Lets Talk Politics

Here are four important words/attitudes to remember on this topic and any topic where there may be differing views. 

• Prayerful
• Biblical
• Humble
• Loving

These are notes from the "Let's Talk About Politics" workshop I led at the 2026 Church Ministries Conference.

Was the most recent presidential election the biggest election ever?
Yes and No

It is not surprising that non-Christians view the next election as the most important one ever. 

They have no real, future, eternal hope.

Let's look at two passages of scripture, an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage, to help us think about this topic.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" is often thought of as an instant blessing.  In verses 4 through 11, we see the Israelites living in exile for 70 years, building homes, planting gardens, marrying, and having children.

For context, read Jeremiah 29:4 - 11 HERE.

God commanded Israel, while they were in Babylonian Exile, to

• build houses and live in them
• plant gardens and eat their produce
• marry and have children
• seek the welfare of the city where God sent them
• pray to the Lord on the city's behalf

In verse 10, God says this captivity will be for 70 years.

The bottom line is to be completely where you are, as long as God has you there, for God's glory.

Romans 13:1—7

Here are two sermon resources on this passage: 

• HERE is a link to Trinity's Romans series.  LIsten to the sermons on Romans 13:1 - 4 and 5 - 10. 

• Six part sermon series from John MacArthur - www.gty.org/sermons/series/127/the-christian-and-government

Remember,

God is holy and sovereign.

Man is sinful and dependent on God. 

Government is a divine institution authorized by God.

The purpose of government is to ensure the common good.

Christians are to be good citizens.

The solution to political apathy is not political idolatry.

The solution to political idolatry is not political apathy.

Resources from How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics by Leeman & Naselli

1. Adjust expectations.
2. Recognize what unites a church and what belongs to the domain of Christian freedom.
3. Understand the difference between straight-line and jagged-line issues.
4. Respect those who have a different conscience on jagged line issues.
5. Remember what is most important.

Quotes from What Do I Say When…? by Walker & Walker

“Changing your world doesn’t happen by complaining but by slow plodding and persuasion.”  

“Apathy and obsession are equally alike in being the wrong approach to political engagement.”  

“Political engagement is a forum for loving one’s neighbor by seeking your neighbor’s flourishing. Christians should not engage in politics for the sake of their own interests of what causes all people to have the best chance to prosper.”

God vs. Government by Busenitz & Coates

• Supreme Allegiance:  Psalm 118; Daniel; Acts 5:29
• Sovereign Appointment:  Daniel 4:32; Romans 13:6; 1 Timothy 1:17
• Secular Animosity:  Matthew 10:16—20; Luke 12:8—12; Jesus was falsely accused; Acts 5:40—42
• Submissive Attitude:  Romans 13:1—7; 1 Timothy 2:1—8; Titus 3:1—2; 1 Peter 2:13—17
• Spheres of Authority
• Parents in family matters
• Belief in church (ecclesiastical matters), Government in civil matters

Five Categories of Times When it is Appropriate or Even Necessary for Believers to Disobey Governments: 

• An order to do what is wrong
• An order to stop doing what is right
• An order that contradicts another level of civil authority
• An order to stay silent in the face of evil
• An order to turn yourself in

Conscience: What It Is, How To Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ by Naselli & Crowley 

Contains a great chart Paul’s Solution of Love.

Resources:

• Tough Questions class posts.  Adapt as needed for your setting: drodgersjr.blogspot.com/search/label/Tough%20Questions
• Caring for One Another by Ed Welch.  This book is not specifically about politics, but it is a great resource for caring for others for God's glory.
• Conscience:  What It Is, How to Train It and Loving Those Who Differ by Andrew Naselli and J.D Crowley.
• God vs. Government:  Taking a Biblical Stand When Christ and Compliance Collide by Nathan Busenitz and James Coates
• How Can I Love the Church Members with Different Politics by Jonathan Leeman & Andy Naselli
• How the Nations Rage by Jonathan Leeman
• Just Thinking About the State by Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker
• The Story of Abortion in America by Marvin Olasky & Leah Savas
• What Do You Say When...?  A Parent's Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children and Teens by Andrew Walker and Christian Walker.  Specifically, the chapters about political engagement and abortion.
• What Every Christian Needs to Know About Social Justice by Jeffrey Johnston.

