His concern, like a growing number of theologians today, was that there has been such a swing away from the centrality of the Cross and a refocus on the essence of the Resurrection of Christ, that the Church has lost its way and therefore its spiritual power.
Ever since that series of seminars I for one has thought of these matters deeply and reflected over them for some years.
This "has not been" something for which I have had to refocus my own life and theological spirituality. It has however triggered a more interesting debate within my heart and my deepest most thinking, as to the importance of the Cross of Christ and also the Resurrection.
There are some central ideas we can say in reflecting on the Cross of Christ.
On the Cross, Jesus Christ bore the sins of the world.
The Cross, bears the central focus of Christian theology, as it is on the Cross that Christ's perfect blood is shed for the sins of men, reflecting the innocent blood of a lamb in the Old Covenant sacrifices.
It is on the Cross, where my sin is included in Christ's suffering for my atonement of sin. In others words Christ bore my actual sin.
On the Cross, Christ fulfils the Old Covenant where only the perfect man, the eternal Son of God Himself could take away our sin.
Also it is the Cross, that the Salvation path for man kind is cleared of all the hurdles of sin.
Sin is the central obstacle for man to find Salvation as it is sin that separates God from man, and breaks the heart of God. Also it is sin that destroys men and women, and breaks down the cornerstone of any faith in God.
This is why the Cross is so fundamental to Christian theology. Without the Cross there can be no resurrection.
What therefore does the resurrection achieve? If the Cross is central to bring man back into fellowship with God, what does the resurrection do?
There are several things we can say about this.
The resurrection illustrates, that Christ defeated death itself and so takes away the fear of death as a silent and dark eternal destiny.
The resurrection illustrates, that Christ defeated Hell so there is now no condemnation to those who release their lives to Christ for his eternal protection.
The resurrection illustrates, that Christ gives us absolute confidence that He will bring us before the throne alive and with joy.
The resurrection illustrates, that Christ defeated defeatism for with Christ alive we can live with an abundant conviction that our experiences will ultimately be governed by justice and truth.
The resurrection illustrates, that Christ defeated all that is wrong and that what is right and just will be shouted to the roof tops as the norm in a new world (heaven and earth) where Christ reigns.
The Cross and the Resurrection are two central beliefs for Christian thought and practise, and they display very different roles in how the follower of Jesus Christ might better grasp the joys of Christ living in their lives:
Galatians 2 verse 20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live,; yet not I, but Christ liveth by me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and give himself for me.".