Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Faith

Monday Meditation: RCL Year C, 7th Sunday of Easter, John 17:20-26

May 30, 2019 by Gary Neal Hansen 1 Comment

John 17:20-29

Sunday’s lectionary Gospel (John 17:20-26) is a chunk of Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” after dinner on Maundy Thursday. It is a remarkable passage when taken as a whole — one of my favorites really. And the lectionary does give us the whole thing. You just have to be patient. Every year, on the 7th Sunday […]

Filed Under: Bible, Calvin, Church Year, Faith, Monday Meditation Tagged With: High Priestly Prayer, John 17:20-26, Three Priorities

Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, John 6:35, 41-51

August 8, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

John 6:35, 41-51

This week’s lectionary Gospel text (John 6:35, 41-51) starts with the same verse we ended with last week. Then, oddly, it skips four verses before continuing the story. It is the middle week of a five-week-long revel in John 6, as Jesus discusses, debates, and disputes about manna from heaven and himself as the “Bread […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Faith, Monday Meditation, Worship Tagged With: 41-51, I am the Bread of Life, John 6:35, RCL 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Revised Common Lectionary

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (conclusion): Religionless Christianity vs Religionfull Christianity

July 3, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

Today I’m wrapping up my series on “How to Have a Good First Visit to an Orthodox Church.” Six posts, not counting this one. (Click here to start at the beginning.) If you are a Protestant that probably sounds a bit like overkill. You know newbies don’t need much help when they visit your church. […]

Filed Under: Community, Faith, Worship Tagged With: Bonhoeffer, Orthodoxy, religionless Christianity

Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 5:21-43

June 25, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

The Revised Common Lectionary skips the evocative story of Legion and his many demons, and their demise in a herd of pigs who could not swim, much less fly. (Luke’s version will come up in Year C.) Instead we skip ahead on the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time to Mark 5:21-43, another “sandwich passage.” As […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Faith, Monday Meditation Tagged With: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Faith, Healing, Mark 5:21-34, RCL Year B

Monday Meditation: RCL Year B, 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mark 4:35-41

June 18, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

This Sunday’s lectionary Gospel (Mark 4:35-41) is one I remember puzzling over when I was a university student. I had read it before, probably several times, since I started reading the Bible in high school. Maybe I’d even heard it preached. But I had never noticed this little story. I had never stopped and really […]

Filed Under: Bible, Faith, Monday Meditation

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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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