Praying the Bible - Daniel

These are notes from the "Praying the Bible - the Book of Daniel" workshop I led at the 2026 Church Ministries Conference.

Daniel 6:25-27 is filled with truths about who God is and truths we need to pray.

Prayerfully read these three verses and consider how to pray the truths in them.

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, 

for he is the living God, 

enduring forever;  

His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  

He delivers and rescues;  he works signs and wonders  in heaven and on earth,  

He who has saved Daniel  from the power of the lions.”

 

Compare what this verse contains and what you often pray.

Godward vs. Self-centered. 

 Monday - Daniel 1 - OBEDIENCE

Daniel and his friends trusted the LORD.

God gives knowledge and wisdom (1:17).

God, help us obey you and your commands. 

Mark 12:28-31: The Greatest Commandments

Remember the heart of God's commands, all of His commands, is worship.

What do we need to obey God and His Commands? 

Remember God's holiness, grace, power, word, and so many other provisions of God.

We need God to obey God.  

Tuesday - Daniel 2 - PRAYER

Daniel and his friends prayed (2:17, 18).

God reveals his plan. 

God, grow our prayer life.

Prayer Problem:  

"The method of most Christians in prayer is to say the same old things about the same old things."  Don Whitney

Prayer Helps:

• Pray the Bible
• Pray Jesus' prayers
• Pray the Psalms
• Pray Paul's prayers
• Some books about praying the Bible - Praying with Paul by D.A. Carson, A Praying Church by Paul Miller, Praying the Bible by Don Whitney
• An article entitled "How to Pray the Psalms" - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-pray-the-psalms 
• A video by Don Whitney - 6 Reasons to Pray the Bible - www.crossway.org/articles/video-6-reasons-to-pray-the-bible
• https://www.crossway.org/articles/video-6-reasons-to-pray-the-bible/
• Pray Puritan prayers.  A help with this is Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers.

Wednesday -Daniel 3 - WORSHIP

Daniel’s friends didn’t worship the idol. They trusted God (3:16-18).

God saves.

God, help us to see people and things that distract us from you.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. 

Titus 2:12 - 13

[The grace of God] teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Two-part sin in the heart of man

1. Idolatry (Exodus 20:1 - 3; Romans 1:25). Seeking ultimate satisfaction in anything other than God.
2. Violation of God's Moral Law.  Sinful behavior.

Thursday - Daniel 4 - HUMILITY

Nebuchadnezzar was humiliated and then prayed (4:37)

God is the one who humbles and restores.

God, help us be humble and, if necessary, humiliate us.

Psalm 115:1

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Friday - Daniel 5 - CONFIDENCE

Daniel spoke the truth to the king (5:22-23)

God judges.

God, give us boldness to speak the truth, Your truth, all the time.

2 Corinthians 3:4 -6

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our suffiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit give life.

Saturday - Daniel 6 - HOPE

Daniel prayed (6:10).

God saves.

God, help us hope in you no matter what the circumstances.

Hebrews 10:23 - 25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What these verses are telling us to do cannot be done by meeting once a week for about a week and a half.

To wrap things up, here is a possible prayer.

God,

help us obey you and your commands. 

grow our prayer life.

help us to see people and things that distract us from you.

help us be humble and, if necessary, humiliate us.

give us boldness to speak the truth, Your truth, all the time.

help us hope in you no matter what the circumstances.

Additional Resources:

• Every Moment Holy - www.amazon.com/every-moment-holy/s?k=every+moment+holy

Don't Disciple

Why don't churches disciple?  The quotes under each point are from the articles unless otherwise noted.

