1 Thess 2:1-6 - You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make... Continue Reading →
“How do we know God is at work in us?” Part A [Sermon Notes on 1 Thessalonians, Week 2]
Paul was in a terrible fix: he had been forced to leave his new disciples in Macedonia, and he was particularly uneasy about the new Christians in the second church, planted in Thessalonica. After all, hadn’t Jesus taught that sometimes the gospel mission ends in disaster? (Matthew 13:20-21) The seed falling on rocky ground refers to... Continue Reading →
“Come over here and help us!” [Sermon Notes on 1 Thessalonians, Week 1]
Note: this sermon outline is based on my volume in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament; readers might want to acquire that commentary if they wish to see the exegetical work behind these talks. These posts are Sermon Notes, not polished messages. Introduction A few years ago I went to a reunion; there were people I hadn’t... Continue Reading →
“The Paranoid Style in American Politics” has its 50th Anniversary
[One of my few blog entries on politics, and how it relates to psychology, sociology, and modern apocalyptic eschatology. Here is a full pdf version: Paranoid Style Turns 50_Shogren] Because of his ability to describe and predict American political behavior, Richard Hofstadter’s “The Paranoid Style in American Politics” should be required reading for the citizen. And... Continue Reading →
How do God’s servants handle unforeseen questions?
I was as fresh in ministry as could be, still a bit amazed that grown-ups had actually voted me to be their full-time pastor. And it was my first Sunday, my first sermon, with us still fuzzy from memorizing all the names of all the members even as we unpacked our boxes: “Who is the... Continue Reading →
The Eclectic Text of the New Testament – a conspiracy against the Word?
God’s beloved Word – you'd better believe I study it daily. Yes, as a Bible teacher, since my ministry is teaching the New Testament in Spanish and English, and also from the Greek. But more fundamentally I read the Bible simply as a Christian, because it is through the reading, meditation, and obedience of God’s Word... Continue Reading →
JETS review of my Thessalonians commentary
JETS review of Shogren ZECNT
2 Thessalonians, Shogren translation for ZECNT
Here is my own translation of 2 Thessalonians from the original Greek, which I produced over a long period of time as part of my Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians. The book may be purchased from Amazon and Logos. It is also available in Spanish from Andamio, Amazon, and eventually from Logos. Zondervan had... Continue Reading →
1 Thessalonians, my own translation for Zondervan
I invite you to read my own “expanded” translation of 1 Thessalonians from the original Greek, part of my Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on 1-2 Thessalonians. It may be purchased from Zondervan, Amazon and Logos. They all also offer the Spanish edition. While the commentary is based on the Greek text, we also place a great... Continue Reading →
Your preaching: does it go out over “channel clear” or “channel staticky”?
Last Sunday I was on a road trip, and wanted to hear some Bible teaching. I guess we had already driven past the FM station that I picked up, so we got a garbled message: words words static words static words static static When the buzzes and pops finally prevailed in their assault against the... Continue Reading →