PREACHING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARKS EXHIBITORS: ABELARDO MUNOZ AND ALEXIS PEREZ
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Preparation in the pre-workshop with the teacher apprentices
Preparation in the pre-workshop with the teacher apprentices
Key Text:
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
What is a workshop?
What is a workshop?
A small group to grow in how to handle the word of God. The important thing is to encourage them to continue growing so that the participants arrive at the answers for themselves:
We must convince them that everyone can carry out preaching in an expository way, it can be carried out.
-We are going to demonstrate how this biblical exposition is done.
-The objective is to reveal everything that God has said in his word.
Distinctive features
Distinctive features
The essence of the workshop is explained with the three-legged bench:
1. Instruction on principles of the word,
2. Preaching of some expositions of the word and
3. There will be practice. Note: We have to encourage those who are going to present.
Small group methodology
Small group methodology
First ask everyone to introduce themselves around the table:
1 Their name,
2 What church do they come from? and
3 How many times have they attended this Bible exposition workshop. Rules for workshops:
-We have 45 minutes for a text (Two people present the same text) and another 45 minutes for the second section of pairs of texts to be presented.
-Assign a person to the left side of the speaker who will begin by reading the passage and praying. 3 to 5 min
-Assign another person to the opposite side of the speaker to give a word of encouragement and ask a question about their presentation.
-The first presentation 5 min.
-The second presentation starts immediately for another 5 min.
-The first feedback with questions from the teacher and participation with comments from the rest lasts 15 min.
-The second feedback for the second student also lasts 15 min.
EXPOSITION #1 FIRST PRINCIPLE:
EXPOSITION #1 FIRST PRINCIPLE:
KEEPING US ON THE LINE
Introduction and illustration:
The purpose is to prepare us to share the word of the Lord with precision. The workshop process is like a three-legged stool: Principles, preaching and practicing. This is very unique about these workshops unlike conferences, here we have exercise practice and feedback.
Another illustration:
the world of baseball. What do they do before each season? They all go to preseason every year, they have to practice the fundamentals of their sport, what makes their development possible is the continuous accumulation of practice before each season.
3rd illustration:
The jury court still makes a promise by placing the hand on the Bible. He undertakes not to put and not to take away from the truth. There are two common errors, going above the writing, that is, adding. The second is to go below the line, that is to remove. My commitment must be one of obedience because the word of God is sacred.
2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’ 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
What are the consequences of going above or below the word?
What are the consequences of going above or below the word?
- We affect people eternally.
Ways, factors or concepts that can lead us to deviate upwards
Ways, factors or concepts that can lead us to deviate upwards
-Ignorance: it can lead us to go up or down the line.
-False promises: prosperity, health, etc.
-Handling -LEGALISM: adding things that the Bible does not say: “You cannot taste a drop of alcohol.”
-His companion is MORALISM. -Distort for personal benefit. -Tradition can lead us to add to the word. Preconceived concepts or prejudices. -Personal experiences.
Factors that lead us to go Downward
Factors that lead us to go Downward
-LIBERALISM: we lower moral standards or deny the miraculous nature of the word of God.
-Example: When at a funeral we talk about a person who has died and we excessively flatter things about the person that are not true about their salvation for FEAR OF THOSE WHO LISTEN.
-Convenience, doing things subtracting from the word for PRAGMATISM: it works that's why we do it. Watch the service from home in pillama from home every Sunday.
-DILUTE the word.
Practice Exercises
Practice Exercises
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Teams of Three Workshop:
Teams of Three Workshop:
How is the snake deflecting, up or down?
-Satan v.1: He added - they will not eat from any tree. And I remove it because it questioned the word of God.
-Eve: I added, God said not to touch.
-Satan removed: “You will not die.”
-Adam: He stayed down and participated in it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Other Exercises:
Other Exercises:
1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“ ‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
1. How do leaders deviate? vs. 1-5
They add to the word the tradition of the elders. Commandments of men.
2. Why does he call them hypocrites? vs. 6-8
They place the customs of men in the place of the word of God. They honor God with their lips while their hearts are far from God. EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.
