Paul tells the Corinthians that love is the greatest of all because there was jealousy and strife among them, and the church was in danger of being divided. —Theodore of … Continue reading Chapter 13 (part 1): Putting “The Love Chapter” Back in Context
Tag: community
Chapter 11: Women & Men, Bread & Wine
Paul has spent several chapters now talking about meat sacrificed to idols— a practical issue with larger implications for community and belief. Similarly, in chapters 11 through 14, Paul goes … Continue reading Chapter 11: Women & Men, Bread & Wine
Crucial Community
The presence of God is a tremendous comfort, but people still need people. Even for the most diehard introverts, supportive community (family, church, bar staff, whoever) is essential to holistic … Continue reading Crucial Community
Welcome from the Unwelcome
Every time I see a church sign proudly proclaim “all are welcome,” I wonder about the people in the church. Have they ever been in a place where they felt … Continue reading Welcome from the Unwelcome
The Punchbowl and Community
One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak If you’ve ever wondered the ratios for a good punchbowl, there they are. In this case, sour refers … Continue reading The Punchbowl and Community
An Exodus 17 Kind of Mood
“I’m in an Exodus 17 kind of mood tonight,” the worship leader told the assembled room of youth ministers on the last night of the program. We all looked awkwardly … Continue reading An Exodus 17 Kind of Mood
Brew Theology– Live from Wild Goose!
At the Wild Goose Festival a month ago, I got the chance to sit down with Janel Apps Ramsey and Ryan Miller (the directors of Brew Theology). Special guests Charles Bretan … Continue reading Brew Theology– Live from Wild Goose!
Jesus Is for All Y’all
There’s a shortcoming in the English language that most other languages don’t share. In English, “you” can mean either one person or several people depending on context, and this can lead … Continue reading Jesus Is for All Y’all
2016: Bar Chaplain Year in Review
Yeah, 2016 basically sucked for everyone… except Tom. I was really confused at first when my friend Matthew said those words, so I decided to reflect on them and offer … Continue reading 2016: Bar Chaplain Year in Review
A New Model of Membership (“What the Hell Is Church Membership?” Part Five)
We’ve spent this week talking about church membership, and now that we’ve found a new definition and explained how to select a church, I want to present a few different … Continue reading A New Model of Membership (“What the Hell Is Church Membership?” Part Five)