Vision For Life

Are students who enter institutions of higher learning fundamentally in need of equipping or transformation? Is the goal of Christian higher ed to produce trained workers or vocationally-minded followers of Jesus? Or is the dichotomy not that simple?

Dr. Earl Waggoner, Dean of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies at Colorado Christian University, sits down with Dave and Autumn to discuss the advantages of online learning, particularly for adult students. Dr. Waggoner shares his perspective on the state of Christian higher education and discusses how CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies is navigating the tensions within higher education.

Institutions of Christian higher education are responding in various ways to the cultural and technological pressures of our day. The William Tennent School of Theology, based in Colorado, utilizes a retreat plus cohort model to provide theological training that is “academically rigorous and theologically robust, while also stoking affection(s) for Jesus.”

Dave and Autumn speak with Dr. Michael Morgan, Academic Dean and Professor of Historical Theology at Tennent, to ask what constitutes a formational educational experience and why Tennent has chosen the retreat plus cohort modality.

In an era of rapid cultural and technological change, institutions of higher education are grappling with questions about the nature of institutions, the purpose of higher education, the response to cultural pressures, and what modalities will lead to their desired outcome.

In part two of this five-part series, Dave and Autumn consider the opportunity for churches to respond thoughtfully to the state of the University and shifting cultural tides by deeply rooting the family of God in biblical truth.

Historically, the University owes its existence to the Church, as the Medieval Church played a central, if not exclusive, role in establishing the earliest universities. In the 18th century, the School began to separate itself from its Christian roots and ceded increasing control to the State. Even so, the School and the Church shared some common purpose: to shape individuals into participants in society whose vision for the good life included care for neighbors, civic action, and understanding of the world. In the present American system of higher education, which includes both secular and religious institutions, that shared purpose has waned. Trust in the University is low, and higher education as a whole is struggling to find its footing in the world of rapid technological development.

In part one of this five-part series, Dave and Autumn discuss the tensions within Christian Higher Ed. They consider the unique opportunity for churches to respond thoughtfully to the state of the University and shifting cultural tides by deeply rooting the family of God in biblical truth.

Does Scripture teach or emphasize a “moment” of salvation? What is a biblical understanding of “conversion?” Hunter and Autumn respond to a listener's question about justification with an examination of Jesus’ teaching on new birth from John 3:1-15.

Does “Church as Family” convey an unrealistic portrait of the church, leading people to believe they will encounter loyal, committed, honorable brothers and sisters, perpetuating disillusionment and hurt if they don’t? Would we better serve people to gently adjust their expectations to level with the messy, dysfunctional family that seems to match their experience? Trevin Wax considers these questions in an article recently posted on The Gospel Coalition.

Hunter and Autumn comment on the article and suggest that expectations of the church are best when leveled with Jesus’ and the Apostles’ depictions of the family of God rather than with our own disappointing experiences.

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is characterized by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other.

In part four of this four-part series of conversations, Andy and Autumn discuss the biblical understanding of membership and its relevance to the modern local church.

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ necessarily implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is characterized by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other.

In part three of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter and Autumn discuss the habit of weekly corporate worship. Gathered worship allows us to experience the fullness of the family of God and is a means of ordinary grace, yet making space in our lives for weekly corporate worship can be challenging. Hunter and Autumn identify five mindsets that discourage participation in worship and respond to each one.

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ necessarily implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is marked by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other.

In part two of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter, Andy, and Autumn discuss the current sermon series and the way in which this new family cultivates a unique community.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

"Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Connection to Christ results in connection to His body, which he also calls His family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is marked by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other.

In part one of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter and Autumn discuss the current sermon series and the corporate practice of generosity that marks the family of God.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

First To The Lord (2019 sermon series)