Topical Line Drives
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The Authorship of Hebrews
The Case for Paul
by David Alan Black
Part 1 of the Topical Line Drives series
Over the last few centuries the authorship of the book of Hebrews has been a contentious topic, but lately a strong scholarly consensus has emerged that Paul was not the author. There is no similar consensus about who did author the book; the consensus is entirely negative. Nonetheless, it takes some courage for a scholar to risk his reputation by challenging a so thoroughly assured conclusion of many scholars. Yet this is precisely what Dr. David Alan Black has done. In this book he adapts some of his previous scholarly work for a broader audience, demonstrating both how one goes about determining the authorship of an ancient work, and also how one challenges a scholarly consensus. And that is also why we have chosen this volume as the inaugural volume of our Participatory Study Series - Topic Line Drives. Millions of churchgoers look to the introductions to various books in their study Bibles to answer questions of date, authorship, and background. But only those who read more than one introduction will be fully aware of the disagreements among scholars about those conclusions. How is it that scholars make a determination about authorship? This book is for those who want to dig deeper than the notes in a study Bible and who want to understand what stands behind those conclusions. Dr. Black has paid his dues in the practice of scholarship, and here he demonstrates how one challenges such a consensus. At the same time he will guide the reader through the various factors that influence a decision about the authorship of a book. We hope this book will give new life to your Bible study and will challenge you to study further, not just about this subject, but about many others.
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What Protestants Need to Know about Roman Catholics
by Robert R. Larochelle
Part 2 of the Topical Line Drives series
What is it like in that church across the street? When "that church" is Roman Catholic and the person asking the question is a Protestant, this question can be very hard to answer. Do you actually know what Catholics do? Do you know what they believe? What difference does it make? Rev. Dr. Robert LaRochelle is extraordinarily well qualified to answer the question. He grew up and was educated in the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained a deacon. Eventually he chose to move to a Protestant denomination and is now an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. But he isn't an angry ex-Catholic. In this book he will list for you the key beliefs and practices that distinguish protestants from Roman Catholics. But this book is not just a catalog of differences and similarities. Bob LaRochelle approaches this topic with a serious interest in dialog, in learning from one another, and in ecumenical outreach. This book is intended for any Christian, but it will be especially useful to parents in multi-faith households, to church congregations with an interest in Christian community, and to religious education programs. It is a companion volume to the forthcoming book What Roman Catholics Need to Know about Protestants, also by Bob LaRochelle.
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Forgiveness
Finding Freedom from Your Past
by Harvey R. Brown
Part 3 of the Topical Line Drives series
Forgiveness is simple, but not easy. Many Christians have heard that they are forgiven, but still feel like there is a shadow cast over their lives. Others have difficulty realizing the freedom God offers through forgiveness. Using a conversational and straightforward tone, Dr. Harvey R. Brown, Jr. introduces the Christian concept of forgiveness and outlines how this powerful idea can change your life for the better. God's grace and forgiveness are not just at the moment of conversion. They should become part of your every day life as you learn to forgive family, friends, enemies, past hurts, and yourself as well.
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Holistic Spirituality
Life Transforming Wisdom from the Letter of James
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 4 of the Topical Line Drives series
The book of James has gotten a bad rap amongst Christians, especially modern protestants. It's often considered not as theologically serious as the writings of Paul, nor as gracious as the gospels. For some it's too works-oriented, for others just a bit obscure. Some have even questioned whether it is truly a Christian book. Let's face it. You're much more likely to see a seminary course on Romans or Galatians than on James, or to hear a sermon, for that matter!
Bruce Epperly doesn't agree with that perspective. Not only does he think James has something important to say about the way we live as 21st century Christians, just as it did for 1st century Christians, but he also doesn't think James is in opposition to Paul. He suspects the two apostles would have had no difficulty with each other's theology. In this third volume of the Topical Line Drives series, he aims to direct readers to the important message of this little book for contemporary Christians. He provides a fresh orientation and focus to understanding the message.
Once you've read his thoughts you'll likely never read James in the same way again. Certainly, you won't dismiss it.
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Process Theology
Embracing Adventure with God
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 5 of the Topical Line Drives series
In this brief, lively, and engaging book, Dr. Bruce Epperly untangles the difficult concepts of process theology and shows how we can envision a God who is in relation to us throughout our lives here and in the next world. He believes that "God is present at the moment of our conception, guides us through the adventures of this lifetime, urging us to rejoice in embodiment and bring healing to our world, and upon our final earthly breath receives us with open arms with visions of future adventures in communion with God and our fellow creatures." Not only is this theology easy to understand, it challenges us to live out God's adventure in with joy, sharing God's life with all of God's creatures.
