Theology for Life Archive


Theology for Life Archive

The Art of the Resurrection

Image

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s supreme defeat of death. Many times, however, we can miss the details of the stories of the risen Jesus.

Good Christian art has the power to remind us of things we may not have known or realized so that we can have a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with our risen Lord.

In this class, we will look at events in the Gospel through the medium of art and see how these works draw us closer into the Bible, so that we can encounter the risen Lord anew.

April 7, 2024

Week One

April 14, 2024

Week Two

April 21, 2024

Week Three

Theology for Life Archive

A Short History of Christian Thought

Image

“A Short History of Christian Thought” with the Rev. Dr . Jim Jackson, Jr.

During Lent, join us for a Sunday school class series exploring Christian thought’s history with the Rev. Dr. Jim Jackson, Jr.

For more information, contact Amanda DeViney at [email protected] or 713-830-4110.

February 18, 2024

Week One

February 25, 2024

Week Two

March 3, 2024

Week Three

March 10, 2024

Week Four

March 17, 2024

Week Five

Theology for Life Archive

Dave on the Life of David

Image

Among the Old Testament’s diverse cast of characters, the man named David is one of the headliners. His life with God was a roller coaster. No one is more heroic, and no one is more shattered than King David.

His life is an illustration of experiencing God across life’s full gamut. In these sessions, we will consider how David experienced God in his call, in the pain of his disastrous failure and God’s discipline and their eventual reconciliation. The Bible pays David the high compliment, as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). We will consider what that means.

January 7, 2024

Week One

January 14, 2024

Week Two

January 21, 2024

Week Three

Theology for Life Archive

Blessed are Those Who Know Their Need of God

Image

A 12-week Survey of the Sermon on the Mount

Watch Dr. Levenson’s first lesson of his 12-part review of our Lord’s most well-known sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

September 10, 2023

Week One - Introduction

September 17, 2023

Week Two - A Christian’s Character: The Beatitudes

September 24, 2023

Week Three - A Christian’s Influence: Salt and Light

October 1, 2023

Week Four - A Christian’s Righteousness: Christ, the Christian and the Law

October 8, 2023

Week Five - "A Christian’s Righteousness: Anger and Lust" featuring the Rev. R Wesley Arning

October 15, 2023

Week Six - "A Christian’s Righteousness: Marital Fidelity and Honesty"

October 23, 2023

Week Seven - "A Christian’s Righteousness: Active Love"

October 29, 2023

Week Eight - "A Christian’s Religion: REAL Religion"

November 19, 2023

Week Nine - "A Christian’s Religion: REAL Prayer" featuring the Rev. R Wesley Arning

December 3, 2023

Week Ten - "A Christian’s Ambition: Investing in the Unseen"

December 10, 2023

Week Eleven - "Christian’s Relationships: Family and False Prophets"

December 17, 2023

Week Twelve - "A Christian’s Lord – Matthew 7:21-29"

Theology for Life Archive

Windows for the Soul

Image

 St. Martin’s Rector, the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr., and Vicar for Worship, the Rev. John Sundara, will lead this special three-week series drawing inspiration and direction from Christ Chapel’s beautiful stained-glass windows. This series promises to provide food for the soul. Come along and be inspired!

April 23, 2023

What Mary’s “Yes” Means for All of Us

April 30, 2023

Following, Changing, Loving, Serving

May 7, 2023

The Way of The Cross and The Hope of the Resurrection

Theology for Life Archive

Clergy Roundtable

Image
April 16, 2023

Is Discipleship just being a Good Person?

May 21, 2023

What is the Value of Reading the Bible?

Theology for Life Archive

The Cost of Discipleship

Image

In this two-week series, we welcome back Dr. Bill Blocker, from Houston’s College of Biblical Studies, to teach about the cost of discipleship. Jesus’ call comes with an invitation to pick up our cross and follow him, to die for ourselves and live for God. What does that mean?

March 19, 2023

Week One

March 26, 2023

Week Two

Theology for Life Archive

Adult Sunday School with Bishop Mike Hill

Image

Where does change come from? How do we keep going when the tank runs dry? How do we grow into all that Jesus promises us in the Gospel?

In this two-week series, Bishop Mike Hill, retired Bishop of Bristol, will offer guidance for the less traveled road, the same way Jesus calls all His followers to take.

February 26, 2023

The Inward Challenge of Change

March 5, 2023

Fuel for the Journey

Theology for Life Archive

Troublesome Texts in the Old Testament

The stories of the Old Testament can be troubling, confusing and sometimes alarming! And yet, these same stories are also the word of God revealed to us in written form. In this four-week series, Clergy will take on some trickier themes that crop up repeatedly, looking for better ways to understand them and how to see Scripture as part of the Good News.

