The Park Road Pres Podcast

This Fall we are taking extra time to explore a theological theme together. The Fall Theological Focus will provide content for you to access whenever, and wherever you like during the week through video, podcast, and blog forms. For six weeks a video session will be released accompanied a few days later by a blog article on the same theme. So much of our time throughout the week is spent in traffic, or in a gym, or doing small tasks around the house. In these moments, we hope these new bits of theological content will be encouraging to you. This Fall’s Theological Focus is centered on Generosity and Stewardship. We hope you’ll join us for the journey!

Today, we're going to look at the opposite of justice which is not mercy but injustice; how injustice is the outgrowth of something we all tolerate in ourselves and that is, idolatry and arrogance. Idolatry, arrogance and injustice walk together in this fallen world… Let's look at:
An Anatomy of Arrogance
When Arrogance Goes Unchecked
The Answer to Arrogance and Injustice

In the Christian Faith, justice and mercy are central (Ps 85.10). We traffic in mercy and justice a lot more than we think.
As with most of the passages in Kings, today's strikes us as odd…and difficult to apply but it offers a crucial and often-misunderstood vision of mercy and justice so let's jump in:
The Powerful, Partying, Proud Alliance
The Puzzling Parable Acted
The Pouty Ahab (or Personal Application)

So…is work truly good (even being a dishwasher or a rickshaw driver or a deodorant tester)? And where in the Bible is that stated? Let's look at the END of work by which I mean, the purpose, aim or goal of work as depicted in these final chapters of the Bible. Let's look at:
Believers Will Work in the Afterlife
Work Will Be Redeemed
Work Is a Gift From God

Today we consider the passing of time and the rhythm of work and rest in the various increments and cycles – days, weeks, months, years, decades and lifetimes: "Work and the REST of the Story!"
Just two points today:
Principles for the Rest of the Story
Promises to Sustain the Practice of Rhythm

The NT writers address these roles repeatedly in order to say, "These roles/functions are important – the way you carry out your daily tasks as believers in Jesus will be different from the ways your non-Christian neighbors do it… here's how, here's why and here's the ultimate purpose…"
So, let's look at this enormous thrust and theme in the NT and see what we may have missed in our own assessment of Christianity and our own approach to life:
The Lord's Strategy
The Required Energy
The Church's Synergy

When you think of the generosity mandates in the Bible – there are a lot of them and they're heavy! So, think about those each command as a burden loaded into a big wagon (charity, hospitality, kindness, tithing, diligence, good works) – they're all piled high in a cart you have to pull! BUT there's a horse available to pull that wagon AND there's tack, a harness and reins and a bridle) a way to hitch the cart of obligation TO the power of the horse. Those are our three points:1) The Cart2) The Horse3) The Hitch

Jeremiah's experience informs our idea of the Christian life and instructs us how to think creatively about our daily employment as promoting the good of our neighbors even as we live in a strange land.
Let's look at:
A Letter from Beyond
Living In Tents Is Always Intense
The Exile Lifestyle