 42; 15:3, 16; 19:4, 5; 21:13, 42; 22:29, 31; 23:16–22; 24:35; Mk 4:10–13, 11–12; 6:52; 7:9–13; 8:14–21; 9:32; Lk 1:1–3, 70; 4:25–26, 27; 6:36; 10:7; 17:29, 32; 18:34; 24:25, 27, 44; Jn 1:1, 14; 2:22; 3:10, 14, 18; 4:5; 5:45–47; 7:17; 8:27, 43, 56; 10:6, 27; 12:16; 13:7; 14:6, 26; 15:20; 16:12–13, 13–14, 13; Jn 17, 17; 20:30–31; Ac 1:16; 2:16–17; 3:18, 21; 4:12, 25; 5:2, 3, 4; 13:17–23, 47; 14:16–17, 17; Ac 15, 7; 24:14; 28:25; Ro 1, 2, 19–21, 32; 2:14–15, 14, 16; 3:2; 4:1–25, 10, 19; 9:10–12, 17; 10:9, 13–17; 11:2–4; 15:4; 1 Co 1:2, 18–3:4; 1:18–25; 2:9, 13, 14; 7:10, 12–15, 12, 25, 39, 40; 1 Co 8–10; 8:10; 9:8–10; 10:1–11, 11; 12:28; 14:37, 38; 15:29; 2 Co 1:13; 3:14–16; 4:3–4, 6; 13:2–3, 3; Ga 1:2, 8–9; 2:11–15; Eph 3:4; 4:11, 24, 25; 5:1; Php 1:1; Col 4:16; 1 Th 2:13; 4:8, 15; 5:27; 2 Th 3:6, 14; 1 Ti 2:5–6; 4:2, 13; 5:17–18, 18; 2 Ti 2:25; 3:15, 16–17, 16, 17; Tt 1:2, 9, 15; 2:7–8; Heb 1, 1–2, 1, 3, 6–7; Heb 2; 4:12; 5:14; 6:18; 7:1–2; 9:1–5, 19–21; 10:22; Heb 11, 1, 3, 13, 26; 12:16–17; Jas 1:1, 5–6, 18, 22–25; 2:25; 3:2; 1 Pe 1:1, 23–25, 23; 2:2; 3:20; 5:1; 2 Pe 1:19–20, 19, 20, 21; 2:5, 6–7, 16; 3:2, 5, 15–16, 15, 16; 1 Jn 1:1, 8–10; 5:3, 13; Jud 1; Re 1:3; 2:1, 8, 12; 19:13; 22:7, 10, 18–19.

Passages from pp 45–53, pp 66–72, pp 79–89, pp 90–104, pp 105–115, pp 116–126, pp 127–138.

Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004.

Millard Erickson in his text Christian Theology references the following passages in his chapters regarding Scripture.

Ge 1:28; 2:7, 24; 3:8, 16, 17–19, 18; 11:26, 32; 12:4, 7; 16:15; 21:9; Ex 3, 6, 14; Nu 6:24–26; 22:28–30; 25:9; Dt 4:2; 12:32; 26:5–9; 32:43; 1 Sa 18:10; 19:23–24; 2 Sa 1:21; 8:4; 10:18; 23:2; 24:1, 9; 1 Ch 18:4; 19:18; 21:1, 5; 2 Ch 4:2, 12; Job 12:23; Ps 2:1–2; 14:1; 16:10; Ps 19, 1–2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7–14; 35:19; 47:7–8; 53:1; 66:7; 69:25; Ps 78, 2; 82:6; 97:7; 104:4; 109:8; Pr 30:6; Is 6; 8:11; 10:5–13; 20:1; 28:11–12; 40:31; Je 18:1; 30:4; Eze 12:1, 8, 17, 21, 26; 29:1; Da 2:21; Ho 1:1; Joe 1:1; Am 3:1; Mic 4:4; Mt 5:17, 18; 10:9–10, 29, 31; 11:15; 13:13–15, 15, 35; 16:17–20, 22; 19:4–5; 22:32, 44; 24:2; 27:5, 54; 28:19–20; Mk 6:8; 8:18; Lk 1:41–42, 59–79; 3:1–2; 5:8; 9:3; 23:40; 24:25–27, 44–45; Jn 10:3, 34–35, 34, 35; Jn 12, 28; Jn 14–16; 14:1–7, 8–11, 9, 12, 16, 17, 26; 15:1–17, 25, 26–27, 26; 16:7, 8, 13, 14; 21:25; Ac 1:16, 18; 2:4, 35; 3:18, 21; 4:25; Ac 7, 4, 6; 13:16–41, 34; 14:15–17; 15:38–41; 17:22–31, 23, 26, 28, 32–34; 19:11–12; Ro 1–2; 1, 15, 16, 17, 18–32, 18b, Ro 1:18, 19–20, 19, 20, 21–22, 21, 25; Ro 2, 1–16, 11–16, 14–16, 14–15, 14, 29; Ro 3, 19; 8:18–25, 19, 20, 21, 23; Ro 10, 14; 11:8; 1 Co 1:18, 20–21, 23, 24; 2:7, 11, 13–14, 13, 14, 16; 3:19; 7:40; 10:8; 11:23; 14:21; 1 Co 15; 2 Co 3, 13, 16, 18; 4:4; 2 Co 5; Ga 1:15; 2:11–12, 14–21; 3:6–9, 10–14, 10–11, 16, 19–29, 23–24; 4:21–22; Eph 1:18; 3:14–19; Php 2:10–11; 3:10; Col 1:9; 1 Th 1:5; 2:13; 2 Ti 3:15, 16, 17; 4:11; Heb 1:1–3, 1–2, 6–7; 4:15; Jas 1:13; 2 Pe 1:19–21, 19, 20–21, 20, 21; 3:16; 1 Jn 1:1; 4:6; 5:20; Jud 9, 14; Re 22:18–19.

