This dictionary not only identifies terms and biblical figures but also examines them from the perspective of "reception history"--the history of the Bible's effect on its readers. Biblical books, passages, and characters certainly played important roles in the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but they also influenced other religious traditions, preachers, writers, poets, artists, and filmmakers. The study of such cultural effects of the Bible is an emerging field, and t...
How are we to know the will of God? In this honest discussion, veteran pastor and theologian James C. Howell considers a number of issues relating to God's will, how it is known, how it is done, and how we respond when bad things happen and we feel God is absent or has turned away from us. In this sensitive presentation, Howell explores these questions and provides ways of recognizing the true things to which we can hold in the midst of hard times. Howell proceeds simply and prac...
This volume in the popular For Today series deals with one of the most central and important aspects of Christian living--the practice of prayer. Martha Moore-Keish provides fresh help for understanding and revitalizing prayer life, challenges readers to engage all the senses while in prayer, and invites them to use prayer as the chief exercise of faith. Both groups and individuals can use this deeply theological yet engaging book and its discussion questions to increase their un...
In this unique Armchair volume, noted church historians Justo and Catherine Gonzalez introduce readers to important early church figures whose teachings were denounced by the church as heresies. Instructional for what they taught and for revealing what the church wished to safeguard and uphold, these "heretics," including Marcion, Arius, Nestorius, and Pelagius, are engagingly presented in their contexts through a clear and accessible text that is highlighted by the humorous ill...
A number of moving prayers can be found in the Old Testament and throughout Scripture. In this accessible volume, world- renowned scholar Walter Brueggemann offers his insight and wisdom on twelve prayers in the Old Testament, listening to the biblical text and explaining how these examples of ancient prayer can make prayer come alive for us today. Among the prayers explored are those by Abraham, Moses, Hannah, David, Solomon, Jonah, Jeremiah, Hezekiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, an...
Drawing on their research involving urban pastors from across the United States, Bryan Stone and Claire Wolfteich identify and examine spiritual practices that foster excellence in urban ministry. After discussing the specific challenges facing urban pastors and presenting the kinds of excellence required of them, Stone and Wolfteich explore several practices that help sustain ministers working in urban contexts, such as cultivating holy friendships, practicing Sabbath, maintaining ...
Encouraging Christians to call for public policies that benefit those most vulnerable in our nation, To Do Justice offers tools for studying complex domestic social problems such as Social Security, immigration, the environment, and public education, and serves as a guidebook to becoming involved in social action. Rooted in Christian tradition, each essay analyzes a contemporary problem from social, biblical, and theological perspectives before providing directions for public p...
In this hopeful book, Erik Kolbell, an insightful writer and caregiver, looks back through Scripture and finds that it reveals a God of second chances. The Bible is rich with words like re-conciliation, re-demption, re-vival, and re-surrection, and Kolbell eloquently explores one "re" word in every chapter, each pointing to a well-recognized biblical theme that speaks in its own way to how, when our spirits are weary, God gives us a second chance to deepen our lives of faith. Dr...
In God and the New Atheism, a world expert on science and theology gives clear, concise, and compelling answers to the charges against religion laid out in recent best-selling books by Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam Harris (The End of Faith), and Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great). For some, these "new atheists" appear to say extremely well what they believe to be wrong with religion. But, as John Haught shows, the treatment of religion in these books is riddled with...
In this engaging and important book, Old Testament scholar W. Eugene March develops a theology of land, contending that since the world belongs to God, we do not "own" land. Rather, land is a loan from God, and we must use it responsibly and justly. March goes on to examine in some detail the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian people, discussing both the history of that relationship and how it has led to today's conflict.
This brief introduction spells out the major beliefs of the United Methodist Church in a clear, nontechnical style. William Willimon, the beloved United Methodist author, preacher, teacher, and bishop, discusses the great theological themes that United Methodists share in common with all Christians as well as the particular accents and emphases that characterize United Methodist understandings of Christian doctrines. In his engaging style, Willimon opens the door for further study, ...
Challenging our expectations and forcing us to look anew at our reality, Erik Kolbell demonstrates how the eight pillars of the Beatitudes--meekness, empathy, righteousness, peace, persecution, purity, poverty, and simplicity--are still valuable codes of conduct for our individual and collective lives. In this engaging book, he masterfully shows the timeless value in these poetic and paradoxical words from Jesus and how they offer relief and direction in our all-too-confusing wor...