3. What do they do with the line of scripture? vs. 9-13
Break, invalidate, transgress, cut the line of the word of God. They CUT IT; what God says doesn't matter.
Strategies we can use to avoid these mistakes:
- Context.
- Pray for the fear of God to guide us.
- Read, read complete books.
- Be objective.
- Take the word literally.
- Ask prepared individuals, investigate. Listen to others.
- Seek feedback from those who are prepared.
- Look for the emphasis of the passage.
Important temptations or dangers: Do not RUSH to go from the TEXT to TODAY or US.
We will be using Edmund Clowney's diagram to stay aligned with the line of scripture, seeking illustration:
EXPOSITION #2 A TOOL TO KEEP US IN LINE WITH THE TEXT: THE EMPHASIS
EXPOSITION #2 A TOOL TO KEEP US IN LINE WITH THE TEXT: THE EMPHASIS
Why repeat the same topics in each workshop?
You need to have a vital conviction to remain in the faithful line of the word of God. Repetition improves your ability.
You should have a nightmare with Clowney's rectangle. You should not rush to want to preach the text. First, go from the text to the original authors: EXEGESIS, extracting what is there. EISEGESIS is introducing what is not there.
Illustration:
In the first half of the 20th century, RATIONALISM eliminated the ornamentation of architectural structures. This trend was based on their function, hence their form. A small window in a wall regularly communicated to everyone that there was a bathroom there.
Note: The passage has an ORDER and a FORM; I want you to discover this in the passage. We can take parts of the text that shape a message. Each text of scripture has a:
WHAT IS THE EMPHASIS?
WHAT IS THE EMPHASIS?
For each literary unit, there is a point that the author wants to make. This emphasis is REVEALED by the STRUCTURE of the passage. If I find how the author ORGANIZED the passage and how it relates to itself, I will be able to find the MAIN POINT OF THE TEXT, and THE MAIN POINT OF THE TEXT is the MAIN POINT of the preaching.
Ask the students: What concepts can help you find the EMPHASIS of the text?
- Repetitions of ideas, words, or phrases.
- A literal translation of the Bible.
- Textual Bible.
- The most difficult: READ and RE-READ.
- Identify the type of text: Narrative, poetry, discourse. What type of text do I have in front of me? They are constructed differently.
First tool to find the EMPHASIS: “THE NARRATIVE ARC”
In the gospels, we mostly find NARRATIVE and a bit of DISCOURSE. When we talk about NARRATIVE, let's answer this question:
How does a story work?
In the NARRATIVE ARC:
- There is a PLOT; in the Bible, the story was told orally, not written. Movies are visually introduced to us, but it wasn't always like that.
- Then a CONFLICT arises, something that needs to be resolved, reaching a peak, the point of no return. Something happened or was said, and something must be responded to so that there is:
- THE CLIMAX of the story, a high point in the conflict when something has already happened that changed the atmosphere of the story.
- RESOLUTION, which regularly follows the Climax, is evident as a descent in the tension of the conflict.
- A NEW SETTING, something changed or occurred that created something new.
In a story, there is usually a combination of CONFLICT, CLIMAX, AND RESOLUTION that points you to the EMPHASIS of the passage. We will not always be able to use the narrative arc to find the EMPHASIS of a passage because the author sometimes presents us with more than one story in a single section, which shifts the use to other more practical tools such as:
- THE REPETITION OF WORDS OR CONCEPTS.
- THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTERS and the words directed at each one.
- TYPES OF CHARACTERS: primary, counterpart-antagonistic, secondary, usually those who fill the space.
- The ARC and the CHARACTERS are the main or most important parts.
- Pay attention to changes in SCENES; be careful with the scenes, as they can mislead you because they often serve one another.
EXERCISES:
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Our goal is to find: What is the emphasis?
Our goal is to find: What is the emphasis?
Notes for help: Let’s apply the NARRATIVE ARC. Let’s use time wisely. LOCATE THE ARC: Setting - Conflict - Climax - Resolution - New Setting.
- Setting: Jesus arrives in Gadara and frees a demon-possessed man.
- Conflict: There is an uncontrollable demon-possessed man.
