Author Archives: Richard Heyduck

About Richard Heyduck

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

Two Commissions Coming out of the 2016 General Conference

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

Anyone who has been following GC news knows about the commission that will be studying issues of “human sexuality.” In the post-GC letter from the Council of Bishops this is referred to as “a way forward, postponing decisions about sexuality … Continue reading →

Posted in Doctrine, Ecclesiology, United Methodism | Tagged Church, Culture, theology, United Methodist Church | Leave a comment

The Context of Knowing

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

When I look at the current landscape of United Methodism in America (and beyond this ecclesial context), one of the divisions I see is about where our concepts find their definition. We Methodist Christians have some important vocabulary, mostly shared … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Doctrine, Ecclesiology, Hermeneutics, United Methodism | Tagged Hermeneutics, Meaning, United Methodist Church, Words | Leave a comment

Christian Politics

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

We’re in a season where American Christians are thinking about politics. Well, maybe not. Maybe it’s truer to say we’re in a season where the politics of the current American polarizations have colonized Christian minds. Candidates and their flunkies are assuring … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church & State, Clash of Civilizations, Culture, Current events, Ecclesiology, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged Church, Culture, Ethics, Jesus, politics, theology | Leave a comment

Jesus’ Stories

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Richard Heyduck

Jesus told stories to (a) show people what the Kingdom of God was like, and (b) move that Kingdom forward. Following his lead, we commonly call these stories parables. Each parable tells us something important about the Kingdom. That is pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Jesus, Preaching, Uncategorized | Tagged bible, Jesus, Parables, Preaching | Leave a comment

Atheism in the Church

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

The Christian church in America has enough of a problem with practical atheism, the phenomenon of saying we believe in God while living as if there is no God. We also have a problem with clergy who have invested piles of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Current events, Theology | Tagged Atheism, Heresy | 1 Comment

Wesley on Preaching Law & Gospel

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

One of the books I’m reading is Fool’s Talk by Os Guinness. It’s a good book for those involved in the work of apologetics. I want to be a little picky, however. He says at one point, ‘As John Wesley … Continue reading →

Posted in Evangelism, John Wesley, Preaching, Salvation, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged Apologetics, John Wesley, Os Guinness | Leave a comment

Jesus Welcomes You to __________

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

Hawkins, a town not to far from us, hit the news a few months ago when some started protesting a welcome sign. It wasn’t just a “Welcome to Hawkins” sign like you might expect to see in a small town. … Continue reading →

Posted in Jesus | Tagged Jesus | Leave a comment

Dual Relationships

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

One of the books I finished last week was http://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Leader-Transforming-Transform/dp/0310494575/. You can read my review at NetGalley. Scazzero suggests that one of the practices that helps leaders be more healthy is to minimize “dual relationships.” While the term might not … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Relationships | Tagged Ethics | Leave a comment

No Best Option?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Richard Heyduck

One of the challenges of real life decision making is that the options before us might not include any ideal/right options. Some who are faced with cancer are given the option of (a) treatment that is incredibly painful and uncomfortable, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Ethics | Tagged Ethics, politics | Leave a comment