Faith

Why Pray?

Alan Ehler
The New Testament priority for prayer was adopted by the early church. Mark 1:35 records the pattern of Jesus’ ministry mentioned several other times in the Gospels: “The New Testament priority for prayer was adopted by the early church. Mark 1:35 records the pattern of Jesus’ ministry mentioned several other times in the Gospels: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” The Incarnate Son of God made prayer a regular part of his life. In this week’s post, Dr. Ehler, Dean of Southeastern University’s college of theology and religion, discusses the posture of prayer and the significance it has in cultivating our relationship with God. ... Read More...
9 min read

Faith Outside Ourselves

Jordan Reed
Faith can, will, and should be challenged from outside ourselves. A humble faith recognizes contrasting voices as valid even if the value of their claims is up for debate. In this week's discussion, Jordan Reed, a seminary student at Boston University, provides a personal reflection examining his transition from undergraduate learning into a more diversely opinionated institution and how it has influenced his current theological perspectives. ... Read More...
5 min read

Christ, the Savior is Born!

Alan Ehler
Christmas is the season when families share gifts with one another, hope with those around them, and memories that last a lifetime. The holidays also represent a responsibility to share the good news with others under the firm biblical-grounded belief that Jesus Christ is Savior. In this week's article, a fresh perspective carries believers into new areas where our attention can be refocused during this busy winter season.... Read More...
5 min read

A Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Eugene Peterson

Charlie Dawes
Yesterday, Eugene Peterson walked across the threshold of heaven’s gates. Many hearts are sorrowful and, at the same time, in awe at a life well lived. Eighty-five years, over 30 books authored, a meaningful vocation, a wonderful family and millions of lives were impacted through Peterson's words on paper. Join in the discussion this week as we commemorate Peterson's pivotal and faithful voice to numerous pastors, theologians, and leaders on the forefront of today's Pentecostal movement. ... Read More...
7 min read

Faith in the Storm

Alan Ehler
Florida is facing the strongest storm ever recorded over the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Irma has already devastated the small island of Barbuda and wreaked havoc on several other islands. Now, this monster is headed right toward us. Hundreds of thousands are evacuating. Others are looking for shelter locally. Many of us in Florida are taking careful steps to ensure our homes survive. How can we, as people of faith, endure the terrible storm around us? What hope can we cling to when everything we own is threatened by circumstances beyond our control?... Read More...
4 min read

A Baptist Among Pentecostals

Michael McCain
There can be a lot of disagreement between church denominations and groups about doctrine. Often, though, we never truly engage with people who hold differing views, we only look at how their views are different. Here is one Baptist student's story about studying at a Pentecostal university.... Read More...
4 min read

No Explanations Allowed

Steven Fettke
Have any of you been a little disappointed and frustrated by the condescension with which we are often treated by the news media, medical professionals, and even some preachers? Their expectations of us almost seem to be that we know very little and the “expert” is going to “enlighten” us. If we don’t learn to think on our own two feet and allow others to tell us what to think, might we even be destroyed by “experts” we allow to think for us?... Read More...
3 min read

I’m Asking you Jesus, Show Yourself

Aaron Ross
What are we as the church doing? We are missing the struggle, the pain, the hurt of those around us. We keep saying “come to my church, you’ll find Jesus”. We keep writing songs on how great God is, and the world keeps writing songs talking about their pain. Could it be that we are hindering people from finding Christ because we are not hurting along side of them (or showing the hurt that we have at least)?... Read More...
5 min read

An Interview with Toby Morrell from Emery and Bad Christian

Aaron Ross
Emery has been a staple in music for many who grew up in the church but wanted music that was outside of the typically accepted realm of what some would call "Christian". Being a Christian in a band that was not quite the accepted medium of art, Toby Morrell offers great insight into the real of music, art, faith, and the church. Toby, while still touring and making music with Emery, is now a worship pastor, blogger, and curates a popular podcast and brand entitled "Bad Christian".... Read More...
20 min read

An Interview with Josh Porter from Showbread

Aaron Ross
"People who follow Jesus that make art are also thought of not being that creative, as in not really having anything honest to say." With the release of their final album "Showbread is Showdead", we here at ECCLESIAM got to catch up with Josh Porter from Showbread on his thoughts on the intersection of art and faith. ... Read More...
23 min read

Art and Faith (Ideas In Worship)

Levi Larson
When we encounter works of art we are moved and reminded of other things in our lives. When we hear a symphony we feel the tension of the strings or the whimsy of the melody. When we watch films we are able to relate to characters experiences and empathize with them. When we look at paintings we are able to identify symbols and colors that allude to something unknown. Somehow through viewing a piece of art we are able to experience this feeling of otherness that is difficult to describe and even more difficult to understand. Art lowers our defenses and allows us to see the world in a fresh lens.... Read More...
7 min read