January 15, 2023

Violence in the Bible

January 22, 2023

History in the Bible

February 5, 2023

Sexuality in the Bible

February 19, 2023

Science in the Bible

Theology for Life Archive

Welcoming Mary

Christian tradition sometimes holds Mary in too high of a position and at other times ignores her completely. This young woman faced an impossible call: to be the virgin mother of God incarnate. How did she respond? What do we learn from her about faithfulness? In this three-week series, the Rev. Dr. Jim Jackson, Jr. will revisit what we know about Mary and, through her story, trace how Christians welcomed their Savior in Bethlehem.

December 4, 2022

Week One

December 11, 2022

Week Two

December 18, 2022

Week Three

Theology for Life Archive

Storm Stories with Dr. David Peterson

Image

In life, there is no avoiding stormy weather. Storms come in all sorts of types and intensities. The Bible has preserved several storm stories to help us know how to weather them. From Jonah and Jesus to the disciples and Paul we will explore what it is like when the wind blows, and the floods come.

October 9, 2022

Week One

October 16, 2022

Week Two

October 30, 2022

Week Three

Theology for Life Archive

All-Adult Christian Education

Image
October 2, 2022

Guest Preacher the Rev. Max Lucado

November 13, 2022

Guest Preacher the Dr. Garwood Anderson

November 20, 2022

The Roundtable with St. Martin's Clergy

January 8, 2023

Interview with James A. Baker III and Jean Becker

Theology for Life Archive

Deliver Us from Evil

Image

We pray it every Sunday in the Lord’s Prayer: “deliver us from evil.” But what do we mean? The existence of evil is assumed throughout the Bible and Christian tradition. Looking at evil through the lenses of philosophy, Christian theology and Biblical mythology, this three-week series will help you understand what we ask for when we pray Jesus’ words.

September 11, 2022

The Logical Problem of Evil and The Christian Response with Dr. Phil Tallon, Ph.D.

September 18, 2022

Moral Evil

September 25, 2022

Cosmic Evil: God and the Dragon

Theology for Life Archive

One Faith Among Many with Dr. Ben Blackwell

Image

Dr. Ben Blackwell, recently co-authored a book on the basics of Christian thought, based around the Nicene Creed, called “Engaging Theology,” but how is Orthodox Christianity different from those of other faiths? We share some things in common and yet, there are  also vast differences in the way we construct our faith. This five-week series will explore  aspects of Christian thought and how they compare to other religious belief systems.

Ben Blackwell, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Early Christianity, Director of Houston Theological Seminary and Chair of the Department of Theology at Houston Baptist University.

April 24, 2022

Week 1

May 1, 2022

Week 2

May 8, 2022

Week 3

Theology for Life Archive

A Converted Life: Strength, Mind and Heart

In Mark 12:30, Jesus famously answers that the most important commandment is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” In this series, we are looking at some of these elements and stories that exemplify them. What does a life that loves God with all my strength look like? What does it mean for us to worship God with our minds? When we speak of “loving God with our hearts,” how can we see that in the lives of the saints?

March 6, 2022

The Rev. R Wesley Arning

March 20, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Michael Lloyd

April 3, 2022

Dr. Phil Tallon, Ph.D.

Theology for Life Archive

Ephesians: The Body of Christ Made for a Purpose

Looking for answers to how the Gospel transforms our lives and relationships as Christians?  You can find them in this message of God’s liberating hope for us as the Body of Christ, made for a purpose. Bring your coffee and your Bibles as we reflect on the power of the resurrection, the grace shown to us that saves and sanctifies, and how the Gospel shapes human relationships and empowers us to live Spirit-filled lives.

January 9, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.

January 23, 2022

Dr. Bill Blocker

February 6, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Suse McBay, Ph.D.

February 20, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr.

February 27, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Suse McBay, Ph.D.

Theology for Life Archive

How Reliable Are Gospels

with Professor Craig Evans, Houston Baptist University
Dec.5 and 19

This study will include a special reference to the birth narratives.

December 5, 2021

Week 1 Lesson

December 19, 2021

Week 2 Lesson

Theology for Life Archive

How Can I Change? Reflections on Christianity and the 12-Steps

with the Rev. Dr. Jim Jackson
Sept.12-Nov. 21

The course will examine how behavioral practices expand from choice, to habit, to addiction. It will examine the transformational promises of the Gospel and offer insights into how and why the church has failed to deliver these promises to the world. It will also explain how the 12-Step community makes use of parts of the Gospel neglected by the church. Finally, it will offer a comprehensive transformation plan that captures the convictions of the New Testament and the 12-Steps.

September 12, 2021

Week 1 Lesson

September 19, 2021

Week 2 Lesson

September 26, 2021

Week 3 Lesson

October 3, 2021

Week 4 Lesson

October 10, 2021

Week 5 Lesson

October 24, 2021

Week 6 Lesson

October 31, 2021

Week 7 Lesson

November 14, 2021

Week 8 Lesson

November 21, 2021

Week 9 Lesson