Citizens Weekly

From the Series “The Apostles’ Creed”. Jesus is the center of Christianity. He is the center of The Apostles’ Creed. He is the center of everything that has been, is, and will be. Historians, Christians, and Atheists agree: Jesus was a real person who really lived. But what do we believe about Jesus? Is he really the God who became man, the image of the invisible God? And if he is, what are the implications of this news in the modern era we live in today?

From the Series “The Apostles’ Creed”. In order to make Himself and His intentions known, God chose to present Himself as our Father. This revelation is recognized at Creation and is all the more so in Jesus’ story. But what do we do when the sins of earthly fathers, or of the patriarchy in general, complicate God’s chosen metaphor as our Father? Are we at liberty to consider Him, or the Creed,  in more digestible terms?

From the Series “The Apostles’ Creed”. What do you believe... about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the church? And why do you believe what you believe? For almost two thousand years, the historical, global, orthodox church has taught and recited The Apostles’ Creed to remind themselves what they believe. What place does The Creed have in our context today? Is it helpful, or is it just some ancient tradition that we’ve replaced? 

From the Series “Formed by Jesus”. Two definitions exist for the word “holy”: one from our modern English language, and the other from the Biblical Hebrew. God’s holiness is central to His character. God’s declaration of the church’s holiness is central to how our own self-conception. For these reasons, we need to define holiness – God’s holiness and the church’s holiness – as Biblical writers understood it.

From the Series “Formed by Jesus.” We have all been shaped by life experiences, our family of origin, words spoken over us, our friendships, and the places we’ve been. We have been formed by what we read and watch, the food we eat, and the music we listen to. We are being formed all of the time, everywhere we go. How have the cultural narratives of success and individuality formed us, and is it congruent with the Way of Jesus? Is there a way to recapture the lost way of humility in a world where humility is not valued? 

From the Series, “Eat this Book”. We are distracted people. We know we should read scripture, but most of us find it difficult, confusing, dated, and less exciting than binge-watching a show on Netflix. We may know how to read the Bible, but few know how to pray the Bible. Praying scripture is the anecdote to keeping our minds from wandering; it’s a practice that’s been around for centuries in what is known as “divine reading.” In Lectio Divina, we are invited into the story of God through a conversation with him by listening to and recognizing God’s voice.