Gary Neal Hansen

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You are here: Home / Archives for Heidelberg Catechism

The Paradoxical Presence of Christ (Heidelberg Catechism Q47)

August 26, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

A couple weeks ago I was reflecting on a much-neglected biblical teaching: the ascension of Christ. We may neglect it because there is a conundrum in the ascension: the puzzling, if not outright paradoxical, presence of Christ. Ascension vs. Presence The last scenes of Jesus’ earthly ministry are emphatic about two completely opposite things: Jesus […]

Filed Under: Bible, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Ascension, extra calvinisticum, heidelberg catechism

Why Proclaim that Christ Ascended? (Heidelberg Catechism Q46)

August 9, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

Why proclaim Christ ascended?

One traditional Christian teaching that many today simply ignore is Christ’s “Ascension.” Why proclaim that Christ ascended into heaven? One answer is that it is simply biblical. You find it at the end of both Mark and Luke, but Acts 1 is the version that sticks in our collective memory. The risen Christ has just […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Ascension of Christ, heidelberg catechism, Question 46

Why Did Jesus Have to Die? (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 40)

April 5, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen 5 Comments

Why did Jesus have to die?

We are in the season of Easter. This is when, of all seasons of the year, our attention needs to focus on the resurrection of Christ. But we find our selves asking instead “Why did Jesus have to die?” Ours tends to be a “Good Friday” faith. We see the empty tomb and we think […]

Filed Under: Bible, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Heidelberg Catechism Question 40, Why did Jesus have to die?

What Does It Mean to Honor Your Father and Mother? (Heidelberg Catechism Q104)

September 22, 2015 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Pray Like a Reformer

What does it mean to honor your father and mother? I was recently invited to contribute a guest column for the magazine Presbyterian Outlook.  I decided to write about one of the Ten Commandments: the often misunderstood call to honor your father and mother. What does it mean to honor our parents? If you’ve been here often it […]

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology

Keeping Our True Orientation to Communion (Heidelberg Catechism, Q55)

July 28, 2015 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

Last week I posted that the church is most the church when it is in worship, on Sunday morning, receiving the Lord’s Supper. My friend and colleague Chris James left a thoughtful reply disagreeing with me. I see his point. Isn’t this actually the problem in mainstream Christianity? We neglect the mission of God in the world because we are […]

Filed Under: Community, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Worship Tagged With: Church, Communion, Eucharist, Lord's Supper

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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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