- What is the climax? WHAT DO YOU HAVE WITH ME, SON OF GOD?
- Resolution: He frees him and sends the demons into the pigs.
Help note: HOW DOES THIS STORY BEGIN and HOW DOES IT END?
It begins with a demon-possessed man and ends with a whole man. We can also find a second conflict with the people who saw the healed demon-possessed man.
So what is the emphasis of this story?
The great authority that THE SON OF GOD has to free the demon-possessed.
Another exercise and group work of three:
3 texts that will inform our EMPHASIS of the same story:
25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Develop the narrative arc of this section of passages:
- Setting: 2 scenes, Jairus is informed of his daughter’s death, and the second is Jesus with his disciples in Jairus's house.
- Conflict: The first, the death of the girl; the second, the commotion in Jairus's house.
- Climax: Jesus takes the girl and says: "Get up."
- Resolution: The girl rises, everyone astonished, and Jesus asks that the girl be given something to eat.
- Emphasis: Believe that Jesus has the power to raise the dead.
- Intermediate Setting: A woman is healed from a flow of blood.
Now add 1 more story: Mark 5:1-20; all these stories go together. Mark did it this way; he wants to convey a MAIN EMPHASIS through THREE SCENES:
- Characters: 1 demon-possessed man, the woman, Jairus's daughter. The demon-possessed man: freed; the woman: healed; the girl: resurrected.
MAKE A SENTENCE THAT SPEAKS OF THE EMPHASIS WITH THE THREE STORIES TOGETHER:
“Jesus has the power to free men, women, and children from the power of demons, sickness, and death.”
SECOND TOOL TO FIND THE EMPHASIS: “THE CONTEXT”
Illustration: A friend you haven't seen for a while receives the news that he is going to be a grandfather. You say, “I’m so happy that you are going to be a grandfather,” and the godfather remains serious because his daughter is 15 years old and got pregnant by a 15-year-old boy. In these circumstances, we would want to take our congratulations back for not knowing the whole picture.
Illustration of a telescope: depending on which side you use, you can look closely or far away at the object you are focusing on.
The good biblical telescope is to use: THE CONTEXT. From the text to the audience to whom the writing was directed.
First, I start with the TEXT and go to the CONTEXTS to see how the original audience understood the text. This will prepare us to grasp the main point.
Question: What are the dangers in the area of context?
- Making an out-of-place application.
- Losing the main point of the text.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONTEXTS
1. LITERARY CONTEXT
These are the passages that help us see the overall picture of the story. Illustration: We should see the forest and not just a tree.
Strategies, ask them to give some ideas:
1. Read before and after.
2. Read the entire book.
Exercise in groups:
TEXT:
3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
What is the Typical Application of this Passage without Taking into Account the Literary Context?
What is the Typical Application of this Passage without Taking into Account the Literary Context?
To be willing to give Jesus what we most value and giving him the best we can.
Now Read
1 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.
So, now what would the emphasis be if I take into account the literary context?
There are plans to kill Jesus, and what this woman does in her worship, unknowingly, reveals to us the importance of THE DEATH OF JESUS. Read Mark 14:8: “She has done what she could; she has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.” The point is: “It is a fact that Jesus is going to die.”
If we have read the entire book, where do we find other examples where the Lord emphasizes His death: Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; and Mark 10:34.
Knowing the literary context better, what main application would you make about the preparation for Jesus' death by this woman?
“THE VALUE OF HIS DEATH to understand that JESUS IS OUR EVERYTHING, or LET US GIVE JESUS THE HIGHEST PLACE for the reason of His DEATH.”
2. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This is the situation that was occurring with the audience and the author who writes.
It is only known that Mark writes to a ROMAN audience. We don’t have information about the audience, so the historical context doesn’t help much for Mark.
3. CULTURAL CONTEXT
These are the concepts and customs of that time, how life was lived back then, which help inform our passage.
What tools can we use in this area?
- Reference materials.
- Conduct specific research, for example: words like PHARISEES OR SADDUCEES.
- Warning: pay attention to whom the Lord is directing His words.
Example of cultural context:
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Example: What does CORBAN mean?
