Author Archives: Richard Heyduck

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About Richard Heyduck

Pastor of Hardy Memorial Methodist Church, a Global Methodist Congregation. PhD Fuller Seminary MDiv Asbury Seminary BA Southwestern University

What About Leadership?

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

The American church has been buffeted by the cult of leadership for a couple of decades now. The cult took root in evangelical Christianity before it did in my own United Methodist Church. We need leaders – not just any … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, United Methodism | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Believing Scientists?

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

Some suggested that if people believe science when it comes to eclipses and hurricanes, they ought to believe science when it pronounces on climate change as well. Speaking as one who does not deny “climate change,” I think these folks misunderstand … Continue reading →

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God Among the Sages

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

Note: I received this book for free from Baker Book Bloggers in exchange for writing a review. In the strand of the Christian tradition in which I am a part, our main focus is on Jesus as Savior. All humans are … Continue reading →

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The Downside of Church Success

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

There is a long-standing tendency to reduce the Christian faith to ethics. In Christology this shows up when we see Jesus primarily as teacher. As a teacher – in fact The Great Teacher – Jesus gives us the information we need … Continue reading →

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(not) Enlisting Jesus as Our Political Trump Card

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

If you’re a Christian, you know Jesus is really important. We who claim to be his disciples think we ought to listen to him, follow him, and obey him. We ought to do what he did. One of our current … Continue reading →

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Taking Time for the Bible

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

One of the key moves made during the Enlightenment that paved the way for modern historical critical study of the Bible was the decision to treat it as if it were just an ordinary book. If it is only an … Continue reading →

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Heaven’s Flames & Hell’s Gates

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

For several years now, I’ve seen churches hosting a dramatic presentation called Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames. The one I went to focused on the horrors of hell, the uncertainty of life – we could die any moment, and the … Continue reading →

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What Are They Supposed to Think?

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

What are my black friends supposed to think, with yesterday’s acquittal of Officer Yanez in the shooting of Philando Castile? Blacks may (in theory) have second amendment rights, but if they exercise them they’re more likely to receive an instant … Continue reading →

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Church as Ecology

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

In his Ethics in the Conflicts of Modernity, Alasdair MacIntyre draws from W. Edwards Deming and Wendell Berry: “Individuals who farm need to regard themselves as contributing to a larger project, that of making their particular farm productive while sustaining its … Continue reading →

Posted in Alasdair MacIntyre, church growth, Discipleship, Ecclesiology, Leadership, United Methodism | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Preparing for Communion

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

This Sunday we celebrate communion. How can we prepare for it? Some of you will say, “It’s obvious! The way to prepare for communion is, get some bread and juice.” Well, yes, we do use bread and grape juice. The … Continue reading →

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