Skip to content

Rankin File

ruminations, fulminations, and cogitations on the spiritual life

Menu

  • Home
  • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Audio / Video
  • Book Reviews
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Feed
Rankin File

Easter

Resurrection Realism

“So we do not lose heart.  Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” You can find this statement in 2 Corinthians 4:16. It’s relevant for thinking about the meaning of

Stephen Rankin April 18, 2020April 18, 2020 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Ministry, Religion 3 Comments Read more

What We Would Still Face if United Methodism Holds

The Council of Bishops have gathered in Dallas for the latest round of discussions about United Methodism’s future.  We eagerly and anxiously await a word.  Many United Methodist are praying for wisdom for our leaders, for good outcomes, for unity.

Stephen Rankin February 27, 2018 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Emerging adults, Ministry, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 3 Comments Read more

General Conference (Slightly Proleptic) Postmortem

I’m not a fan of punditry, even of the ecclesial kind, but I guess I’ll set aside scruples and weigh in on the United Methodist General Conference as it presses toward the finish.  One question once again stands out: just

Stephen Rankin May 4, 2012 Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 4 Comments Read more

Living the New Creation Reality

The Thursday before Easter I presided at a funeral of a man I did not really know.  I had presided over his grandson’s funeral several years ago.  I then had his daughter’s funeral (the mother of the boy who had

Stephen Rankin April 17, 2009 Christian Life, Religion, The Church 2 Comments Read more

Easter Monday

Easter Monday.  The second day of the New Creation.   Because I am again serving as pastor to two small congregations, I preached yesterday.   I followed the lectionary and used Mark 16:1-8 as the Gospel text. Perhaps because of

Stephen Rankin April 13, 2009 Christian Life, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, The Church 1 Comment Read more

Archives

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Christian Life
  • College Ministry
  • Doctrine/Theology
  • Emerging adults
  • General
  • Higher and Theological Education
  • Ministry
  • Preaching/Teaching
  • Religion
  • The Church
  • Uncategorized
  • United Methodism
  • youth ministry

Recent Comments

  • North Texas Congregant on A Bishop Reinstated
  • Carylon Flax on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away
  • Danny Blue on Dogma as Drama – Thank You, Dorothy Sayers
  • James W Lung on An Open Letter to Adam Hamilton and Other Centrists: Where Lie the Boundaries?
  • Stephen Rankin on Boundary Questions Refuse to Go Away

Categories

  • Book Reviews
  • Christian Life
  • College Ministry
  • Doctrine/Theology
  • Emerging adults
  • General
  • Higher and Theological Education
  • Ministry
  • Preaching/Teaching
  • Religion
  • The Church
  • Uncategorized
  • United Methodism
  • youth ministry

Meet Steve

I serve as Executive Director of the Spiritual Maturity Project, a ministry some of us have recently started.  For 25 years I worked in higher education as a professor and chaplain and before that as a pastor.  I love to help people grapple with big and basic questions to grow into real ,grown-up Christian discipleship.

I ruminate on all manner of theological, biblical, historical, and cultural topics. I believe followers of Jesus need to be more like members of Issachar’s tribe, able to read the times. Read more

 

Tags

" prayer " Southern Methodist University 2 Corinthians Adam Hamilton Bible bishops Book of Discipline Christian Smith Christian witness Christmas Civil Rights college students congregations Constitutional Amendments discipleship doctrine Easter Emerging adults evangelism Faith General Conference God higher education homosexuality incarnation Jesus John Wesley Judicial Council Kathleen Garces-Foley leadership love Martin Luther King nones Religion resurrection sexuality spirituality spiritual maturity theology Tim Clydesdale United Methodist United Methodist Church United Methodists United States Witness
Copyright © 2023 Rankin File. All rights reserved. Theme Spacious by ThemeGrill. Powered by: WordPress.
  • Home
  • Publications
  • Speaking
  • Audio / Video
  • Book Reviews
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Feed