Doable Discipleship

“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 1:5-8
I’m going to start with something obvious. 2 Peter and Jude aren’t next to each other in the biblical order. So, why are these books so often linked? Wouldn’t it make more sense to do 1 Peter and 2 Peter together? Our guest today does well to explain why these letters are linked but I’ll spoil a little of it here because these letters hit hard on a similar theme: pursuing virtue. These are letters of encouragement - reminders to readers to be aware of false teachers and the trappings of the world and to focus steadfastly on the virtuous way of Christ. These letters are beautiful reminders of God’s love for you as you continue to, quoting Peter, “make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.” To help us navigate 2 Peter and Jude is Peter Davids, retired Professor of Christianity at Houston Baptist University while also have taught at Regent College, Trinity School, and Canadian Theological Seminary and is author of a commentary on 2 Peter and Jude. Before we dive in with Peter, a quick note: When we recorded Peter was mid-move so his internet connection was a little spotty. I did my best to edit out lags but you’ll notice a few lags here and there. Still, this was a wonderful conversation and primer on these books so I hope you enjoy.
Doable Discipleship is a podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).
Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)
Resources Related to This Episode: https://www.amazon.com/First-Epistle-International-Commentary-Testament/dp/0802825168
Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Navigating the Bible: 1 Peter - https://youtu.be/u64C3MyTyaw
Navigating the Bible: James - https://youtu.be/du3WgFyTWFQ
Navigating the Bible: Hebrews - https://youtu.be/0XwovgqW0cM
Navigating the Bible: Philemon - https://youtu.be/D9PTtlDcqxc
Navigating the Bible: Pastoral Epistles - https://youtu.be/07kEx20A9GE
Navigating the Bible: 1 & 2 Thessalonians - https://youtu.be/t4RGfRFSNT4
Navigating the Bible: Colossians - https://youtu.be/X8Smy59UyDo
Navigating the Bible: Philippians - https://youtu.be/aYoTNKarprI
Navigating the Bible: Ephesians - https://youtu.be/BbtVXrdC2FI
Navigating the Bible: Galatians - https://youtu.be/1vudZh57HH0
Navigating the Bible: 2 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/GhxuP3onL4s
Navigating the Bible: 1 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/5lt9OhkpYbg
Navigating the Bible: Romans - https://youtu.be/hQXntME3Goc
Navigating the Bible: Acts - https://youtu.be/u7ujU81hvjU
Navigating the Bible: John - https://youtu.be/0Q8CqUMoTdE
Navigating the Bible: Luke - https://youtu.be/TKp9FbT3J2k
Navigating the Bible: Mark - https://youtu.be/TfD2cHzAFmc
Navigating the Bible: Matthew - https://youtu.be/TopzGlIuhYg
Navigating the Bible: Malachi - https://youtu.be/Qiwoys1KAa8
Navigating the Bible: Zechariah - https://youtu.be/t3beJht6tZU
Navigating the Bible: Haggai - https://youtu.be/pGFOmTPUgI4
Navigating the Bible: Zephaniah - https://youtu.be/VtKeFsLeG4M
Navigating the Bible: Habakkuk - https://youtu.be/89l0HUQceIw
Navigating the Bible: Nahum - https://youtu.be/USg64a6Kk8w
Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8
Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQ
Navigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfg
Navigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsg
Navigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXE
Navigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRk
Navigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgs
Navigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMg
Navigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9E
Navigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8
Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUI
Navigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQ
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance - an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.” - 1 Peter 1:3-4
After reading so many letters from Paul, a brief stop in Hebrews, and then a letter from James, we now get to hear from Peter. 1 Peter is a letter of hope - a letter of what it means to be called the family of God and to live that out. It’s a letter of what it means to be a Christian, particularly being a Christian in a time of suffering and persecution. It’s a letter about how to treat one another. It’s a letter about identity, being both living stones and humble sheep. This letter is only five chapters long but it paints a beautiful picture of the Christian life. To help us navigate 1 Peter is Dr. Jeanine Brown, Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary and she is currently working on a commentary on 1 Peter. Jeanine was our guide through Matthew as well and I’m thrilled to have her back to take us through 1 Peter. 
