Gary Neal Hansen's Blog, page 54
November 21, 2014
What Does The Life of Gratitude Look Like? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q93)
Thanksgiving is coming next week! I love having a day that almost requires me to say “Thank you!” to God and to people around me. I want my whole life to focus on giving thanks. What does a thankful life look like? If you have been here before you know that I often post about […]
November 13, 2014
The 10 Best Pieces of Advice You’ll Get Today! (Heidelberg Catechism, Q92)
A long time ago I heard a speaker (I think it was Steve Hayner) quote a big survey of college students. Most agreed that the Ten Commandments were very important as a guide to life and ethics. Most could not remember just exactly what all ten commandments were. Oops. I was writing earlier this week about […]
November 11, 2014
How Do You Find God’s Will? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q91)
If you follow Jesus, sooner or later the question is going to come up: What is God’s will?” We love God. We want our lives to please God. But how on earth can we figure out what God really wants? A full century after the Pentecostal movement drew our attention to the presence of the Holy Spirit, […]
October 29, 2014
Vocabulary Lesson: The Keys of the Kingdom (Heidelberg Catechism, Q83)
Read your King James Bible and several times you’ll run across the word “sackbut.” Say that today and somebody will feel insulted. Back in 1611 people knew it was a musical instrument. Language changes as centuries pass. That can happen with theological vocabulary too. Take the word “keys.” Listen hard to sermons, to your Christian […]
October 16, 2014
Guest Post on ChristianMomThoughts.com: “Training Wheels for Your Child’s Prayer Life”
I am thrilled that Natasha Crain invited me to write a post on her great Christian parenting blog, “Christian Mom Thoughts.” Natasha writes on apologetics for parents, equipping them to help their kids grow in a strong and well-informed faith, and she now has a book under contract with Harvest House. Check out her work — but […]
October 13, 2014
That Body and Blood Thing (Heidelberg Catechism Q76)
One Sunday long ago that rarest of things happened: A woman who had never before set foot in a church came and joined us for worship. Her son had asked why they didn’t go to church. Ours was in the neighborhood. They showed up. I mean they had never, ever been in a church before. […]
October 8, 2014
A Prayer for Timothy Matthew Slemmons
Last night at UDTS we installed my friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Timothy Matthew Slemmons, as Associate Professor of Homiletics and Worship. I was honored to be asked to offer a prayer in the service. I thought I would share it with you, especially since many of you who know him could not be […]
October 6, 2014
Remember Your Baptism? What About It? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q71)
On many Sundays I find pastors telling me “Remember your baptism!” Sometimes water is poured into the font. Sometimes there is a bit of liturgy. But what do we remember, really? I hang around Presbyterian churches. Most of the people around me were baptized as infants. How many secretly respond Nope! Can’t remember a thing about it.” Even […]
September 30, 2014
St. Jerome, the Complicated Christian
Today the Western Church commemorates St. Jerome (c. 347-420). What a complicated fellow. First passionate about secular literature, he gave it up to be a scholar of the Bible and a leader in the ascetic life. Absolutely counter-cultural — but maybe this Doctor of the Church still has things to teach us. He was controversial […]
September 25, 2014
Okay, Why “Trespasses,” “Debts” and “Sins”? (Heidelberg Catechism Q119)
One peril of visiting a new church comes when it is time to pray. At least if the congregation of a traditional flavor they will wrap up with something like “Now let join our voices in the prayer Christ himself has taught us, saying…” It all goes fine for a while: …Father… …Name… …kingdom… …will… …daily […]
