Coffee, Exercise, Caloric Intake

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

Ashley Mateo: The study basically simulated your average morning: a mug of coffee to wake up, a little gym time, another cup with breakfast, followed by lunch. Fourteen participants completed two moderate workouts on a stationary bike: one where they took caffeine (equal to two 8-ounce cups of coffee or 4 cups of black tea) 90 minutes before the workout, and one where they took a placebo. When caffeinated, the participants reported the ride as way easier than it was without the stimulant.... Read more

Jesus Creed: For the Whole Church

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

Some of you know our Jesus Creed project now can tap into all the major ages of church ministry: children, teens, adults, and a daily devotional, as well as Paraclete’s fine production of a CD for Sunday School classes. Some 4000 churches have used one or more of these dimensions of the Jesus Creed. Recently, Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church and I have decided to dialogue about how the Jesus Creed project works in local churches. This post, by Brad Strait,... Read more

NOMA and Rocks of Ages (RJS)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By RJS

A topic that comes up often in the discussion of science and religion is Stephen Jay Gould’s concept of non-overlapping magisteria or NOMA. I’ve read many papers and books that refer to this principle – sometimes agreeing, more often disagreeing significantly from both sides. There are those who disagree with the concept, wanting to put religion out of the picture all together, and those who disagree, wanting to subject science to religious ideals or because the separation seems somewhat artificial.... Read more

When God Asks the Question

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

Have you ever pondered the many questions God asks people in the pages of the Bible? I mean questions from God (Father) or questions from Jesus? And the questions angels ask? Don Johnson, pastor of Montecito Covenant Church in Santa Barbara (tough location for that calling, ahem), has pored over the Bible finding those questions and pondering their answers and drawing up nothing less than a very special kind of spirituality book called God’s Questions to Us (Old Stone Publishing, Santa... Read more

Northern’s New MA in New Testament

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

Ministry in North America requires both preparation and experience and increasing number of ministers are deeply involved in experience and finding it nearly impossible to attend seminary full-time. A seminary curriculum focuses on the scope of the minister’s calling, from biblical and theological to practical and homiletical studies, but not all ministers need as intense preparation for each facet of ministry. Some focus on teaching while others focus on the more personal and formative dimensions of ministry. The MANT seeks... Read more

Not Religion but a Relationship? (by Luke Norsworthy)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. But if Jesus’ coming hadn’t started a religion you would’ve never heard of him. –Brian Zahnd Every time I hear a Christian say, “We aren’t religious, we just have a relationship with Jesus.” I’m nauseated by the self-contradiction. We hear this trite statement usually spoken in buildings that are not required to pay property tax because they are deemed by the government to be religious buildings. And those non-property taxed buildings are usually... Read more

The Bible’s Special Word about Singleness

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:24 pm By Scot McKnight

In his opening editorial to Mutuality [Autumn 2014, p. 3], Tim Kruger cites this set of lines from the apostle Paul about singleness: I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim... Read more

Northern’s New MATM (and MANT)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:25 pm By Scot McKnight

From Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch: Leading a church in mission is difficult, requiring much more of pastors than the maintenance of activities. Beyond the ministry skills of preaching, teaching, counseling and evangelism, pastors need the skills of theological reflection, cultural analysis, and building local community. And not only are new skills needed, but a new way of teaching them is needed. We need a less expensive way that keeps future church leaders from being burdened with debt. And we need... Read more

The Embrace of Evil (RJS)

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:25 pm By RJS

Having explored the Old Testament view of God and of the nature of humanity in chapters 3 and 4, Iain Provan (Seriously Dangerous Religion) turns to the age old problem of evil and suffering in chapter 5. If there is a personal, benevolent God why do evil and suffering mark the world? Genesis 3 plays an important role in Provan’s approach to this question … “it is the embrace of evil, our biblical authors claim, that explains much of the... Read more

Rethinking “Youth” Ministry

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:25 pm By Scot McKnight

What does it mean to “do theology” with youth? or in youth ministry? Andrew Root has been exploring this question for years and he points the way in today’s post by showing how Bonhoeffer was a theological kind youth pastor. Not one who so much taught theological answers but one who introduced youth to thinking and living theologically. Follow this post and you will see not only Bonhoeffer’s story but a discovery of the theological turn in youth ministry. Dietrich... Read more