Passages from CT pp 177–199, pp 200–223, pp 224–245, pp 246–265, pp 266–285.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998.

Charles Ryrie in his text Ryrie’s Basic Theology references the following passages in his chapters regarding Scripture.

Ge 1, 4, 5, 11–12, 27; Ge 2, 4, 5, 18–23; 3:4–5; Ge 4; 5:4; Ge 12; 16:7–14; 17:10; 20:3, 6; 31:11–13, 24, 28, 40–41; 35:11–12; 46:27; Ex 3, 2, 6; 12:40; Ex 20, 8; 28:30; Le 19, 13; Nu 25, 9; 27:21; Dt 8:3; 9:10; Dt 24, 15; Dt 25, 4; 33:8; Jos 1:7–8; 6:26; 23:6; 24:29–33; Jdg 2:8–9; Ru 4:6; 1 Sa 17:50; 21:1–6; 28:6; 2 Sa 6:1; 12:19, 24–25; 21:19, 20; 23:2; 2 Sa 24, 1, 9, 13, 16, 24; 1 Ki 2:3; 16:34; 2 Ki 14:6; 21:8; 23:25; 1 Ch 21, 1, 5, 12, 25; 1 Ch 27; 2 Ch 4:2, 5; 2 Ch 24, 20; 36:22–23; Ezr 1:1–4; 2:63; 6:18; Ne 13:1; Ps 16:9–10; 22:1, 15–16, 18; 31:5; 34:20; 68:18; Ps 82; 91:11–12, 11; Ps 110, 1; Pr 16:33; Is 1:1; 6:1; 9:1–2; 42:1; 53:5; 61:1; Je 18; 19; 25:11–12; Eze 1:3; 25:7; Da 9:2, 11, 20–21; Joe 2:28; Mic 5:2; 6:5; Zec 1:1, 12; 11:12–13; 13:7; Mal 3:1; 4:4, 5; Mt 1:1; 2:15, 18, 23; 4:1–11, 4, 7, 10; 5:17–18, 17, 18; 8:4, 11; 10:5–7, 9–10, 15; 11:10; 12:17, 40; 13:31–32, 32; 16:14, 17; 17:11–12; 19:3–9, 3–5; 20:28, 29–34; 22:23–33, 29, 30, 32, 41–46, 42, 45; 23:35; 24:15, 38–39; 27:5, 9–10, 9; 28:18–20; Mk 1:2–3, 2; 2:26; 6:8; 10:6–8, 46–52; Lk 1:1–4; 2:10–11; 3:38; 4:21; 9:3; 10:7; 11:51; 17:6, 26–27, 28–29; 18:35–43; 22:36; 24:45; Jn 1:9, 14, 17; 2:11; 3:2; 5:46; 7:46; 8:39; 10:24, 30, 31–38, 34, 35; 12:34; 13:18; 14:9; 15:25; 16:12–15, 24; 17:17; 21:25; Ac 1:18, 21–26; 2:17–21, 25–29; Ac 7, 6, 14; 16:10–13; 20:5–21:18; 20:7; 27:1–28:6; 27:15; Ro 5:8; 9:1–3, 9–12, 24–26; 12:7, 19; 1 Co 1:19; 2:9–3:2; 2:13; 4:5; 10:8; 2 Co 3:7–11; 12:7; Ga 3:16, 17; 4:21–31; 5:2; 6:16; Eph 1:18; 3:5, 9; Php 3:16; Col 4:16; 1 Th 4:15; 1 Ti 4:3, 4; 5:18; 2 Ti 1:10; 3:14–17, 15–17, 16; Tt 1:12; Heb 1:1; 6:4; Jas 4:6; 2 Pe 1:21; 3:16; 1 Jn 1:1–3; 2:27; Jud 14; Re 1:1; 19:17.

Passages from p 70, p 118, pp 76–82, pp 83–86, pp 87–96, pp 97–106, pp 107–117, pp 125–133.

Ryrie, Charles Caldwell. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999.

Paul P. Enns in his book, The Moody Handbook of Theology references the following passages in his chapters regarding Scripture.

