We are examining the multi-faceted strands of the genius of Wesleyan catechesis. So far, we have explored the role of God’s prior action in prevenient grace (part 1), Wesley’s notion of “waiting in the means of grace” (part 2), and the role of the community in spiritual formation (part 3). Today’s blog will explore the […]
“It’s about Community”: Wesleyan Catechesis, part 3
In the introduction to this series (March 28th post entitled “Catechesis is the first step in ‘making culture’”) I noted that we encounter a wide array of models for how the church passed the faith on to the next generation. I briefly highlighted the catechumen-mystagogy model of the Patristics, the monastic/service model of the Celtics, […]
Waiting “in the means of grace”: Wesleyan catechesis, part 2
The last blog explored how we cannot begin the road to catechesis until we first recognize God’s prior action in our lives. For Wesleyans this is normally captured in the doctrine of prevenient grace. This is that grace which “goes before” or “leads the way” whereby God acts to free our human will from the […]
Prevenient Grace as the Foundation for Wesleyan Catechesis: Wesleyan Catechesis, part 1 by Timothy C. Tennent
During these days I am reflecting on how Christians are to “make culture” by reconstructing the grand narrative of the gospel. The grand story stretches from creation to fall to covenant to incarnation to resurrection to ascension to Pentecost to church to return of Christ to New Creation. This big narrative of God’s mighty redemptive […]
The first step in “making culture” is Catechesis!
Andy Crouch, a senior editor at Christianity Today, was at Asbury last week. What a great blessing he was to our community. I first encountered Andy Crouch back a few years ago when he published his book, Culture Making. One of the insights in that book is that it is not enough to simply critique […]
Robust Christianity
In reflecting on the responses to my blog the last four days, I thought it might be helpful for me to share a few of my own reactions. My overwhelming response is gratefulness to God, to our students, various other responders and yes, indeed, to Rob Bell as well for stimulating such a healthy conversation. […]
Part Four: Why Rob Bell needs to return to Seminary… and bring along quite a few contemporary evangelical pastors (cont.)
This is the FOURTH and final part in a series on Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins, by Timothy C. Tennent, PhD, President of Asbury Theological Seminary Bell’s ecclesiology has collapsed and we are left with an individual sincere seeker after God. The mission of the church has been, at best, stunted, since the other […]
Part Three: Why Rob Bell needs to return to Seminary… and bring along quite a few contemporary evangelical pastors (cont.)
This is the THIRD in a four part series on Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins, by Timothy C. Tennent, PhD, President of Asbury Theological Seminary Third, Bell has an inadequate understanding of the Kingdom of God. He rightly chastises the collapse of salvation into personal justification, though he doesn’t use theological terms to describe […]
Part Two: Why Rob Bell needs to return to Seminary… and bring along quite a few contemporary evangelical pastors
This is the SECOND in a four part series on Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins, by Timothy C. Tennent, PhD, President of Asbury Theological Seminary My problem with Rob Bell is not so much with his diagnostics regarding contemporary popular evangelicalism, as it is with his prescription. The real question is not whether Rob […]
Part One: Why Rob Bell needs to return to Seminary… and bring along quite a few contemporary evangelical pastors
This is the first of a four part series on Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins, by Timothy C. Tennent, Ph.D., President of Asbury Theological Seminary Rob Bell is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a graduate of Wheaton College and Fuller Theological Seminary. Rob Bell’s latest book, Love […]