“What do you want?” These are the first words of Jesus in the Gospel of John (John 1:38). What a challenging question! And to you and me, the reader, he asks it again and again–in a number of ways. To a man in need of sight (Mk 10:51; Lk 18:41), and to disciples who struggled with spiritual vision (Mt 20:32;…
“A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (John 10:13 MSG). The good life. We all want it. But we don’t know where to find it. The greatest temptation, to borrow from the Ballad of Jed Clampett, is…
[Today I begin a series of blog posts reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount. I am spending the summer reading this fascinating and challenging text for three reasons: 1) to prepare for my Christian Ethics course this fall, 2) to prepare for a Sunday night sermon series at Cloverdale, and 3)…to be fully transparent…to resist the forces of culture…
[On May 4, 2018, I was honored to give the charge on behalf of the faculty to graduating students of ministry at Harding University’s blessing ceremony. Due to time constraints, I offered a condensed presentation. The following is the longer, written version of that charge.] Repeat after me: Communion. Community. Character. Calling. Tonight, I draw my charge from the latter…
“I preach Christ crucified. Not as some sad moment to get your sympathy; not as a trinket I wear around my neck to sub for some piece of sympathetic magic. No. I believe heaven touched earth in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe the powers of darkness were lassoed at the cross. I believe Satan and all of his…
When stories (in Scripture and in life) begin with me, they are full of toil and trouble. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Eph 2:1 NIV). “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures…being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3 NIV). But God enters…
Looking for a job opening? Below is a list of online resources for anyone searching for a ministry position among Churches of Christ (as well as the larger Stone-Campbell restoration and unity movement). Churches often post in diverse places, and finding a central ‘hub’ from which to begin a search can be daunting. Several people have compiled similar lists, and…
This series explains the title of our website–“healthy theology.” What is theology, and why is it important? What does theology have to do with reading the Bible or learning about God? How does church tradition relate to my present experience? How can churches maintain the unity of the faith in the midst of conflicting views? Find out what healthy theology…
Join us as we prepare our hearts and minds for the study of God. Part 1: Sound Doctrine Is Healthy Teaching Part 2: The Heart & Mind Of A Disciple Part 3: Faith Seeking Understanding Part 4: Self-Assessment
What do Christians believe? What lies at the heart of the Christian faith? How can we articulate the essential teachings of the Christian way of life? In this 10-part series, we explore the basic beliefs that have characterized Christian faith since its inception. Part 1: The God Question & Our Search For Meaning Part 2: The Sin Problem & Our…