Ge 1; 2; Ex 3:6; 4:15; Ex 7–11; 7:1–2; 14:1; 17:14; 20:1; 34:27; Le 4:1; Nu 4:1; Dt 4:2; 6:13, 16; 8:3; 18:15–19; 25:4; 28:15–68; 29:1; 30:1–10; 31:24–26, 24; 32:48; Jos 1:1; 8:31; 23:6; 24:26; 1 Sa 10:25; 2 Ki 14:6; 2 Ch 23:18; Ezr 3:2; Ne 8:3; 10:34; Job 12:7–9; Ps 8:1–3; 19:1–6, 1, 2, 3, 4; Ps 22; 82:6; 110:1; 118:22; Is 1:10, 24; 2:1; 7:14; 8:1; 40:12–14, 26; 42:1–4; 53:1–12; Je 1:9, 11; 11:1–3, 21; 12:6; 23:21, 32; 26:8–15; 28:1–17; 36:2, 27–28; Eze 1:3; 43:11; Da 2:21, a, 31–43; Mic 5:2; Mt 1; 4:4, 7, 10; 5:17–18, 17, 18, 45; 8:5–13; 12:18–21; 21:42; 22:29, 44; 26:54; Mk 12:10; 15:28; Lk 1:35; 2:32; 7:1–10; 10:7; 24:27, 32, 44–45, 44, 45; Jn 1:1, 14, 18; 5:36–37, 36, 39; 6:36, 63; 8:47; 10:9, 11, 34, 35; 12:48; 13:18; 14:10, 26; 16:12–15, 13, 14, 15; 19:24, 36; Ac 1:16; 8:35; 14:15–17, 17; 16:14; Ro 1:2, 18–21, 20; 2:14–15, 15; 3:4; 4:3; 5:12–21; 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; 12:2; 15:4; 16:25; 1 Co 2:9–13, 11, 14; 14:37; Ga 1:11–12; 4:30; Eph 1:18; 4:23; Col 1:9–10; 4:16; 1 Th 2:13; 5:27; 1 Ti 5:18; 2 Ti 3:15, 16, 17; Heb 1:3; 4:12; 2 Pe 1:16–21, 19, 20, 21; 3:15–16, 16; 1 Jn 4:6.

Passages from pp 153–182.

Enns, Paul P. The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989.

In Gordon Lewis’ book, Decide for Yourself: A Theological Workbook, he references the following passages in his chapters regarding Scripture.

Ex 3:14; 4:12; 14:13, 31; 19:3–6; 24:1–11; Le 1:1; Nu 7:89; 12:8; Dt 7:18–19; 34:11–12; Jos 24:17; 1 Sa 2:27; 3:4–14, 21; 9:15; 1 Ki 22:19; Job 42:5; Ps 8; 19:1–6, 1, 2–4; 42:1–2; 84:1–2; 93:1–4; 104:24; Ps 105; 139; 148:13; Is 6:1–5, 8–9; 22:14; Je 1:5; Da 2:28; 6:26–27; Zec 7:12; Mt 5:17–18; 11:25; 12:39–41; 16:17; 19:4; 24:37–39; Mk 12:36; Lk 1:2, 49; 17:28–32; 19:37; 24:25, 26–27, 44; Jn 3:14; 4:24; 5:36; 6:31–33, 49; 10:35; 14:6; 20:31; Ac 1:16, 21–22; 2:19–21, 42, 44, 47; 3:21–24; 7:1–53; 10:43; 14:3, 15–17; 15:4–22, 25; 17:24–29, 27; 28:23–25, 25; Ro 1:18, 19–20, 19, 20, 21, 25, 28, 32; 2:11–12, 14–15, 14, 15; 3:10–11, 19–20, 23; 8:9, 14–16; 15:4, 18–19; 16:25; 1 Co 1:2; 2:10–16; 3:21–4:6; 10:6, 7–10, 11; 12:3, 18–28; 14:6, 37; 2 Co 3; 12:1–4, 12; Ga 1:12, 15, 16; 4:6; Eph 3:17–19; 4:11–16; 1 Ti 3:15; 2 Ti 1:13–14; 2:2; 3:14, 16; Heb 2:3–4; 11:1–40; 1 Pe 1:16; 2 Pe 1:16, 20–21, 21; 1 Jn 1:1–3, 5; 2:20–28; 3:24; 4:8; 5:6–12; Re 14:13.

Lewis, Gordon R.. Decide For Yourself: A Theological Workbook. IVP Academic, 2012.

In his text Systematic Theology, Robert Letham references the following passages regarding Scripture.

Ge 1–4; 1, 2–5; 3:15; 17:7–8; Dt 4:9–12; 8:1–3; 13:1–5; 21:10–13; 25:4; 1 Ch 26:18; Ps 19:1–6; 95:7–11; 110:1; Pr 22:20–21; Is 8:19–20; Is 53; 55:10; Je 11:4; 24:7; 30:22; 31:31–34; 32:38; Eze 34:24; 37:21–28; Da 9; Mt 5:17–18, 21–22, 27–28, 31–32, 33–34, 38–39, 43–44; 6:2, 5, 16, 25; 13:17; 15:1–20; Lk 10:16; 24:25–27, 44–47; Jn 1:1–4, 14; 5:24, 25, 28–29; 7:17; 8:56; 10:35; 14:18–20, 26; 15:26; 16:7–15; Ac 8:26–35; 21:10–14, 11; Ro 1:20; 10:14; 15:4; 1 Co 9:9; 11:23–34; 15:1–11; 2 Co 5:19–20; 12:12; Ga 1:11–24; Ga 2; 3:8; Eph 2:17; 5:21; Php 2:9–11; Col 1:15–20; 2:8; 2 Th 2, 1–2, 15; 1 Ti 5:18; 2 Ti 2:2; 3:16–17, 16, 17; Heb 1:1–4, 1–3; 3:7; 4:12–13, 12; 6:1–4; Jas 1:18; 1 Pe 1:10–12, 23; 2 Pe 1:20–21; 1 Jn 2:12–14; Re 20; 21:3.

Passages from pp 185–266.

Letham, Robert. Systematic Theology. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.

Finally, John Frame in his book Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief references the following passages regarding Scripture.

