Redeemer Friend And Mother

How wide a range of ideas was used by early Christians to proclaim redemption through Jesus Christ? What did the followers of Jesus do about concepts of shame, death, suffering, forgiveness, and friendship? And how did their beliefs relate to the lives and thoughts of actual persons in the Graeco-Roman world including women? Author J. Massyngbaerde Ford opens a new vista on the ancient world of Bible times.

Today's world demands an integrated attitude and vision toward all of life--an approach embraced and enhanced by the contributors to Earth, Wind, and Fire. In this scholarly and passionate work members of the Feminist Hermeneutics Task Force of the Catholic Biblical Association orchestrate an approach to understanding a feminist model of creation that is faithful to biblical tradition and celebrates the rich diversity of all creation. Inviting conversation between Bible and theology, feminist scholars and theologians, the contributing writers explore themes such as the significance of embodiment, the integrity of creation, the interconnectedness of humanity with other creatures, the evolutionary nature of creation, and integral connections between creation and salvation, ecojustice and human liberation. Both detailed and holistic, Earth, Wind, and Fire is a compelling, insightful, and reader-friendly approach to the creative artistry of God. Chapters and contributors are: Creation, Evolution, Revelation, and Redemption: Connections and Intersections by Carol J. Dempsey, O.P.; The Priestly Creation Narrative: Goodness and Interdependence" by Alice L. Laffey; Everyone Called By My Name: Second Isaiah's Use of the Creation Theme by Joan E. Cook, SC; Wild, Raging Creativity: Job in the Whirlwind by Kathleen M. Connor; Soundings in the New Testament Understandings of Creation by Barbara E. Bowe, RSCJ; Sabbath: the Crown of Creation by Barbara E. Reid, OP; Creation Restored: God's Basileia, the Social Economy, and the Human Good by Tatha Wiley; The Samaritan Woman and Martha as Partners with Jesus in Ministry: Recreation in John 4 and 11 by Judith Schubert, RSM; All Creation Groans in Labor: Paul's Theology of Creation in Romans 8:18-23 by Sheila E. McGinn; Of New Songs and An Open Window; by Mary Ann Donovan, SC; Being a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) is Being the Body of Christ: Paul and Feminist Scholars in Dialogue by Mary Margaret Pazdan, OP; Creation in the Image of God and Wisdom Christology by Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP; Also includes a Prologue and Epilogue by Carol J. Dempsey, OP, and Mary Margaret Pazdan, OP, a Bibliography, and Indexes.

Cornelis Bennema elucidates the soteriological function of the Spirit in the Fourth Gospel, and analyzes the interrelationship between John's pneumatology and soteriology along the trajectory of wisdom. As a possible conceptual background for aspects of Johannine pneumatology, he selects the Jewish wisdom tradition and suggests that sapient Judaism understood 'salvation' as an intensification of that work of the Spirit that is already immanent to a person, namely, the mediation of life and wisdom. The development of an overall model of Johannine soteriology, which holds together both the relational and cognitive aspects of salvation, assists in identifying the specific activities in which the Spirit is involved. The author argues that the soteriological function of the Spirit is twofold. First, the Spirit creates a saving relationship between the believer and the Father and Son, by mediating to people the saving wisdom present in Jesus' life-giving teaching. The Spirit thus enables the believer to come to an adequate understanding and belief-response. Second, the Spirit sustains this saving relationship through further mediation of wisdom that enables the believer to demonstrate discipleship as an ongoing belief-response. Hence, the Spirit accomplishes his soteriological role precisely in his function as a life-giving cognitive agent, i.e., through the mediation of saving wisdom the Spirit provides cognitive perception, understanding, and so life. This concept of the Spirit is the most important continuity between the models of salvation in sapient Judaism and in the Fourth Gospel.

This title from Fleer and Bland is again designed specifically for preachers. Combining essays from top scholars and sermons from respected homileticians, Preaching John's Gospel includes contributors from a wide variety of Mainline and Evangelical denominations who value the role of scripture in faith development and preaching. Developed from the Rochester Sermon Seminar, the book is divided into two parts: The first includes essays on preaching the gospel of John, and is structured around the work of Gail O'Day's guiding essay "Preaching with John: Preaching as an Act of Friendship." The second half of the book consists of ten sermons from specific texts that incorporate the theoretical underpinnings of the book's first section. The essays and sermons are bound together by the same question: How can we draw our congregations into the world John has imagined for us? Contributors include: Gail O'Day, Richard B. Hays, Gregory Stevenson, Thomas H. Olbricht, Tom Boomershine, D'Esta Love, Alyce M. McKenzie, David Fleer, Dave Bland, and others.

Children and youth will just “catch” the faith of their parents, right? Not necessarily. Talking with kids about Jesus no longer comes naturally to many Christian parents. In Raising Disciples, pastor Natalie Frisk helps us reconnect faith and parenting, equipping parents to model what following Jesus looks like in daily life. Filled with authenticity, flexibility, humor, and prayer, Frisk outlines how parents can make openings for their children to experience God in their daily lives. As curriculum pastor at The Meeting House, one of the largest churches in Canada, Frisk calls parents who follow Christ to ask the big questions about the spiritual formation of children and teens. In practical and thoughtful ways, she equips parents to disciple their kids in various stages of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Raising Disciples will awaken parents to the possibly of Jesus-centered parenting and encourage us to engage in the lost art of discipling our own kids.

Respected scholar Dorothy Lee considers evidence from the New Testament and early church to show that women's ministry is confirmed by the biblical witness. Her comprehensive examination explores the roles women played in the Gospels and the Pauline corpus, with a particular focus on passages that have been used in the past to limit women's ministry. She argues that women in the New Testament were not only valued as disciples but also given leadership roles, which has implications for the contemporary church.

This stimulating collection of essays by prominent scholars honors Carolyn Osiek. The essays reflect her career and attempt to pay tribute to both the unity and the diversity of her accomplishments. The authors interpret early Christians in their social world and women in early Christianity, with interpretations spanning the New Testament and early church documents. The editors have brought together an international group of scholars. The book includes both a comprehensive bibliography of Osiek's work as well as a brief introduction by the editors reflecting on their experiences with her during her career. Contributors: David Balch Jeremy W. Barrier Terri Bednarz, R.S.M. Laurie Brink, O.P. Warren Carter Adela Yarbro Collins Amy-Jill Levine Margaret Y. MacDonald Jason L. Merritt Halvor Moxnes Barbara Reid, O.P. David Rhoads Donald Senior, C.P. Yancy W. Smith