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Faith

Concerns and Hopes for the College Student Experience

I had the most enjoyable privilege of participating in a panel discussion on the gospel and the university campus, sponsored by The Living Church Institute.  It gave me the opportunity to interact with a group of practitioners who had very

Stephen Rankin January 14, 2019January 14, 2019 Christian Life, College Ministry, Emerging adults, Higher and Theological Education, Religion No Comments Read more

Ignoring the Resurrection Deniers

Part of today’s lectionary reading comes from Revelation 12, in which the saints overcome the Accuser “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony…”  Their witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection was intellectually offensive to the

Stephen Rankin April 2, 2013 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Religion, The Church 18 Comments Read more

Sketchy Statistics and Hope for Renaissance

We have a little break in the action this afternoon here at the Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry.  I’ve heard several compelling sermons and lectures.  I’ve enjoyed good fellowship.  It has been richly challenging.  And I’ve done some teaching.  One more

Stephen Rankin January 30, 2013 Christian Life, General, Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 3 Comments Read more

Doing It the Right Way

So, am I the last guy in the United States to learn that Drew Brees is a real Christian?  I add the term “real” because stardom and celebrity seem to breed a shallow, made-for-TV faith that often ultimately disappoints.  Remember

Stephen Rankin February 9, 2010 Religion No 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

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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

 

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