Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Gary Neal Hansen

Want to Improve Your Praise Band? Consider St. Ephrem the Syrian

June 10, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Ephraim the Syrian Ephrem, by Ted on Flikr under CC license

It seems like every church has a praise band leading worship these days, or wants to have one. But let’s face it: a lot of modern worship music, whether praise songs or hymns, is theologically and spiritually shallow. A lot of it focuses on us and our feelings rather than on the glory of God. When it points beyond […]

Filed Under: Music, Saints, Theology, Worship Tagged With: Contemporary hymns, Ephrem Syrus, Ephrem the Hymnode, Ephrem the Syrian, Praise band, Praise songs

St. Boniface: Monk, Missionary, Martyr

June 5, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Today the Church remembers St. Boniface who died at the hands of a violent mob on this day in 754. He is called the “Apostle to the Germans” for his work as a missionary bishop. I want to highlight three things worth learning from his life today. First, Boniface shows us the counter-intuitive power of medieval […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism, Saints Tagged With: Apostle to the Germans, Missionary Strategy, Oak of Jupiter, Oak of Thor, Saint Boniface

Vocabulary Lesson: What’s Up with the “Ascension”? (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 49)

June 3, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 7 Comments

ascension

  We just rushed by the most neglected day of the Church’s year: the “Ascension”, forty days after Easter when the risen Christ left the earth and went to heaven. Part of the problem: the original event happened on a Thursday. Churches don’t gather to take notice until the Sunday afterward. Another issue: Jesus lifting off without benefit […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Vocabulary Tagged With: Ascension, Church year, heidelberg catechism, Holy Spirit, Intercession

Heidelberg Catechism Group Study Now on Kindle!

May 30, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

I was very pleased to discover that my six-week small-group study of the Heidelberg Catechism is now available on Kindle! Apparently it came out on Kindle in May of 2013, but I didn’t hear about it. The paper copy came out in 2012. It is part of the “Being Reformed” series put out by the PC(USA)’s Congregational […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Adult education, Being Reformed Series, heidelberg catechism, Small Group Study Guide

Knowing the Past is a Great Thing: Thanks, Venerable Bede!

May 27, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

If you forget the past you are not really doomed to repeat it. However, remembering the right things from past can help you find wisdom, live in gratitude, and avoid certain things that would make you look like a doofus. One English monk who knew this, and helped the church remember its past for centuries after his death was “The Venerable […]

Filed Under: Saints, Theology, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bede, Patron Saint of Historians, St. Bede, Venerable Bede

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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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