The Park Road Pres Podcast

Solomon the Great

Today, Solomon receives a mysterious visitor from some 1,500 miles away (like from here to New York), a queen from the South, from what is today called Yemen and in the Bible is called the "Land of Cush", the Queen of Sheba. She's a fascinating figure. She shows up in the Quran (as Belquis) and even in the lore and legends behind Rastafarianism (for our Jamaican brothers and sisters).
What could motivate her to come so long a distance? Why would she "drag" this great caravan all the way from Yemen/Ethiopia through the desert to Jerusalem? And, in fact, what motivates people to do stuff like that? Birds migrate great distances and we chalk up their motivation to instinct. Why can't I pray for 30 mins a day or kick a nasty habit or be more generous or worry less or stop being so self-conscious – where can I find that motivation? That's our interest today – the Mysterious Queen of Sheba and the Mystery of Motivation. Let's look at: 1) The Mystery of Motivation2) The Allure of Glory3) The Mysterious, Surpassing Glory of Self-Sacrificing Love

Good News from Bad Kings: Solomon, The Builder

1 Kings 8:10, 27-30, 54-61; Isaiah 57:15
...thinkers have arrived at some categories to describe the Divine Presence – God's transcendence and God's immanence. That God is above us, transcends us, other than we are. Some of God's attributes we DON'T share; He's infinite, eternal and unchangeable and we're NOT. The other category is God's immanence, God's nearness, with-ness, relatability; the qualities in God we are capable of sharing to some degree: being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.So, let's use these categories to look at Solomon's main building project – the Temple as God's dwelling:1 – God ABOVE Us – Transcendence2 – God NEAR Us – Immanence 3 – God IN Us – God's Humility

Good News From Bad Kings: Solomon, The Wise

1 Kings 3:16-28; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
The writings of Solomon himself – many of the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon extol the value, cost and desirability of wisdom. AND while Solomon was unrivaled in wisdom, somehow wisdom wasn't enough, and Solomon's life ends in both remarkable achievement AND disappointment.Let's re-enter this period of history looking at: 1) Succession – the age of ALMOST 2) The Wisdom of Solomon 3) How to Approach Wisdom in Our Age

The Incendiary Fellowship

In the late '60's, (the Quaker scholar) Elton Trueblood wrote a book called, The Incendiary Fellowship i.e. the community of believers that's on fire. And these personal greetings and final wishes demonstrate that the early Christian Church was a dynamic, living, growing community of real flesh-and-blood people … regular folks but somehow inhabited by God and therefore pulsating with life and purpose and progress. Let's look at: 
1) The Incendiary Fellowship – How's it Described? 2) The Incendiary Fellowship – What's Implied? and 3) How to Become the Incendiary Fellowship AND why we should want to?

A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity: The Image and Likeness of God

Who are you? What makes you, you? Today, identity is a do-it-yourself project: ours is a day of identity angst. This class will survey the biblical theme of being known by God as His children, a truth that meets our deepest and lifelong need for recognition, and the key for both cheering comfort and moral direction.

Philemon 1-16: The Only Begotten Slave

"What's more important: to do the right thing with a bad attitude or not to do the right thing but with a good attitude?" (Uninvolved but sweet or engaged but with a sour attitude?) Which one would you prefer in a friend…in yourself?

A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity: Foundations of Personal Identity

Who are you? What makes you, you? Today, identity is a do-it-yourself project: ours is a day of identity angst. This class will survey the biblical theme of being known by God as His children, a truth that meets our deepest and lifelong need for recognition, and the key for both cheering comfort and moral direction.

A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity: Identity Angst and the Bible

Who are you? What makes you, you? Today, identity is a do-it-yourself project: ours is a day of identity angst. This class will survey the biblical theme of being known by God as His children, a truth that meets our deepest and lifelong need for recognition, and the key for both cheering comfort and moral direction. By Dr. Phil Letizia

Philemon 1-7: Grace, Peace, and Community

Not only is Philemon a firsthand look at personal communications and letter-writing from the First Century … BUT ALSO, Philemon provides a look at slavery in the ancient world AND, practically speaking, it’s a book about relationships and how the Gospel (the core message of Christianity) changes how we relate…There are implications in this letter for parenting, for friendship, dealings with neighbors co-workers, roommates, etc.

The Death of Death

How do you view your own death? Is it something that scares you? Does it make you angry or confused? Or perhaps, like many of us here, you’ve gone a whole week, month, or year without considering the reality that this life is not forever. Wherever you are on that spectrum, it’s worth acknowledging that today it’s challenging to face this subject. As Christians, we must realize that a lack of reflection on our earthly death is robbing us of the hope andcomfort of our promised eternal life in Christ. Using Paul’s words to the Corinthians, I want us to see one truth: And that’s because God is who He says He is, in Christ, you’re going to outlive death and that changes everything.