Ge 1, 1, 2–3, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 22, 24, 26–27, 26, 28–30, 28; 2:4, 16–17; 3:8–23, 15, 17–19; 4:17, 26; 5:1; 6:7, 9–21, 9; 7:1–8:19, 20–9:28; 8:20, 22; 9:6, 12–17, 16, 24–27; 10:1; 11:1–9, 6–7, 10, 27; 12:1–3, 1, 7; 13:18; 15:6, 17; 16:7–14; 17:5, 15–21; 18:1–33, 14; 21:17–21; 22:1–2, 2; 25:12, 19; 27:27–29, 39–40; 28:18; 32:22–32, 24, 28, 30; 35:15; 36:1, 9; 37:2; 41:38; 49:1–27; Ex 1; 3, 7–22; Ex 4, 10, 11–12, 13, 14–16, 16; 7:5; 14:18; Ex 15, 4–12; 16:6–10; Ex 19, 5, 9, 16, 18, 22, 24; Ex 20, 1–17, 2, 3–17, 3, 7, 12, 18–21, 18, 19; 23:20, 21; 24:12; 31:18; 32:9–14; 33:18–19; 34:6–7, 27, 28; Le 11:44; 18:5; 26:15; Nu 6:24–26, 27; 11:25; 12:8; 15:32–36; 23:19; 24:2; Dt 1:3; Dt 4–11; 4:1–8, 2, 5–8, 7–8, 12, 13, 26, 31; 5:1, 22–33, 32; 6:1–9, 4–5, 6–9, 6, 7–9, 24–25; 7:9, 11; 8:3, 11–18, 11; 9:9, 10, 11, 15; 10:4; 12:5, 11, 21, 32; 14:23–24; 17:6; Dt 18, 9–14, 15, 16, 17–22, 18–19, 18, 19, 20–22, 20, 22; 19:15; 25:4; 26:5–10; Dt 27–28, 14; Dt 29, 9, 21, 29; Dt 30, 10, 11–14, 12–13, 15–20, 19; 31:9–13, 9, 10–11, 11–13, 19–22, 24–29, 24, 26–28, 26, 28; 32:1, 4, 46–47, 46; 33:9; Jos 1:7–8, 7; Jos 2; 11:15; 23:6; Jos 24, 25–28; Jdg 11:29–40; 1 Sa 2:2; 10:1–7, 1, 6, 9; 12:22; 2 Sa 7:16, 28; 1 Ki 4:26; 8:21, 29; 9:3; 13:18; 17:1, 2, 24; 18:24–46; 19:12; 22:5–12, 20–23, 22; 2 Ki 18:4; 22:8–20; 23:2, 3, 27; 1 Ch 16:15; 2 Ch 6:11, 15; 9:25; 34:31; Ne 8:1–8; Job 33:4; 37:12; Job 38–42; Ps 1:2; 2:7–9; 7:17; 9:2; Ps 12, 6; Ps 16; 18:2, 15, 30, 49; Ps 19, 1, 3, 7–11, 7; 20:1; 23:3; 29:1–2, 2, 3–11, 3–9, 10–11; 31:6; 33:6–9, 6, 9, 13–15, 21; 34:3; 36:5; 37:31; 40:7–8, 11; 45:6–8; 46:8–10; 48:10; 51:4; 54:1; 56:4, 10; 61:5; 62:2; Ps 65; 66:5–7; 68:4; 69:9; 72:17; Ps 78, 5–8; 82:6; 89:34; 94:12; 102:15; Ps 104, 30; 107:20; Ps 110; 111:7, 9, 10; 115:5–8; Ps 119, 1, 7, 11, 15–16, 18, 20, 24, 25, 28, 40, 43, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 72, 86, 89–90, 89, 120, 129, 142, 151, 160, 161–162, 176; Ps 135, 13, 15–18; Ps 136; 138:2; 145:4, 12; 147:15–18; 148:5, 6–8; Pr 1–4; 1:7; 2:6–8; 3:3; 7:1–3; Pr 8–9; 8:22–30; 9:10; 15:33; 22:1; 30:5–6, 6; Ec 12:11; Is 2:2–4; Is 6, 5–7, 9–10, 10; 8:1–2; 11:9; 26:4; 29:13–14; 30:8–11, 27; 34:16–17, 16; 38:1–5; 40:8; 43:1, 7; 45:3–4, 23; 51:7; 53:1; 55:10–11, 11; 59:19, 21; 61:1; 62:2; 65:15; 66:1, 5; Je 1, 4–12, 10–12; 10:9–10; 11:11, 14; 14:9, 14, 21; Je 18, 5–10, 7–10; 24:7; 25:13; 26:3, 13, 17–18, 18, 19; 30:2; 31:31–34, 33; Je 36, 4, 32; 42:10; 51:60–61; La 2:14; Eze 1:3; 3:22; 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; 37:23; Da 3:28; 9:1–2, 9–15; Ho 12:1; Joe 2:13–14, 28–32, 32; Am 4:2; 6:8; 7:1–6; 8:7; 9:11–12; Jon 3:4, 6–9, 9, 10; 4:1–2; Mic 3:12; 4:1–5; Hab 2:14, 18–20; Mt 1:1; 3:2, 17; 4:4, 7, 10, 14, 17, 23; 5:3, 17–20, 17–19, 17–18, 17, 21, 27–30, 27, 30, 33–37, 33, 34–35, 45, 48; 6:10; 7:12, 15–20, 15, 16, 21–27, 21–23, 21, 24–29, 24–28, 24–27; 8:1, 17, 26–27; 9:6, 9–13, 35; 10:19–20, 20, 40–41; 11:1, 10, 13, 25–27, 27, 29; 12:5, 17, 38–39; 13:10–13, 11, 14–15, 14, 31–32, 35; 14:31; 15:6; 16:1–4, 16, 24; 17:1–9, 5; 18:15–17, 16; 19:4–5; 21:13, 21; 22:40, 42–45, 43; 23:4, 16–22, 23; 24:11, 24, 35; 26:24, 31, 39, 54, 56; 28:17, 18, 19–20, 