We need to know why Jesus rebuked them. Corban was a practice by which they could dedicate something to God. The Pharisees had created an amendment to the law where they dedicated all their possessions to CORBAN so they wouldn’t have to part with their goods and help their parents in old age.
4. BIBLICAL CONTEXT
These are citations, allusions, or historical connections. Examples include David citing the Psalms from 1 and 2 Samuel or specific citations of fulfillments in the person of Jesus in the New Testament.
STRATEGIES for biblical context:
- We need to read and have a clear understanding of previous books.
- Pay attention when the author wants to draw attention to a reference in what he writes.
- Read the entire Bible every year.
Examples:
28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
First consideration: Make an application without considering the biblical context?
Using the last section of the text: What if we do not preach, the stones will speak (a tremor or something similar). Another is that the Lord may ask you for something unexpected, like how Jesus asked His disciples for the donkey.
What biblical context connections do you find in this passage?
There are 3 biblical contexts with a direct relation to the passage:
9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
11 For the stone will cry out from the wall,
and the beam from the woodwork respond.
How does this biblical context help me find the emphasis of the passage?
Jesus is THE KING who comes to bring salvation; Jesus fulfills the biblical context. Mark communicates to us that Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy.
Other examples:
John chapter 4: Jesus and the Samaritan woman:
Jesus decides to go to the well at that hour. He goes out of divine necessity. We have other allusions that connect with the passage from the Old Testament. Examples: Abraham's servant at a well with the young woman who will be Isaac's wife. In this passage, Jesus meets a woman at the well. How did those cases end? They ended in union; in the case of Jesus with the Samaritan woman, there is a union of relationship between Jews and Samaritans who do not get along. This story makes an allusion to biblical context in other incidents; in this case, it emphasizes a "UNION OF GOD WITH HIS PEOPLE."
In John chapter 3, we find help from the literary context that helps highlight the biblical context of the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman:
"The one whom you baptized, everyone is going to him; he rejoices. He is only the friend of the bridegroom, but Jesus is the bridegroom, and He came to seek His wife (the Church)."
This truth is profound, and we can only reach it through literary and biblical context.
THIRD EXPOSITION: SECOND PRINCIPLE: Theological Reflection - Connecting with the Gospel.
THIRD EXPOSITION: SECOND PRINCIPLE: Theological Reflection - Connecting with the Gospel.
Illustration: THE PYRAMID OF PROGRESS:
- Unconsciously competent. These are usually the scholars. THERE ARE FEW.
- Consciously competent. This is the goal for everyone.
- Consciously incompetent. This is what we need to quickly understand.
- Unconsciously incompetent. Many find themselves here, and it is very bad to be here.
The goal is that we continue to rise on the list.
An illustration to explain theological reflection: the wedding party that served all the appropriate appetizers but did not serve the main course: The most important content of our passage is the theological reflection, in other words, how my message relates to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Examples with exercises:
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
What do these passages teach us about theological reflection?
That the disciples have not yet understood that Jesus sees the Scriptures as being about Himself. Regarding His death and resurrection, the whole Bible is mainly about Jesus.
Do you find additional indications apart from the Old Testament that someone else is told to announce concerning the sufferings and resurrection of Christ?
Yes, the apostles were instructed to carry the message of what was prophesied in the Old Testament about Jesus. These events are recorded in the New Testament. Look at the following table to understand the relationship of the Resurrection of Jesus with the entire Bible:
O.T. ---------------------- RESURRECTION ----------------------------- N.T.
Predicts ------------------------------------------------------------------ Explains
Anticipates -------------------------------------------------------------- Applies
Promised/Prophesied ----------------------------------------------- Fulfilled
Important note for the application of theological reflection:
The important principle here is that if we are going to teach the Bible, as Christians, we must present a legitimate connection from our passage to the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many sects that preach but do not make the connection with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must faithfully commit to applying this principle. In the matter of Salvation, Christ is the entrance to the Kingdom of God, the way in the Kingdom of God, and the final destination in the Kingdom of God.
Risks of not making the theological connection with the gospel of Jesus Christ:
Risks of not making the theological connection with the gospel of Jesus Christ:
- Moralism.
