Good Doubt / Better Theology (wk 4: Spirit & Flesh)

Hayley and Vince re-load a Bible study on the oft-misused references to spirit and flesh in the New Testament, as they continue modeling the use of two strategies for cultivating life-giving faith in the face of modern confusion, injustice, and burnout.

1 Corinthians, Romans, MatthewVincent BrackettMarch 4, 2025Good Doubt-Better TheologyComment

Good Doubt / Better Theology (wk 2: Jesus died for your sins)

Hayley and Vince talk more about the two "untangling" strategies people in BLC tend to find helpful for cultivating life-giving faith in the face of modern confusion, injustice, and burnout. This week's Bible study to see our strategies in action: New Testament passages about Jesus dying for our sins.

1 John, 1 Peter, RomansVincent BrackettFebruary 18, 2025Good Doubt-Better TheologyComment

Good Doubt / Better Theology (wk 1: Household Codes)

There are multiple good strategies for cultivating life-giving faith in the face of confusion, injustice, and the demands of modern life. Hayley and Vince describe two strategies they tend to hear people in BLC share about.

1 Timothy, Colossians, Ephesians, 2 CorinthiansVincent BrackettFebruary 11, 2025Good Doubt-Better TheologyComment

Community Organizing

Bringing to a close our focus on "Neighboring" (loving our neighbors as ourselves), Vince interviews his old friend Hannah, a community organizer with Chicago's ONE Northside.

Matthew, GenesisVincent BrackettFebruary 4, 2025Neighboring 2025Comment

Beloved Community

On the weekend we remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the US, we look to be inspired by perhaps his most enduring contribution to theology: "the Beloved Community".

ExodusVincent BrackettJanuary 22, 2025Neighboring 2025Comment

Responsibility For vs. Responsibility To

To neighbor well (to love one's neighbor as yourself) requires a mature handling of personal responsibility, rather than hard and fast rules. Hayley and Vince share from their experiences and from the Christian tradition along these lines. (Photo: Derick Mckinney on Unsplash)

Ecclesiastes, Luke, PsalmsVincent BrackettJanuary 14, 2025Neighboring 2025Comment

How do I know when to help and when not to?

To be alive today is to be in a continual state of having your conscience pricked, for worthy reasons! Vince shares how prayer has helped him wisely and compassionately navigate that reality.

JohnVincent BrackettJanuary 7, 2025Neighboring 2025Comment

Christmas Reflection: A Thrill of Hope

Hayley’s reflection after our community's unique take on the traditional Anglican "Lessons & Carols" service. (Art by Lauren Wright Pittman)

Matthew, LukeVincent BrackettDecember 24, 2024Advent 2024Comment

The Advent Stories

The commodification of the stories we return to every Advent can neuter their power to frame the good life for us, so this week enjoy a fresh imagining of the Mary & Joseph relationship (and some original art) from open and relational theologian Jonathan Foster.

MatthewVincent BrackettDecember 17, 2024Advent 2024Comment

What is and what could be (Advent)

For the second Sunday of Advent, Hayley reflects on the beauty of slowing down and the gift of the tender mercy of God. (Art: Jesus Offering the Light, 2004, by Jyoti Sahi)

LukeVincent BrackettDecember 10, 2024Advent 2024Comment