Many studies of church history trace the doctrinal disputes that shaped Christianity. Jaroslav Pelikan’s five-volume magnum opus The Christian Tradition is a prime example of this approach. Shorter works with the same methodology exist. While these are crucially important, church history has so much more to offer today’s pastors and ministry leaders. Many Christians through the centuries have written treatises on the pastorate that provide valuable wisdom…
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This month marks a monumental anniversary. Five hundred years ago this month Martin Luther did something so radical that its effects are felt all over the world—no exaggeration—to this very day. He started his most revolutionary work, the one that above all else was the most dangerous, unleashing on the world a fire of ideas that still grows and burns out of control. In May 1521 Martin Luther sat down to translate the New Testament into his mother tongue, German. …
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“Now here’s the crucial insight for Christian formation and discipleship: not only is this learning-by-practice the way our hearts are correctly calibrated, but it is also the way our loves and longings are misdirected and miscalibrated—not because our intellect has been hijacked by bad ideas but because our desires have been captivated by rival visions of flourishing. And that happens through practices, not propaganda. Our desires are caught more than they are taught. All kinds of cultural rhythms and routines are, in fact, rituals that function as pedagogies of desire precisely because they tacitly and covertly train us to love a certain version of the kingdom, teach us to long for some rendition of the good life. These aren’t just things we do; they do something to us.” …
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Every year Greg Enas, co-founder and leader of Citizen 7 right here in Indianapolis, circulates an end-of-year summary of the best books he’s read in the last twelve months. These works are diverse in their focus and perspectives. Here is a snippet that focuses on Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun’ s For the Life of the World: Theology That Makes a Difference.
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Wheeler Mission has been serving the homeless in Indianapolis for over 125 years! This has been, and continues to this day, a crucial outreach and light of the gospel in our city. Rob Wingerter is a Board Member Emeritus who has chronicled its history in The Story of Wheeler Mission: Celebrating 125 Years of Ministry to Those in Need. Recently Rob sat down with the ITS president to discuss this history, as well as the current nature and character of homeless in our time. The book is available for purchase in both Kindle® and paperback on Amazon®. …
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In the last year the ITS board has grown in several ways. One such addition is retired businessman, Rob Wingerter. Rob has brought a lot of structural clarity to ITS as well as visions for growth. Rob is also an accomplished author. He is particularly interested in the value of retreat (he runs the Mahseh Center in Kewanna, IN), and church history. This month we highlight his recent book, Stones in the Stream: An Overview of the Flow of Christian History as Examined Through the Lives of Twenty-Two Men and Women That Altered Its Course. You can view an interview with Rob here regarding how and why he wrote the book. …
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