Author: gbforster

In this very personal talk with a surprise twist at the end, Bruce Fields of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School reflects on a childhood model who helped him learn that striving to bear the image of God more fully is what it means to flourish as a human being.

Consider assigning in: Theology, Ethics

Drawing on Isaiah 5, Andy Crouch speaks about the challenge of separating real flourishing from mere material prosperity in the midst of economic growth and technological innovation. In a world of instant gratification, what is of lasting importance?

Consider assigning in: Culture, Ethics, Spiritual Formation, Old Testament

Celeste Cranston of Seattle Pacific University demonstrates how the story of the prodigal son invites us into a life of kingdom work marked by abundance and gratitude, not scarcity and fear.

Consider assigning in: Spiritual Formation, New Testament

Constantine Campbell of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School describes how Peter calls us “chosen sojourners” because we can make a bigger difference for Christ in this world when they live more fully for the next world instead of this one.

Consider assigning in: New Testament, Theology

Christopher Brooks of Moody Theological Seminary, merging theology with his pastoral experience in Detroit, argues that poverty need not be permanent; the truth of the gospel and the imperatives of discipleship demand constructive solutions to poverty.

Consider assigning in: Pastoral Leadership, Ethics, Culture

Anthony Bradley of The King’s College looks at the fallout of the Religious Right, and how the school of thought known as Christian Personalism can provide an alternative approach to bringing our faith into the public square.

Consider assigning in: Culture, Ethics, Pastoral Leadership, Theology, History

Darrell Bock of Dallas Theological Seminary unfolds the ironies and reversals in Luke – from the rich fool and Lazarus’ wealthy neighbor to Zacchaeus and the widow’s mite – that call us to use all our money for good stewardship of God’s world.

Consider assigning in: New Testament, Ethics

Vincent Bacote of Wheaton College invites us into a more full understanding of how worship can form us for a lives of Christian discipleship in a pluralistic world, marked by imagination, hospitality and hope.

Consider assigning in: Culture, Pastoral Leadership, Spiritual Formation, Ethics

What if we’re getting the whole sacred/secular problem backward? Chris Armstrong invites us to rethink what the church really is – a visible sign of invisible grace – before we roll up our sleeves to change the world.

Consider assigning in: Pastoral Leadership, Theology, Spiritual Formation, Ethics, History, New Testament

Chris Armstrong of Wheaton College evokes key moments from church history, and from his personal history of struggle with attitudes about rest, home and work, to offer a compelling vision for why a theology of vocation must be central to the life of faith.

Consider assigning in: Ethics, Spiritual Formation, History