Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis By cover art

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis

By: Truth Tribe
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  • Summary

  • Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis is a podcast dedicated to finding the truth through reason, and evidence about what matters most. Our subjects include how to defend the Christian faith (through apologetics), biblical ethics, and social issues.
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Episodes
  • To Judge or Not to Judge? What Matthew 7 Tells Us about Judging Jesus’ Way

    To Judge or Not to Judge? What Matthew 7 Tells Us about Judging Jesus’ Way
    Jun 17 2024
    Is it okay for Christians to judge other people? In some Bible passages, it seems like there is a place for judgment; in other parts of Scripture, not so much. Dr. Groothuis emphasizes the importance of evaluating oneself against the standard of Scripture before passing judgment on others. The key principle highlighted is to first reflect on one's actions, attitudes, and beliefs in order to cultivate humility and ensure that judgments are made with love and grace. Drawing from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, the speaker instructs followers to address their own faults before pointing out those of others. This analogy stresses the need for self-awareness and self-correction before engaging in judgment. By acknowledging personal shortcomings, individuals can approach others with empathy, understanding, and humility. Judging Jesus’ Way: Matthew 7:1-5"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." I. Who Are Christians in the World? How do we represent God and the gospel today? How are we judged by the watching world? Judicious or censorious? Measured in judgment or reactive? Wise or foolish? II. Some Judgments Against Christians A. They are too judgmentalB. They are legalisticC. They are high and mightyD. They are holier than thouE. Specifics: they are homophobic, transphobic, heteronormative, colonialist, and more F. This is sometimes correct—but we must judge, just as those who have judged usG. They may mean: “Shut up, so we can sin in peace.” H. Jesus shows us how to judge with his master principle for judgment: judge yourself according to the right standard; then judge others in love III. The Logic of Judgment A. A judgment is a personal evaluation of a state of affairs—moral or non-moral B. A judgment is always made according to a standard—implicit or explicit C. We must judge 1. “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” — Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV) 2. Judgments about moral worth of the unborn, for example; judgments about sexual ethics and identity IV. Judging Jesus’ Way A. The standard is the Bible rightly interpreted and applied B. Jesus gave many judgments, some quite harsh: one of seven “woes” or condemning judgment against teachers of the law and Pharisees 1. Condemnation (Matthew 23:15). 2. Gentle rebuke (Matthew 6:30) C. Jesus had a perfect character, so all his judgments were correct and given in the right spirit; it is harder for us. V. Do Not JudgeVs. 1-2: Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.1. The Greek for judge (krino) means condemnation or being judgmental or censoriousBill Mounce: “to assume censorial power over, to call to account, Mt. 7:1.”2. Warning: the judgment comes back on you, like a boomerang; you think you are on the bench as a judge, but you are also in the dock as the accused (John Stott)VI. Two White Hot Questions from Jesus3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?1. Kind of question with an assumed answer: You should not do this.2. Why do you look without and not look within? Speck in another, log in your own? Initial judgment.3. Why do you want to remove the speck and not remove the plank in your own eye? Action based on the judgment, spoken or unspoken.Avoid being a moral busybody (2 Peter 4:15).VII. Avoiding Hypocrisy; Making a Sound Judgment A. V. 5: You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.B. Jesus makes (1) accusation, (2) command, and (3) promise1. Accusation: Hypocrite: play actor; imposter, phony, charlatan. Used four times in Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)a. Not that you fail to live up to your standard of God’s standard. We all do that—except Jesus Christ, who was sinless and morally perfect. Jesus was merciful to sinners who knew they were sinnersb. Hypocrite: you pretend that you live up to your standard when you do not. You ignore your own sin, spot it in others; and want to remove it in others. You are a play ...
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    25 mins
  • Pascal's Compelling Case for the Christian Faith

