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John Wesley

The Transformation of Congregational Culture

In Hosea 2, we find a beautiful promise of restoration immediately after God’s judgment against Israel’s infamous infidelity. The language in the promise is that of the New Creation. “On that day” God will reclaim the adulteress Israel.  The Lord

Stephen Rankin September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 Christian Life, Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism No Comments Read more

Hats Off to John Calvin

Again, friends, my blog posts are coming much too slowly.  However, follow this link for a post I wrote for Christian History. https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/blog/post/im-not-supposed-to-like-calvin/  

Stephen Rankin November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 Christian Life, Ministry, Religion, The Church No Comments Read more

Creeds, Orthodoxy, and What is Required of United Methodists

A number of my blogging friends (here, here here, and here)  have been posting about the importance and value of the creeds (mainly Apostles and Nicene) for Christian belief and practice.  They also have engaged in debate about whether John Wesley’s

Stephen Rankin April 14, 2015April 14, 2015 Christian Life, Doctrine/Theology, Ministry, Religion, The Church, United Methodism 8 Comments Read more

Ash Wednesday Homily, 2015

The Apostle Paul confesses in Romans 7:18, “I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.” Saint Paul apparently struggled with New Years resolutions like the rest of us! Yet, one of the points of deepest confusion, even

Stephen Rankin February 18, 2015 Christian Life, Preaching/Teaching, Religion, The Church, United Methodism No Comments Read more

Unavoidable Orthodoxy

“Orthodox” or “orthodoxy,” used not in reference to church bodies often known as “Eastern” Orthodox, but in the more formal sense of “adhering to right beliefs,” has been much on my mind lately.  Today, I posted on my Facebook timeline

Stephen Rankin December 3, 2014December 3, 2014 Doctrine/Theology, Emerging adults, Ministry, 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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