19, 20; Mk 1:5; 4:11–12, 12; 7:8, 13; 8:38; 9:2–9, 24; 10:45; 12:10; 13:31; 16:9–20; Lk 1:4, 17, 37; 4:14, 21; 5:1–10, 8; 6:26, 45; 7:1–10, 7–9; 8:10, 21; 9:26, 28–36; 10:7; 12:47–48, 48; 14:21; 16:29–31, 31; 17:30; 23:47; 24:25–27, 25, 44–47; Jn 1, 1–14, 1–3, 1, 3, 10, 14, 17, 18; 2:1–11, 11; 3:3, 5–8, 5, 16, 34–36, 34; 4:34; 5:19–30, 19, 20, 36, 37–40, 39–40, 39, 45–47, 47; 6:38–39, 45, 63, 68, 69; 7:16, 17, 38; 8:28, 32, 42, 47, 56; 10:4–5, 18, 27, 34–36, 34, 35; Jn 12, 37–40, 47–50, 47–49, 48–49, 48, 49–50, 49, 50; 13:34–35, 35; 14:6, 9, 10, 15, 16–17, 17, 21, 23, 24, 26; 15:7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 22, 26–27, 26; 16:13; 17:1–26, 3, 6, 8, 17, 20, 24; 18:37; 21:25; Ac 1:3, 8, 16, 22; 2:1–12, 1–4, 4, 17–18, 22, 30, 33–36; 4:8, 10, 12, 17, 24–25, 25, 31; 5:41, 42; 6:3–5, 10; 7:38, 55–56; 8:5, 12; Ac 9, 17–20, 20, 21; 10:20; 11:12, 27–28; 13:1–3, 9–10, 34–35; Ac 14, 1–7, 17; 15:12, 15, 17–18, 32, 35; 16:10–24; 18:26; 19:6, 8; 20:5–21:18; 20:25, 35; 21:9–14; 22:16; 24:14; 27:1–28:16, 23, 25–27, 25, 26–28, 26–27, 31; Ro 1, 1, 4, 8–17, 16–17, 16, 17, 18–32, 18–21, 18–20, 18, 19–20, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24–27, 25, 28–31, 28, 32; 2:21; 3:2, 4; 4:1–25, 3, 11, 16–25, 19–21, 20–21, 22; 5:8; Ro 6; 7:7–25, 12; 8:11, 19, 20–23, 39; 9:1–28, 15, 17; Ro 10, 5–10, 5–9, 6–9, 6–8, 9–10, 13, 14–17, 17; 11:8, 33–36; 12:6; 14:11, 23; 15:4, 10, 19, 22–29; 16:22, 25–26, 25; 1 Co 1:2, 7, 9, 16, 18, 19, 20; 2:4–5, 4, 6–13, 9–10, 10–13, 10–11, 12–15, 12–13, 13; 3:16–17, 16; 4:1, 14–21, 16; 5:1–5, 3, 9–12, 9; 6:11, 16; 7:40; 9:1; 10:1–12, 4, 6, 11, 13, 16, 31; 11:1, 4–5, 7, 26; 12:2, 3, 10; 14:1–40, 23–25, 26, 29, 37–38, 37; 1 Co 15, 1–12, 1–3, 2–3, 3–7, 3, 8, 9, 11–12, 12–19, 14, 17, 27; 2 Co 1:20; 3:2–3, 14, 15; 4:1–6, 6; 6:2; 7:5–16, 8; 11:13; 12:12, 14; 13:1, 4, 10, 14; Ga 1:1, 6–9, 9, 11–12, 12, 15–16; 2:2, 4; 3:6–29, 6, 8, 16; 4:1–7, 12–20; 5:16–24; Eph 1:11, 13, 17–19, 17, 19–21; 2:4–5, 21; 3:3, 18–19; 4:8, 24, 29; 5:14; 6:1, 21–22; Php 2:1–11, 5–11, 10–11, 11, 16; 3:10, 15, 17; 4:9; Col 1:15–16, 17, 28; 2:8; 3:10, 16, 17, 23; 4:7–9, 14, 16; 1 Th 1:5, 6, 7, 9; 2:2, 13; 4:9; 5:20, 24, 27; 2 Th 1:7; 2:2, 9, 11, 15, 16; 3:3, 6, 9, 14–15; 1 Ti 1:15, 18; 2:5, 7, 8, 12; 3:1–7, 1, 2–7, 2, 8–13, 14–15; 4:6, 12, 14; 5:17–18, 19, 23; 6:3–5, 3–4, 3, 20; 2 Ti 1:5, 10, 11, 12–14, 13; 2:2, 11–13, 13; 3:1–9, 5, 10–14, 10–11, 15–17, 15, 16–17, 16, 17; 4:2, 6–18, 6–8, 11; Tt 1:2, 5–9; 2:2–5, 3–5, 7; 3:4–8, 12–14; Phm 24; Heb 1:1–4, 1–3, 1, 2–3, 2, 3, 6; 2:1–4, 2, 4; 3:7; 4:12–13, 12; 5:12; 6:11–12, 13–20, 13, 18, 19; 8:1–13, 5; 9:8; 10:15–17, 23, 28; 11:1–12:2; 11:3, 7, 8–22, 8–19, 11; 13:7, 17, 23; Jas 1:6, 22, 25; 2:8, 10, 12, 21–23, 23; 3:9; 4:5, 6, 11–12, 13–16; 5:14, 17–18; 1 Pe 1:7, 11, 15–16, 18, 20, 21; 2:18–25, 21; 4:11, 13; 5:3; 2 Pe 1:3–11, 3, 11, 13–15, 16–18, 17–18, 19–21, 21; 2:1–22, 1, 14, 21; 3:2, 5–7, 15–16; 1 Jn 1:1–3, 6, 8, 9; 2:3–5, 3, 4, 20–27, 21, 27; 3:16, 18, 22; 4:1–6, 1–3, 1, 2–3, 9–11; 5:2–3, 3, 6, 13, 15, 20; 2 Jn 4, 6, 10, 12; 3 Jn 13–14; Jud 3, 17; Re 1:3, 5; Re 2–3; 2:2, 17; 3:12; 11:3–13; 12:17; 13:5–6; 14:12; 15:3–4; 16:13; 19:9, 13, 20; 20:10; 21:5; 22:4, 6–10, 7, 18–19.

