By: Kevin Norwood on January 26, 2017
In 2011, I had an opportunity as a youth pastor to do something extraordinary. I could provide a complete Bible school education on an electronic device called a Kindle. I have raised money for all kinds of things, sound systems, computers, buses, a bicycle, a Land Rover (that cost a pretty penny) and…
By: Phil Goldsberry on January 26, 2017
Introduction By nature, I am a techy! I was mesmerized the first time I saw a computer (I think it was a Commodore or a TRS-80). But I remember asking, “What does it do?” The only project that the guy knew was to run paper through a dot-matrix printer and make banners with it. Boring,…
By: Aaron Peterson on January 26, 2017
One day when Jesus was teaching in an over crowded home a network of guys forced Jesus to friend them by using technology to lower a member of their network down through the roof. Seeing the faith of this network, Jesus treated them like neighbors and full of justice, mercy, and humility, Jesus healed the…
By: Marc Andresen on January 26, 2017
For several months I have been contemplating the question, “Is individualism killing America?” This question arises from studying various cultures for our D Min essays. It has become clear that America is very individualistic, while many world cultures are collectivistic, wherein the community matters more than the individual. As I read Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith…
By: Stu Cocanougher on January 26, 2017
As someone who coordinates cross-cultural partnerships for our church, including the leading of mission trips and providing support to missionaries, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the practical ramifications of contextual theology, especially as it relates to evangelism. This week’s readings by Stephen Garner and Stephen Bevans have given me great insight…
By: Lynda Gittens on January 26, 2017
BEVIN – MODELS OF CONTEXTUAL THEOLOGY People today are pressured by world events, life events, and spiritual relations. A preacher today must be aware of all these events previously mentioned. These events affect the preacher as whereas their congregants. To spark their interest in the sermon or biblical lesson, one must address them at their…
By: Jim Sabella on January 26, 2017
Summary: Context is everything! The importance of a contextual expression of God’s love, grace, activity, and power is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without it, God would be the distant unknown, completely removed from our knowledge, understanding or experience. The fact that in the beginning God created and even dwelt among us compels us to…
By: Claire Appiah on January 26, 2017
Heidi Campbell and Stephen Garner – Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith In Digital Culture Introduction According to Heidi Campbell, a media studies scholar and Stephen Garner, a theologian, “A central goal of this book is to bring new media studies and theory into conversation with theology in a new way,” [1] utilizing the combined expertise…
By: Aaron Cole on January 26, 2017
Summary: The book: Networked Theology, Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture by Heidi A. Campbell and Stephen Garner is a fresh look at the ever changing intersection of faith and technology. This book is about cultural engagement of the church and religion through digital technology and media. As clergy views digital technological and media in a…
By: Mary Walker on January 26, 2017
“Christ our Lord came and took upon Himself our humanity. … He suffered hunger and thirst and hard toil and temptation.… He emptied Himself and became a servant. He showed the way to true leadership by coming to minister, not ministered unto…. He set the example and we are supposed to imitate Him.” Dorothy…
By: Jason Kennedy on January 26, 2017
In Stephen Garner and Heidi Campbell’s fascinating book, Network Theology: Negotiating Faith in a Digital Culture, the authors brilliantly discuss how Christians need to reflect on technological advances and consume these advances with a theological framework. In five concise and structured chapters, the authors aim to influence readers in the development of a theology of…
By: Jennifer Dean-Hill on January 25, 2017
When working with people from different ethnicities, cultures or eras, contextual theology is critical to consider so we can propel people towards a relationship with God versus pushing them away from Him. Transforming theology into contextual theology not only makes sense but gives freedom for individuals to represent the nature of God in a way…
By: Rose Anding on January 25, 2017
Introduction The book, Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture, was written by Heidi A. Campbell and Stephen Garner. In their point of view, media studies and theology can offer insight to help Christians assess the impact of media on our lives and on our religious orientations. The Internet holds promise for the…
By: Katy Drage Lines on January 25, 2017
Contextual theology as a process is something I am quite familiar with (which you’ll know, if you’ve read my previous posts). Besides working in the context of northern Kenya and walking alongside church leaders to develop a contextual Turkana theology, both my undergrad and grad studies revolved around missiology—a blend of biblical studies and anthropology.…
By: Kevin Norwood on January 20, 2017
In their book Global Evangelicalism: Theology, History and Culture in Regional Perspectives, Donald M Lewis and Richard V. Pierard examine world evangelicalism. Their subject has many facets and is often described by scholars with these other words: evangelist, evangelism, evangelical and evangelicalism. Interesting to me is that all of the words, other than…
By: Pablo Morales on January 20, 2017
SUMMARY Global Evangelicalism is a collection of essays that paint an international portrait of the contemporary Evangelical Church movement. Authors Donald M. Lewis and Richard V. Pierard declare a two-fold purpose for the book. First, they want to present a summary of the history of Evangelicalism with a special focus on its beliefs and practices. Secondly, they…
By: Garfield Harvey on January 20, 2017
“This book’s main purpose is then to trace the recent history of evangelical churches and evangelical movements while providing a general introduction to the beliefs, practices and characteristic emphases of evangelical Christianity. A second important purpose is to offer a worldwide survey of where evangelical movements have come to exist and of the greatly varying…
By: Kristin Hamilton on January 20, 2017
In what may be one of the greatest understatements of our time, D. W. Bebbington notes, “Evangelical religion in Britain has changed immensely during the two and a half centuries of its existence” (269). Although Evangelicals may argue that they have remained consistent throughout history and have remained bearers of truth, the reality is that…
By: Lynda Gittens on January 19, 2017
Evangelism in Modern Britain by Bebbington Bebbington took on the task to share the history, or the growth of a movement in Britain. He stated that he wanted to present it in two-folds. “to consider the influence of Evangelicals on society; and explore the ways in which Evangelical religion has been molded by its…
By: Phil Goldsberry on January 19, 2017
Introduction Evangelicals, exactly who and what are they? The Christian community loves to work on nomenclature to help define who and what you are. You are not just a Baptist; Southern, American, Primitive, Independent, Fundamental, fire-breathing, and the list goes on. Evangelicals struggle with the same identity crisis.The term “evangelical” seems to morph into whatever…
