“Never be rash with your mouth nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you upon earth; therefore, let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:2 Here is a slightly edited manuscript of the sermon I preached on Sunday, May 26 at Unity Reformed Church … Continue reading Fluffy Faith
Author: colbyhetcel
Sabbath, Symbolism, & Sharing Rest
“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” - Luke 14:3b This post is an edited down manuscript of a sermon that I delivered at Unity Reformed Church on Sunday, March 17. If you’d prefer to listen to the message instead, you can find an audio recording here: https://www.unityref.com/downloads Sabbath, Symbolism & Sharing … Continue reading Sabbath, Symbolism, & Sharing Rest
History is Complicated
When reading history, any good teacher would recommend that their students employ the discipline of multiperspectivity.[1] That’s because there are almost always two or more perspectives on past events. A hero in one person’s story might be the villain in another person’s story. An event might have occurred because of a particular catalyst in one … Continue reading History is Complicated
Christian Fluff
“Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore, let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2 It’s usually in High School that many students learn the skill of adding fluff to their writing assignments to make … Continue reading Christian Fluff
Lists & Qualifications (Women in Ministry pt. 5)
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an elder must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” 1 Timothy 3:1-3 (ESV) This … Continue reading Lists & Qualifications (Women in Ministry pt. 5)
“I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach…She Must Be Quiet.” (Women in Ministry pt. 4)
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue … Continue reading “I Do Not Permit a Woman to Teach…She Must Be Quiet.” (Women in Ministry pt. 4)
The Origins of the Debate (Women in Ministry pt. 3)
“To the woman he said: “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 (NRSV) This blog post is the third of a few entries on the topic of women in ministry … Continue reading The Origins of the Debate (Women in Ministry pt. 3)
A Few Preliminary Points (Women in Ministry pt. 2)
“In a lawsuit, the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.” Proverbs 18:17 Proverbs 18:17 is convicting. It’s a court room maxim reminding those listening to the witnesses of a crime to not always believe the first things they hear. The first side of a story is always going to sound … Continue reading A Few Preliminary Points (Women in Ministry pt. 2)
What About Junia? (Women in Ministry pt. 1)
“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” Romans 16:7 (NRSV) This blog post is the first of a few entries on the topic of women in ministry leadership. In this first one, I want to … Continue reading What About Junia? (Women in Ministry pt. 1)
Rizpah: The (Not So) Silent Prophet
There is a story folded into the narrative of 2 Samuel that’s easy to miss on a quick read. It is also tempting to ignore as it contains a number of rather troubling elements. But it tells of a time when king David began to act more like the kings of the ancient Near East … Continue reading Rizpah: The (Not So) Silent Prophet
Scripture Simplified 