September 8, 2025 | Dr. Dave Ripper
Dr. Dave Ripper—MDiv alumnus, lead pastor of Crossway Christian Church in Southern New Hampshire, and author of Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus: Reading the Bible like Dallas Willard—discusses Dallas Willard’s approach to reading Scripture, emphasizing experiencing a personal and interactive encounter with God rather than viewing the Bible merely as a text to analyze. He highlights Willard’s philosophical realism and integration of multiple Christian traditions, including the concept of knowledge by acquaintance—knowing God through direct experience.
Dr. Ripper also explores how expanding hermeneutics to include spiritual formation can make Scripture reading a dynamic and spiritually formative practice. He underscores Willard’s theology that balances authentic spiritual experience grounded in Scripture, with joy and blessing central to this discipleship approach. Dr. Ripper also shares how these principles inform pastoral ministry, focusing on humility, trust, and cultivating experiential encounters with scripture that nurture a joyful, Christlike community.