- Heresies.
Strategies in the principle of theological connection:
- Simple observation: Mentioned directly in the passage.
- Prophetic fulfillment: The same evangelist directly or indirectly mentions connections to the O.T. if we know the Bible well enough.
- Analogy: This is a type of typology. It is an illustration that functions as a SHADOW FROM THE O.T. FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT, for example: the Sacrifice System, characters (King David). It can be a person or role that represents Christ, an animal, event, or object. Example: Noah's ark is a type of Christ.
- Themes of Biblical Theology. These are themes that follow a line of explanation throughout the Bible, for example: THE KINGDOM, THE EXODUS AND EXILE, THE PRIEST, THE TEMPLE, AND THE COVENANTS GOD MADE. These are the threads that connect all of Scripture. They connect all of Scripture from beginning to end as if it were an imaginary line that crosses through all the Scriptures.
**Examples of texts for applying THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION:**
4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?
And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let us make three shelters, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud formed that covered them, and a voice came out of the cloud: "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him." And suddenly they looked around, but no longer saw anyone with them, except Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept this word to themselves, discussing what rising from the dead meant. They asked Jesus, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" "It is true that Elijah, when he comes first, will restore all things," he said. "And yet, how is it written about the Son of Man that He must suffer many things and be rejected?"
**What is the theme of theological reflection in this passage?**
Christ was talking with Moses and Elijah about His death (exodus-exit).
**Tools:**
- The themes of systematic theology are very useful for making connections with the gospel: it speaks to us about all the themes the Bible covers and everything that theme says in the Bible. However, it is important to remember that not all its themes touch on the line of the theology of REDEMPTION or SALVATION.
**EXAMPLES OF THEMES CONNECTED WITH THE GOSPEL:**
- At the center, we have the Death and Resurrection of Christ; from here we can enumerate some that follow in importance to the main one:
1. HIS INCARNATION.
2. HIS LIFE, MIRACLES, AND TEACHINGS.
3. HIS ASCENSION.
4. HIS SECOND COMING.
All these themes are connected to the Lord's death, but there are some others:
5. FAITH and REPENTANCE.
6. FORGIVENESS and OBEDIENCE (SANCTIFICATION).
**Note:** The purpose of the CONNECTION WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST is to SANCTIFY us: when someone believes in Christ, it leads us to live in a different way; there is a divine power in us that increasingly wants to transform us into the image and likeness of Jesus. In theological terms, this is known as: TEACHING AND ETHICS OF THE GOSPEL.
**EXAMPLES and application exercises:**
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
**What is the connection theme with the gospel presented in these passages?**
Jesus is the promised KING to SAVE His own by dying for their sins. Also, the theme of the JUDGMENT of Jesus as KING for all nations.
**Matthew 4:12–16** “When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali; so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, when he said: ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, Way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles! The people sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and to those who were living in the region and shadow of death, a Light has dawned.’”
**What is the connection theme with the gospel in this passage?**
Citing directly from the Old Testament, Isaiah 9:2: It is a prophetic fulfillment. Christ is the light that comes to SHINE ON THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN DARKNESS.
**Matthew 27:15–26** Now at every feast, the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner to the people, whom they wanted. They had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you: Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. And while Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that Just One, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why? What evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this Just Person. You see to it!” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
**What is the connection with the gospel?**
There is an allusion to Deuteronomy 21:6-8: Jesus, innocent, dies in place of a sinner. And another from Isaiah 53, the blood of Jesus covers the people. Look at verses 20 and 26: HIS DEATH, SUFFERING, AND CRUCIFIXION, verse 26. There is also a theme of BIBLICAL THEOLOGY as the passage presents the option of whom the people want to be released: the just or the innocent? Jesus dying as an EXCHANGE OR SUBSTITUTE in our place.
This is not a principle but an important tool in interpretation:
**PARABLES**
**Introduction Note:** YOU MUST PROGRESS… You must locate where you are in handling the Clooney framework.
Remembering and revisiting what has been said PREVIOUSLY:
1. Move from the text to the audience: EXEGESIS. I must use the context to find the structure to discern the emphasis.
2. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION. Be careful not to spiritualize the text. Do not move from the text to Christ. If we do this, we tend to deny historical facts like the INCARNATION of Christ and may become LIBERALS.
