Bücher veröffentlicht von William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Recovering the church's native language for migrantsNationalistic tribalism is on the rise around the world. How we treat strangers (foreigners, immigrants, migrants) is a promi­nent political, economic, and religious issue. Drawing on his personal experiences and expertise as a biblical scholar, Mark Hamilton argues that Scripture describes God's people as strangers who are called to show grace and hospitality to others.The church has often identified itself as a community of strangers. This was the story of the church during much of its early history. In many parts of the world, it still is. In a world in which 240 million persons are voluntary immigrants and another 60 to 70 million are refugees, the urgency of the church's recovery of its native language on immigration remains vital. Jesus, King of Strangers examines the Bible's key ideas about human movement and the relationship between migrants and their hosts. Hamilton argues that reclaiming the biblical language will free the church from hypernationalism and fear-driven demagoguery.

What are we doing when we gather around the sacraments-- or when we make the same breakfast every morning? Embodying rituals, says Dru Johnson. And until we understand what we're doing and why, we won't know how these rituals work, what they mean, or how we might adapt them.In Human Rites Johnson considers the concept of ritual as seen in Scripture and its role in shaping our thinking. He colorfully illustrates both the mundane and the sacred rituals that penetrate all of life, offering not only a helpful introduction to rituals but also a framework for understanding them. As he unpacks how rituals pervade every area of our lives, Johnson suggests biblical ways to focus our use of rituals, habits, and sacraments so that we can see the world more truly through them.

A timely resource treating addiction holistically as both a spiritual and a pathological conditionSubstance addictions present a unique set of challenges for pastoral care. In this book Sonia Waters weaves together personal stories, research, and theological reflection to offer helpful tools for ministers, counselors, chaplains, and anyone else called to care pastorally for those struggling with addiction.Waters uses the story of the Gerasene demoniac in Mark's Gospel to reframe addiction as a "soul-sickness" that arises from a legion of individual and social vulnerabilities. She includes pastoral reflections on oppression, the War on Drugs, trauma, guilt, discipleship, and identity. The final chapters focus on practical-care skills that address the challenges of recovery, especially ambivalence and resistance to change.

Is it sacrilegious to claim that ordinary people can do greater works than Jesus?"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these" (John 14:12). Taking these words of Jesus seriously, Outdoing Jesus shows how the seven actions of Jesus that the Gospel of John singles out as special "signs" challenge us to live into a greater future. When Jesus asserts that his followers "will do even greater things than these," he is calling for us to extend his miracles for the benefit of all of humanity. Only a master teacher wants students to do greater than their master!Doug Pagitt uses the works and teachings of Jesus as lenses through which we see what the kingdom of God would look like if it were "at hand." We see how developments in humanities, medicine, science, technology, philanthropy, structural design, and social justice are bringing about the agenda of God for the world; and how we can participate. Outdoing Jesus is not only insightful biblical theology but a robust call to dare great things in pursuit of human flourishing.

A bold, historical, robust approach to reading Scripture and encountering Jesus anewNo one expects to be surprised. Yet biblical interpretation can do exactly that. Christians expect to see Jesus as they read the Bible, but when and how Jesus actually speaks through Scripture can still surprise us!Drawing on the early church's theological giants--Origen, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and more from the historical cloud of witnesses--author Jason Byassee models how we can recover ancient Christians' multiple ways of reading the Bible to our benefit. As Byassee says, God himself is Jewish, Catholic, and Pentecostal--so much larger than our own little corner on the truth--and this book offers readers a refreshingly enhanced vision of the Bible and of Jesus himself.

Seasoned advice for pastors facing the weekly challenge of preparing sermonsFor pastors, a new sermon comes every week. Conventional wisdom says that pastors need to sequester themselves to prepare their weekly sermon without distraction. But veteran preacher Frank Honeycutt suggests just the opposite: prepare your sermons as part of a daily, lived experience in the community.Using the days of the week as a framework, Honeycutt describes practical and essential tasks leading up to the writing and delivery of the Sunday sermon--habits that will provide lasting spiritual nourishment for pastors who plan for a long career in parish ministry. With humor and candid acknowledgment of his own mistakes and doubts, Honeycutt reflects on the joys and hazards of ministry and explains how a faithful process of preaching shapes pastors for a lifetime of healthy ministry.Monday: ListeningTuesday: HearingWednesday: ExegetingThursday: NamingReflecting: A Pastor Looks BackFriday: WritingSaturday: RehearsingSunday: Offering

The Epistle to the Hebrews has been the subject of controversy and conjecture: its author is unknown, its occasion unstated, and its destination disputed. But these questions pale in comparison to the importance of the letter''s pervasive theme: the absolute supremacy of Christ--a supremacy which allows no challenge, whether from human or angelic beings. Hughes''s introduction includes an outline and synopsis of Hebrews and discusses theme, origin, authorship, and date. His verse-by-verse study of the text is accessible to specialist and nonspecialist readers alike. Technical points are dealt with in notes and excursuses.

"This books draws together significant considerations of evangelicalism from three of the historians who have contributed a great deal to putting the subject on the map, along with selected commentary from others who have benefited from, or sometimes questioned, their work"--

Does cognitive science show that religious belief is irrational?Kelly James Clark brings together science and philosophy to examine some of humanity's more pressing questions. Is belief in God, as Richard Dawkins claims, a delusion? Are atheists smarter or more rational than religious believers? Do our genes determine who we are and what we believe? Can our very creaturely cognitive equipment help us discover truth and meaning in life? Are atheists any different from Mother Teresa? Clark's surprising answers both defend the rationality of religious belief and contribute to the study of cognitive science.God and the Brain explores complicated questions about the nature of belief and the human mind.Scientifically minded, philosophically astute, and reader-friendly, God and the Brain provides an accessible overview of some new cognitive scientific approaches to the study of religion and evaluates their implications for both theistic and atheistic belief.