More from Pastor Trisha Welstad (The Leadership Center)
Our final panel of the fall semester features Dr. Nijay Gupta, back to answer questions about his lecture on the creedal phrase “born of the Virgin Mary,” as well as our usual cast of guests. Was Jesus a “difficult child”? How do we keep Christmas sacred amidst the profane commercialism of the season?
During this last week of classes for the fall semester, we approach Christmas: the Creed tells us that Jesus was “born of the Virgin Mary.” We’re used to asking and answering the question, “Why did Jesus have to die”—but Dr. Nijay Gupta asks us to consider this instead: Why did Jesus have to live?
We’re back to reflect on Dr. Abigail Favale’s moving lecture on the creedal phrase “who was conceived by the Holy Spirit” (Dr. Favale could not join us today on the panel). We discuss not only some points from the lecture and the virgin Mary, but also a “wild card” set of issues: How would Jesus respond to us if he walked in the door of this room, today? How can Christians love people with pure hearts and not just see sin everywhere? Should we be talking about whether or not God exists?
Through Jesus, God had a mom. What does this mean? In this week’s lecture, Dr. Abigail Favale takes us on a journey through the story of the Annunciation, exploring what Mary’s reaction to God tells us about Jesus, how God works with humans, and how we respond to God.
Our after-panel interview with pastor Kenji Yokoy, from the Japanese International Baptist Church (telling a prayer story)
As we continue to think about the creedal phrase “our Lord,” we welcome back our Monday lecturer Dr. Joseph Clair with a cast of wonderful pastors and thinkers. Can we serve both Jesus and country? Should Christians be in the military? Is our God a God of paradox?
Having professed Jesus as the Christ and God’s only Son, the Creed now moves us into the language of Lordship: Jesus is “our Lord.” What does this mean? Dr. Joseph Clair takes us on a journey to explore the background of lordship and kingship in the Old Testament, the idea of Jesus as king, and how we might begin to think about this in our lives today.
Dr. Sunggu Yang is back to defend and discuss his idea that Jesus had implications for patriarchy. And he’s joined by guest pastor Connie Armerding and professor Nijay Gupta! Hosted by Dr. Leah Payne. Could Jesus have been a woman? What does it mean that Jesus is God’s “son”?
We spend another week on the creedal phrase “his only Son,” to continue talking about the identity of Jesus. This week, Dr. Sunggu Yang weaves together themes of love, marriage, and Jesus’s power to free us from oppression.
Dr. Melissa Ramos is back with yet another unique cast of THEO panelists to discuss Jesus. Why did Jesus not show off his powers more clearly, and make his identity known in a different way? Are we in danger of over-emphasizing or under-emphasizing either Jesus’s divinity or humanity? How should we pray?
Having professed belief in Jesus Christ, the Creed now asks us to affirm Jesus’s status as “his (God’s) only Son.” What does this mean? In this lecture, Dr. Melissa Ramos asks us to consider two dimensions of Jesus’s status as God’s Son: temptation and transfiguration.
More from Pastor Hannah Souter!
Dr. Garcia is back, along with a philosophy professor visiting from Notre Dame, our special guest pastor, and panel host Dr. Doak for the usual wide ranging discussion--this time focusing on the meaning and relevance of Jesus.
We move forward in the Creed to the center of Christian proclamation: Jesus Christ (i.e., Jesus the Anointed One, i.e., “Messiah”). For the next three weeks we’ll be asking the question, Who is Jesus? and exploring different aspects of Jesus’s identity.
More from Pastor Gabby Viesca!
We welcome back our Monday lecturer Dr. Graedon Zorzi and two other wonderful panelists to engage with some very difficult questions about the Bible, science, dinosaurs, evolution, leaving church, suicide, and more.
God is indeed the creator—but what does this mean? We continue exploring aspects of this question. In this week’s lecture, Dr. Graedon Zorzi suggests that God’s activity as creator has serious implications for the way we go about our work in this world. Creation imposes upon us a duty—to cultivate the Garden, through excellent work, and also to keep it, through avoiding evil.
More from Pastor Ashley Bell (Cedar Mill Church)!
We bring back Dr. Brian Doak from the Monday lecture and continue talking about our creedal word for the week, “Creator.” What does it mean to be a creator, to be creative? What do our own creative pursuits and appreciation of beauty tell us about God, if anything? Have we over-interpreted the Bible when it comes to creation, or any other theme?