Seeing Scripture In New Ways: Town Hall with Dr. Julia Fogg

Town Hall Notes: 

Cornelius Williams reviews the foundational importance of both tradition and innovation that shape effective organizations.

Dr. Julia Fogg is introduced (8:54) and discusses three ways the Bible is interpreted and how these unique ways of viewing scripture all contribute to Christian humility.

1. The Bible is a source of spiritual wisdom and is read in order to deepen our relationship to God.

2. The Bible is historical and can be studied through applying academic methods that can help us learn information such as archaeological facts and the importance of the original languages of the Bible.

3. The Bible is viewed through our own cultural contexts which can bring the truths of God into our specific communities and help us share God’s revelation in very specific ways. These cultural contexts provide unique ways to preach in cultures different than our own and we should be humble enough to learn from each other’s cultural view of the Bible.

Dr. Fogg discusses her own experiences during a mission trip to Mexico as a teenager. It was during this trip that she began to ask, “Why wouldn’t we be learning from the people who are here?” This foundational question became formational in her cross-cultural views and theology. She discusses her book Finding Jesus at the Border and the patterns in scripture that reveal the many ways that God crosses borders from divinity to humanity, ultimately through becoming human.

Dr. Fogg answers questions from the audience (43:55).

Cornelius Williams introduces Gideon Ochieng, Founding Director of CTM Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya (48:30). Mr. Ochieng has been involved in ministry in Kibera, one of the southern slums of Nairobi, since 1998, and helped found the Center for Transforming Mission. Some projects that he is involved with in Kibera are the Highway of Hope and the Global Youth Initiative. Through the Global Youth Initiative, there has been a strong focus on teaching basketball to students which has also helped them teach additional skills of: self-efficacy, social competence, leadership, education, and spiritual growth.

Next Town Hall will be February 10: Rev. Jen Bailey, Founder and Director of Faith Matters Network