Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Gary Neal Hansen

A Little Bit Mysterious

May 3, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 5 Comments

I have always liked a mystery.  In my reading that has led me to enjoy Dorothy L. Sayers’ “Lord Peter Wimsey” novels and Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series. I blush to confess the vast number of hours I used to spend watching the various incarnations of Law and Order. Love of mystery also shapes my […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Prayer Tagged With: Catechism, Father, Heaven, Heidelberg, Prayer, providence

And Where Does JESUS Want Your Community to Go?

May 1, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

From the response to Monday’s post one thing is clear: I’m not the only one who cares about community and mission. It seems like a bit of a flash point, actually, whether people see community life leading to mission or as something that stands on its own. I want to explain why I’m on this topic: Jesus cares […]

Filed Under: Community, Theology Tagged With: Bible, community, Jesus, John 17, ministry, Mission

Where’s Your Community Going?

April 29, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 22 Comments

I was guest preacher at a little country church.  There are thousands like it. They looked to be teetering on the brink of the abyss, hardly able to muster the leadership and funding to survive. My wife was chatting with one of the members — someone with a lot of complaints about their denomination’s influence […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, Ideals, Mission, Mission statement, Monasticism

Who You Talkin’ To?

April 25, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 11 Comments

“Why did Christ command us to call God ‘Father’?” That’s question 120 of the Heidelberg Catechism, the first in a series of ten on the phrases of the Lord’s Prayer. They asked the question 450 years ago, but it is still a good one — and timely now for reasons the authors never would have […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Prayer, Theology Tagged With: Bible, Catechism, Father, Heidelberg, Jesus, Lord's Prayer, Prayer

Exploring Models Of Christian Community

April 23, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 22 Comments

When Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-c. 550) set out to form a new Christian community — a monastery — he did it all wrong. If he’d been a member of my denomination we would have set him straight.  He should, of course, have started with a “mission study.” We want our communities — typically local […]

Filed Under: Community, Monasticism Tagged With: Benedict of Nursia, Mission, Mission study, Monasticism

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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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