“I think that in some circles there’s pressure for Christian ambassadors [which is how Koukl pictures all Christians] to ‘close the sale’ as soon as possible. When pressed for time, get right to the meat of the message. Get to the Gospel. If the person doesn’t respond, you’ve still done your part. Shake the dust off your feet and move on.

A wise ambassador, though, weighs his opportunities and adopts an appropriate strategy for each occasion. Sometimes, the simple truth of the cross is all that’s needed.  The fruit is ripe for harvesting.  Bump it and it falls into your basket.

Usually, though, the fruit is not ripe; the nonbeliever is simply not ready.  He may not even have begun to think about Christianity. Dropping a message on him that, from his point of view, is meaningless or simply unbelievable doesn’t accomplish anything. In fact, it may be the worst thing you can do. He rejects a message he doesn’t understand and then he’s harder to reach next time.

Now here is my own more modest goal. I want to put a stone in his shoe. All I want to do is give him something worth thinking about. I want him to hobble away on a nugget of truth he can’t simply ignore because it continues to poke at him.” (link)

Of course a person can take this approach too far; but then again we as sinful human beings can take anything – even good things – too far. Just as the danger with normal methods of apologetics is to trust in our own reasoning, our cunning arguments, and to rely upon ourselves rather than upon God; the potential danger here is to fall short of ever getting to the Gospel and instead be content with simply raising questions. Still though, I find these words to be extremely helpful when seen as a broad-based approach to getting folks to think more deeply about life, truth, and God. As well, I especially appreciate how this approach somewhat mirrors the approach that Christ Himself sometimes used – asking questions that weren’t simply “do you or don’t you believe that I am the Savior?” but instead asking introductory or leading questions such as “What do you think – from whom do kings of the earth take their toll or tax?” (Matthew 17:25) and “What do you think about the Christ (notice the third person language here – Christ is asking them their opinions upon the coming Messiah rather than outright declaring Himself to be that Messiah in this particular passage)?” (Matthew 22:42). Used faithfully and well, these are tactics that can really help to guide people’s thinking towards the Gospel.

Video: Please click the video below to watch the sermon.

• Out in the Fields
  • Ruth 2:1-3 Our chapter begins with foreshadowing the character quality of Boaz. Then we move into the story itself – Ruth is permitted to go and try to glean whatever she can so that she and Naomi can survive.
  • Ruth 2:4-7 While in the fields, who should arrive but Boaz?! Notice his kind character in how he interacts with his ____________. He then notices and asks about Ruth and is informed of her relation to Naomi as well as her hard work.
  • Ruth 2:8-9 Intrigued, Boaz speaks to Ruth and tells her several things: that she will have all she needs from his fields, that she will be safe under his protection, and that he will provide for her what she needs to continue gleaning. All of this goes far beyond what the law or custom requires.
  • Ruth 2:10-13 Ruth questions Boaz’s generosity and he gives her his reasoning: he knows of her history and how she has been kind with _____________. He also knows of her faith in God.
  • Ruth 2:14-16 Later in the day, Boaz invites Ruth to eat with him and his workers. And not only that, he also allows her to harvest grain as if she were one of his reapers. And what’s more, he has the reapers leave from of the harvested grain for her!
  • Ruth 2:17-23 Ruth works until late int he evening and returns home to Naomi. Notice that Ruth is generous with Naomi, just as Boaz was generous with her. As they speak of the day, Naomi finds out that it was Boaz who was so generous and hints at what may be to come: he could be a _____________ for Ruth. We finally see that Ruth’s work in his field becomes the pattern.
• Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together
  • Note the kindness and grace of Boaz even though Ruth can’t pay him back. Do we show the same heart as he does?
  • Don’t miss God’s sustained and faithful work in very plain ways.
  • We have been shown the grace and mercy of God. The story of Ruth and Boaz begins to hint at that of Christ redeeming us.

Enter the excellent book The Scriptures Testify About Me edited by D. A. Carson. What this book consists of is a series of eight sermons, seven of which draw from Old Testament passages and one of which provides a fitting introduction to the topic at hand. And what is that topic? Simply this: how do we see the various stories, prophecies, and truths of the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus Christ and then applied to us? This book does a wonderful job of showing several ways to faithfully answer that question. I found some chapters much more helpful in this work than others, but that’s par for the course on any book where each chapter is authored by somebody different. So rather than reviewing each and every chapter, I would like to instead point us to three that I found particularly helpful.

