Religion Commons^™

Cosmic Redemption And Christology: The Timeless Christ-Hymn Of Colossians, Rinah Fiol

Beets Paper Contest

The letter to the Colossians, a nominally Pauline letter whose authorship is disputed, presents an intricate message about the supremacy of Christ and the cosmic reconciliation He mediates. Specifically, it contains a beautiful Christ-hymn in Col. 1:15-20, which holds critical implications for viewing the identity of Christ and the scope of redemption. In examining scholarly conversations on the language and message of the Christ-hymn, these questions can be more fully understood and applied to Christian life regardless of time and place.

The Calvin Forum: Winter 2025, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 35., WINTER 2025

Main Features: 2 - Letter from the President

6 - Where are the Pastors?

10 - Formation of Leaders in a Liminal season

16 - Where do Pastors come from?

23 - The minister as a manager of the mysteries of God

29 - Pastors are there and will be there

34 - Who will disciple the next generation of Disciple-makers?

39 - Raising up Ministry Leaders from the next generation

42 - Training Ministry leaders from the next generation

48 - Hope in the ruins

55 - A journey through Seminary in …

The Calvin Forum: Summer 2025, Calvin Theological Seminary

Calvin Theological Seminary Forum (2002- )

CONTENTS - Vol. 36., SUMMER 2025

Main Features: 2 - Letter from the President

6- How John Calvin Shaped Modern Seminary Education BY KARIN MAAG

12- Why Calvin? Naming a Seminary After a Theologian of Consolation BY SAM HA

18- Reformed Roots in the Global South: Indonesia’s Calvinist Heritage BY YUDHA THIANTO

24- Why Bavinck and Kuyper?

26- Herman Bavinck and the Mission of Calvin Seminary: Theology That Glorifies God BY JESSICA JOUSTRA

30- Why Abraham Kuyper’s Vision Still Shapes Reformed Theology and Education BY JORDAN BALLOR

34- Carrying Calvin’s Legacy: How Calvin Theological Seminary Equips Culturally Engaged Ministry …

Theories Of Child Development & Theories Of Religious And Spiritual Development (Rsd) In Children, Marjorie Lindner Gunnoe

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This essay introduces readers to the foundational theories of child development and the ways in which these theories have been applied or extended to children’s religious and spiritual development (RSD). By “foundational theories,” I mean the theories introduced in the opening chapters of developmental textbooks. This essay is not a theological critique of psychological theories (for this, see Gunnoe, 2022), nor a “state of the field” review of RSD (for this, see Boyatzis, 2023). Rather, it is a primer on the broad theoretical approaches that scaffold contemporary research on RSD.

Week 5: Discovering Our Family Tree, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 3: Learning To Walk, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 8: A New Set Of Clothes, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 4: The Family Expands, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 7: Follow The Leader, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 1: Overview Of Growing Up In Christ, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Mark 6:30-44, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 2: Our Origin Story, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Christmas Meditations Inspired By Global Nativities, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

Throughout the world, Christians display nativities that depict the birth of Christ. In portraying Christ's birth, each artist has a unique expression of the scene that is informed by their experiences, geographical location, and culture, among other things. Differences between the nativities can be observed in color, texture, shape, space, and in the material, or medium, used. Rev. Emily Scatterday Holehan, Pastor of Flourishing at Maple Avenue Ministries, has contributed photos of her nativity collection from around the world to be used for reflection.

As you look at these nativities from around the world, you are invited to engage in …

Thanksgiving Prayer Walk, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Lectio Divina For Department Meetings, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 6: The Upside-Down Growth Chart, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Shalom In Social Media Marketing Shalom In Social Media Marketing, Jill R. Risner, Thomas Betts

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This paper will examine social media and the ways in which it currently does and does not contribute to shalom through an examination of both the platforms themselves as well as the content shared through them. As Christ’s ambassadors in the world and the primary funders of social media, marketers have power and an obligation to consider social media’s impact on shalom in the world and to use it in ways that contribute to shalom. This paper will provide several recommendations of how marketers can do this including posting content that intentionally contributes to shalom, engaging on platforms that support …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 154 - Lent / Easter (December 2024), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Editorial: Finding the Holy in the Familiar by Joyce Borger....2

Transfiguration and the Lenten Journey by Chan Gyu Jang....3

No Tent for You on Tabor by Kate Bluett....6

Worship Series: Having the Identity of a Servant by Bethany Besteman and Joyce Borger....7

For Pastors: Seeing by Scott Hoezee....15

Psalms of Healing and Hope for a Troubled World by Kiran Young Wimberly....17

A Lenten Prayer of Confession by Chad Engbers....22

Palms to Passion by Jan VanKooten....23

Prayers of the People for Lent and Good Friday by Annie Jamieson....29

Tenebrae by Pete Post …

Coaching America's Youngest College Football Team: My Plan, Trent Figg

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

“From the start, I’ve made it clear that being a champion isn’t just about football. The time a young man spends playing college football is some of the most formative in a young man’s life, and I refuse to let that time be wasted focusing solely on the game. I’m committed to shaping their character and preparing them to win on the field and in their future roles as husbands, fathers, leaders, and men of faith.”
~ Trent Figg in an op-ed for The Christian Post

