Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Gary Neal Hansen

How to Read a Boring Textbook (Letters to a Young Pastor)

September 29, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 6 Comments

How to read a boring text book

Dear ______: I have to say I’m kind of envious of envious of you. It’s officially fall. We finally have some cooler temperatures. But in college or graduate school late September is full of gifts. You are partway into a new semester, walking with newly familiar books in your backpack across campus toward the library, under the […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Seminary Tagged With: how to read a boring textbook, Letters to a Young Pastor

Why Was Christ Buried? (Heidelberg Catechism Q41)

September 28, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 5 Comments

From Question 26 to Question 58, the Heidelberg Catechism explains the Apostles’ Creed line by line. (If you are new here, the Heidelberg Catechism is a widely-used and much-loved Reformed summary of biblical Christian teaching that I’ve been blogging on since its 450th anniversary in 2013.) Some lines get explored across a few questions. Some take […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Burial of Christ, Heidelberg Catechism 46

Facing Futility (The Writer’s Inner Life)

September 26, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 6 Comments

Facing Futility

One of the struggles a writer faces (or anyone else with  creative projects as part of their vocation) is the sense of futility. It is one of those temptations that comes in a kind of inner voice. Why not be old fashioned and just call it one of our demons? The Demon of Futility It can […]

Filed Under: Saints, The Inner Life of the Writer, Uncategorized Tagged With: Antony the Great, Desert Fathers, Futility

Reading Dense Theological Texts (Letters to a Young Pastor)

September 22, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

learning to read old books

Dear ______: Ah yes, your preaching class is requiring you to read something by St. John Chrysostom. I’m so glad — when you get to know a great preacher like Chrysostom, you may end up with a mentor for life. And you might not pick him up on your own, right? But first you have to learn how […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Seminary, Theology Tagged With: Reading strategies, Reading theology

The Problem of Idleness (The Writer’s Inner Life)

September 20, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

problem of idleness

As Mark Twain, allegedly said (but probably didn’t), History doesn’t repeat itself — but it does rhyme. (The funny bits all get attributed to the same famous guys. As Abraham Lincoln said, The internet is being ruined by fake quotations. That one has to be true. I have it on a bumper sticker.) Fake quotation […]

Filed Under: Saints, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: Abba Poemen, Desert Fathers, Free writing, Idleness

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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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