In Mandate to Difference, renowned theologian Walter Brueggemann sets forth a new vision of the Christian church in today's world. Based on speaking engagements surrounding his critical passion and conviction that the church in this moment must set itself in tension with the rest of the world, these essays call the church to courageously defy political polarization, consumerism, and militarism.Bringing texts of the Old Testament to the forefront in light of our current moment, Bruegg...
Jouette Bassler, one of the foremost experts on Pauline theology, offers her wisdom and insight into the core of Paul's thought in this brief and accessible book. She focuses on major themes in Paul, such as grace, law, faith, righteousness, Israel, resurrection, and what it means to be "in Christ." Through each of these themes, she explores the wealth of Paul's various writings, lifting up the most important and basic of Paul's ideas and explaining them within the context of the an...
This first volume in an exciting new series for laity provides an accessible study of some of the Bible's most important themes. Respected author W. Eugene March traces the understanding of key themes through the Old and New Testaments, such as God, covenant, and sin, and demonstrates their importance for Christian life today. Discussion questions are included in each chapter to enhance the usefulness of this book for church study groups.
Best-selling author Kathy Bostrom offers this book of devotions to help women create calm in the chaos of their busy lives. The book comprises twenty-eight days of devotions for each month of the year, so that readers can begin using the book during any month. Each week's devotions, prayers, quotations, and "Spirit Boosters" focus on one Bible passage, which is read each day of that week. Each week ends with a "Sabbath Celebration," a time for quiet prayer, reflection, and renew...
In this unique and engaging book of meditations, pastor Lisa Nichols Hickman delves into the life of worship, seeking to reveal its rhythms and order. There are twenty chapters, each a meditation on an element of worship, reflecting on how that particular element plays out not only in a service of worship but, more importantly, in everyday life.
In this brief volume, Mateen Elass provides a lucid explanation of the identity and work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit's relationship to the living and written Word, and the Spirit's role in the church and the world. This engaging study will help open new windows of understanding about the Holy Spirit and illustrate how true spirituality is the work of the Holy Spirit. Ideal for individual or group study, this volume provides insights that will allow readers to discover the Holy...
What is the central purpose of the church today? How can churches experience renewal through worship? In Gathered before God, Jane Rogers Vann answers these important questions by studying ten vibrant small, medium, and large churches. Her findings, she argues, show that worship is the most important thing churches do and is crucial to the renewal of congregational life. Vann explores how these congregations changed into worship-centered churches and how their experiences can he...
In groundbreaking fashion, physician and lay minister Pat Fosarelli provides this quick reference and how-to manual for pastors and church groups charged with the care of families facing difficult situations. Each chapter in this one-of-a-kind resource opens with a vignette illustrating a complex and prevalent problem facing families today and continues with a presentation of facts and figures about the problem and an outline of the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that ...
In a time when competing and often irreconcilable belief systems seem to dominate all religious conversation in Christianity, N. Graham Standish offers an alternative for leading a spiritual and faithful life. Providing models that embrace elements of many spiritual traditions within Christianity, Discovering the Narrow Path seeks to hold all extremist positions in perfect tension, by integrating their essential truths yet also recognizing their flaws. In doing so, Standish surveys...
Thomas Aquinas was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Christianity and in western civilization. Yet his theological views are complex and presume acquaintance with technical philosophical language. Now Timothy Renick has produced an attractive and accessible account of Aquinas's life and thought that will make his views clear to nonspecialists. The topics dealt with include God, angels, evil, metaphysics, morality, sex, war, abortion, and politics. Illustration...
Building on the belief that the task of exegesis is to understand the divine-human intention locked within the biblical text, Gordon Fee provides a lucid step-by-step analysis of exegetical procedures that has made New Testament Exegesis a standard textbook for nearly two decades. Now more than ever, with an updated, newly integrated bibliography and an appendix directly addressing reader-response criticism, this essential, classic guide will assist students, scholars, and clergy in...
This delightful book is a guide to worship for young children. Illustrated by mice that help explain Sunday worship services and encourage participation in worship by children and their parents, this book was designed for use by children age three through nine with the help of parents or teachers.
Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman have taken the needs of children into account and devised an exciting method for introducing three- to seven-year-olds to the wonder of worship. Their approach, which integrates religious education and worship, has been presented at numerous workshops and training sessions. Based on the authors' experiences, the methods described here will be invaluable to teachers helping children understand and appreciate worship.
Great Prayers of the Old Testament
Author(s):Walter Brueggemann
Read More....