Timothy Tennent

One Way to Remember the World in Prayer

The date was 2009, shortly after I became President of Asbury Theological Seminary. I had my head bowed and my eyes closed trying to listen to the prayer being prayed by a student from the pulpit in Estes Chapel at Asbury. Like most Christians, I earnestly want to become a participant, a kind of co-pray-er […]

Homosexuality, the Death Penalty and the Old Testament. . .

I read with some interest the recent interchange between Adam Hamilton, pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, and Rob Renfroe, the President of Good News on homosexuality which appeared in the May/June issue of Good News magazine. Most of the exchange followed fairly predictable lines which one would expect. However, it was the final […]

Why Did Jesus Christ Suffer and Die Upon the Cross?

The cross has become the central symbol of the Christian faith. It is truly amazing that such a symbol of torture devised by the Roman Empire to inflict cruel punishment on common criminals would become the most recognizable symbol of love and grace in the world. However, for God’s plan of redemption to be complete, […]

What Was the Purpose of Jesus’ Life and Ministry?

The Gospels devote considerable time to telling us the story of the life of Jesus Christ. We find Jesus teaching the multitudes, training disciples, casting out demons, and proclaiming the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. But if we step back and look at the whole life of Jesus, we should see it as Jesus […]

Why Did God Become a Man in Jesus Christ?

Although the Triune God is from all eternity, the Scriptures teach that at a certain point in time the second person of the Trinity became a man known as Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Messiah. This is known as the incarnation, which simply means “in the flesh.” We have already noted how the entire human […]

Pope Francis’ “New Balance”

All around the world the media has reported on Pope Francis’ recent comment in a popular Jesuit publication that it was a time for a “new balance” in regards to the church’s stance on same sex marriage, contraception and abortion. This is what the Pope said which has caused such a global stir: “We cannot […]

What Was the Purpose of the Temple?

In the Garden of Eden, God was fully present with Adam and Eve. The whole of creation was filled with the manifest presence of the glory of God. In a certain sense, the whole of creation was a temple for God’s presence, with his rule and reign extending over all he had made. However, with […]

YOLO

I was struck recently by an article in the national media about a 22 year old young student named Samantha Goudie who was arrested after attempting to enter a Northern Illinois -University of Iowa football game last weekend. She registered a .341 blood alcohol content which is, apparently, one of the highest BOCs ever record. […]

What Was the Purpose of the Priesthood and the Sacrificial System?

God established a priesthood out of the tribe of Levi (one of the twelve tribes of Israel) in order to mediate the Law and forgiveness of God to the people of God. The priests served as a constant reminder of the gravity of sin, the need for redemption, and the power of declared forgiveness. The […]

En Route to Our Future: Asbury Theological Seminary Convocation Address

5th Convocation Address Asbury Theological Seminary,  Estes Chapel, September 03, 2013  Florida-Dunnam Campus, September 05, 2013 Ben Meyer once wrote that “Christianity has never been more true to itself, more consistent with the message of Jesus, or more evidently in route to its own future than in the launching of the world mission of the […]