I’d like to introduce Sundeep Malickal. He is a Redeemer Church supported and sponsored church planter. Sundeep is one of the eight brothers in this year’s Denton Baptist Association Church Planter Cohort. I originally connected to Sundeep through Jonathan and Sheba George. Sundeep was connected to Jonathan’s father in India. Sundeep was part of a number of church plants in India before moving to Dallas. The Malickals are planting a church to international students at the University of Texas at Dallas..

Baptism is a symbol of the new life believers have in Christ. This is Adan Turrubiartez’s public profession of faith in Jesus from his baptism on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

I have sad but exciting news to share. Last night Pastor Grant shared with our students that they will be leaving this summer to plant a church in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Sidney Greidanus is a retired preaching professor from Calvin Seminary. Greidanus’ Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method is an argument for Christocentric preaching and a history of how Christ has been preached from the OT. It is also an explanation of a biblical method for preaching Christ from the OT. Greidanus describes Christocentric preaching as “preaching sermons which authentically integrate the message of the text with the climax of God’s revelation in the person, work, and/or teaching of Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament.” This integration is done using his seven ways to Christ. Previously I explained his first three ways. Below is an explanation of his fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh ways to interpret Christ from the Old Testament.  

Sidney Greidanus is a retired preaching professor from Calvin Seminary. Greidanus’ Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method is an argument for Christocentric preaching and a history of how Christ has been preached from the OT. It is also an explanation of a biblical method for preaching Christ from the OT. Greidanus describes Christocentric preaching as “preaching sermons which authentically integrate the message of the text with the climax of God’s revelation in the person, work, and/or teaching of Jesus Christ as revealed in the New Testament.” This integration is done using his seven ways to Christ. Below is an explanation of his first three ways to interpret Christ from the Old Testament.  

Pastors, read homiletical commentaries. Well, you might respond with the question, “what is a homiletical commentary?” Brother, I’m glad you asked!

How does Jesus relate to justice? Two extremes should be avoided when answering this question. One extreme argues that Jesus has nothing to do with justice. Another extreme answer is that Jesus is primarily about justice.

Sight is a clear literary theme in the Road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35). Cleopas and his buddies saw Jesus, but don’t really see him. They saw a man coming down the road. They had an in-depth conversation with him as they walked together. However, they don’t perceive that the man was Jesus. They don’t see Jesus, even though they most likely knew him before Jesus’ death and resurrection. They had certainly seen him teach and knew what he looked like. Their lack of perception that the man was Jesus is connected to their lack of spiritual perception. They physically didn’t recognize him, and they also spiritually didn’t recognize him. What is so terrifying about the Road to Emmaus account is that these men claimed to be followers of Christ! The Road to Emmaus story teaches us that even Christians might now fully perceive Jesus.

Brothers, preach hard books. During our church’s new members class our pastors make the case for expository preaching. It is one of our church’s deepest convictions. During the class we explain our strategy of preaching from both Old Testament and New Testament books. We talk about the importance we place on preaching the Psalms and the Gospels. I always add we want to be experts on Jesus and we want to be a worshipping people. But we also explain that expository preaching actually protects the church from the pastor. Eyes usually get big at the thought. However, we explain how every pastor has soap boxes. Further, every pastor has texts and truths he tends to avoid. Therefore, preaching the whole counsel of God protects the church from a pastor’s soap boxes as well as forces him into truths he might otherwise avoid.