References from Pages 517-691.

Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2013.

Intersection of Passages

I’m providing two different intersection of passages because Grudem and Erickson’s wasn’t nearly as robust a list as Grudem and Frame’s but Grudem and Erickson’s was the best out all the other’s I tried to combine. Logos’ tool does a great job of cutting down the time of work and effort required in compiling these lists but it is still a labor-intensive process so the work hopefully will provide some benefit in determining which passages to focus in on. Grudem and Frame seem to have the most robust citations and I have not eliminated any of the passages that seemed a little perplexing in how they related to the specific topic, again because of the possible inferences one might make in regards to the topic.

Intersection of Passages from Grudem and Erickson on SCRIPTURE & AUTHORITY

Ge 2:24; Dt 4:2; 12:32; Ps 19, 1, 7–14; Jn 14:26; 16:13; Ac 1:16; 3:18, 21; 4:25; Ro 1; 2:14–15, 14; 1 Co 2:13, 14; 7:40; 1 Th 2:13; 2 Ti 3:15, 16, 17; Heb 1:1–2, 6–7; 2 Pe 1:19, 20, 21; 3:16; 1 Jn 1:1; Re 22:18–19.

Intersection of Passages from Grudem and Frame on Scripture and Authority.

Ge 1:3, 24; 2:16–17; 3:15; Ex 31:18; 34:27, 28; Le 11:44; Nu 23:19; Dt 4:2, 13; 8:3; 10:4; 12:32; Dt 18, 19, 20–22; 25:4; 29:29; 31:9–13; 2 Sa 7:28; Ps 1:2; 12:6; Ps 19, 1, 7–11, 7; 33:6; Ps 119, 1, 89; Pr 30:5–6; Je 14:14; 30:2; Joe 2:28–32; Mt 3:17; 4:4; 5:33–37; 12:5; 21:13; 23:16–22; 24:35; Mk 4:11–12; Lk 10:7; 24:25; Jn 1:1, 14; 5:45–47; 7:17; 8:56; 10:27; 14:6, 26; 16:13; 17:17; Ac 1:16; 4:12, 25; 14:17; 24:14; 28:25; Ro 1, 32; 3:2; 4:1–25; 9:17; 15:4; 1 Co 1:2; 2:13; 7:40; 10:11; 14:37; 2 Co 4:6; Eph 4:24; Col 4:16; 1 Th 2:13; 5:27; 2 Th 3:6; 1 Ti 5:17–18; 2 Ti 3:15, 16–17, 16, 17; Tt 1:2; Heb 1:1, 3; 4:12; 6:18; 11:3; 2 Pe 1:21; 3:2, 15–16; 1 Jn 5:3, 13; Re 1:3; 19:13; 22:7, 18–19.

Truths I Need In A Time of Need

As I write this, the world is in upheaval. Africa experiences a plague of locusts, in Indonesia, the Krakatoa volcano erupts, countries the world over are wrestling with the virus Covid-19 and all the issues that come with it. And I would imagine there are many who, like me, are concerned about the seriousness not only of the virus, but also of the supply chain issues, economic impact, and the potential infringement of personal liberty as the world seeks to find the balance between safety and freedom.

As President Trump describes, we are at war with an unseen enemy; but I am afraid we are focused on the wrong enemy. While the world seeks to battle for stability, I have found that the bigger enemy I wrestle with is just now presenting itself and is a much more sinister enemy. This enemy weighs the heavy load of fear, uncertainty, and the unknown into our lives to force us into a corner so that he may pick at us internally. Why make a full frontal attack when you can eat away at the enemy from within? 

