So yesterday (4/19/13) I presented a paper at the Evangelical Theological Society’s Far Western Annual Conference. I talked about how Pneumatology can integrate Atonement and Epistemology. As I tell people that I am pretty active in reading/writing theology some people wonder what the point of all of that is. Some wonder why I devote soContinue reading “What They Really Need Is…”
Category Archives: Religion
Some Thoughts on Colossians: Colossians 1 and the Old Testament
Colossians is full of allusions to the Old Testament. For instance Colossians 2:2-3 makes an allusion to Daniel 2 as well as to Proverbs 2:3-6. Colossians 3:9-10 makes allusions to Genesis 1 and Genesis 3. Finally Colossians 4:5 alludes to Daniel 2. This week I would like to take up another allusion that Paul makes.Continue reading “Some Thoughts on Colossians: Colossians 1 and the Old Testament”
Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 4)
Last time, in Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 3), we looked at three basic steps to engaging on mission to our neighborhoods, campuses, and communities. Today we will take these three “theoretical steps” and work them out practically. __________________________________ The goals we have been talking about the last few days might seem daunting, and theyContinue reading “Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 4)”
Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 3)
Last time we talked a bit about how the Church can model & display really community within neighborhoods, thus through good deeds showing the reality of God’s Kingdom. When the church does this neighborhoods, campuses, communities begin to see what community is supposed to look like; when they begin to see this the soil becomesContinue reading “Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 3)”
Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 2)
Last time we talked a bit about the need for community within our neighborhoods, this time around we will take a look at some of the more practical ways we could do this. ____________________________________ Question: How do we go about fostering community in our neighborhoods/college campuses? Answer: Since authentic community is based upon mutual loveContinue reading “Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 2)”
Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 1)
A community is a unified body of individuals with common characteristics or interests living together within a larger society. If community is characterized by unity due to some common thread, where do we find “community” today? According to John Drane in After Macdonaldization, suburbanization has led to the fragmentation of communities. Suburbs were constructed inContinue reading “Communities on Mission to our Neighborhoods (Pt. 1)”
Four Types of Small Groups
For Christmas 2010 my girlfriend Amelia gave me a book on small groups called Missional Small Groups. In one of the Chapters the author (Scott Boren) tells the story of four different small groups. Each one of these small groups represents various models that have been created for small groups. I thought it was very interestingContinue reading “Four Types of Small Groups”
Themes in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Imitation
The imitation of Christ has always been an important emphasis within Christianity. Augustine believed that the whole point of the Christian life was to imitate Christ. Francis of Assisi also felt strongly about imitating Christ, in fact he modeled his entire ministry around the way Christ did ministry. Francis advocated for a life of povertyContinue reading “Themes in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Imitation”
Themes in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Selflessness
Originally I intended to write on the Christ Hymn, highlighting Philippians 2:5-11. I wanted to highlight the presence of “Adam-Christology” and highlight the parallels to the suffering servant in Isaiah 53. I really wanted to talk about the “temptation” that Christ was presented with, it wasn’t that Christ was grabbing at a “forbidden equality withContinue reading “Themes in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Selflessness”
Responsibility and Atonement (Pt. 3)
It’s Easter Weekend! Its the time of year we Christians celebrate Christ’s atoning work for us on the cross and his resurrection, which we participate in through baptism into Christ. In light of the fact that it is Easter weekend I will be blogging on Richard Swinburne’s Responsibility and Atonement this easter weekend. Today onContinue reading “Responsibility and Atonement (Pt. 3)”