Scripture & Ministry
A Kingdom of Friends: Matthew’s Vision for the “We” of Discipleship
Matthew’s Gospel presents a profound and nuanced vision of what it means to flourish as humans through becoming disciples of King Jesus. Flourishing in the kingdom of heaven requires a proper relationship to God, to other believers, and to the world outside of the church (“I, We, and They”). In this lecture, we will examine the vision Jesus gives for life together—the “we” of discipleship as a kingdom of true friends whose lives are marked by mercy and forgiveness. This vision can be seen especially in Joseph, the exemplar of the virtue of mercy, and the sophisticated and shocking “household code” of Matthew 18–20.
The views and opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding or of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Scripture & Ministry
A Kingdom of Friends: Matthew’s Vision for the “We” of Discipleship
Jonathan Pennington
September 16, 2024
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Melton Hall, Waybright Center
DirectionsFree and open to all; registration required
Workshop discussion and Q&A after the lecture
Coffee, snacks, and lunch provided
Attend in person or online via the livestream
Jonathan Pennington
Jonathan T. Pennington (PhD University of St. Andrews) is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of multiple books, including Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction (Baker Academic, 2012), The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing (Baker Academic, 2018), Jesus the Great Philosopher: Rediscovering the Wisdom Needed for the Good Life (Brazos Press, 2020), and Come and See: The Journey of Knowing God through Scripture (Crossway, 2023).