When I submitted my candidacy papers, I had just finished Constructive Theology. I was in a totally heady space, although I also had a lot of practical application involved. In my first round of papers, here is how I talked about God: We have come to know and trust in God primarily through scripture –…
God-Words
theology
what we owe God…
I’ve been thinking a lot about atonement theories as we journey through the book of Hebrews in worship. Anselm’s understanding of atonement says that we owe an infinite debt to God because we have marred God’s honor. Christ comes and pays that infiinite debt for us. All fine and dandy. Thank you Jesus. But in…
Reading the Church into the individual
Lately I have begun approaching scripture with a whole new set of eyes. As I think about what it means to be the pastor of a congregation… even more than that, what it means to speak the Word to the congregation… I’ve started thinking about “we” instead of “me.” In my preaching, I have felt…
the redemption of creation
Over the next few weeks (months probably) I want to go back through my notes and blog a bit about some of the amazing things I have brought back from the Moltmann conference. The first one that has been really chewing in my soul is the idea that creation needs redemption. I guess this has…
Moltmann Conversation – Eschatology/Science
• Billboard in MN, said “Unless you confess God cannot bless”, more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I got. It seems like a reformed idea, but I’m not sure it fits. It seems to me that God is by nature a non-contingent being. God isn’t sitting around waiting for me to do something,…
Moltmann Conversation – Breakout Workshop on the future that is coming towards us
Finding the Future Session: • Recognizing wisdom in the gathered congregation – tool for genereative listening • Cataphatic = likes images, sensual concepts; apaphatic = way of negation • Website – blog Sabbath journey (typepad) http://web.mac.com/terrychapman/A_SABBATH_JOURNEY/BEGIN_HERE_files/Moltmann%20Breakout%20Group%208-26.pdf • Icarus – Matisse… Sabbath is a way to a safe place in the heart of creation (6 stars/birds)…
Moltmann Conversation – Session 4 Justice
• War and Peace = 3 options 1) chance swords into Christian swords and become a dragon killer – the evil kingdom is oppressed, the axis of evil eliminated, etc. HCE option and atomic bombs into Christian atomic bombs; 2) leave the swords to the unbelievers – this is an option outside of the perfection…
Moltmann Conversation – Session 3 Crucified God
• Soteriology didn’t make sense until I read this book – Shroyer • Don and ann from a pastoral perspective, other speaker coming from a personal working through pain and changing ideas of God – three years since his 4 mo. Son died. Questions of where God is in the midst of that. Moltmann is…