The first is Al Mohler’s introductory address, entitled Studying the Scriptures and Finding Jesus. This is a wide-ranging introduction to the topic of understanding how the New Testament (and Jesus in particular) quotes from and utilizes the Old Testament. Any reader of the Gospels will be challenged often by Jesus’ use of Old Testament quotations because Jesus doesn’t simply quote wise proverbs to apply to life, but oftentimes brings up what (to our minds) are obscure quotations and then applies them directly to Himself! Mohler does an admirable job of helping us to understand where all of this is coming from and why it matters – or, as he says it: “We must preach Christ from all the Scriptures and find Christ in the gospel of the Old Testament as well as in the New. We need to allow the New Testament to train us how to read the Old. We must put the Bible back into the hands of believers – intact and whole – with Christ and the gospel of our redemption at the center. (p.32)”

Secondly, Tim Keller provides an excellent example of faithful understanding in his chapter Getting Out. This chapter centers on Exodus 14 and drives us to understand the story thematically – God is rescuing His people who are in bondage. For the Israelites, it’s from a harsh regime of slavery, for us, it is from our own sin. He then goes on throughout the sermon to show the parallels between the Exodus and salvation. For example: “The Red Sea story is not just about what the Israelites get out of but also about how they get out. (p.43)” And how is it that they get out? Keller points us to two texts. The first is right there in Exodus: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still (14:14).” The second is remarkably parallel to the first: “to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5).” That is to say, we see God’s sovereign act of grace shown as a foil in this well-known Old Testament story and yet made explicitly clear in the New Testament.

A third chapter which I found absolutely fascinating, encouraging, and challenging was D. A. Carson’s own contribution Getting Excited About Melchizedek. Yes, that random guy in Genesis 14 who basically appears on the scene and then disappears in one of the stranger stories of the Old Testament. What are we to make of those verses? Why do they matter? Carson takes us to Psalm 110 and then to Hebrews 7, where Melchizedek is mentioned once again. The point? Carson argues (and I would agree) that Melchizedek is introduced on the scene as a pattern or a template. That is to say, it’s not that Melchizedek is necessarily some sort of pre-incarnate form of Christ (that could be, though it is not the most likely answer) but that instead Melchizedek sets the scene and the tone for expecting Christ Himself. I love how Carson moves forward to show us that the story doesn’t end with us making much of Melchizedek, but that instead Melchizedek points us to Jesus – we are to make much of Christ as our High Priest forever!

To conclude, this is a helpful work which will hopefully cause you (as it did me) to look again to the Scriptures – Old and New Testament – to see the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. If you are looking for an accessible introduction to understanding not only how the Bible comes together but also to how we see Christ even in the Old Testament, then this would be a great place to start.

As a final note, for those who would rather listen to these sermons as opposed to reading them, they are available for free download at The Gospel Coalition website here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/conferences/2011/#media

(I wish to note that the publisher of this book, Crossway, provided it to me at no cost as a review sample. My review is in no way influenced or controlled by them, nor was it required to be positive, thus I write my review of this book with honesty and integrity.)

That was a formative assignment for me, teaching me that the Bible was something to be rigorously studied and – at the same time – that the Scriptures contained all that is needed for their understanding within themselves – that the Bible was meant to be understood rather than being reserved for people with letters and degrees after their name. Now don’t misunderstand, I find commentaries useful, I read Bible background books, at times I use a Study Bible (though my devotional Bible is actually a plain hardcover Bible because I don’t want any distractions). Those are all useful tools. But they are most useful when we’ve already looked at the verse(s) in question ourselves, seen all that we can, and then turned towards these other faithful resources to add to our understanding.

Agassiz and the Fish
by a Student

It was more than fifteen years ago that I entered the laboratory of Professor Agassiz, and told him I had enrolled my name in the scientific school as a student of natural history. He asked me a few questions about my object in coming, my antecedents generally, the mode in which I afterwards proposed to use the knowledge I might acquire, and finally, whether I wished to study any special branch. To the latter I replied that while I wished to be well grounded in all departments of zoology, I purposed to devote myself specially to insects.

“When do you wish to begin?” he asked.

“Now,” I replied.

This seemed to please him, and with an energetic “Very well,” he reached from a shelf a huge jar of specimens in yellow alcohol.

“Take this fish,” he said, “and look at it; we call it a Haemulon; by and by I will ask what you have seen.”

With that he left me. . . . I was conscious of a passing feeling of disappointment, for gazing at a fish did not commend itself to an ardent entomologist. . . . .

