Bible Study

Sacred Tension

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:18:07 GMT

"The Bible was not written for passive readers or lazy listeners. It was written for active engagement, deliberation, dialogue, and debate, because the Bible itself is fundamentally a conversation." —Old Testament professor and scholar William P. Brown, from Sacred Tension

Embrace the complexities of the Old Testament with curiosity and courage.

As people of faith, the words of the Bible are sacred. They tell us about our spiritual heritage and convey our ever-present hope. But sometimes, if we're being honest, the Bible — especially the Old Testament — can bring more confusion than clarity. Apparent contradictions and a wide variety of different accounts about God, faith, and humanity's role can leave us perplexed with more questions than answers. How are we to read the Bible in a way that helps us understand its deepest truths?

In Sacred Tension, renowned biblical scholar and Old Testament professor William P. Brown challenges our unease by suggesting that the "problem" of dissonance within the Old Testament is in fact one of its most powerful features. To read the Bible with one uniform voice, he asserts, is to miss the richness and complexity of the canon. Instead, the Bible is "a canonical cornucopia, a 'horn of plenty' filled with diverse perspectives tied together by a common affirmation that God is God, expressed in different ways." With expert insight and passionate prose, Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue that is in conversation both with itself and with us, fostering further discussion and mutual discernment.

Each chapter of Sacred Tension addresses a key question central to the Old Testament texts like the nature of God, the purpose of the Law, and the problem of evil. By exploring these themes through the lens of diverse, and often contradictory, perspectives, you'll begin to gain a more nuanced understanding of the foundational texts that have informed Jewish and Christian beliefs for millennia.

Written for everyday people who long to better understand the Bible, Sacred Tension invites us to embrace the complexity of the Old Testament and discover the profound truths that lie within its hallowed pages. Let the conversation begin!

Key Features:

Accessible language tailored for a general audience
Thought-provoking exploration of key Old Testament themes
Discussion questions with each chapter
Suitable for both personal study, group study, and academic courses

READ A SAMPLE.

Sacred Tension

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:11:26 GMT

"The Bible was not written for passive readers or lazy listeners. It was written for active engagement, deliberation, dialogue, and debate, because the Bible itself is fundamentally a conversation."—Old Testament professor and scholar William P. Brown, from Sacred Tension

Embrace the complexities of the Old Testament with curiosity and courage.

Whether you know the books of the Bible by heart or are brand new to biblical study, Sacred Tension will invite you into an exciting new dialogue with these ancient scriptures. In this accessible and insightful introduction to the Old Testament, encounter the texts with curiosity and wonder and open yourself to what this inner tension has to offer those who engage with it.

Join Old Testament scholar William P. Brown in a revelatory journey through the Bible that will change the way you think about our sacred scriptures and your faith. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter will deepen the dialogue. Let the conversation begin!

Key Features:

Accessible language tailored for a general audience
Thought-provoking exploration of key Old Testament themes
Discussion questions with each chapter
Suitable for both personal study, group study, and academic courses

READ A SAMPLE.

Shaped by the Word, Anniversary Edition

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:50:11 GMT

In the foreword to the first edition of Shaped by the Word, Bishop Rueben Job wrote, "One of the great strengths of this volume is that it grows out of the spiritual pilgrimage of a capable and committed biblical scholar. It was my privilege to hear these lectures when they were presented to the first Academy for Spiritual Formation in 1983. They became for those who heard them a window to God."

Nearly forty years later, Shaped by the Word continues to provide this "window to God" to readers across the world.

In a success-oriented world, it is easy for Bible study to become another task to perform rather than a transformational experience. Those who hunger for a deep relationship with God often struggle with barriers that keep us from being able to meditate and listen to God with the deepest core of our being. Shaped by the Word seeks to overcome these barriers through a formational reading of the Bible. In this timeless book, Robert Mulholland shows readers how to listen for God's voice in our study of the Word and allow God to lead our reading and understanding so that we may truly be transformed.

Shaped by the Word, Anniversary Edition

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:27:19 GMT

Nearly forty years later, Shaped by the Word continues to provide this "window to God" to readers across the world.

From Dry Bones to Living Hope

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 22:35:30 GMT

From Dry Bones to Living Hope

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:28:39 GMT

Though the shadow side of aging is a reality, author Missy Buchanan brings spiritual light and nourishment to people in the later years of life. Older adults struggle with chronic pain and diminished physical abilities. They contend with losses that pile up like the dry bones in the prophet Ezekiel's vision—the loss of loved ones and friends, the loss of their home and belongings, the loss of independence, and the loss of purpose. In a culture that values youth more than age, older adults often feel forgotten and without purpose.

Each chapter of From Dry Bones to Living Hope opens with an intimate, prayerful lament to God from the perspective of the older adult who longs for spiritual renewal and purpose. The authentic voice of lament establishes credibility with older readers who yearn for others to empathize with their struggles. The second part of each chapter, "Cultivating Hope," guides them to God's perspective on aging and specific actions they can take that lead to hope and joy.

