Beginning from Where?
Beginning from There comes from the heart, mind, and ministry of Mark Catlin. Mark is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and directs the Master of Christian Studies (MCS) and the Master of Arts in Bible and Theology (MABT) programs at Union University. These programs are based in Memphis, TN where Mark is also an elder at Midtown Baptist Church.
But why is the website called “Beginning from There?” And where are we beginning from?
The idea for “Beginning from There” comes from a description of Jesus’s teaching in Luke 24, where Jesus encounters a couple of people who are struggling to understand Jesus as the Messiah. He was supposed to be the Messiah, but then he was crucified. How can the one who has died be the hope for the living? Luke tells us that Jesus brings clarity from confusion by interpreting everything about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets. Later in Acts 8, a man named Phillip encounters someone confused about what they are reading in the prophecies of Isaiah. Again Luke tells us how Phillip brings clarity from confusion. Philip told the good news of Jesus, beginning from that text. In these instances we find that Jesus stands at the center of the biblical narrative, as he is the one that holds the story of Scripture together.
Beginning from There dives deep into this Christ-centered approach to Scripture to show how Jesus is the center of the biblical story and how that story continues through his people today.
My work is in Memphis, TN, and where else can we begin other than where we are? So you will find here reflections and conversations on the Bible, ministry, and theological education beginning from the heart of Memphis and reaching across the globe. More specifically, this website provides a platform to highlight Mark’s work, the work of students, faculty, the work of alumni from the MCS and MABT programs, and the work of other local ministries in Memphis.
My hope is that wherever the Lord may have you right now, you will consider joining us, beginning from there.