In ten minutes I had seen all that could be seen in that fish, and started in search of the professor, who had, however, left the museum; and when I returned, after lingering over some of the odd animals stored in the upper apartment, my specimen was dry all over. I dashed the fluid over the fish as if to resuscitate it from a fainting-fit, and looked with anxiety for a return of a normal, sloppy appearance. This little excitement over, nothing was to be done but return to a steadfast gaze at my mute companion. Half an hour passed, an hour, another hour; the fish began to look loathsome. I turned it over and around; looked it in the face—ghastly; from behind, beneath, above, sideways, at a three-quarters view—just as ghastly. I was in despair; at an early hour, I concluded that lunch was necessary; so with infinite relief, the fish was carefully replaced in the jar, and for an hour I was free.

On my return, I learned that Professor Agassiz had been at the museum, but had gone and would not return for several hours. My fellow students were too busy to be disturbed by continued conversation. Slowly I drew forth that hideous fish, and with a feeling of desperation again looked at it. I might not use a magnifying glass; instruments of all kinds were interdicted. My two hands, my two eyes, and the fish; it seemed a most limited field. I pushed my fingers down its throat to see how sharp its teeth were. I began to count the scales in the different rows until I was convinced that that was nonsense. At last a happy thought struck me—I would draw the fish; and now with surprise I began to discover new features in the creature. Just then the professor returned.

“That is right,” said he, “a pencil is one of the best eyes. I am glad to notice, too, that you keep your specimen wet and your bottle corked.”

With these encouraging words he added—

“Well, what is it like?”

He listened attentively to my brief rehearsal of the structure of parts whose names were still unknown to me; the fringed gill-arches and movable operculum; the pores of the head, fleshly lips, and lidless eyes; the lateral line, the spinous fin, and forked tail; the compressed and arched body. When I had finished, he waited as if expecting more, and then, with an air of disappointment:

“You have not looked very carefully; why,” he continued, more earnestly, “you haven’t seen one of the most conspicuous features of the animal, which is as plainly before your eyes as the fish itself. Look again; look again!” And he left me to my misery.

I was piqued; I was mortified. Still more of that wretched fish? But now I set myself to the task with a will, and discovered one new thing after another, until I saw how just the professor’s criticism had been. The afternoon passed quickly, and when, towards its close, the professor inquired,

“Do you see it yet?”

“No,” I replied. “I am certain I do not, but I see how little I saw before.”

“That is next best,” said he earnestly, “but I won’t hear you now; put away your fish and go home; perhaps you will be ready with a better answer in the morning. I will examine you before you look at the fish.”

This was disconcerting; not only must I think of my fish all night, studying, without the object before me, what this unknown but most visible feature might be, but also, without reviewing my new discoveries, I must give an exact account of them the next day. I had a bad memory; so I walked home by Charles River in a distracted state, with my two perplexities.

The cordial greeting from the professor the next morning was reassuring; here was a man who seemed to be quite as anxious as I that I should see for myself what he saw.

“Do you perhaps mean,” I asked, “that the fish has symmetrical sides with paired organs?”

His thoroughly pleased, “Of course, of course!” repaid the wakeful hours of the previous night. After he had discoursed most happily and enthusiastically—as he always did—upon the importance of this point, I ventured to ask what I should do next.

“Oh, look at your fish!” he said, and left me again to my own devices. In a little more than an hour he returned and heard my new catalogue.

“That is good, that is good!” he repeated, “but that is not all; go on.” And so for three long days, he placed that fish before my eyes, forbidding me to look at anything else, or to use any artificial aid. “Look, look, look,” was his repeated injunction.

This was the best entomological lesson I ever had—a lesson whose influence was extended to the details of every subsequent study; a legacy the professor has left to me, as he left it to many others, of inestimable value, which we could not buy, with which we cannot part.

The fourth day a second fish of the same group was placed beside the first, and I was bidden to point out the resemblances and differences between the two; another and another followed, until the entire family lay before me, and a whole legion of jars covered the table and surrounding shelves; the odor had become a pleasant perfume; and even now, the sight of an old six-inch worm-eaten cork brings fragrant memories!

The whole group of Haemulons was thus brought into review; and whether engaged upon the dissection of the internal organs, preparation and examination of the bony framework, or the description of the various parts, Agassiz’s training in the method of observing facts in their orderly arrangement, was ever accompanied by the urgent exhortation not to be content with them.

“Facts are stupid things,” he would say, “until brought into connection with some general law.”

At the end of eight months, it was almost with reluctance that I left these friends and turned to insects; but what I gained by this outside experience has been of greater value than years of later investigation in my favorite groups.

Video: Please click the video below to watch the sermon.