From Dry Bones to Living Hope

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:46:13 GMT

For the Common Good

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:30:01 GMT

For the Common Good reminds us that the Holy Spirit gives each Christian one or more spiritual gifts to be used for the common good. It guides readers to discover their own particular gifts and learn to use their gifts to serve others.

Examining key passages in Paul's writings, author Christine Harman leads readers through a personal spiritual gift assessment. She names 20 distinct spiritual gifts—including discernment, compassion, and evangelism—and helps people explore scripture references on each one. After identifying their particular gifts, clergy and laypeople will learn how to apply them for the good of their church, community, and the world. This book is ideal for both group study and self-discovery. The book also includes suggestions for how to build a ministry team or assign people to committees based on the gifts of each individual.

This book is the text for a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course on spiritual gifts. It also can be used for a small-group study.

A Leader's Guide is available for this book.

For the Common Good

Wed, 18 May 2022 20:31:19 GMT

This PDF Leader's Guide is designed to be used with the participant's book, For the Common Good. It includes discussion guides and activities to help individuals discover their spiritual gifts, identify their abilities and skills, and find ways to use them for God’s glory. It also offers a model for implementing a system based on spiritual gifts to identify and call forth leaders in the congregation. The Leader's Guide offers plans for four 2½-hour sessions to fulfill the 10-hour requirement for an advanced Lay Servant Ministry course.

For the Common Good

Wed, 18 May 2022 14:56:46 GMT

This book is the text for a Lay Servant Ministries advanced course on spiritual gifts. It also can be used for a small-group study.

A Leader's Guide is available for this book.

Gather Us In

Sat, 14 May 2022 04:13:46 GMT

The church can become a place where people want to run to instead of away from during times of suffering. Small groups offer a safe space for individuals to connect meaningfully with one another, and they also provide an environment where relational healing can begin.

This comprehensive guide to leading small groups provides eight strategies for leading transformative small groups, dispels common myths about leading groups, and helps readers understand how groups work and the life stages of a group. The author suggests practical ways to lead groups effectively, using examples from scripture of how Jesus worked to transform people spiritually and emotionally. Gather Us In will equip small-group leaders with wisdom for relating to others, knowledge for helping others talk about their unfolding faith journeys, and confidence in their newly acquired facilitation skills. They will realize they don't need to know all the answers to be able to lead well.

Gather Us In

Tue, 24 May 2022 18:19:33 GMT

Gather Us In

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:22:39 GMT

A Family Like Mine

Sat, 14 May 2022 03:44:37 GMT

Families are complicated, and they always have been. A Family Like Mine explores the surprising variety of family stories and relationships reflected in the Bible, emphasizing God's grace, reconciliation, and renewal. The book tells the family stories of our spiritual ancestors in ways that resonate with our own family stories.

Author Rosalind Hughes weaves accounts of familiar and less well-known biblical characters with stories of family formation, estrangement, adoption, and more. She imaginatively retells biblical stories, inviting the reader to dig deeper into the motivations, disappointments, faith, and fulfillment we hold in common with our biblical ancestors.

Story-based and biblically informed, A Family Like Mine combines spiritual autobiography with Bible study to provide a gentle but probing look at the many "mansions" of God's household, where Jesus has prepared a place for all God's children. Reflection questions encourage readers to examine and compare their own family history and spiritual journey with the stories of families found in the Bible.

A Family Like Mine

Tue, 24 May 2022 17:49:23 GMT

A Family Like Mine

Sat, 14 May 2022 04:11:56 GMT

A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

Tue, 24 May 2022 18:19:06 GMT

A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

Sat, 14 May 2022 04:11:24 GMT

What is scriptural imagination? The word imagination does not mean the Bible is fantasy or untrue. A scriptural imagination allows us to look at the world through the stories and images of the Bible. As we view our world with scriptural imagination, we enter a continuous process of becoming more Christlike.

In A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination, Kenneth Carter focuses on four scripture passages to give readers an easy entry into the practice of scriptural imagination. Carter advocates reading and reflecting on the biblical texts with a group.

Carter says that almost every situation and problem we face can be addressed by men and women sitting with biblical texts, listening for what God might be saying through those passages. Equally important is taking time to listen attentively to people who are marginalized. As readers practice the spiritual exercises in this book, they will grow as disciples of Jesus who can then transform their world.

A Beginner's Guide to Practicing Scriptural Imagination

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:04:49 GMT

La Biblia a través de los ojos de Juan Wesley

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:13:06 GMT

Este recurso es el fruto del trabajo misional del autor en iglesias de América Latina y EE. UU. Las clases están diseñadas para proveer enseñanza tanto a personas nuevas en la fe, como a quienes tienen más conocimiento o madurez y desean profundizar su estudio de las Escrituras a través de los lentes de la herencia, la teología y las doctrinas básicas de la fe wesleyanas—herramientas fundamentales para nutrir el discipulado cristiano en la tradición wesleyana.

Cada estudio bíblico o clase consta de las siguientes partes:

Un versículo bíblico clave al tema de estudio;
Una introducción breve al tema de estudio;
Una enseñanza con observaciones extraídas de las obras de Wesley;
Preguntas para reflexionar y discutir en grupos pequeños, y
Una oración final.