    Pascal's Compelling Case for the Christian Faith
    Jun 10 2024
    Blaise Pascal’s Case for Christianity I. The Genius of Blaise Pascal A. Amazing life of Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) B. Pascal as an apologist; not a fideist (unlike Soren Kierkegaard) C. Nature of apologetics. Defend the Christian worldview as objectively true, compellingly rational, and pertinent to all of life (1 Peter 3:15) II. Pascal’s Case for Christianity A. His apologetic be reconstructed. Order. Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is. Worthy of reverence because it really understands human nature. Attractive because it promises true good. B. We consider only two elements: the wager and the deposed royalty argument; there are more. See Douglas Groothuis, Beyond the Wager: the Christian Brilliance of Blaise Pascal (InterVarsity Academic, 2024). III. The Wager: Risks, Rewards, Options A. We should bet on God being rule instead of betting on God’s unreality in light of the possible consequences. I should be much more afraid of being mistaken and then finding out that Christianity is true than of being mistaken in believing it to be true. B. Theoretical reason: Is P true? How can I know this? C. Prudential reason: What do I gain or lose by believing P? What actions should I pursue on this matter? D. The outcomes and belief states 1. Believer, if Christian God exists:Gain: eternal life; avoid hell. Infinite gainLoss: worldly pleasures. Finite loss 2. Believer, if Christian God does not exist:Gain: pleasures of religion. Finite gain Loss: worldly pleasures and truth. Finite loss 3. Unbeliever (atheist or agnostic or member of other religion), if Christian God exists:Gain: worldly pleasures. Finite gainLoss: eternal life; gain hell, infinite loss 4. Unbeliever, if Christian God does not exist:Gain: worldly pleasures. Finite gainLoss: nothing. E. Given the stakes, we should investigate the claims of Christianity with an open mind and open heart and not be indifferent. There are only three sorts of people: those who have found God and serve him; those who are busy seeking him and have not found him; those who live without either seeking or finding him. The first are reasonable and happy, the last are foolish and unhappy, those in the middle are unhappy and reasonable. IV. The Human Problem and Puzzle A. What sort of freak then is man! How novel, how monstrous, how chaotic, how paradoxical, how prodigious! Judge of all things, feeble earthworm, repository of truth, sink of doubt and error, the glory and refuse of the universe! (131/434). B. How to live with the human burden in light of reality; “deposed royalty” who can be restored through Jesus Christ C. What are the options? We will look at two “live hypotheses” V. A True, Rational, and Significant Explanation. A. True explanation of the human condition: one that agrees with objective reality; factual; realism. B. Rational explanation: one that explains who we are in accordance with the evidence and sound reasoning. C. Significant explanation: one that gives us value, meaning, and realistic hope for being human in the world. Philosophical anthropology is a very important part of any worldview. D. Manner of explanation: abduction (inference to best explanation) VI. Views of Being Human: The New Age Worldview A. New Age or spiritual worldview: Ken Wilber, Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra 1. Background belief on humanity a. Pantheism: everything is divine. b. Monism: all is one (or nondualism) c. Morality is not absolute, but good and evil dissolve into a universal and impersonal oneness. 2. New Age view on humanity a. Human nature is really a divine nature: we are one with an impersonal deity. b. Human problem: we have forgotten our true identity as divine, one with all things, and unlimited. c. Human solution: Find the divine within through meditation, yoga, self-realization seminars. 3. Questioning New Age philosophy a. Human beings are limited in power and goodness; this is evident and not a delusion or matter of ignorance. b. There are moral realities that reveal a moral dualism: good and evil; right and wrong; virtue and vice. Rape is always wrong; kindness is better than wanton cruelty. VII. Christianity: Deposed Royality A. Background belief: personal theism—God as Creator, Lord, Judge B. Pascal’s point can be strengthened by natural theology: arguments for God’s existence from nature and in accord with reason. C. Human nature: created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) 1. Uniqueness of humanity: ethics, culture, language, religion 2. Human greatness:...
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Overcoming Spiritual Opposition: Lessons from Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13

