This is a guided experience through a practice called “Lectio Divina” or “Divine Reading.” It is a very old practice that might feel new for modern Bible students, and I would be glad to have you try it out.
Archives: Episode
Rethinking How We Interpret Scripture With Rachel Howell
In this episode, we talk with Rachel Howell about Biblical interpretation. A scholar and missionary herself, Rachel has taken a deep dive into Alexander Campbell’s
Sustainable Spiritual Leadership with Dr. Daniel Mcgraw
Drawing from his original doctoral research at ACU, combined with his experience as a minister and as a Navy Reserve Chaplain, Daniel McGraw talks about how to lead effectively while continuing to nourish one’s soul.
Spirit-Shaped Ethics for Churches with Mac Sandlin
Dr. Mac Sandlin describes the active way in which the Holy Spirit leads us into greater virtues, helping us to become more like Christ. Beyond asking, “What should I do?” Mac invites us to ponder, “What kind of person should I be?”
Mark Powell: Discipleship in Community
Mark Powell talks about Discipleship in Community, a book he co-wrote containing a theological vision for the future of churches of Christ.
A Review of Discipleship in Community: A Theological Vision for the Future
My book review of Discipleship in Community: A Theological Vision for the Future by Mark Powell, John Mark Hicks, and Greg McKinzie. This audio podcast
How is Philosophy Valuable for Christians? Featuring Chet Duke
Surely one of the antidotes to cultural chaos is principled people who are intentional about their presence in the world. Chet Duke talks with us about the value of Philosophy for Christians in our faith, our ministry, and our interactions with the world.
Strange Rites: The New Religions for a Godless world. A book review.
Dr. Mark Adams reviews the book Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton.
Getting to Know the God of Israel with Dr. John Fortner
Scripture speaks often of the “God of Israel.” But who did Israel believe that God was? What kind of a God did Israel envision as she worshiped? Dr. John D. Fortner provides helpful insights into this compassionate, active God that we’ve come to know most intimately through Jesus Christ.
A God Who Suffers With Us featuring Alicia Williamson
Certainly, we don’t know what it’s like to be God, but how well can God really understand what it’s like to be us? This is of special significance in times of suffering and difficulty. Can God suffer with us? Does God suffer with us? Alicia Williamson shares insights from her research into this important question about the nature of God.
John 21 Commentary
A commentary on John 21, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 20 Commentary
A commentary on John 20, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
Helping Members Find Where They Fit with Dr. Matt Carter
Dr. Matt Carter shares best practices for helping every member in your church identify a ministry in which they can connect and flourish.
John 19 Commentary
A commentary on John 19, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 18 Commentary
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 17 Commentary
A commentary on John 17, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Kevin Burr.
John 16 Commentary
A commentary on John 16, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
John 15 Commentary
A commentary on John 15, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
Best Practices for Church Finances
In financial matters, ethics matter. This is especially true when it comes to church finances. For many people in ministry, this is an area of church life that, while highly important, is not something for which we’ve received training. Dr. Carl Williamson is a church planter whose proximity to Hurricane Sandy gave his church both enormous opportunities and enormous challenges. Carl has put together important concepts for how churches can optimize our financial practices through original research he completed for his Doctor of Ministry degree at the Harding School of Theology. I am pleased to be able to share his findings with you here.
John 14 Commentary
A commentary on John 14, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Mark Powell.
John 13 Commentary
A commentary on John 13, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Mark Powell.
John 12 Commentary
A commentary on John 12, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 11 Commentary
A commentary on John 11, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 10 Commentary
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 9 Commentary
A commentary on John 9, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Lauren Calvin Cooke.
John 8 Commentary
A commentary on John 8, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
John 7 Commentary
A commentary on John 7, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
John 6 Commentary
A commentary on John 6, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
John 5 Commentary
A commentary on John 5, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Kindy De Long.
Reading John through Ancient Eyes with Kevin Burr
Kevin Burr helps us gain a more culturally-informed view of John’s Gospel. What would John’s original audience have assumed that we might not? This conversation helps to bridge the gap.
Reading John Theologically with Dr. Mark Powell
Dr. Mark Powell of the Harding School of Theology talks about how John’s Gospel enhances our understanding about God.
John 4 Commentary
A commentary on John 4, this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
John 3 Commentary
A commentary on John 3, this week’s suggested reading, featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
Using John for Spiritual Formation with Lauren Calvin Cooke
Lauren Calvin Cooke guides us in how to utilize the Gospel of John for personal spiritual growth.
John 2 Commentary
A commentary on this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
John’s Unique Voice with Dr. Kindy De Long
Dr. Kindy De Long shares insights into some of the things that John’s Gospel uniquely contributes to the Gospels’ telling of the story of Jesus. What might John be showing us that he considers of special importance?
John 1 Commentary
A commentary on this week’s suggested reading from the Gospel of John featuring Dr. Keith Stanglin.
John’s Legacy in the Church with Dr. Keith Stanglin
Dr. Keith Stanglin shares how John’s Gospel was valuable to the early church, and how these insights help us to utilize it today.
Preaching that Transforms with Dr. Rob O’Lynn
Good preaching informs, but great preaching transforms. Dr. Rob O’Lynn shares his research about how preachers can utilize transformative learning theory in helping their congregations to grow spiritually. Carefully crafted applications help the sermon move from the mind to the heart, and ultimately to the hands of the listeners who live into the new possibilities which the Word imagines.
Helping Women to Grow Spiritually with Dr. Anessa Westbrook
Dr. Anessa Westbrook of Harding Universities shares from her orginal research about what helps women to grow spiritually in the church.
Youth In Family Ministry with Luke Dockery
How do we help our children’s faith become their own? Luke Dockery is our guest today. He shares about his Youth In Family Ministry model
Finding Great Resources
A great conversation with Bob Turner, Library Director at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. We discuss trends in books, exciting recent publications,
A Mentoring Model for Intentional Disciple-Making: with Dr. Jason Bybee
For this Research Spotlight, I had a rich conversation with Dr. Jason Bybee about discipleship. Discipleship involves following behind Jesus while walking beside the people we are helping to grow.
Productive Online Conversations: with Matt Dabbs
These days, talking about important subjects online is a lot like walking through a minefield. Matt Dabbs provides tools to help us with online conversations–and any conversations–where both the people and the issues matter. I always enjoy any time I can spend with Matt, as he absolutely embodies the healthy principles shared here in this video. This is great advice for anyone to consider before you hit “post”, which is just as valuable to practice at your office, your church, and at home.
Kevin Burr: Worship As Spiritual Formation
In this Research Spotlight, I am excited to share a conversation I had with Kevin Burr. Kevin is a Ph.D. student at Asbury Theological Seminary, having previously completed his M.Div. at the Harding School of Theology and a Masters in Education at Harding University. He is also one of the ministers at the Nicholasville Church of Christ in Kentucky.
Kevin had recently conducted a retreat for worship leaders on how worship functions as spiritual formation. I wanted to hear some of the ideas Kevin had been cultivating, and am glad to share them with you.
Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change
As the conclusion to the Questioning Forward series about the assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry, Dr. Mark Adams describes his use of the Appreciative Inquiry method at the Old Hickory Church of Christ to help him discern a path forward to renewal at the congregation that would not come at the cost of division, but would promote unity and ownership.
Short-Term Missions for Long-Term Impact
Dr. Mark Adams shares information about his original research into best practices for Short-Term Missions when he completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at Lipscomb University. How can a congregation’s involvement in short-term missions help the congregation to become more missional at home?