Doable Discipleship is a podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).
Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)
Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Navigating the Bible: James - https://youtu.be/du3WgFyTWFQ
Navigating the Bible: Hebrews - https://youtu.be/0XwovgqW0cM
Navigating the Bible: Philemon - https://youtu.be/D9PTtlDcqxc
Navigating the Bible: Pastoral Epistles - https://youtu.be/07kEx20A9GE
Navigating the Bible: 1 & 2 Thessalonians - https://youtu.be/t4RGfRFSNT4
Navigating the Bible: Colossians - https://youtu.be/X8Smy59UyDo
Navigating the Bible: Philippians - https://youtu.be/aYoTNKarprI
Navigating the Bible: Ephesians - https://youtu.be/BbtVXrdC2FI
Navigating the Bible: Galatians - https://youtu.be/1vudZh57HH0
Navigating the Bible: 2 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/GhxuP3onL4s
Navigating the Bible: 1 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/5lt9OhkpYbg
Navigating the Bible: Romans - https://youtu.be/hQXntME3Goc
Navigating the Bible: Acts - https://youtu.be/u7ujU81hvjU
Navigating the Bible: John - https://youtu.be/0Q8CqUMoTdE
Navigating the Bible: Luke - https://youtu.be/TKp9FbT3J2k
Navigating the Bible: Mark - https://youtu.be/TfD2cHzAFmc
Navigating the Bible: Matthew - https://youtu.be/TopzGlIuhYg
Navigating the Bible: Malachi - https://youtu.be/Qiwoys1KAa8
Navigating the Bible: Zechariah - https://youtu.be/t3beJht6tZU
Navigating the Bible: Haggai - https://youtu.be/pGFOmTPUgI4
Navigating the Bible: Zephaniah - https://youtu.be/VtKeFsLeG4M
Navigating the Bible: Habakkuk - https://youtu.be/89l0HUQceIw
Navigating the Bible: Nahum - https://youtu.be/USg64a6Kk8w
Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8
Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQ
Navigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfg
Navigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsg
Navigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXE
Navigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRk
Navigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgs
Navigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMg
Navigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9E
Navigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8
Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUI
Navigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQ
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ - but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” James 2:14-17
I think many people probably fall into one of two camps about James: it’s either one of their favorites or they bristle against it a little bit. This is because James does not pull any punches about what it means to live in a way that focuses and cares for other people. He says, “faith is dead without good works.” He says, “His actions made his faith complete.” He says, “I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” All of this is in the context of what James has to say about helping the poor, the widows and the orphans, and what he has to say about how we handle persecution and trials and what he has to say about how we speak. James is an in your face book in the best of ways. To help us navigate this book is Dr. Craig Blomberg, Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Denver Seminary and author of many books including a commentary on James. 
Doable Discipleship is a podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).
Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)
Resources Related to This Episode: https://www.amazon.com/James-Zondervan-Exegetical-Commentary-Testament/dp/0310244021
Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Navigating the Bible: Hebrews - https://youtu.be/0XwovgqW0cM
Navigating the Bible: Philemon - https://youtu.be/D9PTtlDcqxc
Navigating the Bible: Pastoral Epistles - https://youtu.be/07kEx20A9GE
Navigating the Bible: 1 & 2 Thessalonians - https://youtu.be/t4RGfRFSNT4
Navigating the Bible: Colossians - https://youtu.be/X8Smy59UyDo
Navigating the Bible: Philippians - https://youtu.be/aYoTNKarprI
Navigating the Bible: Ephesians - https://youtu.be/BbtVXrdC2FI
Navigating the Bible: Galatians - https://youtu.be/1vudZh57HH0
Navigating the Bible: 2 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/GhxuP3onL4s
Navigating the Bible: 1 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/5lt9OhkpYbg
Navigating the Bible: Romans - https://youtu.be/hQXntME3Goc
Navigating the Bible: Acts - https://youtu.be/u7ujU81hvjU
Navigating the Bible: John - https://youtu.be/0Q8CqUMoTdE
Navigating the Bible: Luke - https://youtu.be/TKp9FbT3J2k
Navigating the Bible: Mark - https://youtu.be/TfD2cHzAFmc
Navigating the Bible: Matthew - https://youtu.be/TopzGlIuhYg
Navigating the Bible: Malachi - https://youtu.be/Qiwoys1KAa8
Navigating the Bible: Zechariah - https://youtu.be/t3beJht6tZU
Navigating the Bible: Haggai - https://youtu.be/pGFOmTPUgI4
Navigating the Bible: Zephaniah - https://youtu.be/VtKeFsLeG4M
Navigating the Bible: Habakkuk - https://youtu.be/89l0HUQceIw
Navigating the Bible: Nahum - https://youtu.be/USg64a6Kk8w
Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8
Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQ
Navigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfg
Navigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsg
Navigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXE
Navigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRk
Navigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgs
Navigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMg
Navigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9E
Navigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8
Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUI
Navigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQ
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” - Hebrews 7:23-25
The book of Hebrews is an interesting first step out of Paul’s letters. In many ways, Hebrews may be even better read earlier in a New Testament reading because it has a heavy focus on Old Testament stories. Hebrews reads like a connector or bridge between Old and New Testaments while, at its heart, being a book of comfort - a book reminding of God’s faithfulness; a book continuously pointing to Christ. To help us navigate the book of Hebrews is Dr. Amy Peeler, Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and author of a commentary on Hebrews. 
Doable Discipleship is a podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).
Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)
Resources Related to This Episode: https://www.amazon.com/Hebrews-Commentaries-Christian-Formation-CCF/dp/0802877389
Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Navigating the Bible: Philemon - https://youtu.be/D9PTtlDcqxc
Navigating the Bible: Pastoral Epistles - https://youtu.be/07kEx20A9GE
Navigating the Bible: 1 & 2 Thessalonians - https://youtu.be/t4RGfRFSNT4
Navigating the Bible: Colossians - https://youtu.be/X8Smy59UyDo
Navigating the Bible: Philippians - https://youtu.be/aYoTNKarprI
Navigating the Bible: Ephesians - https://youtu.be/BbtVXrdC2FI
Navigating the Bible: Galatians - https://youtu.be/1vudZh57HH0
Navigating the Bible: 2 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/GhxuP3onL4s
Navigating the Bible: 1 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/5lt9OhkpYbg
Navigating the Bible: Romans - https://youtu.be/hQXntME3Goc
Navigating the Bible: Acts - https://youtu.be/u7ujU81hvjU
Navigating the Bible: John - https://youtu.be/0Q8CqUMoTdE
Navigating the Bible: Luke - https://youtu.be/TKp9FbT3J2k
Navigating the Bible: Mark - https://youtu.be/TfD2cHzAFmc
Navigating the Bible: Matthew - https://youtu.be/TopzGlIuhYg
Navigating the Bible: Malachi - https://youtu.be/Qiwoys1KAa8
Navigating the Bible: Zechariah - https://youtu.be/t3beJht6tZU
Navigating the Bible: Haggai - https://youtu.be/pGFOmTPUgI4
Navigating the Bible: Zephaniah - https://youtu.be/VtKeFsLeG4M
Navigating the Bible: Habakkuk - https://youtu.be/89l0HUQceIw
Navigating the Bible: Nahum - https://youtu.be/USg64a6Kk8w
Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8
Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQ
Navigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfg
Navigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsg
Navigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXE
Navigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRk
Navigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgs
Navigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMg
Navigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9E
Navigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8
Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUI
Navigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQ
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus . . . I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced . . . He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” Philemon vs. 10, 14, and 16. 
