Timothy Tennent

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 […]

Well done, Lausanne! Reflections on the full week of Lausanne 4

Lausanne 4 came to a triumphant close today. It is difficult to describe in words to someone who has not attended an event like this, the breathtaking beauty of a Lausanne gathering with 5,200 people gathered in a single room with delegates from nearly every country on earth worshipping in joy and harmony. There is […]

Reflections on Lausanne 4 in Korea

I am writing from Korea (Incheon) at the midpoint of the Lausanne 4 gathering with a few reflections so far on his historic congress. For those who may not be familiar with the Lausanne movement, it was founded by an initiative from Billy Graham, Leighton Ford and John Stott in 1974 to accelerate and build […]

The Prosperity Gospel: An Aberration to Watch out for

The Prosperity Gospel: An Aberration to Watch out for Central to the task of any pastor or leader in the church is to be vigilant and attentive to various aberrations of the gospel which are common in our own day. Some of the best theology from the New Testament and later patristic period are writings […]