**WHAT IS A PARABLE?**
**DEFINITION:** It is a simple and normally narrated story, based in the real world and used to incite the audience on a spiritual or moral matter.
**THREE IDEAS:**
- A story narrated normally.
- The story is based on the real world.
- It is used to incite the audience.
**Some Difficulties in Interpreting Parables:**
- There are many cultural elements.
- They are made so that some understand and others do not; at times, their purpose makes them difficult to understand.
**Steps to Understand Parables**
The key to understanding parables is to grasp Jesus' purpose in telling a parable. Some examples with exercises:
**Luke 10:30–35**
“Jesus replied, ‘A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”’
**Luke 10:36–37**
“‘Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
- Question for all the students; they can participate: What is this parable normally used to say?
To preach that we should be like the Samaritan.
**Step 1. LET'S GO TO CULTURAL CONTEXT**
Understanding the TRADITIONAL thinking of the Priest and the Levite will help us understand the behavior of both vs. SAMARITAN:
- A Samaritan was the result of a mix between ASSYRIANS and NORTHERN JEWS. They did not speak to each other; they took a tremendous detour. There were more than 600 differences between them.
- Levites: They lived off the mercy of their brethren; they did not have many resources.
- Priests: They were the officials who interceded between the people and God.
- What particular rules of the law were the Levite and the priest obligated to follow?
- Jerusalem and Jericho: There isn’t much to discuss.
- How much was a Denarius worth?
**Step 2. CIRCUMSTANTIAL CONTEXT**
Examples:
**Luke 10:25–29**
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
**Luke 10:36–37**
“‘Which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Two questions in the circumstantial context:
**To whom is Jesus speaking?**
To a lawyer - an attorney, who are almost always described negatively in the gospels.
**What is the activity or question that incites Jesus to tell the parable?**
“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He wanted to list his achievements to JUSTIFY HIMSELF. He also asked, “Who is my neighbor?” It is clear that he asked this to go and do it to earn eternal life in relation to his works.
**Step 3. BROAD LITERARY CONTEXT**
This leads us to the main utility of the author. The authors are the ones who choose the illustrations mentioned.
**Tools:**
- A group of parables together with a determined objective.
- Teachings close to these blocks are with an intention of association.
- How the characters are viewed in the gospels to whom the parable is directed.
- Intertextual connection: From the O.T. to the N.T.
**Example:**
In Luke 10:21–24, cited before Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says this:
“On that very hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.’ Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.’”
This broad literary context in Luke helps in Mark to reinforce the idea that the purpose of some parables is to harden hearts.
**Step 4. IDENTIFY THE CENTRAL CONCEPT**
- **Purpose Statement:** The text often explains the purpose of the parable itself, as in:
**Luke 18:9**
- **Designations or Titles.**
**What is really the main point of the parable we have read?**
Go and become like a SAMARITAN. “WOW.” It was impossible; he cannot become a SAMARITAN, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO JUSTIFY ONESELF, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE.
It was an extreme or impossible mercy from the Samaritan. The impossibility of earning eternal life, the lawyer cannot become a SAMARITAN. How can he become someone he hates?
**Step 5. FINAL WARNINGS**
- Always be careful with ALLEGORY; there are no hidden meanings in the parables that one should try to find; that’s not how the Bible works. AUGUSTINE has a very famous allegory of the parable of the GOOD SAMARITAN. Look it up, and you can read it to the students.
**Step 6. TWO CONTROL QUESTIONS**
- Is your explanation of the main point in agreement with the rest of Scripture?
Hermeneutics is the tool (the art of explaining, interpreting, or translating a passage) used to determine if something contradicts the rest of Scripture. Examples of some tools:
- Is it historically defensible?
Does the explanation make sense according to what those listening at the time when the parable was spoken would understand?
