Skip to content

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Grounded in Faith, Formed in Community

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
Menu

Category: Theological Reflection

Why do Christians fast?

Why do Christians fast?

Posted on February 9, 2016January 22, 2021 by ptsblog
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Updated 02/28/17 In the Ash Wednesday Gospel reading, Jesus says “when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt 6:17-18). Notice that Jesus…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
Read more
Pittsburgh mission conference with Alan Hirsch April 8-9

The Mission has a Church

Posted on February 8, 2016January 29, 2021 by ptsblog
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

“Our task as his people is to discern what God is doing and join with him. It is not so much that the church has a mission but that the mission has a church.” As I read those words from Alan Hirsch’s book, The Permanent Revolution, they stopped me in my tracks. As the senior pastor…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
Read more

Blood on My Hands

Posted on January 27, 2016January 29, 2021 by ptsblog
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The other day, quite unintentionally actually, I found myself in Chapel at my school, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I am a marvelously busy guy these days, and Chapel is one thing that just seems to fall off my radar screen each week. But I was having lunch with someone who wanted to swing by Chapel first,…

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Twitter
Read more

Posts pagination

  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • …
  • 56
  • Next

Founded in 1794, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological school of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), offering master's and doctor of ministry degrees as well as certificate programs. Participating in God's ongoing mission in the world, Pittsburgh Seminary is a community of Christ joining in the Spirit's work of forming and equipping people for ministries familiar and yet to unfold and communities present and yet to be gathered.

Recent Posts

  • God Invites Me In: A Lay Leader’s Call Story
  • Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
  • Christian Mission: Past Treasures, Future Hopes
  • Sourcing and Sustaining Lay Leadership
  • Disability Inclusion in the Church

Categories

  • Book Recommendations
  • Church Planting
  • Counseling
  • Inside the PTS Curriculum
  • Ministry
  • People of PTS
  • Protestant Spirituality
  • Seminary and Programs
  • Sermon Writing Tips
  • Social Work
  • Theological Reflection
  • Uncategorized
  • Who Is My Neighbor?

Archives

Tags

Bible study Call to ministry Christian spirituality church leadership church planting church planting for new communities church planting in pennsylvania Communion elements community Community worship doctor of ministry education faith and politics fasting Festivals and holy days Fred Rogers Good Samaritan Lent master of divinity mdiv alumni mdiv program mdiv program and social work MDiv program Pittsburgh ministry Ministry conferences and events Mission reflections mission trip pastoral care pastoral counseling Pastoral vocation PCUSA Seminary community seminary experience Seminary experiences sermon writing tips Social justice Spiritual journeys theological education theology and social work Urban ministry Volunteering Women in ministry world mission World Mission Initiative Youth ministry

Top Posts and Pages

  • A poem about hands
    A poem about hands
  • 5 Practical Considerations for the Church Planting Process
    5 Practical Considerations for the Church Planting Process
  • Who Is My Neighbor? Sharon McCart on Presence, Advocacy, and Service Together
    Who Is My Neighbor? Sharon McCart on Presence, Advocacy, and Service Together
  • Who Is My Neighbor? The Rev. Kathryn Lester-Bacon on Neighbor, Change, and Mutual Responsibility
    Who Is My Neighbor? The Rev. Kathryn Lester-Bacon on Neighbor, Change, and Mutual Responsibility
  • Who Is My Neighbor? – The Rev. Dr. MaryAnn Rennie on Place, History, and Church "for" Community
    Who Is My Neighbor? – The Rev. Dr. MaryAnn Rennie on Place, History, and Church "for" Community
  • Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
    Finding Ground – A Journey of Vocational Recovery at PTS
  • Books for Pastors: Pastoral Care
    Books for Pastors: Pastoral Care
  • When Church Plants Die
    When Church Plants Die

Subscribe to Blog via E-mail

Enter your e-mail address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.

© 2025 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme