Walter Brueggemann's Struggling With Scripture

Ferrin’s process of inductive Bible study takes on a relational approach that consists of three essential parts or phases titled Foundation, Framing, and Finish Work. The structured methods encompass studying a book of the Bible and internalizing it rather than just memorizing the words (p. 3). The author diligently explains how that through the devoted application of all phases individuals and group Bible study participants are sure to “fall in love with God’s Word” (p. 3). Ferrin presents and or describes Scripture internalization as taking in the truth and then applying it to everyday life or living. Ferrin pointed out that the benefits of understanding biblical messages book by book include the Living Word of God becoming a reality within persons that grow more enjoyable and rewarding as time comes and goes.

In chapter five what really caught my attention was the section on community of the church. Personally, I believe the church communities are failing to reach out to others, and reach the full potential of what the church can be. I believe many churches are slowly becoming a social club that merely mimics what Christianity should be. Many people go to church for the popularity and inspirational quotes. “The church as a community does not require conformity. Christians are not meant to be cookie-cutter copies of one another” (90). I have been told by friends about the hurt their family member has felt because the church rejected them due to he or she being gay. Hearing these stories broke a piece of me because this is not how a Christian community should behave. God does not reject us for our unworthiness, however, he loves us. Which in my eyes means we are not to reject anyone from attending the church, yet, show them love. “The church is the place where the story of our personal redemption branches out and intertwines with the stories of other persons seeking redemption on the road towards full salvation” (91). As a community, we are not to reject

In “A personal reflection: Biblical authority,” Walter Brueggemann writes about how an individual’s personal beliefs are influenced in their interaction with the bible and how they approach understanding it. Brueggemann brings attention to six facets that he believes shapes how an individual constructs their personal beliefs. His six main facets are inherency, interpretation, imagination, ideology, inspiration, and importance.

The first chapter of Christian Thought and Practice, by Natalie Kertes Weaver introduced theology of Christianity. This was broken up into five major topics. The topics are: terms used in the study of religion, a functional understanding of Christian theology, facets of Christian theology, types of theology, and audiences and practitioners of Christian thought. The author explains the importance in detail of all of the above points.

Christian counseling and secular has primarily the same goal and desire, that is to assist people with overcoming life obstacles that they are facing. In addition, they both seek to help their clients find balance in life, find joy, and be healthy and adaptable individuals, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Furthermore, there are many difference between the two. However, there are many approaches that a Christian counselor could use. Although, both Christian counseling and professional counseling have their place, there are models that can be integrated that will lead to healthy sessions with clients. The purpose of this paper is to look at those applications of biblical truth that is accepted in secular counseling techniques,

This text was published from a work of Revelation and Reason. One of the most interesting debates took place in the 1934 between both Swiss Protestant theologians: Karl Barth and Emil Brunner. Both had many similarities, both stressed the priority of God’s revelation and resisted the idea that humanity could discover the nature and character of God through the use of purse reason. But the important questions emerges from “word of God” something that impacts immediately and directly on humanity? Or does it need to be interpret? Tin this text Brunner implies that, The Word does not overwhelm, it does not coerce, it does not ignore the one “over against us”, but it calls, addresses, threatens and entreats..” We apply reason when we are communicated by the Word. When God became human being he came down to a level of humanity, therefore God had to become human so humanity would be able to meet him. God adapted his revelation to humanity, in that He clothed in the human word of the Apostles and through that He chose this form of revelation because communication through speech is the proper way humanity can carry a conversation. Brunner quotes, ‘As Humanus they use language, that is they can speak and understand the speech of others. This capacity was given to a humanity as its own in the

Imagine a world where people are living for themselves. People thriving to succeed in their careers, working hard to accumulate wealth, and dealing only with issues that affect them personally. A world where people are completely oblivious as to who created them, what He did for them, and what their true mission in life should be. In Counter Culture, author David Platt, brings to light different problems we face in our world today. He discusses various topics, including marriage and sexual morality, giving each one real life examples of issues humanity experiences every day. But not only does he bring these issues to the readers’ attention, he gives them a biblical view of why these issues are disliked in the eyes of God, and several different steps they can take to help make a difference in our world today.

The struggle of homosexuality is like all other struggles, they are illnesses that cripple our abilities to live life under God’s will. With all illnesses, it is much easier to walk through the struggle with a team that supports you, then alone or with a group following with curliness. As a follower of Christ we are called to love with no conditions, to love with grace despite the wrong of the sin that was committed by an individual. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” (English Standard Version) The love we extend to our brothers and sisters is to be formulated by a humble heart. When we don’t express such love to one another it is like adding gas to the fire, we are just giving more reason “feeding” to the their choice of sin by being cold hearted. We all need to be reminded at times that God loves us despite our wrongs, it is our job a Christians to remind one another of this. The result of such is not to eliminate the wrongness of sin, but to help one another redirect our focus back on God. Balswick quotes from Yarhouse (2010) saying,” I want to help people live their lives and identify themselves in ways that are in keeping with their Christian beliefs and values” (91).(Balswick & Balswick, 2014, p. 234) There is all sorts of ways satin try’s to pull us away from Christ, his work is only work of sin. We all need the life saver of God’s forgiveness, but it is also something we need to offer to each other according to Ephesians 4:32. All Christian communities who love on individuals with struggles of all kinds including the struggle of sexual identity, can

By acknowledging each individual’s status as a child of God, the damning effects of fear, deception, and hatred can be eradicated by the powerful love of Christ. For Thurman, the true spirit of Christian relationships rests in the ability to love one’s enemies. Although this specific teaching is not new or unique, its application to Christian relationships (especially between the “disinherited” and the “privileged”) is extremely pertinent. Enmity between two individuals or two groups of individuals causes a physical and spiritual disunion that obstructs the individual’s ability to experience the power of Christ. Therefore, I must resolve to always demonstrate an attitude of love toward my enemies in order to preserve the unity that is so vital to genuine spiritual experience. Ultimately, I found Howard Thurman’s theory on the “disinherited” to be both logically valid and extremely thought provoking. In truth, I experienced a deeper engagement with Thurman’s ideas than any other spiritual practitioner that I have explored thus far this semester. This study has caused me to reflect on my own status as a “privileged” individual, realize my need to identify with the “disinherited,” and remember to demonstrate love to my

While the following essay will focus on this discussion of the essence of Christianity, it is important to note that Schleiermacher recognises that there is the possibility, and reality, of

In 2011 Mark McMinn updates his book on Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, which discloses three important perspectives of Christian counseling. This recently evolving frontier for Christian counselors is what McMinn calls interdisciplinary integration. The relationship between psychology and theology is not the vital key component, but it’s how Christian faith is practiced in counseling. Bringing religion into the counseling office will bring challenges but with personal spiritual training and professional development it can be accomplished. McMinn shares a theoretical map on the prospective values and dangers of using religious interventions in counseling. In the first two chapters McMinn establishes a framework on the variety of religious interventions like prayer, the use of Scripture, forgiveness, and so on. Theses chapters would be part 1 of a 2 broad part that lays down a foundation for the rest of the book. The chapters that follow would be part 2 that explains the indispensable components in McMinn’s methodology to the integration of psychology, theology, and spiritualty in counseling. Psychology, theology, and spirituality is highlighted in the sessions of Christian counseling by guiding the person who reads an insightful understanding of integrating stages of: prayer, scripture, sin, confession,

The purpose of this book is meant to create a foundation for Christian lifestyles. It addresses the origin of Christian values, and portrays the evolution of Christian worldviews throughout history. It briefly explains the biblical narrative and develops ideas in which Christians are able to live out their faith and deal with other worldviews existing in our world today.

The Explicit Gospel is a true eye opener with life changing implications, a modern day constitution of the Christian faith. This piece of literature adds a valuable Christian perspective with convicting truths that have been overlooked by Christians and many Christian institutions throughout our nation. The principles in this book will compel any American citizen to reevaluate their Christocentric worldview.

The book of James warns about the life of fleshly lusts and desires and clearly shows how sins life ends in death. One must rely on the power of Christ’s blood (whose death ends in life) to push through tough issues and disagreements. Though members must have tools to resolve these matters, the responsibility weighs heavier on those in

In doing so, we can discover that final authority is not in and of scripture itself but of the Triune God who is the Author of scripture. The second obstacle to consider is that many have dismissed scripture as a book of Israelitic & Christian stories. Wright contends that these stories are told to inform us of “internal dynamics” of the past so as to engage us in the present for transformation into Christ-likeness. (p.25). Thirdly, Wright asserts that the question of scripture’s authority should not be viewed as a list of rules where God condescends to man. Rather, scripture should be received as God’s purpose to save and renew the entire world by authorizing the church—God’s agent in the world—with His mission through the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, it is imperative that biblical scholars “see the role of scripture not simply as being [informative about or revelatory of God’s truth] but as a means of God’s action in and through us.” (p.28)