Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

  • About
    • Speaking
    • Contact
    • Home
  • Books
    • Love Your Bible
    • Christmas Play
    • Kneeling with Giants
    • Review Crew
  • Library
    • Join
    • Login
  • Blog
  • Class Info: Your First Sermon
    • Your 1st Sermon — Course Login
    • Advent Lectio Divina Class Info!
      • Lectio Divina Class Log In
    • Lenten Prayer Class Info
      • Lenten Prayer Class log in
    • “Pray Like a Reformer” Class Info
      • Pray Like a Reformer Login
  • Christmas Play
  • Love Your Bible
  • Kneeling with Giants
You are here: Home / Archives for Repentance

Lent: On Repentance

March 23, 2016 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Repentance

Lent is coming. That means you still have a few days to get ready to take a dive into repentance. Chances are that doesn’t sound like such a great offer. Especially in the Protestant world we have a pretty hard time with repentance. We associate the word “repent” with our lunatic fringe, carrying signs about the […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Vocabulary Tagged With: Lent, Parable of the Prodigal Son, Repentance, Sunday of the Prodigal Son

The Joy of Lent — via Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 89

March 7, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

So why, you ask, do Christians keep an annual season — 40 days — devoted to self-examination and repentance? Isn’t that a bit of a downer? Not really. But then, I’ve always liked washing windows. I don’t wash them nearly often enough, but that’s another story. When I do, it is fantastic. I usually start when […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: heidelberg catechism, Joy, Lent, Repentance

Vocabulary Lesson: “Lent,” “Ash Wednesday”

March 5, 2014 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Today is “Ash Wednesday,” the beginning of the most serious season in the Church’s year: the forty days, not counting Sundays, leading up to Easter. We call the season “Lent.” For non-native speakers of Christianity, here are a couple of vocabulary lessons: Lesson 1: “Lent” comes from a medieval English word meaning “Spring,” from source […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Faith, Heidelberg Catechism, Theology, Vocabulary, Worship Tagged With: Ash Wednesday, Church year, Lent, Penitence, Repentance, Self-examination

Advent 3: Thinking About Jesus’ Earthly Ministry (Heidelberg Catechism Q. 90)

December 16, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

We are backing our way toward Bethlehem. We’ve looked to the future return of Jesus, and at how Jesus comes to us in our own lives. On Advent 3 we look at Advent through the eyes of someone focused on being prepared for Jesus’ earthly ministry. Still no baby in a manger, but we’re getting […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Advent, Bearing fruit, heidelberg catechism, John the Baptist, Repent, Repentance

I’m dead! Now what do I do? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 88)

January 30, 2013 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

My favorite scene in Les Miserables is also the most important scene: the interaction between Jean Valjean and Bishop Bienvenu. It is the scene where Victor Hugo sets in motion the driving issue of his great novel.  It is a picture of redemption as both death and new life — a demanding, imperfect, complicated new […]

Filed Under: Heidelberg Catechism, Theology Tagged With: Bible, Catechism, Conversion, Heidelberg, Les Mis, Les Miserables, Repentance, Romans 12, Valjean

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…

Recent Posts

  • 1 John 3:1-7 — 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year B
  • Walking in the Light — 1 John 1:1-2:2
  • The Myrrh-Bearing Women — Mark 16:1-8
  • Palm Sunday — Mark 11:1-11
  • Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost and the Growing Time — A new book by Laura Alary

Search the site

Need a new and manageable way to dig into Scripture?

Find out how it can be a joy again--or maybe for the first time. Love Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk is a modern introduction to an ancient, prayerful, Christian practice called lectio divina. Click the button to subscribe to my weekly(ish) newsletter with all my new articles and announcements. As my way of thanking you, I'll send you the ebook version for free.

Get my book!

Archives

Let’s connect on social media…

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search the site

  • Community for Mission
  • Letters to a Young Pastor
  • Christianity as a Second Language
  • Role Models for Discipleship

© 2021 garynealhansen.com · Rainmaker Platform