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What Roman Catholics Need to Know about Protestants
by Robert R. Larochelle
Part 7 of the Topical Line Drives series
What is it like in that church across the street? When "that church" is Protestant and the person asking the question is a Roman Catholic, this question can be very hard to answer. In this book Bob LaRochelle will list for you the key beliefs and practices that distinguish Protestants from Roman Catholics. But this book is not just a catalog of differences and similarities. He approaches this topic with a serious interest in dialog, in learning from one another, and in ecumenical outreach. This book is intended for any Christian, but it will be especially useful to parents in multi-faith households, to church congregations with an interest in Christian community, and to religious education programs.
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To Date or Not to Date
What the Bible Says about Premarital Relationships
by D. Kevin Brown
Part 8 of the Topical Line Drives series
Not content to just say "no," Kevin Brown sets about to give us a positive view of godly relationships. What does the Bible suggest about the way we should go about finding a partner? How should children and young people behave? What are the responsibilities of parents? Kevin Brown believes there are positive principles we can learn from scripture. He also believes these principles will lead us to greater joy, deeper love, and a closer relationship with God. This will, in turn, bring us into a closer relationship with one another. Who knew that purity could be this much fun?
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The Authority of Scripture in a Postmodern Age
Some Help from Karl Barth
by Robert D. Cornwall
Part 9 of the Topical Line Drives series
Can the Bible speak to people in this postmodern age? Are we doomed to a choice between rigid fundamentalism and complete rejection of this foundational source for Christianity?
Bob Cornwall has found that he can take the Bible seriously in his ministry, and yet avoid such controversial labels as "inerrancy" or "infallibility." Taking his vocabulary and direction from the work of Karl Barth, he charts a course toward a serious study and use of scripture that embraces historical-critical methology, but at the same time expects God to speak through the text in ways that will change our lives and minister to this postmodern age.
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The Eucharist
Encounters with Jesus at the Table
by Robert D. Cornwall
Part 10 of the Topical Line Drives series
Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist are some of the names used to signify what is arguably the center of our worship as Christians.
"Although the Eucharist may stand at the center of Christian worship, there are a great variety of theologies and practices present within the Christian community. For some it is a mere memorial of Jesus' last supper with his disciples. For others it is the place where one not only encounters Jesus' spiritual presence, but consumes his true body and true blood under the signs of bread and wine. Although rooted in the practices of the early Christians, time has witnessed considerable evolution, and with evolution comes diversity of practice and belief," says author, Dr. Robert Cornwall.
This newest addition to the Topical Line Drives series offers a rich but brief stimulus for us to converse about our differences in theology and practice. It is Dr. Cornwall's hope that such conversations will increase our joy in the experience of this sacrament given to us by Jesus Christ.
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Rendering Unto Caesar
Examining What Jesus Said About Giving God What Is His
by Christopher D Surber
Part 11 of the Topical Line Drives series
"What does it mean to render to Caesar what is his and render to God what is His? How a believer understands this text will, to a large degree, determine how they will approach matters of nationalism and politics as they follow Jesus." - Dr Chris Surber.
Matthew 22:15-22 is a passage usually seen as essentially about paying taxes. Author Chris Surber takes us deeper into Jesus' meaning as he includes the historical context and the crowd to whom Jesus was speaking.
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The Caregiver's Beatitudes
by Robert Martin
Part 12 of the Topical Line Drives series
Cancer. Stroke. Alzheimer's. These are just three in the list of too many diagnoses that cause the lives of the patient and their caregivers to tilt in the unexpected storm.
This put me in a role in which I don't think I really have ever excelled at. I'm the big strong daddy, the strong and determined husband. I'm the intellectual, the rational, the factual person. I'm the one who thrives on logic and reasonable, predictable progression. Emotions need to be subject to the mind. Me? Give compassionate, loving, gentle care to someone dealing with a serious illness? Don't make me laugh. And yet, that is where I found myself. My choice was reduced, then, not to whether I'd be a caregiver, but more what kind of caregiver I'd be. - Robert Martin.
The Beatitudes from Christ's Sermon on the Mount are more than beautiful, even puzzling words. They can be your anchor when the waves roll and the winds howl.
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A Cup of Cold Water
Being Jesus to the "Least of These"
by Chris Surber
Part 13 of the Topical Line Drives series
A "chance" meeting with a thirsty little girl on a back street in Haiti and God's plan is received by the author, forever changing his life and that of his family.
"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup and of cold water because he is a
disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." - Matthew 10:42
What "cup of water" is Jesus asking you to deliver? What is your mission in this world? Are you willing to obey? Will you spend your life fishing safely from the dock? Or will you step out of a boat with Jesus and walk across the water in His plan?
