Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Letters to a Young Pastor

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — The Mr. Rogers Moment

March 15, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 6 Comments

Children's Sermon

Dear ______: Wow! I’ve never heard you ask for advice so urgently. I hope this reaches you in time to be helpful. As I understand it, you’ve been asked to preach a “children’s sermon” and you are totally freaked out. Don’t panic. Help is on the way. The Children’s Sermon I’ll confess: the idea of […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Worship Tagged With: Children's Moment, Children's Sermon, Letters to a Young Pastor

Letters to a Young Pastor: “Our Father Who Art in Heaven”

January 18, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

Who Art in Heaven

Dear ______: I’m so sorry for not writing for so long! Thanks for your notes. It has been a complicated time, and I’m behind in my correspondence. You bring up a very interesting issue. Some of my friends in seminary say we shouldn’t pray the Lord’s Prayer, at least not in the way we always […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Theology Tagged With: Gendered Language for God, Letters to a Young Pastor, Lord's Prayer, Our Father Who Art in Heaven

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

Your First Sermon (Letters to a Young Pastor)

January 26, 2017 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 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

How to Take Notes While You Read (Letters to a Young Pastor)

December 8, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

take notes while you read

Dear ______: As Sherlock would say, excellent observation, my dear Watson: My strategies for reading the texts assigned to you in your seminary classes are not always enough to make sure you learn what you need to learn. To learn from your reading you need to do more than let your eyes pass over the words. […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Seminary, Uncategorized Tagged With: Letters to a Young Pastor, marginalia, Taking notes while you read

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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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