The Enemy

I have found that amongst all the challenges the apostles faced, the battles that the heroes and faith-fathers of the Old Testament were pressed up against, the one common thread throughout all of these is God’s insistence that they do battle with the sin in their own lives. The sin that the enemy longs for us to embrace. Because while God seeks what is best for us, the enemy challenges us to settle for the marginally good if not simply the detestable dressed up as a shiny bauble we so ‘innocently’ enjoy. All this so that the rebellion would not seem so much as an outright coup of the king, as much as it would be an opportunity for us to ‘take care of ourselves’, ‘look out for number one’, or to simply ‘be prepared’.

I must admit, I have fallen victim to this enemy a number of times the past few weeks. One of my sisters has aptly put it that there are waves of faith and worry. Moments where I have been so overwhelmed with fear for my family members that I have shared a news article with them about something new happening in the world. Minutes, sometimes hours of fear about the world events, that I am unable to see anything else other than how to respond to the mounting threats to my family and myself.

The Truth’s I Need

But today is Easter. And I am reminded of the truth’s I need to hear, the truths I need to believe, in this time of need. As I sit on Easter Sunday, secluding myself from my family for some heart-searching, I am realizing the error my heart has made the past few weeks and the truths I’ve needed to remind myself of and am hoping that as I share them, that they may help you as well.

  1. I am not in control. Just as I cannot control Krakatoa, nor the virus that spreads so quickly, I cannot control what happens to the economy, to the weather, or the ground beneath my feet. I am subject to whatever God deems best for me.
  2. There are worse things than Covid-19 and death. Hate, selfishness, and God’s wrath. We call them heroes those who are willing to set aside selfishness to serve others. We rightfully detest bigotry, racism, and sexism and hold up as examples those who fight against such hate. And in the end, God’s wrath against the rebellious condemns those who refuse to accept his rule to an eternity of suffering.
  3. God is good. While some would challenge me that God would not allow any of the bad stuff if He were truly good, I know that for whatever reason the bad exists, He has provided a means of ultimate escape from it all through His Son’s death and resurrection. The ultimate “bad stuff” has already been overcome by the faith He gifted me with. While the world worries about the potential deaths, economic collapse, I have an assurance that whatever happens, I know where I will ultimately end up and it will be a place with no more suffering, no more pain, and a fullness of love and ecstasy in His presence.
  4. Hope has a name; Jesus. While the world shouts and screams news of fear and worry, I can whisper that name, Jesus, and know that all will be made right. Because when I was addicted He broke those chains. Because when I was lost in selfish indulgence, He taught me what real love looks like. When I was all alone, He chose to dwell in me.
  5. Love is stronger than fear. Read 1 John 4 and you will see how important love really is. God is equated to being love but also is an assurance that we belong to Him because we subsequently mimic, like any doting child does, that which we see our father do. And while fear is the tool that pushes us into ourselves, Love breaks free and allows us to go to those around us with an assurance that ultimately, all will be well.

I have no doubt I will likely continue to hear the calls to fear and anxiety for the rest of my life. That I will need to rehearse these to myself and be reminded of them by my brothers and sisters in Christ. But for this I am grateful, that today the tomb is empty and no news of Covid-19, no earthquake or economic collapse can take away this truth; I have hope that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world and that one day this will be all made right and I will get to worship Him forever.

Wrestling with this like I have been? Pray with me… “Father, I confess my unbelief. That I have failed to trust your sovereign rule over all things. That I have indulged my own sin and fear and have failed to love as a result of it. Help my unbelief and give me faith. Help me to trust in your love for me that I might begin to faithfully love others. And allow your Son’s death and resurrection to begin to mark everything I say, think, and do with the hope you promise me.”

Theology’s Role in Pastoral Counseling

Theology, broadly defined as the study of God and/or God’s nature, is at the core of how every person responds to the world around them. If you believe that there is no God, you are an atheist and will likely have no belief in an eternal afterlife or any sense of concern about an eternal judgment. But if you believe in a god, you will likely have at least some small idea of what that god is like and will respond accordingly.

The un-biblical belief, “As long as I am a generally good person, I’ll go to heaven,” will result in a generalized attempt at doing more good than bad with no real concern for the consequences of the bad.

“God is an old codger looking to burn us under his magnifying glass as though we were ants on an ant-hill,” tends to lead people to shake their fists at a cruel God and leaves them living their life however they want.

“God is like a warm, bearded grandfather who listens to our prayers and guides and directs us the way he wants us and occasionally slips a little candy into our pocket when our parents aren’t looking.” This leaves someone believing that God is there for our benefit and tends to treat God as such, rather than believing that we are here for God’s sake.

Each of the above views leaves a person responding to each hurdle, victory, and relationship in life with a bent that they wouldn’t have if they believed God to be something different. Theology, the study of God, then informs not only how we advise those we provide guidance to, but also how those we guide respond to that very teaching.

Infographic from www.Visualtheology.church.

Knowing not only the theology of those we provide pastoral counseling to, but explaining our theology to them is an important part of counseling. The characteristics of God help us show those we are counseling why we advise as we do and sometimes dictates that we not say anything at all but only provide a listening ear. But then at times, what we would advise is not very clear to a person until we explain the very nature and character of God.

Theology then is an important part of counseling. Without studying Scripture and the character of God, a pastoral counselor will be very limited in his effectiveness. And without responding to God as Scripture reveals, a counselee will wrestle with whatever it was that drove them to seek help in the first place. Theology is central to counseling.

Book Review: God’s Grace In Your Suffering by David Powlison

If you are not familiar with the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation” you will quickly become familiar with it as you read God’s Grace In Your Suffering by David Powlison. The entire premise of the book is to map out the way the song addresses suffering. And he does so as only a master counselor could. I will refrain from sharing the hymn here, but will link to the lyrics here.