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What Is Wrong With Social Justice
by Elgin L. Hushbeck Jr.
Part 14 of the Topical Line Drives series
What could possibly be wrong with social justice? We like justice. We are social beings. Should not our communities be just ones? Author Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. maintains that social justice is not justice. When we pursue social justice, it is at the expense of true justice and in its pursuit of equality, social justice threatens liberty. It is a case of setting contradictory and incompatible goals. Hushbeck examines our current pursuit of social justice and how it has failed, while looking also at the scriptures we use in that pursuit and how we have misunderstood them. While we should care about our neighbors and find ways to ease the plight of the poor, social justice's emphasis on redistribution is not only often unjust but it actually makes things worse. His prescription? Pursue justice and liberty without any adjectives.
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I'm Right and You're Wrong
Why we disagree about the Bible and what to do about it
by Steve Kindle
Part 16 of the Topical Line Drives series
Why do well-meaning, intelligent people disagree about the Bible? What should I do when people disagree? How can I use disagreement to help me understand the Bible more clearly?
If I can't agree with someone on how to read the Bible, does it mean the end of fellowship? How many times have you had a conversation with someone that involved a disagreement over the Bible? And how many times have these conversations led to interruptions of friendships or even extended family disputes? Some of these disputes have split congregations. Even the more mild disagreements can leave us perplexed. Why is it that something so plain to one is so obviously unconvincing to others? This often leads us to search for ways to convince others through honing our interpretive skills, doing elaborate word studies, consulting scholarly commentaries and the like. In the end, however, people don't easily change their minds, and we are left to wonder why.
This book differs from most in that rather than looking at how to interpret the Bible properly, we'll examine the sources of disagreement among interpreters. We all have our own ways of trying to understand the Bible and they are close to our hearts. Many of us think our way is superior to most, if not all. But we will not venture into who is right and who is wrong in our interpretations. What concerns us here is why we interpret the way we do and what our attitude should be toward those with whom we disagree.
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Why Christians Should Care About Their Jewish Roots
by Nancy Petrey
Part 17 of the Topical Line Drives series
Jesus was Jewish. Most of the Bible was written by Jews and in Hebrew. Most of the early Christian leaders were Jews. Even Paul, called the Apostle to the Gentiles, would visit the synagogue first and preach there, and he wrote with great passion about his hope for his own people.
Many modern Christians have forgotten about their Jewish roots. They may not formally rip pieces out of their Bibles, but much like the early Christian heretic Marcion, they act as though these portions of scripture no longer apply. They don't read them, study them, preach from them, or apply them. As a result, they often do not understand the New Testament correctly.
Nancy Petrey has a passion both for the Jewish people and for calling Christians to understand their Jewish roots. In the pages of this short book, you'll get a taste of the way in which Christian history and belief has Jewish roots. You'll be blessed if you learn to recognize those roots.
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Stewardship
God's Way of Recreating the World
by Steven F. Kindle
Part 18 of the Topical Line Drives series
There is little disagreement that our world is as close to self-destruction as it has ever been, humanity included. It is unnecessary to list the wars, political conflicts, diseases, ecological disasters, and the like; we are all too familiar with a daily rehearsal of our plight. What there is little or no agreement on is the way out. How will we, as the human race, find our way out of our mutually shared predicament and into a world of wholeness and abundance that the Hebrews named shalom? Is t
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From Words of Woe to Unbelievable News
Alternative Voices for the Lenten Journey
by Robert D. Cornwall
Part 19 of the Topical Line Drives series
You've been a lectionary preacher throughout your ministry. You like the discipline of dealing with the scripture of the week rather than just grabbing something that is easy for you to handle.
You're willing to preach on the hard stuff. But what about the rest of scripture, those passages that never appear in the weekly readings from the Revised Common Lectionary? Are you and your congregation missing something that could be of great benefit? Dr. David Ackerman, who writes the introduction to From Words of Woe to Unbelievable News, felt the need to cover more of scripture and proposed a fourth year lectionary that covered passages that are not included in the Revised Common Lectionary.
In turn, Dr. Bob Cornwall, a pastor highly qualified for the task, chose to use these texts in a series of sermons for Lent and Holy Week. He preached those sermons in 2014. We now offer these sermons in this Topical Line Drives volume. One of the stumbling blocks with new ideas is the question of how one gets started. It's sometimes hard to find just the approach to take to a new set of texts and a new set of ideas. Bob Cornwall leads the way, finding timely and powerful applications of these difficult texts. Besides being a resource for pastors, these sermons provide meditations that can be used as the basis for a Lenten study or for small groups.