The book of Philemon is unlike any of Paul’s other letters. Or, perhaps I should say it this way, it is unlike any of Paul’s other full letters. We’ve seen Paul admonish or encourage specific people amidst some of his other letters, but here we have a standalone letter from Paul to Philemon asking him a favor regarding Philemon’s slave, Onesimus. This letter is important for many reasons as it teaches us from multiple different angles. What can we learn from what Paul is saying to Philemon? What can we learn from what Paul is saying about Onesimus? And what can we learn from how Paul says these things? It’s a little letter but there’s a lot to unpack, so to help us navigate the book of Philemon is Dr. Dennis Edwards, Vice President for Church Relations and Dean of the Seminary at North Park University in Chicago and author of the “Philemon” section of the The New Testament in Color multiethnic Bible commentary.
Doable Discipleship is a podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 450 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).
Subscribe to the Doable Discipleship podcast at Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doable-discipleship/id1240966935) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/1Zc9nuwQZOLadbFCZCmZ1V)
Resources Related to This Episode: https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Color-Multiethnic-Commentary/dp/0830814094
Related Doable Discipleship Episodes:
Navigating the Bible: Pastoral Epistles - https://youtu.be/07kEx20A9GE
Navigating the Bible: 1 & 2 Thessalonians - https://youtu.be/t4RGfRFSNT4
Navigating the Bible: Colossians - https://youtu.be/X8Smy59UyDo
Navigating the Bible: Philippians - https://youtu.be/aYoTNKarprI
Navigating the Bible: Ephesians - https://youtu.be/BbtVXrdC2FI
Navigating the Bible: Galatians - https://youtu.be/1vudZh57HH0
Navigating the Bible: 2 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/GhxuP3onL4s
Navigating the Bible: 1 Corinthians - https://youtu.be/5lt9OhkpYbg
Navigating the Bible: Romans - https://youtu.be/hQXntME3Goc
Navigating the Bible: Acts - https://youtu.be/u7ujU81hvjU
Navigating the Bible: John - https://youtu.be/0Q8CqUMoTdE
Navigating the Bible: Luke - https://youtu.be/TKp9FbT3J2k
Navigating the Bible: Mark - https://youtu.be/TfD2cHzAFmc
Navigating the Bible: Matthew - https://youtu.be/TopzGlIuhYg
Navigating the Bible: Malachi - https://youtu.be/Qiwoys1KAa8
Navigating the Bible: Zechariah - https://youtu.be/t3beJht6tZU
Navigating the Bible: Haggai - https://youtu.be/pGFOmTPUgI4
Navigating the Bible: Zephaniah - https://youtu.be/VtKeFsLeG4M
Navigating the Bible: Habakkuk - https://youtu.be/89l0HUQceIw
Navigating the Bible: Nahum - https://youtu.be/USg64a6Kk8w
Navigating the Bible: Micah - https://youtu.be/Tcm3HykhkS8
Navigating the Bible: Jonah - https://youtu.be/PxhIyhLSgJQ
Navigating the Bible: Daniel - https://youtu.be/bnQ-PioWxfg
Navigating the Bible: Ezekiel - https://youtu.be/hlg6gBYxqsg
Navigating the Bible: Lamentations - https://youtu.be/6rrizlXeYXE
Navigating the Bible: Jeremiah - https://youtu.be/lXPjWl8PdRk
Navigating the Bible: Isaiah - https://youtu.be/NZJLaPkgEgs
Navigating the Bible: Song of Songs - https://youtu.be/Sg0CYlNBVMg
Navigating the Bible: Ecclesiastes - https://youtu.be/-Wr7LCh8F9E
Navigating the Bible: Proverbs - https://youtu.be/DytRT5AsZg8
Navigating the Bible: Psalms - https://youtu.be/oZeesooAYUI
Navigating the Bible: Job - https://youtu.be/14jaf2T1eCQ
Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3M
Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasA
Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/