Insights – Page 2 – Jeremy Serrano

What people don’t get about Evangelical Christianity from the news

Posted onApril 11, 2013Leave a comment

Andrew Sullivan is the founder of a political blog called The Dish. He recently attended the funeral of his friend at an Evangelical Mega-church. The post is worth reading in its entirety—here. The most interesting part of his piece is this. What I guess I’m trying to say is that so many of us have come to view evangelical Christianity as threatening, and in its political incarnation, it is at times. But freed from politics, Read More …

Quick Thought: Maundy Thursday

Posted onMarch 21, 2013March 21, 2013Leave a comment

Part of being Christian means that we allow Jesus to serve us. This is completely backwards to the way the world tends to work. Usually those with power are served by those with less power, but this is not the upside-down way of Jesus. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus has all the power and he serves us. When he washes the disciple’s feet, Jesus shows that he sacrifices in small act of services. The Read More …

The things some women are taught.

Posted onNovember 13, 2012November 14, 20122 Comments

In her blog My One and Only Post on the Recent Hoopla Regarding #BiblicalWomanhood @ Cheesewearing Theology Amanda MacInnis writes: “Here are just a few of the pieces of advice I have heard over the years by well-meaning older women eager to guide and mentor the younger generation of women, from a variety of congregations: A woman’s highest calling is to be a wife and mother. If you don’t invest 100% of yourself in your kids every single Read More …

Reading The Bible

Posted onNovember 9, 2012November 9, 2012Leave a comment

The Bible is the best selling book of all time and it is read by people on every continent. Because it’s so widely read, many think that it can be parsed and understood solely in isolation. But, the Bible was never meant to be read without a community who could help interpret it. This does’t mean that it shouldn’t be read alone, only that one needs a community of believers to read with regularly. No Read More …

Keeping the Baptismal Font Filled

Posted onNovember 1, 2012December 1, 2014Leave a comment

Where did the water go? As a person who goes into the sanctuary almost daily I find it odd when I find the Baptismal font empty. In some congregations the baptismal font is filled before the Sunday service and emptied afterward. I am not sure why some Altar Guilds do this. I think that I can make a case that the Baptismal font should always have water in it (Lent is not exception to this, but Read More …

Planning a Youth Group Meeting

Posted onOctober 30, 2012October 30, 2012Leave a comment

Worship, outreach, learning, and fellowship are core aspects of any healthy youth ministry; exclude any one of these and a youth ministry is found wanting. Though a youth ministry needs these four practices, it doesn’t mean that all four need to be done at every meeting. Each gathering should be purposeful in its planning and implementation. Even a plan to “just hang out,” is still a plan. Here is a regular youth group meeting Read More …

Serving Communion Health Edition

Posted onOctober 25, 2012October 24, 2012Leave a comment

For the last two months I’ve been serving communion in worship regularly. During this time, I’ve become increasingly aware of moments up to touching the bread and wine. I’ve noticed over time that some people are not aware of what they do with their hands leading up to handling the Eucharist. I am always concerned about hygiene before handling food. I am especially aware of my impending bread holding since it’s right after the passing Read More …

Making major changes within the first month of a new call

Posted onOctober 24, 2012February 4, 2013Leave a comment