Reviewing my first year on substack

What were the most read posts?

Welcome to my newsletter, ‘Bible, Mission, and More’, where I share what’s on my mind as I teach, research, and write on the Bible and mission, children-at-risk in the Bible and contemporary society, Psalms and Wisdom Literature, and a range of other topics. I teach at All Nations Christian College in the UK, though views are my own. You may also like to check out my Bible and Mission website.

Reviewing my first year on substack

I began this substack a year ago, aiming to write a weekly update on things I’ve read, written or recorded, and offering a reflection on learning and teaching. I have really enjoyed the discipline and focus of putting together the material. It’s been great as well to engage with others on the platform.

As for future plans, I like the format of some read, something written, and something on learning and teaching. Different people seem to appreciate different elements. I may try and write more one-off pieces but we’ll see how that develops.

I thought for this week I would just highlight the 25 posts that people have viewed the most. For a full list you can visit the archive page.

Photo by Taras Zaluzhnyi on Unsplash

• My interview with Eugene Peterson

• Kat Armas on Mujeres of Exodus; Why a PhD on missional hermeneutics?; and a student's essay superpower

• Mission, OT theology, and Africa; theology and vulnerable children module; and what to cultivate when starting an MA

• Wilmer Villacorta on joy and missiology; my Bible and Mission website; and ICETE Online resources

• Susan Greener on Lausanne and children; displaced children in the Bible; and navigating essay deadline season

• Alison Lo on death and the call to joy in Ecclesiastes; why did I do a PhD on the book of Job?!; and advice for writing concisely

• Lynn Japinga on OT women; Jesus and a child's initiative; and the phone proximity effect

• Hospitality and the book of Proverbs; Blade Runner, Babylon, and the Bible; and getting unstuck with focused freewriting

• Trauma-informed Missiology, Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, and how to reduce your essay word count

• Psalms as a starting point for Old Testament Theology; children-at-risk in a digital age; and chronologically humble research

• Willie Jennings on a theology of joy; my chapter now published on children, exploitation and a missional reading of Psalm 10; and 'roots down, walls down' as a posture for learning

• Ellen Davis on Song of Songs; Preaching on Proverbs and Social Media; and the Power of 'I don't know'

• Katharine Dell on wisdom in the OT; a sermon on Proverbs 1; and how an assignment works

• Funlola Olojede on the OT, wisdom, and women; theology and children-at-risk module in April; and 'the spotify of textbooks'

• A missional reading of James; my writing on children-at-risk; and IVP USA 80% ebook sale

• Contributing to a new Lausanne paper Towards a Biblical and Theological Framework for Child Participation in the Missio Dei

• Women in Jesus' genealogy; 2024 missional hermeneutics additions; and questions to ask your bibliography

• Brueggemann on a girl as Israel's exemplar; joy in Job; and momentum in studies

• vănThanh Nguyễn on the Bible and mission; teaching missional hermeneutics; and a culture of encouragement

• A twice-under missional reading of the Beatitudes, a live missional hermeneutics bibliography, and six things to remember before you hand in your essay

• Was Israelite wisdom unique?; Preaching on anger; and using breakout groups better

• Gina Zurlo on women and World Christianity; the past and future of missional readings; and more advice for graduating students

• Reading 1 John missionally, a doctoral decade, and how to study prayerfully

• Reading the New Testament missionally; the Bible and suffering; and benefits of starting essays early

• Myrto Theocharous on no worship without the poor; introducing Jesus in John; and leveraging Parkinson's law

Thanks as ever for your continued interest in engagement!

Tim