When I came to ATS in the early 90s, I was in my thirties and had not encountered formal teaching on church history (that is, I knew nothing). Dr. Luke Keefer was one of my professors that semester, and I am so grateful for having experienced his teaching from the beginning. Dr. Keefer started us out “from square one” in such a way that allowed even me to grasp the rudiments of Christian history, and did his best in a single quarter to convey the vast scope of Christianity. He brought history alive, not only by the stories he shared, but by the way he connected the significant players and events to portray the movement of history.Continue reading
Like many students, our professors made quite an impression on us. Indeed, our lives have been enriched as a result of our time with them—in their writings, in the classroom, at seminars, tutorials, conferences, and so on—and it’s probably safe to say that we became scholars ourselves because of them.
It’s clear that our professors’ lives and faith have touched us. At the same time, we’ve regularly encountered stories in popular books and other media of prominent Bible scholars who have left the faith as a result of their scholarship. These accounts, at times moving and compelling, have reminded us of the tensions in our work, but also that there is more to be told. We know that even while there are those who have journeyed away from their faith, there are many who have not.
Archibald Hart, professor of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary (my alma mater), once commented that people entering ministry will find themselves at the convergence of three major forces: their own congenital brokenness, their own convoluted development, and the demands of ministry.
Though there are many facets of Luke Keefer’s life and work that have left a lasting impression on me, I would like to focus on two qualities that especially stand out. The first is his unswerving commitment to certain principles that guided his personal and professional life. One of these principles was the need to see beyond our Western cultural perspective and develop a truly global consciousness. In his reading, in his selection of course texts, in his own life and ministry, Luke pushed himself and others to see beyond one’s own cultural context to the wonderful and enriching diversity that exists in the world and the church.
I have had the privilege of working at Ashland Theological Seminary as Administrative Assistant in the office of Advancement and Alumni Relations since October 1995. During that time, I have seen a lot of changes and have made a lot of friends, with one of my treasured friends being Dr. Luke L. Keefer. I kind of feel like the ATS historian around here as Luke was a well-known historian on the church.
I recently had the privilege to speak in the ATS chapel. One thing I noted in my message is the importance of remembering those teachings and practices which were passed on to us over the centuries. In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he calls these teachings/practices “traditions.”
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
This sermon was preached by Amy Davies during our Seminary Chapel on Wednesday April 22, 2015.
Mrs. Davies is a wife and mother of two beautiful children. She lived in Wales, United Kingdom for 10 years. She is currently a student in our Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation program and will be graduating from Ashland Theological Seminary on May 16.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peacebe with you!’After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.The disciples were overjoyedwhen they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23, NIV
We recently celebrated Resurrection Sunday. That day where we remember when history pivoted in a new direction. Christ is not dead – resurrection has happened. As the late Yale University historian, Jaroslov Pelikan, wrote: “If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen – nothing else matters.”
Luke Keefer would have agreed with Pelikan but may have adapted the quote just a tad. “If Christ is risen, the church has a job to do. If Christ is not risen, the church can go about its usual business.” Such was Luke’s prophetic call to the church. As an historian who surveyed the entire history of the church, he never gave up hope for its witness.
Today we bring you a sermon preached by Dr. John Byron at our Seminary chapel service on Wednesday April 13, 2015.
Dr. Byron has a desire to serve both the church and the academy, and, for him, Ashland Theological Seminary has been a wonderful joining of those two institutions. ATS is a place where freedom of thought and expression are grounded in commitment to God, and Dr. Byron’s teaching reflects that same emphasis. This stems from his own Ph.D. studies, when he began to realize that easy answers don’t exist, and the Bible, like life, is more complex than most of us will admit.
Though he is now a sought-after teacher and enjoys using that gift at churches and seminars outside of his seminary position, Dr. Byron didn’t always aspire to become a teacher. In fact, if you had told him as a high schooler that he would become a professor, he would have run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. He considers it a blessing that God doesn’t let us see our future too early in the game!
Dr. Byron is an experienced traveler, counting Europe and the Middle East among his favorite destinations. By their 10th wedding anniversary, he and his wife, Lori, had already lived in three states and three countries. Adding to his travels, Dr. Byron participates in Ashland Theological Seminary’s Tel-Gezer project, through which groups from ATS tour Israel and excavate ancient sites.
Dr. Byron is also a home-brewer, and friends in Ashland consider it a privilege if they’ve had the chance to taste his beer! Beyond brewing, he enjoys an eclectic mix of books and music. And if given the choice, he will eat Italian food most days of the week.
The Holy Spirit equips the Body of Christ to carry out God’s mission in the world by means of spiritual gifts. Incredulous? Try to name an aspect of God’s mission that is not associated with one or more of the spiritual gifts that are listed or demonstrated throughout the New Testament.
Furthermore, Jesus did not engage his mission until after he was anointed with the Holy Spirit at the time of his water baptism. One may ask, what is the connection between Jesus’ baptism and his commencement with ministry? Simply stated, the Holy Spirit equipped Jesus to do ministry because Jesus emptied himself when he became a human being; that is, he laid aside his divine right (Phil 2:6-8). Yes, I am arguing that Jesus exercised spiritual gifts. In fact, I argue that Christ had access to all the spiritual gifts because he is the mission of God in microcosm. Certainly, the character of his ministry supports this thesis.
By Rev. Jason Barnhart
