Mr. Locke’s Classroom

This post was inspired by Pastor Ellen (one of my last remaining Methodist Pastors) who emailed me the following question as she prepares for a class: Did Jesus know who he was and what he was going to do on earth? At what point did he know if he did? How does that connect w/fully [...]

Warning: I’m thinking out loud here, so if you’re ultra-orthodox or easily offended, this might not be for you. Earlier today in my Patristic Readings in Greek class, we came across an interesting word. I don’t have a good Greek font installed to reproduce it here, but it’s the same word in the New Testament [...]

I started reading Augustine’s Confessions today, in conjunction with a chapter “about” him (and his theological positions) in my Church History textbook.  I find myself growing more and more perplexed, being pulled in two separate directions. On one hand, when I read what others have admiringly written about him, and when I read summaries and [...]

In my Church History class, we have recently moved from the early era of the persecuted church into the era of the church-in-bed-with-the-empire.  This also happens to be the era of creeds.  I get the sense that for many, this represents merely a bunch of names, dates, and outcomes to memorize.  Ancient History.  But for [...]

People have started wars, split churches, and even been burned at the stake over this simple question casually posed to me by my three year old son last night at dinner. “Daddy, is Jesus God?” It would have been easy to give the quick, standard, unquestionable answer I was raised with: “Yes, Grady. Absolutely. Now [...]

Busy week. I’m preaching at my church this Sunday morning, and then presenting a writer’s workshop at Barnes & Noble this Monday evening. I know I’m late in asking this, but any input you have on either topic (or resources) would be appreciated… SERMON: The text is Exodus 17:1-7, and is the story of Moses [...]

Ordinarily, I try pretty hard to avoid listening to Christian “talk radio” stations, for obvious reasons. But I must have been either bored or incredibly lost on the dial this afternoon, because I managed to stumble across 100.7 The Word FM, broadcasting The Scott Wilder Show. I don’t remember what they were talking about, but [...]