Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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“Eat This Book” — online at the Presbyterian Outlook

April 12, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Eat This Book
cc by Caroline 2.0

I recently had the privilege of writing the “Benedictory” essay in The Presbyterian Outlook. Usually these are behind a pay wall for subscribers only, but because my friend Scott Black Johnson of 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan (check out their cool welcome video here) asked to share it with his congregation, they opened it up — at least temporarily!

Eat this Book

Here’s how it starts:

I GREW UP IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The liturgies of the Book of Common Prayer planted good seeds and grew deep roots for the conscious faith that blossomed later. Even after centuries, Thomas Cranmer’s work of genius nourishes life with the theological richness and beauty of its language. I recommend it often as a resource for prayer.

One of my favorite prayers in the Book of Common Prayer puts words on my longing for all members of the PC(USA):

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,…

See the rest by clicking here…

————

Knowing the Bible Well Enough to Tell its Story

If you do “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” the Bible, its stories become your own.

When you can tell those stories following Jesus make more sense — because you come to see how the Bible makes sense. It is a huge help in being a confident, competent disciple.

I would love to help you get a confident working knowledge of the Bible so you can tell its story to your kids — or to anybody else actually.

I’m dreaming up a class to help you know the Bible like you’ve never known it before. Just click the button and I’ll keep you posted.

Send me info about that Bible class!

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Filed Under: Bible, Guest Posts Tagged With: Benedictory, Book of Common Prayer, Eat This Book, Presbyterian Outlook, read mark learn inwardly digest

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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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