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Edgar Moore: What did St. Paul mean by ‘mystery’?
The prismatic dance of a dogwood’s icy branches prompts a retired UMC elder to reflect on the danger of trying to possess mystery.
Theological Reflection
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Statue of St. Paul near St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Bigstock/vvoevale
Deanna Thompson: From its earliest incarnations, the body of Christ has been a virtual body
Today’s digital networks have an ancient precedent: the apostle Paul led fledgling communities through letters -- showing that even in its earliest days, the church was not dependent on physical presence.
Detail from book cover "The Irrational Jesus." / Wipf and Stock Publishers
Ken Evers-Hood: 'The irrational Jesus'
In this excerpt from his new book, a Presbyterian pastor writes that the full, ‘irrational’ humanity of Jesus that causes him to make mistakes and regrettable statements is the same humanity that generates his compassion and hunger for justice.
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Prince Raney Rivers: What I learned from preaching the entire Gospel of John
Preaching on John for nearly a year helped a congregation and its pastor enter deeply into the biblical narrative in a new way.
Image by Krivosheev Vitaly
'The end': How do the practices and tenets of Christian faith help us see God's purpose in our daily lives?
In this curriculum set of four visual poems with accompanying lesson plans and resources, we will reflect on four aspects of Christian theology -- baptism, communion, our identity in Christ and the incarnation -- as means of exploring God’s transformative work in our lives.
A man in Ferguson, Missouri, holds on to a fence on August 15, 2014, at the site of a convenience store destroyed during rioting after the shooting death of Michael Brown by police.
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Dominique D. Gilliard: Reclaiming the power of lament
In an age of nonstop media that exposes us as never before to the world’s pain and brokenness, lamentation is an essential and even revolutionary act, one that the church needs desperately to reclaim, says a young pastor.
Sarah Killingsworth, left, hugs Mary Ann Slinn, welcoming her to her home for a meal to discuss entrepreneurship. As part of community outreach, members of Broadway United Methodist Church in Indianapolis meet with neighbors for meals and conversation.
Photo by Kelly Wilkinson
David P. King: Shaping a theology of money
Religious institutions need not live out of a scarcity mindset. Our religious communities are full of the necessary assets to cultivate a culture of generosity, writes David P. King, the Karen Lake Buttrey Director of Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.
Curtis Freeman: 'Other Baptists' and contesting catholicity
With their history of dissent and focus on the individual, Baptists can sometimes forget they are part of the broader church, says a Duke Divinity School professor. His recent book outlines an alternative "Other Baptist" identity, a community of contestation within the church catholic.
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Cheryl Lawrence: The hermeneutic of suspicion
Pastors often are profoundly uncomfortable talking about religious experiences. As much as we are attracted by the mystery of God, it also frightens us, writes a pastor. But is skepticism really the right response to Christians who want to share their encounters with the divine?
Photo courtesy of Grant Wacker
Excerpt from ‘America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation’
In the epilogue of his new book on America’s most influential evangelist, Duke Divinity School professor Grant Wacker recalls a visit with Billy Graham.