New Testament Christianity Vol 2

"It was while completing the present volume that my husband died suddenly at his home in Columbus, Ind. During the latter days of his life he organized and incorporated the New Testament Christianity Book Fund as a means of carrying on the work he had undertaken, and other volumes will be issued as planned by Mr. Sweeney. The first volume was given a most cordial reception, and the interest so enthusiastically expressed by recipients was a great inspiration, not only to Mr. Sweeney, but to his associates in the Book Fund." --From the Foreword by Mrs. Z. T. Sweeney

In Christianity in the making, James D.G. Dunn examines in depth the major factors that shaped first-generation Christianity and beyond, exploring the parting of the ways between Christianity and Judaism, the Hellenization of Christianity, and responses to Gnosticism. He mines all the first- and second-century sources, including the New Testament Gospels, New Testament apocrypha, and such church fathers as Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus, showing how the Jesus tradition and the figures of James, Paul, Peter, and John were still esteemed influences but were also the subject of intense controversy as the early church wrestled with its evolving identity.

"When I was a young preacher I had a great horror of plagiarism. This led me to fail to use many a good book's contents, for fear that some of my members should have a copy of it. This book and its contents can be freely drawn upon without any such fear. The articles in this book have, most of them, been out of print for half a century. There are only a few of this generation that have ever seen them. Besides, they are not private property, but the legacy of us all." --From To the Recipient by Z. T. Sweeney

“The contents are made up largely of sermons comprising the collection of the late Z. T. Sweeney, who originated and planned the series and edited the volumes already distributed. The purpose of New Testament Christianity, as our friends may already know, is twofold; as Mr. Sweeney announced: 1. To let our preachers—especially our young preachers—get a clear insight into the aims of the Restoration movement. 2. To arm them for the defense of the movement.” —From the Foreword by Mrs. Z. T. Sweeney

So what really happened that first Easter Sunday? The simple answer is that no one knows… only a problem if one is trying to prove that each of the stories is factually accurate. If we suspend that attempt for a moment and read the Easter stories in the gospels for what they are – profound statements of faith – we may discover something much more powerful and lasting… Few stories in the entire pantheon of literature evoke as much emotion as the gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. For many Christians, these are the quintessential texts, the ones that define Christianity, their personal faith, and the whole of human existence. That’s a lot to put onto a few simple stories! When using this study, therefore, it will be helpful to have a sense of where participants are coming from. Are they a mixed group with ideas that are all over the theological map? Do they tend to approach the stories as metaphor and take the stance that the resurrection could not possibly have happened? Do they take it literally and believe that things must have happened exactly as they are recorded? Do they feel that there is some point to reading these stories, even though they leave us with more questions than answers? People’s ideas may differ – slightly or greatly – and that’s okay. The point of doing this study is not so that everyone comes out with the same belief, nor is it to convince anyone, at any time, that they must believe one thing or another. The purpose of this study is to explore these powerful faith stories so that they might in turn inform and enhance our daily living.

Never before has there been a resource this comprehensive and relevant for teaching the New Testament to your students. With the topic overview, ideas for games, outlines for messages, study questions, and tips for using real-life experiences, you now have everything you need to lead students through more than 100 New Testament lessons.