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Pathways to Prayer
by David Moffett-Moore
Part 20 of the Topical Line Drives series
Prayer is the one essential of the Christian life. In fact, David Moffett-Moore maintains, it is an essential of life itself, as essential to us as spiritual beings as breathing is to us physically. Prayer can be found in any of our activities. It is not something we need to learn, but something we need to remember from childhood. Yet our prayers can mature, and we can be more aware of the presence of God in every place and every moment. The purpose of this book is to help you become more aware.
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Ruth and Esther
Women of Agency and Adventure
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 21 of the Topical Line Drives series
How does one read the literature of a patriarchal society in a 21st century context? Where can one find good role models for girls and women in the Bible? All too often these questions are answered by presenting the answers given by patriarchal society and not by looking for liberating, examples. It is all too easy to let God's message of setting the captives free ring forth, but directed to a limited audience. But Ruth and Esther provide strong counter-examples of women who had to struggle against the cultural norms in order to live and to do great things for their people. All too often these women are excluded from our studies or when included are portrayed as subordinate people. But Dr. Bruce Epperly, pastor, father, grandfather, and theology sees them as women of agency and adventure, resourceful and proactive women in patriarchal cultures. But despite being subject to the apparently arbitrary decisions of males with authority, both women were agents in their destiny fulfilling their vocations in their particular culture. If you are a Christian pastor or teacher, you owe it to those in your circle of influence to let them experience these two Bible books in new ways, to see them as liberating documents that let everyone know that God doesn't exclude them. From these women of agency and adventure, those who find themselves excluded from power can find encouragement to stand up and be the persons of agency and adventure that God created them to be, no matter what restrictions others have placed upon them.
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From Here to Eternity
Preparing for the Next Adventure
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 22 of the Topical Line Drives series
All of humanity lives with the certainty of death.
In this world we do not live forever. But what happens afterward? Is there something beyond the grave? How should we react to the loss of loved ones, whether through an untimely accident or old age?
With one foot in the world of theological reflection and the other in the untidy nature of daily life and of spirituality in action, Dr. Bruce Epperly embraces hope while recognizing fear, adventure even in lives touched by regret, and confidence in the face of uncertainty to help us explore the possibilities a loving God has placed before us. We can grieve our loss while looking forward with joy. We can acknowledge what we don't know, while expecting more than we are able to imagine.
If you've ever wondered what happens next, this is the book for you.
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Those Footnotes in Your New Testament
A Textual Criticism Primer for Everyone
by Thomas W. Hudgins
Part 23 of the Topical Line Drives series
Have you ever seen a passage in the New Testament that was placed in brackets, or a footnote at the bottom of a page referring to "ancient authorities" or "manuscripts"?
Most people scratch their heads and just keep reading, but these notes are very important. So is understanding why they're even there.
In this short introduction, Thomas W. Hudgins explains for the average reader the need for, criteria of, and some misconceptions associated with New Testament textual criticism.
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Jonah
When God Changes
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 24 of the Topical Line Drives series
What if someone you thought you knew very well started behaving strangely? What would you do?
Now suppose the person acting strange was - God?
Jonah thought he knew God. In fact, he was a prophet. He knew he heard God's voice. Life might have its difficulties, but no matter what happened, he could count on his God.
Then one day God started saying things he couldn't possibly mean.
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A Short Critique of Climate Change
by Elgin L. Hushbeck Jr.
Part 25 of the Topical Line Drives series
Climate Change has become a major topic of debate in today's politics, with some advocating serious changes in policy in response to it, and others suggesting that scientists and politicians are misreading, misrepresenting, and misapplying the data.
Elgin Hushbeck, Jr. is not afraid to challenge scientific orthodoxy, and in fact believes it is very important that we do so. In this little book, he gives an introduction to a number of problems that he and others see with the apparent consensus view on this topic. His intention is to use this one case as a model for how we need to handle scientific data and dissent from consensus opinions in order to preserve the integrity of the scientific process.
Is important data being ignored? Is it being interpreted to fit an existing view? How should we respond as a society? You'll have a chance to examine some of these questions in the pages of this book.
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The Energy of Love
Reiki and Christian Healing
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 26 of the Topical Line Drives series
Today, we need to marshal all the healing resources at our disposal.
A growing body of evidence shows that spiritual healing practices have a positive impact, both on healing and on the quality of life that people experience while under medical care. Dr. Bruce Epperly calls on Christians to embrace these varied resources. He crosses both the boundaries between formal scientific medical practice and spiritual healing, and the boundaries between healing practices that come from a variety of spiritual and religious traditions. He then incorporates these into a distinctly Christian theology of healing practice. Where healing takes place, he sees God at work.