Because Of Who We Are: A Fresh Perspective On Calvin’S Doctrine Of The Image Of God And Human Dignity, Sam Neulsaem Ha

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Scholars have connected Calvin’s idea of the imago Dei with the modern concept of inherent human dignity. Others have emphasized how Calvin tried to use the image of God to promote the significance of human dignity without connecting it with political theories. These arguments may be justifiable to some extent. However, my concern is that these scholars focus on the image of God in others rather than on how it transforms individuals who live out its renewal. For Calvin, the restoration of the image of God by the Holy Spirit aimed at enabling a holy and righteous life. In his …

Sin In Business: The Contributions Of Perversion, Defilement, And Idolatry, Jason M. Stansbury

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Far from being a parochial concern with the ritual observances of the faithful, sin is the fundamental problem of life for all people. It encompasses all of the violations of the peace that a person has or should have with God, themselves, others, and even the natural environment. These violations occur as people pervert parts of God’s good creation away from their created purposes and toward unworthy ones, disrupting the interdependent order of creation and defiling themselves and their objects in the process. It moreover is self-reinforcing, gaining a power over people that makes future sins more difficult to resist, …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 153 - Advent / Christmas (September 2024), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Editorial: The Bending-Down God by Joyce Borger....2

Advent and Mission by Kevin Schutte....3

Worship Series: Reckless Inclusivity by Ruth Ann Schuringa....7

The Plan by Bethany Besteman....13

A Case for Intergenerational Worship by Lindsey Goetz....19

Q&A: Why Sing? by Paul Ryan....23

Songs for the Season: Building Bridges through Congregational Song by James MacMillan....25

Reflections for Timket by Vince Bantu....30

The Troubles by Karen Campbell....33

A Litany for a Sad Church by Johnathan Scott Sumner....38

For Pastors: The Christmas Mission by Scott Hoezee....39

Worship Series: The Gifts of Christmas by Kyle …

2024 Denominational Survey Results, Calvin University

CRCNA Denominational Survey Results

As part of the denominational ministry plan, Our Journey , the CRCNA has contracted with DataWise Consulting to administer an annual denominational survey. The results from the 2024 survey have now been compiled.

All CRC-affiliated adults and older youth are welcome to respond to this survey as they are led. However, in order to ensure a healthy number of responses to the survey each year, CRC leaders have randomly assigned every CRC church to one of five “cohorts.” Each cohort includes about 20 percent of all active congregations, and each congregation will be asked to engage in active recruitment of …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 152 - Work And Worship (June 2024), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Editorial: Continuing the Rhythm by Joyce Borger....2

Living Worship by Ron Man....3

Worship Series: Work and Worship by Moses Kang and Stephanie VanRooyen....7

Daily Worship and Vocation by Paul Ryan....15

Songs for the Season: Songs for Work and Worship by Kathryn Ritsema Roelofs....19

For Pastors: Preachers on a Mission by Scott Hoezee....25

The Ten Commandments in the Reformed Tradition by Yudha Thianto....27

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" by Joyce Borger....30

Owning and Being Owned by the Psalms by David Koll....33

Whole Worship from the Whole Psalter by Joel Coppieters …

Faith Seeking Understanding: A Comparative Study Of Herman Bavinck And Wolfhart Pannenberg On The Doctrine Of Revelation, Jin Li

CTS PhD Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation builds upon John Bolt’s suggestion that Wolfhart Pannenberg’s work can be utilized to extend and further elaborate upon Herman Bavinck’s efforts in outlining the fundamental contours of a philosophy of revelation. It focuses on various themes related to the doctrine of revelation to examine the theological and metaphysical frameworks of Bavinck and Pannenberg. Through a comparative analysis of their theoretical approaches, this study aims to offer a fresh, comprehensive perspective on the doctrine of revelation, highlighting their shared metaphysical foundations and the synthesis of orthodox and modern thought.

In this research, I explore the motifs and frameworks of …

Hugh Of Saint Victor On Reading And Study, Weston Fields

Beets Paper Contest

REL 341: Studies in Medieval Scholastic Theology

Thesis: Hugh's educational schema, with its dual emphasis on liberal arts and scripture, serves to sanctify all aspects of life.

Reformed Worship (Rw) 151 - Ascension / Pentecost (March 2024), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Editorial: In and Out by Joyce Borger....2

How Shall We Worship?....3

Worship Services: Ascension and Pentecost Services from Italy....10

The Diaconate by Nathaniel A. Schmidt....16

Persevere in Prayer by Yudha Thianto....17

Look Around, Not Up by Katy Kroondyk....19

To, Through, and In: A Prayer for Illumination by Laura Brouwers....21

Pentecost: The Absurdly Unified by Chris Walker....22

Joining the Spirit's Work by Kit Ying Law....25

Songs for the Season: Holy Spirit, Keep the Fire Burning in Us! by Kai Ton Chau....34

Reparations and Congregational Song by Brian Hehn....38

Love, Justice, and Reconcilitation …

Week 6 (Mar 10-16): John 13:1-17, 34-35 - Jesus: The Loving Servant, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.

Week 7 (Mar 17-30): John 20:1-18: - Jesus: The God Who Knows Our Name, Calvin University

Campus Ministries Resources

No abstract provided.