Biblical Theology

In this third session, Pastor Martin focuses entirely on the mental gifts necessary for the pastoral office. He identifies five indispensable mental requirements: (1) a mind reverently submissive to Scripture, (2) a mind furnished with the basic content of Scripture, (3) a mind furnished with an understanding of the meaning and interrelatedness of Scripture across four theological disciplines -- systematic, biblical, historical, and experimental theology, (4) a mind furnished with the necessary tools to discover and make plain the right meaning of Scripture, and (5) a mind furnished with sound practical judgment. He concludes with five qualifying principles to prevent undue discouragement while maintaining the biblical standard.

Pastor Martin introduces a series on the fear of God by demonstrating its overwhelming prevalence throughout Scripture. He surveys thirteen Old Testament and nine New Testament passages to show that the fear of God is a dominant and pervasive theme from Genesis to Revelation, concluding that to be devoid of the fear of God is to be devoid of biblical religion, and that the measure of spiritual growth is the measure to which one increases in the fear of God.