    Overcoming Spiritual Opposition: Lessons from Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13
    Jun 3 2024
    FINDING POWER OVER ERRORACTS 13:1-12 I. The Desperate Need: Power in Gospel Outreach A. Truth decay and the reality of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18) B. Handling opposition in evangelism and apologetics C. Finding spiritual power for the proclamation and defense of the gospel II. The Spreading Flame: The Acts of the Holy Spirit A. The birth of the church through the work of Jesus Christ, Lord of all. B. Jesus: “You will receive power from the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:8; John 14:16-17) C. Beginning of great gospel adventures—and conflicts (Acts 14:22) III. Preparation for Ministry (Acts 13:1-3) A. Prophets and teachers: Spirit-empowered ministry positions B. Multi-ethnic ministry (Galatians 3:26-28) C. Fasting and prayer before God and with the church (Acts 2:42; 3:1; 4:24; 6:4; 10:31; 14:23; 28:8) D. Prayer and fasting in the ministry of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2; 6:16-18; 9:5) E. God’s corporate call for mission (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:45-49: Acts 1:8) F. Paul’s individual call to mission (Acts 9:1-19; Galatians 1:11-24) His first excursion to the Gentiles G. Power principle #1: We need a God-ward orientation to discern God’s call to mission and to receive God’s power over error. H. Power principle #2: We need the wisdom of the church to discern God’s call to mission and to receive God’s power over error. IV. Beginning the Mission (Acts 13:4-5) A. The importance of Paul’s first mission; door opened to the Gentiles B. Sent out by the Holy Spirit (second reference to the Holy Spirit) C. Proclaimed the Word of God by the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Hebrews 4:12) D. John was their helper (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28) E. Power principle #3: We need to proclaim God’s word to find power over error. F. Power principle #4: Behind the scenes helpers are vital for powerful ministry. V. The Power of Error: Enter the Sorcerer (Acts 13:6-8) A. Team traveled a long distance for the gospel; sacrifice (Matthew 10:37-38) B. Bar-Jesus: Jewish sorcerer and false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:9-14, 20; Acts 8:9-11; Revelation 22:15) C. Sergius Paulus: intelligent Roman political leader. Wanted to hear the Word of God. This is an open door for the gospel. Considering Sergius Paulus’s authority, the mission team probably could not have refused his offer; that adds extra pressure. D. Elymas wants to shut the open door for the gospel. Conflict and controversy ensue. E. Power principle #5: The power of error opposes the truth of the gospel. VI. Power Over Error: Enter Paul (Acts 13:9-11) A. Saul, called Paul (Roman version of the Semitic Saul) B. “Filled with the Holy Spirit” (third reference to the Holy Spirit) C. Stared him down with condemning truth. He is a: 1. Child of the devil (John 8:44) 2. Enemy of everything right (Matthew 13:39) 3. Full of deceit and trickery (Matthew 13:19) 4. Paul’s question…not answered by the sorcerer. 5. Blinded, for a time (Isaiah 44:25-26) D. Power principle #6: A Spirit-filled and biblical-informed Christian challenges error courageously. VII. Power Over Error in Evangelism (Acts 13:12) A. Sergius Paulus was amazed at God’s truth and power; he believed B. Miracles and teaching work together through the Holy Spirit, all backed by prayer and holy living. C. Power principle #7: God’s work in God’s way finds power over error, but this does not eliminate hardships and setbacks in our mission (Acts 14:22). VIII. Finding Power Over Error Today A. Spirit-led and biblically informed mission generates opposition to its mandate. B. Prepare for spiritual opposition as you explain, proclaim, and defend the gospel. C. Applying these seven power principles today 1. Find godly fellowship (Acts 2:42) 2. Seek God in prayer and fasting (Matthew 6:16-18) 3. Study and share God’s Word (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:15-17) 4. Expect opposition and controversy (Matthew 10:34-39) 5. Find humble helpers—and be a humble helper 6. Expose error courageously in God’s timing (Joshua 1:6-9) 7. Expect God to vindicate God’s truth, but not without hardships. Recommended reading: 1. Sharon Beekman, Silencing Satan (Wipf and Stock, 2012). Major academic study by one who understands the demonic world by experience and through study as a Christian. 2. Mark Bubeck, Overcoming the Adversary (Moody Press, 1984). On spiritual warfare. An updated version is called Warfare Prayer.3. Ajith Fernando. The NIV Application Commentary: Acts (Zondervan, 1998). Excellent and practical commentary. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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    43 mins
Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
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