Music is powerful. Singing enables people to articulate feelings and emotions that simple languag... more Music is powerful. Singing enables people to articulate feelings and emotions that simple language cannot capture. Within the New Testament, two passages are traditionally labeled as Christ hymns: Philippians 2 and Colossians 1. These two passages together are the foundation for our Chalcedonian understanding of Jesus' full humanity and full divinity. But they had to be sung and not simply spoken. Speaking cannot capture the intricacies and beauty of these Christian mysteries. This is why Christians sing in church. Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline writes, "to worship is to experience Reality, to touch life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community." 1 Psalm 81 opens by inviting the people to sing to the Lord a new song. Worship is at the very heart of the Christian community because humans were created for this purpose.
I originally started this exegesis because I thought that it was a random passage. Apparently, al... more I originally started this exegesis because I thought that it was a random passage. Apparently, all the commentators think this as well. As I worked through my exegesis, the overarching themes of discipleship, following, and exclusivity became apparent. In our following of Jesus, we must be cautious not to limit Jesus to us and know that true discipleship is in following Jesus and not others.
This is my section within a group project in which we wrote exegetical papers on the way that Luk... more This is my section within a group project in which we wrote exegetical papers on the way that Luke develops his view of the Kingdom of God. I focused on Luke 18
The purpose of this paper is to translate, read, and draw out meaning from the text Romans 11:25-... more The purpose of this paper is to translate, read, and draw out meaning from the text Romans 11:25-33. Using commentaries, the bulk of this paper is exegetical. Many theologians over the years have read this passage, along with Romans 9-11, as Paul’s doctrine of election. This paper seeks to both see Romans 11:25-32 in light of its own context and Barth’s treatment thereof.
In this paper, I will seek to write on my theology of prayer, specifically in the realm of healin... more In this paper, I will seek to write on my theology of prayer, specifically in the realm of healing. I will discuss two biblical accounts, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. From there, I will talk about why I sometimes stray away from healing prayers, but then I will offer two instances of praying for healing. I prayed for healing once and did not think that anything would happen, but healing occurred; and I will talk about praying for a woman where I thought healing would occur but did not.
Paul writes to address a troubling situation of a man sleeping with his father's wife. Paul direc... more Paul writes to address a troubling situation of a man sleeping with his father's wife. Paul directly writes to the Corinthians as they repent of their arrogance of allowing this man in their congregation, and Paul has already judged that this man is an outsider and thus must be treated as one. He is leaven and will leaven the whole church. It is a scandalous act in the church, but Paul points them to the scandal of the cross. It is Jesus that calls them to remember to be holy. In order to keep the feast, the Corinthian community must remember the purity of the paschal sacrifice. It is because of Christ that they must remove the sexually immoral person from their company. Holiness, indeed, is a hard task. Sterns 14
Music is powerful. Singing enables people to articulate feelings and emotions that simple languag... more Music is powerful. Singing enables people to articulate feelings and emotions that simple language cannot capture. Within the New Testament, two passages are traditionally labeled as Christ hymns: Philippians 2 and Colossians 1. These two passages together are the foundation for our Chalcedonian understanding of Jesus' full humanity and full divinity. But they had to be sung and not simply spoken. Speaking cannot capture the intricacies and beauty of these Christian mysteries. This is why Christians sing in church. Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline writes, "to worship is to experience Reality, to touch life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community." 1 Psalm 81 opens by inviting the people to sing to the Lord a new song. Worship is at the very heart of the Christian community because humans were created for this purpose.
I originally started this exegesis because I thought that it was a random passage. Apparently, al... more I originally started this exegesis because I thought that it was a random passage. Apparently, all the commentators think this as well. As I worked through my exegesis, the overarching themes of discipleship, following, and exclusivity became apparent. In our following of Jesus, we must be cautious not to limit Jesus to us and know that true discipleship is in following Jesus and not others.
This is my section within a group project in which we wrote exegetical papers on the way that Luk... more This is my section within a group project in which we wrote exegetical papers on the way that Luke develops his view of the Kingdom of God. I focused on Luke 18
The purpose of this paper is to translate, read, and draw out meaning from the text Romans 11:25-... more The purpose of this paper is to translate, read, and draw out meaning from the text Romans 11:25-33. Using commentaries, the bulk of this paper is exegetical. Many theologians over the years have read this passage, along with Romans 9-11, as Paul’s doctrine of election. This paper seeks to both see Romans 11:25-32 in light of its own context and Barth’s treatment thereof.
In this paper, I will seek to write on my theology of prayer, specifically in the realm of healin... more In this paper, I will seek to write on my theology of prayer, specifically in the realm of healing. I will discuss two biblical accounts, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. From there, I will talk about why I sometimes stray away from healing prayers, but then I will offer two instances of praying for healing. I prayed for healing once and did not think that anything would happen, but healing occurred; and I will talk about praying for a woman where I thought healing would occur but did not.
Paul writes to address a troubling situation of a man sleeping with his father's wife. Paul direc... more Paul writes to address a troubling situation of a man sleeping with his father's wife. Paul directly writes to the Corinthians as they repent of their arrogance of allowing this man in their congregation, and Paul has already judged that this man is an outsider and thus must be treated as one. He is leaven and will leaven the whole church. It is a scandalous act in the church, but Paul points them to the scandal of the cross. It is Jesus that calls them to remember to be holy. In order to keep the feast, the Corinthian community must remember the purity of the paschal sacrifice. It is because of Christ that they must remove the sexually immoral person from their company. Holiness, indeed, is a hard task. Sterns 14
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