• A Famine and a Family
  • Ruth 1:1-2 All of the plot elements are right here – time, location, and characters. Note that this was a horrible time in the history of Israel (Judges 21:25) – few would stand up for what is right, prepare for the future, or point the people to God.
  • Ruth 1:3-5 To our previous plot elements, now add the problem – Naomi is left a widow after the _________ of her husband. Soon, her sons marry which gives her a bit of hope, but after a span of years, they too pass away. Her whole family has died.
  • Ruth 1:6-7 Having received news of the supernatural ending of the famine back in Israel, Naomi resolves to return home. But what shall she do with her daughters-in-law?
  • Ruth 1:8-13 Naomi decides that it would be best if they stay in Moab to live with their birth-families until remarriage. Despite protests from Orpah and Ruth, Naomi reminds them that remarriage probably wouldn’t occur if they came with her. And she herself is of an age when she can’t give any hope on that front either. No, it would be better for them to stay in their home country. And not only that, but in Naomi’s thinking, the Lord is against her anyways.
  • Ruth 1:14-18 After a tearful goodbye, Orpah returns to Moab, but Ruth does not. She clings to Naomi and tells her of her devotion – she will, for all intents and purposes, become an Israelite. She will worship the Lord and she will be buried wherever Naomi is buried. Seeing her determination, Naomi lets Ruth return to __________ with her.
• Homecoming
  • Ruth 1:19-20 The town is buzzing with Naomi’s return, but all is not well. Naomi renames herself “bitter” and blames the Lord for the loss of her family. Is her perspective correct?
  • Ruth 1:21-22 But there is one bit of hope: now is the time for the ___________ harvest. What do we see of God in this?
• Where to from here? God has and will provide! Trust in Christ.

• Christ Has Risen from the Dead!
  • Matthew 28:1-3 Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James and Joseph arrive at the tomb early on Sunday morning to complete the anointing of Jesus’ body. But upon arrival, something extraordinary happens – there is an earthquake and the tomb is opened by an angel from the Lord.
  • Matthew 28:4-7 The guards have no categories to describe this and fall down as dead (unconscious/in shock). The angel then addresses the women by telling them to not be ___________ and that Jesus is no longer there. But where is He?! That’s the greatest news: He has risen, just as He said! After seeing the empty tomb, the ladies rush off to go tell the disciples…
  • Matthew 28:8-10 … only to receive the greatest shock and blessing that they could possibly imagine when they are confronted by Jesus Himself! He also tells them to not be afraid and to proceed to Galilee to tell the disciples of what has happened.
• Another Perspective
  • Matthew 28:11 While the ladies are on their way, some of the guards recover and go to speak with the chief priests.
  • Matthew 28:12-13 A council is held, after which the soldiers are given “hush money” – they are to tell a false story about what has happened. Interesting that nobody is contradicting the real story here, but rather the real story is to be covered up.
  • Matthew 28:14-15 No doubt worried about what might befall them, the soldiers need a bit more convincing. Therefore the council reassures them that, if need be, they will speak to the __________ on the soldiers’ behalf. The soldiers now spread the false report.
• How will you respond?
  • There are two stories here which mirror the two ways you can respond to Jesus: disregard Him or trust Him as your Savior. Look at the evidence and embrace the miracle of God’s grace!
  • Jesus came to seek and save the lost and this He has done. Repent and believe that Christ has risen from the dead!

• The Death of Jesus
  • Matthew 27:45-50 There is darkness over the land which directly reflects the tragic events that are happening: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is dying on the cross. Jesus cries out to the Father, quoting from Psalm 22:1. This cry is misinterpreted by the crowd who think that Jesus is calling for ___________. Soon after, Jesus cries out once more and dies.
  • Matthew 27:51-53 At the death of Jesus, many things begin to happen, foretelling what is in store. First, the temple curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple rips from top to bottom. Then there is an earthquake which opens up tombs in the area. Matthew previews for us what will happen after Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Matthew 27:54-56 Even those present realize that this is no ordinary man – He is the Son of God. Matthew tells us also that Jesus is not entirely alone – some of the ladies are watching from a distance and John is present as well.
• The Burial
  • Matthew 27:57-61 Joseph, a follower of Jesus and a member of the Sanhedrin, goes to Pilate and asks for Jesus’ body so that he can bury it. Later, he and Nicodemus carefully and reverently prepare Jesus’ body for burial in Joseph’s own ____________.
  • Matthew 27:62-66 The chief priests and Pharisees are concerned that Jesus’ followers will steal His body from the tomb and proclaim that He has risen. So, the next day, they go to Pilate asking for a guard. As well, the tomb will be sealed to make it harder to disturb.
• How does this relate to Palm Sunday?
  • Jesus received a King’s welcome into Jerusalem and then many of the same people called for His crucifixion. The crowd was fickle: how about you? Stand faithfully with the Messiah!
  • Notice that Palm Sunday anticipates what is really the truth: Jesus is the King and He will rise again to reign in glory!