Timothy Tennent

What is Your Primary Identity?

Polycarp, the famous 1st century bishop of Smyrna is known for his martyrdom. He was part of that great legacy of Christians who were the direct “disciples of the Disciples.” In his case, he was the disciple of the Apostle John. Everyone who knew him testified to his impeccable life and his commitment to historic […]

What is your Primary Identity?

Polycarp, the famous 1st century bishop of Smyrna is known for his martyrdom. He was part of that great legacy of Christians who were the direct “disciples of the Disciples.” In his case, he was the disciple of the Apostle John. Everyone who knew him testified to his impeccable life and his commitment to historic […]

What is your primary Identity?

Polycarp, the famous 1st century bishop of Smyrna is known for his martyrdom. He was part of that great legacy of Christians who were the direct “disciples of the Disciples.” In his case, he was the disciple of the Apostle John. Everyone who knew him testified to his impeccable life and his commitment to historic […]

Good Friday Reflections

Good Friday Reflection Psalm 22 and Psalm 69 are two of the psalms which Jesus himself quotes from the cross. Most of us know that many of the most familiar lines of the passion are actually Jesus quoting from the daily prayer book of the Jews, which we call the Book of Psalms. “My God, […]

Pastors, Get Rid of the “Countdown Clock”!

One of the joys I have is the privilege of preaching in churches all across the country. I have seen the inside of dozens and dozens of sanctuaries. It is common for large churches to have a “traditional” service in the sanctuary and a “contemporary” service in a gym or some other multi-purpose space. I […]

Thoughts on the Beginning of a New Year and of Creation itself

2025 marks a new season for Julie and me as we have now fully transitioned from over fifteen years of ministry and service to Asbury Theological Seminary and am now beginning a new chapter at Beeson Divinity School. I now serve as the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Samford University. My wife and I thought […]

The Mystery of the Incarnation

Each year the church throughout the world keeps vigil for three days between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Three days of waiting in expectation. Jonah in anticipation of that great mystery spent three days in the belly of the fish before he was resurrected to preach the gospel to the nations. This morning marks the […]

The Church has Boundaries which are Theological, Ethical and Historic

One of the more hopeful developments in the larger wesleyan movement of our day has been the emergence of the Global Methodist Church. This new denomination has the opportunity to bring fresh winds of renewal to the wesleyan movement throughout the world. While the recovery of distinctive wesleyan theology is vital, probably the greatest blessing […]

The Future of World Christianity

The last century has witnessed some of the most dramatic shifts imaginable in the world Christian movement. There are now vibrant expressions of Christianity across sub-Saharan Africa, in India, in China, throughout Latin America, and the Far East, especially in Korea. In Latin America, for example, the period between 1970 to the present witnessed the […]

Reflections on Christopher and Richard Hays’ book, The Widening of God’s Mercy

Reflections on Christopher and Richard Hays’ book, The Widening of God’s Mercy Many who travel in Methodist circles will be aware of the new book by Christopher and Richard Hays entitled, The Widening of God’s Mercy (Sept. 2024). This new book seeks to create a theological argument for the full embrace of same sex marriage […]