Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, Trinity Sunday, John 3:1-17

May 22, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

John 3:1-17

(This week’s Monday Meditation is coming out on Tuesday. But I really did write it on Monday. No kidding.) I love the story of Nicodemus (John 3:1-17), though it is very hard to read it with fresh eyes. (I’ve written on it a couple of other times. There’s a separate meditation for when it comes […]

Filed Under: Bible, Monday Meditation, Prayer Tagged With: Ascension, Born Again, Born from Above, John 3:1-17, John 3:16, Nicodemus

Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, Pentecost, John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

May 14, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 As with almost any text in John, the Gospel text for Pentecost (John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15) is evocative, fascinating, and confusing by turns. Don’t expect me to clear it all up and tie it with a bow for you. These Monday Meditations are just my journey into next Sunday’s Gospel. I hope you’ll […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Monday Meditation Tagged With: 16:4b-15, John 15:26-27, Pentecost, Work of the Spirit

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 4): Jazz vs Ballads

May 11, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

jazz vs ballads

I asked one Orthodox priest what he thought the typical newcomer would experience when visiting the Liturgy. His response: Chaos! He was joking. His congregation has a lot of free-range children. But I think he was right. Once the service begins in that icon-filled space, your typical Protestant is hard pressed to make much sense […]

Filed Under: Community, Music, Worship Tagged With: First visit to an Orthodox Church, Jazz vs Ballads, Time vs Eternity

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Is it True?

May 10, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Is it True?

Dear ______: I do think you’ll be well on your way to a solid children’s sermon if you take up my challenge to make it one salient point from the text you are preaching to the grown-ups. But that isn’t the whole journey. You still need to work hard at finding kid-friendly ways to get […]

Filed Under: Bible, Ministry, Theology Tagged With: Bible as user's manual, Children's Sermon, telling the truth

Monday Meditation — RCL Year B, 7th Sunday of Easter, John 17:6-19

May 7, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

John 17:6-19

In Between Next Sunday’s Gospel text comes at a unique moment in the Church year. We had 40 days of Lent in preparation, culminating with Holy Week and the events of the Passion. Then the great even itself, Easter Sunday, which begins a new season of 50 days ending at Pentecost with the outpouring of […]

Filed Under: Bible, Monday Meditation, Worship Tagged With: 7th Sunday of Easter, Being Sent, John 17:6-19, RCL Year B

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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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