The first five reasons are from a series of 9 Marks articles.

• Because they preach cheap grace (9Marks article).

"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession.  Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 43 - 44).

• Because they are seeker-sensitive but believer-insensitive (9Marks article).

Churches can become so focused on doing whatever it takes to get those who are not part of the church to come to church that they lose their disciple-making zeal.  "We are desperate for people to enter, and desperate for them to stay."

• Because they are less converted (9Marks article).

"In some large, well-known evangelical churches, you can become a member simply by ticking a box on a welcome card.  There is little or no attempt to examine the person spiritually to try to ascertain that they are truly followers of Christ."     

• Because they are program-dependent (9Marks article)

"A program - however biblically faithful - is no substitute for ongoing, personal discipling."   

"Programs can imply that discipleship is a matter of following the correct 'process' rather than cultivating the correct character."

• Because they are too often ashamed of the gospel and therefore assume the gospel (9Marks article)

"'Growth without the regular, faithful teaching of the gospel is growth without depth.  If we want depth as well as breadth, there's no substitute for gospel-saturated preaching and conversation.'"

 "The deep, wide discipleship we long for in our churches will only come when we stop assuming the gospel, and actually proclaim it."

• Because they don't pray.

In The Praying Church, Paul Miller shares some challenging prayer ideas.  One of the book's guiding principles is "Prayer is not one more activity of the church - it lies at the heart of all the church's ministry." (26) 

• Because they promote "perfection," not sanctification.

Discipleship often doesn't happen because church members want to give the appearance of perfection rather than live out the process of sanctification - sinners growing into the image of Christ through dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Previous Be a Disciple/Make Disciples lessons:

1. Be and Make Introduction - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/12/be-and-make-intro.html
2. Ministry & Missions - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/12/ministry-and-missions.html
3. The Bible and Disciple-making - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/bible-and-disciplemaking.html
4. Prayer and Disciple-making - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/prayer-and-disciplemaking.html
5. Time and Productivity - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/time-and-productivity.html
6. Men and Local Church Ministry - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/men-and-local-church-ministry.html
7. Women and Local Church Ministry - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/02/women-and-local-church-ministry.html
8. Congregation, Elders, Deacons, and Deaconesses -  drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/02/congregation-elders-deacons-and.html
9. Teaching and Serving Helps - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/02/teaching-and-serving-helps.html

 

God's Faithfulness through Himself, His Word, and His People

 Later today, I will be on a podcast with my new friend, Andrew Gommesen, that a friend and member of Trinity, James Wisneski, is part of.

Andrew sent me some questions to prepare me for the time.  The podcast's title is Ministry Musings.  Musings are lengthy, intent considerations.

As I prepared for the interview and considered the definition of musings, I wanted to briefly share some thoughts before and after my time with Andrew and James.

Throughout my time in various areas:  Pittsburgh, PA, Rochester, NY, Santiago, Dominican Republic, Toledo, OH, Scranton, PA, Grand Rapids, MI, and places for short visits, God has been faithful over and over again.   

He has shown Himself faithful in Himself, His Word, and His People.

Through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and the empty grave, God has shown His faithfulness to me in my salvation.   

Through countless Bible-teaching opportunities I have been part of - from one-to-one breakfast meetings to conferences with thousands of people in an arena - God has shown His faithfulness to me through the teaching of His Word.

Through the many different relationships God has blessed me with, He has shown Himself faithful in how He helps and sustains me through the gift of His people.  On the podcast, I plan to name names.  I know the phrase often has a negative connotation, but in this case, I mean I plan to mention many different people who have been a blessing, a help, and an encouragement to me.
DISCLAIMER:  The people I mention in the podcast are in no way an exhaustive, complete list.  

As I was musing about ministry, I was reminded that ministry is about God-glorifying, personal relationships.
And I am so thankful for all the relationships God has blessed me with.

The section above this line was written before the interview.