**FOURTH PRINCIPLE: THE ARGUMENT**
**Recapping:**
- **STEP 1:** From the text to the original audience - EXEGESIS - I need to find THE STRUCTURE AND EMPHASIS of the passage.
A) What?
B) Who?
C) What does the author want me to do with this information? - INTENTION.
We also look at the use of the PARABLE.
- **STEP 2:** THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION, each coherent unit of the Bible has a connection with THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
- **STEP 3:** Bring the message to my audience. ARGUMENT AND PERSUASION. It is not enough to understand the text adequately; we must also communicate it adequately.
**Extras of utmost importance:**
- ALL THIS WORK MUST BE COVERED IN PRAYER.
- I need to keep my audience in mind, know the type of language my listeners understand so that I can adapt.
- In the process of PERSUASION, I need an ARGUMENT. THE MAIN POINT.
- I also need an ARRANGEMENT, an order - this is based on THE STRUCTURE of my passage of study.
- I also need to prepare the APPLICATIONS of my passage for my audience.
- Finally, I can take time to ADORN my message. Here creativity is needed.
**Well, let's go back to how to present THE ARGUMENT:**
**Key text for arguing the need for an argument:**
**2 Corinthians 5:11**
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
**Some tools for persuasion:**
- I must preach with such strength as if I could convert without having the power to do so, resting in the fact that THE SPIRIT DOES HIS WORK; this is persuasion.
- Present an IDEA and a DEMAND.
- Present CONTENT and INTENTION; my message must be controlled by the content and intention of the sermon.
- **What is ORATORY?** Every person presenting an argument is trying to persuade. Every time we stand in the pulpit, it is an act of persuasion.
**What is persuasive preaching?**
It is that which must elaborate an argument. This is what I want them to remember. I want them to remember the argument above all - in relation to my emphasis.
**What is the argument?**
It is my EMPHASIS OR MAIN POINT along with all the MAIN POINTS of what I want to talk about. This is where my persuasive strength must reside.
**Words of Jonathan Edwards:** “The strength of the argument resides in the content of the emphasis and its points, not in eloquence. GOD IS COMMITTED TO HIS WORD AND NOT TO A PULPIT.”
**QUALITIES OF THE ARGUMENT**
- **Unity:** It is about one single thing. Avoid commas.
- **Soundness:** It should be logical; it should not be arbitrary.
- **Clarity:** Simple and clear ideas; people should not have to rummage through ideas.
**Example and exercise:**
AN ARGUMENT CAN BE 1 point or 2, as demonstrated:
**1 Corinthians 15:1–9** Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, He appeared to me also, as to one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
**What is the argument of the passage?**
- The argument: That Christ died and rose again. But mainly its emphasis is that He rose again. Although it mentions death and resurrection, the strength of the passage points to the resurrection: vv. 5-9.
- Supported by: as the Scriptures say.
- Supported by: The witnesses: Cephas, the twelve, more than 500, James, and also to me (Paul).
**Another exercise:**
**Mark 1:1–15**
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I send My messenger before You, who will prepare Your way. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
**What is the argument?**
That Jesus is the Son of God.
**What is the demonstration of this argument?**
- The testimony of the Scriptures through the prophets.
- The testimony of John the Baptist preparing the way for God as Elijah did with God in the Old Testament.
- The testimony of the Father and the Holy Spirit.
- The testimony of spiritual beings (Satan and the angels).
- The testimony of Jesus Himself.
- The testimony of the Gospel: The gospel of God is the Gospel of the Son of God.
**Notes:**
- In this passage, the author particularly develops an argument where the strength is presented in a SANDWICH FORM. The beginning and the end have the strength of the argument as if the consistency were in the two slices of bread, with the meat in the middle being the secondary arguments (testimonies) of the author to prove his point, that Jesus is the Son of God and His message is: “Repent and believe.”
So, what would your argument in the form of a demand from this passage be, taking into account the strength of the beginning and end of the passage itself?
- “Because Jesus is the Son of God, repent and believe in the gospel.”
**Final Note: How not to manipulate?**
You must not stray from the main argument that the author wrote; this is your main point with which you must persuade, and you should strengthen it with your PERSONALITY and by REMAINING IN PRAYER.