Practical Faith Academy Podcast

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 3

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In Part 3, Cecil presents two teachings: The Golden Rule and the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. Each, in their own way, is a summary. The Golden Rule summarizes the teachings of the Law and the Prophets. The Wise and Foolish Builders summarizes how Jesus wants us to respond to his teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

With this episode, Cecil not only concludes the Sermon on the Mount, but the entire Himalayas of the New Testament season.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 2

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In Part 2, Cecil explores two teachings that actually have a lot in common: The Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6: 9-13) and Jesus' admonitions against worry (Matt. 6: 25-34). Both focus on simplifying our thoughts, fears, and wishes while focusing on right living today.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Sermon on the Mount, Part 1

Jesus' teachings collide with the world's view in three peak chapters of New Testament thought, Matthew 5, 6, and 7, collectively called The Sermon on the Mount.

In a three-part series, Cecil starts by exploring the highlight of Matthew 5: the Beatitudes, the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. As in many sermons of the day, Jesus starts with a sequence of paradoxical statements, saying you are blessed when you are at the bottom and blessed when you seem weak compared to what the world prizes as strength.

Cecil starts with some background on the Sermon on the Mount before covering the Beatitudes.

IMAGE: Lhotse, the Himalayan mountain with three peaks next door to Everest, reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount's three chapters. Less than two miles away from Mt. Everest, Lhotse's highest peak is the fourth highest in the world.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Philippians, Part 2

This podcast covers what is, for me personally, one of the most meaningful sections of the Bible. The Apostle Paul shares with his dear friends at Philippi some of the key lessons he has learned in his faith walk with Jesus.

There are three parts to cover in this section of Philippians 4: 4-13:

1. How to deal with anxiety, uncertainty, and negative events.
2. How to focus your mind in the midst of chaos and temptation.
3. How to deal with the live that we are given, whether it is a life of prosperity or a life of poverty – and by that, I do not necessarily mean the measure of our wealth.

IMAGE: Cho Oyu. Since Philippians is an easy letter to understand because it is so relatable to us today, it reminds me of the sixth highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu. Just 12 miles west of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, Cho Oyu is known as one of the easier mountains to climb, despite its peak of nearly 27,000 feet.

If you have your Bible handy, please follow along with the text at Philippians 4: 4-13.

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Philippians, Part 1

There are rare times when high theology and practical faith intersect perfectly in a passage of scripture. That is the case with the passage in this month's Season 2, Episode 6 podcast episode of "The Himalayas of the New Testament."

 

IMAGE: Cho Oyu. Since Philippians is an easy letter to understand because it is so relatable to us today, it reminds me of the sixth highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu. Just 12 miles west of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, Cho Oyu is known as one of the easier mountains to climb, despite its peak of nearly 27,000 feet.

 

In this episode, I look at Paul's quotation of an early church hymn that has highlighted some of the most argued principles of the early Christian faith. Surrounding that quote are two very practical pieces of advice to the church at Philippi in the midst of its squabbling.

 

It might be useful to follow along in your Bible as I examine Philippians 2: 1-18.

 

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Ephesians (part 2)

Cecil Taylor continues his review of Ephesians by looking primarily at the last three chapters. Some of Paul's most famous, most important, and most controversial passages occur in these sections. Cecil picks out and discusses the following themes: 

• The Body of Christ
• Addressing Evil
• Mutual Submissive Relationship Model

If you haven't listened to the first Ephesians podcast, it's recommended, at minimum, to listen to the first ten minutes of it to learn the overview and history of Ephesians.

IMAGE: Ama Dablam, which means "Mother's Necklace." This beautiful Himalayan mountain near Mount Everest is used because Ephesians has been called "The Queen of the Epistles."

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Ephesians (part 1)

Ephesians stands out from Paul's other letters as the most impersonal toward its recipients and the most theological. If there is one overall theme to Ephesians, it is on the unity that is achieved through Christ - certainly a message we need to hear today! Paul extrapolates from that unity how we are supposed to extend that unity into the church, into our homes and into our relationships.

 

Cecil covers three themes in the October podcast, which is focused on the first half (three of six chapters) of Ephesians:

• The work of the Holy Trinity
• Unified by Christ
• God's wisdom

IMAGE: Ama Dablam, which means "Mother's Necklace." This beautiful Himalayan mountain near Mount Everest is used because Ephesians has been called "The Queen of the Epistles."

The Himalayas of the New Testament: Romans 12

IMAGE: K2

As Romans 8 is the Mount Everest of the New Testament, Romans 12 stands as K2. Just as we think of the world's two tallest mountains together, though they are separated by distance, so Romans 8 and 12 go together although they are separated by three chapters. Romans 12 serves as the response to the revelation in Romans 8 of how the Holy Trinity reaches out to us, offering love, mercy and salvation.

Cecil identifies and walks through six main thoughts in Romans 12:

1. Worship is what you do every day.
2. Don’t shape yourself on the outside to fit into the world, but shape yourself on the inside to become brand new in Christ’s ways
3. We are joined together as the body of Christ
4. Be who you were made to be
5. Love, hope, pray, honor, give, do good, suffer patiently and serve the Lord
6. Live in relationship with everyone so you can turn them to good