Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Gary Neal Hansen

Gratitude, Priority One (Heidelberg Catechism Q94)

December 19, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Advent is a season of preparation for Christ’s coming. What better time for a little reflection on faith and life. If we were Puritans or Catholics in the Jesuit tradition we might call it “self-examination.” Me, I’m just a 21st Century Presbyterian with a penchant for blogging on the Heidelberg Catechism–that 16th century summary of Biblical […]

Filed Under: Bible, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Uncategorized Tagged With: First Commandment, Gratitude, No other gods

Advent 3–Reading Isaiah (cont.)

December 16, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Reading through Isaiah in Advent provides some breathtaking moments. Yes, there is also some thick slogging: any number of passages are filled with ancient history and unfamiliar names. But scattered throughout the book’s 66 chapters are some of the most beautiful, inspiring, hope-filled moments in all of Scripture. Some of them are familiar as can be. Handel’s […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year Tagged With: Advent 3, Context, God's Character, God's intention, hope, Third week of Advent

Advent 2–Reading Isaiah (cont.)

December 11, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Funny things happen when reading Isaiah if (a) you are a Christian and (b) you have a theological education in a mainline Protestant tradition. (a) As a Christian, there is a whole lot of Isaiah, like the series of oracles to the nations (see chapters 13 and following), that just seems like hard slogging. The references […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Theology Tagged With: Advent, Christian use of the Old Testament, Emmanuel, God with us, Immanuel, Isaiah, Isaiah 7:14, Typology

Advent 1–Reading Isaiah

December 1, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I’m setting out to read Isaiah again this Advent: 25 days to read 66 chapters. It shouldn’t be a problem but, what with a pile of grading running into preparation for the looming new semester, holiday gatherings, and a sinful nature I seldom seem to reach the end in time. My ancestors in the Reformed tradition jettisoned […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year Tagged With: Advent, Advent 1, First Sunday of Advent, Isaiah

Singing God’s Praise–The Old Fashioned Way

November 28, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

All my adult life I have been a Presbyterian. As often as possible during that same adult life I have worshipped among the Orthodox. It has not been that often in the sheer number of occasions–some glorious opportunities to hear the Liturgy St. Vladimir’s Seminary when I was in seminary and graduate school; a smaller number of visits […]

Filed Under: Music, Theology Tagged With: Church Music, Hymnody, Orthodoxy, resurrection, Vespers

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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