Presbyterians have influenced my faith. While in seminary, I served as Youth Director at First Presbyterian Church in Duncanville, Texas. More recently, I served as Director of Education at First Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida. Both congregations are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (PCUSA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States. According to the PCUSA website, "Some of the principles articulated by John Calvin remain at the core of Read More …
Discipleship
My Faith – Influenced by Baptists (#0098)
Baptists have influenced my faith. I attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University and earned my Master of Divinity degree from Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University. Both universities opted to enhance theological offerings in response to conflict within the Baptist world. Truett opened in 1994 and Logsdon expanded in 1995 to include a seminary program. Both Baptist General Convention of Texas affiliated seminaries now offer Read More …
My Faith – Influenced by the Churches of Christ (#0097)
The Churches of Christ, one of three current expressions of the Restoration Movement, has influenced my faith. I attended and received my doctoral degree in ministry from the Amridge University (formerly Southern Christian University), which is affiliated with this movement. The Restoration Movement (Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Church, and Disciples of Christ) is comprised of those churches that seek to restore the New Testament church. Since the Read More …
My Faith – Influenced by the Disciples of Christ (#0096)
The Disciples of Christ denomination, one of three current expressions of the Restoration Movement, has influenced my faith. I served as Associate Pastor at Central Christian Church in Dallas, Texas and as Youth Pastor at First Christian Church in Garland, Texas. The Restoration Movement (Disciples of Christ, Independent Christian Church, and Churches of Christ) is comprised of those churches that seek to restore the New Testament church. The Christian Read More …
My Faith – Influenced by the Independent Christian Church (#0095)
The Independent Christian Church, one of three current expressions of the Restoration Movement, has influenced my faith. I attended and received my undergraduate degree in ministry from Dallas Christian College, which is affiliated with this movement. The Restoration Movement (Independent Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, and Churches of Christ) is comprised of those churches that seek to restore the New Testament church. Since the early church as pictured Read More …
One Faith – Many Traditions (#0094)
Christian Experience I know several people who have been in the same denomination from birth and who plan to remain in it for the rest of their lives. In earlier generations this pattern was normative, but, as a result of numerous variables, has become atypical. For those in Generation X or Y, the norm is to be influenced by and to participate in multiple traditions. My Journey I am a part of Generation X and have been influenced by many traditions. In the Read More …
Trinitarian Language (#0093)
Trinity Sunday offers those who follow the liturgical calendar an opportunity to consider one of the most widely held Christian beliefs. In a recent article, David Lose, Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, suggests that the place of the Trinity in the local church is changing: " . . . when it comes to the local congregation, I suspect the Trinity is on the ropes. This isn't because the average Christian isn't smart enough to understand the Read More …
Forming/Reforming Educational Ministry (#0087)
Educational Ministry is Changing In recent years, educational ministries in the local church have changed in significant ways. These changes impact not only what is taught, but also when and how. Additionally, there are now a number of ways churches refer to this ministry, including Christian education, discipleship, enrichment, growth, religious education, and spiritual formation. Meet Bruce Stewart Bruce Stewart is a Church of Christ minister who currently serves as Preaching Read More …
Who is Jesus? – Jesus’ Prayers (#0076)
Christians are people of prayer. Many larger congregations have multiple prayer ministries. Many people are regularly exposed to and participate in prayer in a variety of ways - alone and in corporate worship; through prayer lists or chains; as a prayer partner or in a prayer group; or as a student or leader in a class on prayer. While praying is a given, prayer guided by the example of Jesus is often limited to praying the Lord's Prayer or Our Read More …
Who is Jesus? – Jesus’ Parables (#0075)
The Jesus' Parables As I read and re-read the four biblical gospels, I became acutely aware of just how often Jesus spoke in parables. About one third of his teaching took the form of a parable. While the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son are the two most well known parables, there are actually between thirty and forty parables in the gospels. (The exact number not agreed upon since similar material is used by different gospel writers and because there is no universally Read More …