Spiritual Formation

As we begin another school year, how do we make the most of it? What role does Christian faith play in guiding our choices in and out of the classroom? Is there a basis for bringing together studies and the Christian life? Dr. Ryan O'Dowd will begin to help us biblically answer some of these questions and more as kick off the academic year of 2010-11. Join us for discussion and pizza.

Denis Haack is editor of the fabulous Critique Magazine and director of Ransom Fellowship, a community of Christians trying to discern Christ's calling in contemporary culture. Haack writes on topics ranging from the new atheists to neo-pagan sexuality and reflects on the complexities of being a Christian in such a pluralistic society--going to the movies, being a good neighbor, engaging art, having a family, listening to music. His most provocative and thoughtful articles involve comparing life today with the old testament Jews in Babylonian exile.

Lisa Sharon Harper is the co-founder and executive director of NY Faith & Justice, a movement of churches, organizations and individuals dedicated to following Christ, addressing issues of violence and environmental injustice, and ending poverty in New York through spiritual formation, education, and direct advocacy. Ms. Harper is a featured op-ed writer for the prolific blog, God’s Politics, and the author of Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican … Or Democrat.

Our society gives us a false choice between two powerful forces: cynicism and sentimentality. Both are used to trash the Christian faith but both also carry enough elements of truth to be very seductively confusing to us in our own attitudes to God, life, other people, church, marriage, politics..... What is it to live out the Biblical vision that we are all 'glorious ruins?'

Speaker Bio:

This year's Institute of Biblical Studies on the important topic of Identity kicks off Friday evening in Call Auditorium. Our guest is Rev. Dr. Richard Lints. Dr. Lints will continue this annual weekend conference all day Saturday (register here) and Sunday morning. Friday's lecture is free and open to the public. We usually draw about 350 students and community members for this event. Please join us and be a part of the largest annual gathering to talk about theology in Ithaca!

In the final talk of this weekend conference, Rev. Lints will speak at a joint service of Bethel Grove Bible Church and New Life Presbyterian Church.  Services will be held at Bethel Grove at 9:00am and 10:45am.  

Jesus: The Image of the Invisible God  (Colossians 1:15-20)