This book is no treatise or theological dissertation on God’s grace in the middle of suffering. Quite the opposite actually. In the mere 128 pages of the book, Powlison covers a lot of ground, but his goal is much simpler, and readable. Where does he start? With the one in scripture most acquainted with suffering outside of Christ; Job. This was the place I would have started and the place that I have often gone back to in showing how a listening ear can be more helpful than a mountain of advice and correction. Powlison does an excellent job of providing a useful resource in affirming God’s grace amongst our suffering.

Throughout, Powlison affirms the sufficiency of Scripture, emphasizes the sovereignty of God in our suffering, and adeptly encourages sufferers to see the purposes God may have in their suffering. Throughout this book, Powlison points to stories such as; Job, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph as examples from scripture of instances of suffering where God, in his sovereignty uses the situation for His purposes. As he writes, he emphasizes the need to rely on God himself as the sustainer through trials and how the work God has already done and will do is the basis of comfort through all trials.

There is much to be valued here, but in a very careful way, Powlison offers a question most sufferers are not interested in asking themselves. A question that a counselor should be willing and ready to ask at the appropriate time in an appropriate manner. Usually, one who suffers asks the question, “Why me? Why do I have to suffer this.” David turns the question around and asks, “Why not me? Why not this (suffering)?”

The question is presented in a gentle way, reaffirming all the needed promises and assurances of God’s faithfulness to those suffering to have the strength enough to ask this question. David Powlison shows himself a careful counselor as he asks this question. But it is a needed question. The implications of the gospel are such that we cannot ignore the fact that as enemies of God, we deserve worse than death; we deserve eternal damnation. In God’s grace, he has saved us from eternal suffering and intends to use the brief suffering we experience here on earth as a means to refine us and restore the creation around us. “Why not me?” places the motivation in suffering back into God’s sovereign hands.

This book is a great text for those suffering or for those seeking to help those through suffering if we understand it to be simply an exhortation to look deeper into scripture, deeper into our Savior’s loving arms for comfort. I would commend this book to any suffering and looking for where to find comfort. And with it being a short read, it is definitely worth your time.

The following book review is an ongoing effort on my part to find resources worth sharing that may help any and all who are looking to counsel others. It was also done in conjunction with Crossway’s Book Review Program and subsequently a free digital copy of the book was provided for my review.

Feasting with Jesus and the Church

Courtesy of https://www.foodiesfeed.com/free-food-photo/people-feasting-on-healthy-salad-buffet/

 

We’re all hungry. There’s an emptiness in us that makes us crave something. It gnaws at us, and as we all try to figure out what to fill it up with, we all keep looking for more and more. Because no matter what we try to fill that hunger with, nothing seems to help. We still walk away feeling hungry. Some have discovered that when they sit at Jesus’ table and focus on him, the hunger fades and at times completely disappears. Jesus nourishes the soul in a way nothing else does. He even points to a time when there will be no more hunger at all.

If you’re one of those who have eaten with Jesus, after you got over the surprise at finding you’re not hungry any more you notice that there are others seated at the same table all enjoying this feast. And at first it’s like, “This is the best meal I’ve ever shared with anyone!” It’s so tasty! Because this Jesus feast is so good, you start trying to help those who are already eating to enjoy it more. And then you see those who are going hungry, completely oblivious of the feast, and you start telling them about how good it is. You want them to enjoy it too.

There are others around the table that get passionate about wanting to do the same thing too. But they decide that to do it, they need to plan more activities and more events and they get lost in looking for whatever “more” they think will help that they forget to eat themselves or to help those who are eating already to enjoy the meal. Then others think they need to dress up this feast to look a lot like the food that doesn’t really fill anyone else up so that people might see that it’s good and want to be a part of the feast. But it starts to lose some of its flavor and appeal and isn’t as attractive. Some just eat enough at the feast to get enough to get by until they need a little refresh and don’t really care what happens to everyone else at the table. You’ve watched some get so upset about what the feast has become that they vow never to eat here again.

And when you finally look around and you see what’s happened to this amazing feast, your broken over it. You know this isn’t what the feast was supposed to look like. It was supposed to be a simple meal where everyone enjoys the food, passes it around to those who have little or none, and everyone just keeps passing it around. It’s good food and good company and an open invitation for anyone to come who is hungry. A foreshadowing of the eternal feast to come for all who place their faith in Jesus.

We all know someone who has been hurt by the church. I’ve been both the one who was hurt and the one who has hurt people. And man, I look at those times and grieve. This isn’t what this feast is supposed to look like. We all know that. We all know that the feast is going to be perfect and this is far from it. We’re imperfect people trying to mirror the perfect ending we’re destined for. It’ll never be perfect. But we don’t have to settle.

What if church focused more on the quality of the feast rather than the amount of people being fed? What if people decided that the feast Jesus is serving up is worth loving Him and each other even when it hurts. What if church was a community of people who loved sharing out of the abundance of the feast and committed to loving God, loving each other, and inviting others to the feast? Wouldn’t that be a light in a dark world that attracts unbelievers? Wouldn’t that be the salt of the world that makes everything else taste better?

 

A feast is meant to be enjoyed. This feast, the church, can still be enjoyed. Let us savor the bounty we have in Jesus acknowledging that we may have to rethink how we have been eating, and refocus on the one who serves us.