This collection of sermons adds compelling clarity to the growing chorus of Christian voices that are passionate about LGBTQ justice and equality–not in spite of their faith but precisely because of it. With a combination of pastoral sensitivity, scholarly insight, and courageous vision, these sermons are a must-read not only for LGBTQ people longing to know they don't have to deny their religious convictions in order to embrace their sexua ...
"Why does God hate me?" «How can I believe in a God who has allowed my suffering?» These are just two of the difficult spiritual questions that survivors of child sexual abuse struggle with. In addition, survivors often have mixed feelings about the church because of perceived judgment and indifference, their own shame, or their discomfort with certain aspects of worship. Of the many aftereffects of sexual abuse, spiritual wounds are the le ...
The Lord warns of a «famine . . . of hearing the word of the Lord» (Amos 8:11). Has this warning come to pass in our day? There is no shortage of preachers, but how often do they miss the mark in actually delivering the word of God to their hearers, leaving them hungry? The authors of these essays seek to equip preachers with resources to offer their hearers a rich feast from the word of the Lord. Writing from a Lutheran perspective, contribut ...
Beginners scanning Leviticus will find much detail about rituals and sinful situations, but little enlightening context or rationale. This study explores how scholars imagine that these rituals and moral laws made sense to those living back then, even though many of these early rituals and customs have been discontinued or replaced by consensus with alternative forms of worship. The authors seem to be unquestioningly devout, and quite realistic ...
Who of us can possibly imagine the excruciating pain of being crucified? But further, who would imagine that in the midst of this ghastly punishment that brings on unrelenting headaches and mental disorientation, a crucified man would actually give thought to the needs of others? This book explores in detail the nature of crucifixion and then invites the reader to listen in stunned silence to the amazing seven sayings of Jesus of Nazareth while ...
Eschatological glory is a significant motif in Romans that has failed to garner the attention it deserves. Donald Berry argues that glory lies at the heart of Paul's redemptive historical framework and is an integral part of the gospel Paul proclaims in Romans. For Paul, eschatological glory is the realization of God's purpose for Adam and for Israel to see and to show forth the glory of God. This divine purpose finds fulfillment in Ch ...
Though more than four hundred years have elapsed since the Bishops' Bible was first published in 1568, its story has never been adequately told. No book-length evaluation has been published, and no adequate bibliography is available for guidance in studying this least known of the Tudor-period Bibles. This neglect is surprising in that Shakespeare's earlier plays reflect his use of the Bishops' Bible and that the Bishops' B ...
How would politics be different if Christians acknowledged Jesus Christ as the archetype of all rulers, democratic and nondemocratic? How would our practice of politics change if we recognized the suffering love of Christ as the truest exercise of power? Power Made Perfect? offers a distinctive approach to government and politics. It is important, the author argues, to ask how creation provides guidance for political conduct; for politics to be ...
Would a book on how to lead a successful business answer the question of how to grow a church? The Apostle Paul would think not. Taking seriously God's instruction in the Scriptures Paul had, the apostle instructed Titus what he had to do to grow the church in Crete well–and it was not to follow a business model. This publication seeks to assist today's reader as he works his way through Paul's letter to Titus. Along the way we& ...
