I announced on a special episode today that I’m launching a fundraising effort to accomplish two things: develop the podcast dig a water well through Charity: water If you’d like to join in the effort, head on over to my Patreon page!
Author Archives: joeskillen
Skillen Family News
Here is a quick news update from the Skillen family. On November 10th, I shared with Advent Presbyterian Church that our family would be leaving the Memphis area at the end of the year and will be relocating to our hometown Wichita, KS. In Wichita, I’ll be joining the Eastminster Presbyterian Church staff as anContinue reading “Skillen Family News”
Wright or Willard Wednesdays: Power
NT Wright published a neat little book on faith and public life, basically a view of what a Christian politic might look like with the NT book of Acts as a starting point. Near the end of the book, Wright suggests how God might be at work in the world: As for power, when peopleContinue reading “Wright or Willard Wednesdays: Power”
Text Tuesday: Justice
Justice is an explosive word in our culture. Some people on left claim that justice evades certain people groups in our society while some on the right claim that the word is being used to liberally. I once heard a political commentator suggest that if a church goers preacher uses the term “social justice,” youContinue reading “Text Tuesday: Justice”
Technique Thursday: Deep Work
Malcolm Gladwell suggests that it takes 10,000 hours to master anything. Which sounds pretty daunting for anyone, right? Where can I squeeze 10,000 hours for that all-important thing that I’d like to enjoy or master or be known for before I die? Well, if we can break it down to a weekly goal, it mightContinue reading “Technique Thursday: Deep Work”
Wright or Willard Wednesday: Apologetics
Dallas Willard passed away on May 8th, 2013. Truly a sad day for many in the Christian world. Dallas was in the midst of writing a book on apolgetics (defense of the faith) as he was passing. The book was completed posthumously and reveals many of his intellectual claims for the Christian faith. You canContinue reading “Wright or Willard Wednesday: Apologetics”
Text Tuesday: Hypocrite
Matthew’s gospel mentions the term hypocrite (hypokrites) 13 times. Wow! That’s an alarming amount of times for one, particular term. Let’s take a deeper dive. A “hypocrite” was an actor who would wear a mask in Greek plays to portray two characters, or one character that acted in two different ways, who pretends to beContinue reading “Text Tuesday: Hypocrite”
Technique Thursday: Memory Palace
About four years ago, colleague of mine suggested that I preach without notes. “You barely look at the ones you have with you,” she said. So I took the leap. It was terrifying and exhilarating, at the same time. I haven’t looked back sense then. I have a bare bones outline with me in caseContinue reading “Technique Thursday: Memory Palace”
Wright or Willard Wednesday: Paul, Exile, and Jesus of Nazareth
Today’s Wright or Willard Wednesday is from NT Wright’s big book on Paul: Paul and the Faithfulness of God. In this passage, Wright is beginning to sketch how Paul as a 2nd Temple Jew, shaped his early letters. Here, Wright shares how Jesus fulfills Israel’s longing for a God who returns to them; he isContinue reading “Wright or Willard Wednesday: Paul, Exile, and Jesus of Nazareth”
Text Tuesday: Owe
One of the interesting categories in Scripture is the array of metaphors used to describe sin. Both sin against God and sin against one another. The dominant metaphor in the New Testament material is debt. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see NT authors use debt, obligation, payment in their material. The verb “to owe”Continue reading “Text Tuesday: Owe”
Joe Skillen 