-----------------

The section under this line was written after the interview.

Posts

• Open Letter to Those In Ministry Who Are Struggling - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-letter-to-those-in-ministry-who-are.html
• My Father-In-Law Was Not Normal - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/12/my-father-in-law-was-not-normal.html
• Favorite Gospel Primer Entry - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2017/05/favorite-gospel-primer-entry.html

Books

• Gospel Primer Review - www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/review/a-gospel-primer-for-christians-learning-to-see-the-glories-of-gods-love/

Teaching and Serving Helps

A couple of lessons ago, we discussed essentials for disciplemaking. This was the list.

• The Gospel
• The Holy Spirit 
• The Word of God
• The People of God
• Prayer 
• Time

The Trellis and The Vine provides a one-sentence explanation of what disciples are.

Disciples are made by the persevering proclamation of the Word of God by the people of God in prayerful dependence on the Spirit of God

This post will highlight two things. 
One of them is the last essential on the list - time. 
The other is not on the list - programs of men, even godly men.

These two highlights are not more important.  They are being highlighted because they are often overlooked and confused.

Programs of Men are not listed because discipleship is about the people of God speaking the Word of God into the lives of others.  

Here is an interesting modern-day parable in the article Five Reasons We Don't Disciple - Part 3

A young man walked into a Christian bookstore in Chicago and asked where the bumper stickers were.  The assistant said, "What kind are you looking for?  The man said, I'd like to buy a fish sticker."  The assistant said, "Oh, I'm afraid we've sold out of those."  To which the man responded, "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EVANGELIZE WITHOUT FISH STICKERS?" 

As Western evangelicals, we have become increasingly reliant on courses, programs, techniques, and methodologies to do the work of evangelism and discipleship. 

The article later states that the church often has the following mindset.

"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DISCIPLE WITHOUT A NEW PROGRAM?"  

Brothers and sisters, discipleship is possible without programs.  Jesus wrote a really good book about it.

Ministry is NOT programs or events planned to keep people busy and entertained.
Ministry is saints in motion towards Christlikeness for the glory of God.  (from Praying Church by Paul Miller).
The formal ministries (i.e., programs and scheduled events) of the church are meant to help people grow in godliness, connect with people, and help others do the same.

Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, Women's Ministry, Men's Ministry, Bible Studies, and ACE classes provide connection and equipping points for the church to do the work of the ministry every day of the week.

First Corinthians 15:58 serves as a good reminder of the second focus point of this post - time.

There is always the aspect of waiting on and working for the Lord in teaching, serving, and ministering to one another.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."  1 Corinthians 15:58.

The Lord is the one who ultimately does the work. If you are working "in the Lord," that work is not done "in vain."  Prayerfully dependent work will bring glory to God. 

The Trellis and The Vine quote at the beginning of this post refers to "persevering proclamation."  This is a major part of Gospel ministry and disciplemaking.   

In speaking about growth and change, John Newton said, "A Christian is not of hasty growth, like a mushroom, but rather like the oak, the progress of which is hardly perceptible but in time becomes a deep-rooted tree."

From the Lead video below.
"There is nothing more important for a leadership community than to be constantly reminded of the presence, power, promises, and grace of the Redeemer."

Previous Be a Disciple/Make Disciples lessons:

1. Be and Make Introduction - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/12/be-and-make-intro.html
2. Ministry & Missions - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2025/12/ministry-and-missions.html
3. The Bible and Disciple-making - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/bible-and-disciplemaking.html
4. Prayer and Disciple-making - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/prayer-and-disciplemaking.html
5. Time and Productivity - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/time-and-productivity.html
6. Men and Local Church Ministry - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/01/men-and-local-church-ministry.html
7. Women and Local Church Ministry - drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/02/women-and-local-church-ministry.html
8. Congregation, Elders, Deacons, and Deaconesses -  drodgersjr.blogspot.com/2026/02/congregation-elders-deacons-and.html