Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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Gesso on a Wooden Board (The Writer’s Inner Life)

February 6, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Gesso board

(Second in a series on writing an icon in the Orthodox Christian tradition. Click here to start at the beginning.) It all starts with a white gesso board. No. That’s not right. The board is not actually white  with gesso, ready to receive lines and paint, until the fourth step of the process. If I […]

Filed Under: Iconography, Prayer, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: board, gesso, Prosopon School

Commentaries in Preaching? (Letters to a Young Pastor)

February 2, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Dear ______: Glad to hear that the preaching class is moving from frightening to exciting. Preaching should probably always be both. And you are surely right when you suggest that preaching for a preaching class is very different from preaching every single Sunday in a church. Commentaries in preaching That’s true in quite a lot […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Seminary Tagged With: commentaries in preaching, Letters to a Young Pastor

Writing an Icon (The Writer’s Inner Life)

January 30, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

writing an icon

Recently I told the readers of my newsletter that I’m exploring writing of another kind: I’m “writing” an icon as taught in the Orthodox tradition. I asked them to let me know if they would be interested in reading about the process. A number of people said “Yes.” Precisely the same number of people clicked “Unsubscribe.” […]

Filed Under: Iconography, Prayer, The Inner Life of the Writer Tagged With: Iconography, Prosopon School, Writing an icon

Recommended Reading: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom

January 27, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

recommended reading

This week the Orthodox cycle of saints included not one but two of my favorites: Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom. Both were Archbishops of Constantinople back in one of my favorite centuries: the fourth. The fourth century was the time of the biggest arguments about the biggest issues, and so became the time of […]

Filed Under: Gregory of Nazianzus, Saints Tagged With: Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Recommended reading

Your First Sermon (Letters to a Young Pastor)

January 26, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen 6 Comments

your first sermon

Dear ______: Well I have to say your letter brought me joy: I know being in your first preaching class makes you nervous, but I think it is just great. Whether you become “a preacher” full time or not, Christians are given good news to share with the world. Preaching class is a lab to […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Seminary Tagged With: first sermon, Letters to a Young Pastor, preaching

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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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