Letters to My Students

Mailbag is a tool I utilize with students of Scripture and theology anytime I have the opportunity to teach. The questions that are sent in are ones that we did not have time for in the moment, or the scope of our passage did not directly answer them.  Students email me their questions, I reply with either my own answers, or trusted sources, and then I require that they engage the responses and sources cited before scheduling a meeting with me to discuss further. I am sharing these here for an archive of such questions and responses. Here are the questions...   The first question is about Matthew 25, specifically with the phrase in verse 15, "to each according to his ability." With how this passage was cross-referenced with the measure of faith God assigns in Romans 12, my mind takes this phrase to mean there is something inherent about us that prescribes the faith we will receive. I think in general I'm still trying to wrap my head around how there are different measures...

Mailbag is a tool I utilize with students of Scripture and theology anytime I have the opportunity to teach. The questions that are sent in are ones that we did not have time for in the moment, or the scope of our passage did not directly answer them.  Students email me their questions, I reply with either my own answers, or trusted sources, and then I require that they engage the responses and sources cited before scheduling a meeting with me to discuss further. I am sharing these here for an archive of such questions and responses. Here are the questions...   1) Why does it feel like a loss to not have the things I want or to give them up? To lose something (or someone), either by having it taken from us, or by giving it up, is real loss. Whether it be significant (death of a loved one), mildly important (deciding to move on from a friendship that has been on the rocks for years and finally saying “goodbye” to that person), or seemingly small (deciding to give up Dr. Pepper ...