Telling Tales About Jesus

What are the Gospels and what does it mean to read them? Warren Carter leads the beginning student in an inductive exploration of the New Testament Gospels, asking about their genre, the view that they were written by eyewitnesses, the early church traditions about them, and how they employ Hellenistic biography. He then examines the distinctive voice of each Gospel, describing the “tale about Jesus” each writer tells, then presenting likely views regarding the circumstances in which they were written, giving particular attention to often overlooked aspects of the Roman imperial setting. A sociohistorical approach suggests that Mark addressed difficult circumstances in imperial Rome; redaction criticism shows that Matthew edited traditions to help define identity in competition with synagogue communities in response to a fresh assertion of Roman power; a literary-thematic approach shows that Luke offers assurance in a context of uncertainty; an intertextual approach shows how John used Wisdom traditions to present Jesus as the definitive revealer of God’s presence to answer an ancient quest for divine knowledge. A concluding chapter addresses how the Gospels inform and shape our understanding of Jesus of Nazareth. Maps, images, sidebars, and questions for reflection add value to this student-friendly text.

Inspires women to engage with life and culture in a God-honouring way. How should we listen to, and think in a gospel way about, the ordinary things we come across in modern life? Things we watch, read, eat, and do. There are so many voices saying so many different things that the temptations are to either disengage completely, or find ourselves being influenced more and more by the world. In this book, godly, clear-thinking women talk about a range of areas of life and culture. They help us to be thoughtful about films, books, and the media; set out biblical principles for approaching topics such as body image and racism; and encourage us to shape the world around us for Christ-becoming beautifully distinct.

Jacob Neusner makes the astonishing claim that Judeo-Christian dialogue is nonexistent. . . . This book is substantive. It suggests what both parties [Christians and Jews] might do and say as first works and words when they undertake dialogue. If they are realistic, frank, aware of their own stories, they can further such dialogue. If they keep making up 'soft versions' of their own tradition, they will produce mush or hypocrisy (from the Foreword). Instead of having dialogue, Christians and Jews have been exchanging monologues--parallel lines that never meet, says Jacob Neusner. This is because neither Christians nor Jews have viewed each other according to each other's terms. Neusner proposes a new way of beginning dialogue by suggesting that Jews and Christians exchange stories. This, he says, will help Christians and Jews understand each other and ultimately provide a way of making sense of the other party's nonsense.

Bible storybook that teaches young children about Jesus' return and why it's so surprising.

A companion volume to TELLING THE BIBLE. Bob uses the Gospel of Luke as a basis for 70 stories about Jesus, his birth, life, teaching, death and resurrection. Bob uses a wide variety of narrative forms to produce stories that will delight new Christians and Bible veterans alike. Each story is accompanied by an introduction explaining its particular place and function, with telling tips and questions. Some require audience participation: all are designed to entertain and inform. The book is produced in large clear print and strongly bound for prolonged use. The price includes a license to photocopy.

The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew, and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh, timely reinterpretation of Jesus’ narratives. In Short Stories by Jesus, she analyzes these “problems with parables,” taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. Levine reveals the parables’ connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.

From the creators of the bestselling?The Jesus Storybook Bible—with over three million copies sold—comes?Loved, a board book retelling of the Lord's Prayer in very child-friendly language that helps little ones learn to pray. And the colorful, engaging contemporary illustrations that bring the words to life will hold your child's interest as you read together. Hello Daddy! We want to know you. And be close to you. Please show us how. Even the youngest kids can experience God's Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love in this board book that presents the Lord's Prayer in words any child can understand. Loved: · Is ideal for children ages 0-4 · Is a padded board book with rounded corners that holds up to repeated use, and is the perfect size for toddlers · Teaches little ones how to pray · Pairs Sally Lloyd-Jones' retelling of the Lord's Prayer with colorful artwork from Jago that shows how the words apply to children's everyday lives · Is the perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, and baptisms · Is part of The Jesus Storybook Bible series, which also includes?Found, The?Jesus Storybook Deluxe Edition,?The Jesus Storybook Bible?audio, and The Jesus Storybook Bible Coloring Book With vibrant new illustrations and a sturdy format perfect for little hands, you and your child can explore Jesus' timeless teaching together in a new and fresh way.