The sanctuary flooded as hundreds poured in through the doors. Grief-stricken, fearful, and confused, we held hands or linked arms as we entered in a hush. We crowded way too close together on hard wooden pews, overflowed the balcony, lined the aisles, filled each chair hastily set up. Full reading and audio »
When we think about the “So what?” question that emerges at the end of the Lectio series’ four-year cycle, the focus can so easily shift entirely to us and to our response to the good news of God’s liberating salvation story. This is especially the case when it comes to the enormous and urgent needs related to creation care. Full reading and audio »
A few years ago a door-to-door salesman was in my neighborhood selling home security systems. As we chatted briefly on my front porch, he began his pitch. “I don’t mean to sound prejudiced,” he insisted, “but do you realize there’s a lot of Section 8 housing on this block?” His rationale was that the presence of many low-income families nearby should have alerted me to my need for home security. Full reading and audio »
As a child I lived in impoverished Southern California communities with a young African-American mother who worked tirelessly to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Because we continually found ourselves on the margins during times of recession, I find myself drawn to the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. Full reading and audio »
Looking back, it is easy to see that all of the churches I grew up in followed traditional gender roles. The men were pastors, preachers, elders, deacons, and teachers. The women were pastors’ wives, children’s Sunday school teachers, worship team members, and women’s Bible study teachers. Full reading and audio »
In business and organizational life we often begin by thinking about the end. What do we hope to accomplish? How will the world be different if we’re successful? Full reading and audio »
Everyone needs community. We all need each other if we are to flourish as people. Full reading
For spring break I used to take my youth group to Tijuana to build houses. Students loved going on these “mission trips,” often saying that they were special times to get away to a different environment where they could bond with friends and be spiritually invigorated. Full reading and audio »
My experience in seminary was dramatically changed for the better by a simple invitation into deeper community. A friend invited me to join his accountability group. Full reading and audio »
Some of my most vivid memories growing up in Richland, Washington were the trips our family routinely made over sometimes icy mountain passes to visit my grandparents in Tacoma and Bremerton. Full reading and audio »
When I consider new beginnings, I think of two stories involving two women half a world apart — both seeking healing and new beginnings. Full reading and audio »
On the afternoon of June 5, a young man entered the SPU campus and began a violent shooting episode that ended with one student dead, Paul Lee, several others injured, and our community wounded by fear, grief and shock. Full reading and audio »
CBTE is an arm of the SPU School of Theology whose purpose is to provide biblical and theological education for the SPU community, the church, and the world. More»
In this free six-part video series, Associate Professor of Old Testament Bo Lim, CBTE Lectio guide for Isaiah, discusses several major topics in this book that has been called the “Fifth Gospel.”
Watch the videos»
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