Healing characterized the ministry of Jesus, and Epperly believes that it should characterize the life and ministry of Christians in all times and places. This is a balanced call that doesn't pit one tradition against another and also does not place spiritual healing practices in opposition to medical science. This is about embracing what heals.
Today, we need to marshal all the healing resources at our disposal.
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Christianity
The Basics
by Elgin L. Hushbeck Jr.
Part 27 of the Topical Line Drives series
In Christianity: The Basics, Elgin Hushbeck presents the basic doctrines that have defined orthodox Christianity down through the ages, giving a basic defense for this core of the Christian Faith. He also addresses questions such as can we really know and understand what the Bible teaches; isn't it all just a matter of interpretation; and what do we mean when we say someone is, or is not, a Christian? This is a serious study, but is written in language that anyone can understand. It is suitable for use in classes in basic Christianity as well as for those who want to refresh their memory about the basics and prepare to share their faith intelligently and with grace.
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Process Spirituality
Practicing Holy Adventure
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 28 of the Topical Line Drives series
What one believes about God shapes how one worships, prays, thinks, and lives. Dr. Bruce Epperly, who provided a very short introduction to process theology in Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God, now provides a short and succinct guide to spiritual practices for those who want to embrace and live the adventurous spiritual life. From times of worship, to prayer, to solitude, and even to study, he provides a guide to living with a God who is deeply and intimately involved in our lives. Holiness and spirituality are not about being other-worldly. Rather, they are about being even more in the here and now than any of us may have thought possible.
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To Be or Not To Be
The Adventure of Christian Existentialism
by David Moffett-Moore
Part 29 of the Topical Line Drives series
Existentialism is a philosophical school of thought unique in being based on feeling and experience rather than on the traditional foundations of philosophy. Many of its proponents have been atheists or can be considered opponents of religion. With this history, can there be such a thing as a Christian existentialism?
Dr. David Moffett-Moore believes there can be. In this book he outlines the basics of existentialist thought and a path to a Christian existentialist viewpoint.
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Process and Ministry
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 30 of the Topical Line Drives series
Get ready for another adventure in process theology. Theology can transform your ministry and process theology provides a spiritual GPS to help us navigate the complexities of twenty-first century ministry and congregational life. Process theology reminds us that the physical, geographical, and spiritual limitations we experience are the womb of possibilities. In the concreteness of our ministries, we discover God's vision for ourselves and our congregations. This text invites us to claim our pastoral role as shamans of the spirit, wise preachers, healing companions, and prophetic witnesses. Written by an experienced theologian, pastor, and spiritual guide, this brief text provides a flexible and open-ended vision for 21st century ministry in our postmodern, pluralistic, and post-Christian world.
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Process Theology and Celtic Wisdom
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 31 of the Topical Line Drives series
The Christian life is a holy adventure.
Bruce Epperly has opened up that adventure to everyone in his previous books Process Theology, Process Spirituality, and Process and Ministry. Now he connects this adventure to ancient roots in Celtic spirituality.
This book takes a meditative, experiential approach to the complex, often difficult topic of process theology and brings it to life for everyday spiritual practice, while rooting it in Celtic wisdom.
This is not the place for rigid doctrine and adherence to a set of commands. Instead, Epperly hears God's call to embrace a God who is available to us, a call to adventure, and the hope for new spiritual vistas. This spiritual journey will resonate in how we live and build community.
This is a short volume, designed for anyone to read. It is suitable for individual or group study. It aims to make both process theology and Celtic wisdom available to everyone.
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One World
The Lord's Prayer from a Process Perspective
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 32 of the Topical Line Drives series
Can you imagine reading the Lord's Prayer as a gateway to adventure?
Bruce Epperly, who has introduced process theology to the masses through concise, readable guides, presents this well-known prayer through a vision of a relational, open-spirited, profoundly personal, always creative, and forward-looking God, who invites us to be companions in the holy adventure of healing the earth.
This is not your routine book on the Lord's Prayer. Instead, it is an invitation to holy adventure through sharing in the prayer of Jesus. Each short chapter includes a section titled "Living the Prayer of Jesus." In the back, there are a series of questions for conversation.
This book is short and concise, but it is also challenging. It would make a good church wide or small group study, and is suitable for individual reading.
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Process and Pastoral Care
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 33 of the Topical Line Drives series
This concise book, the sixth short guide on process theology and its practical implications by Dr. Bruce Epperly, applies process thought to the calling and activities of pastoral ministry.
Short and to the point as are all books in the Topical Line Drives series, this text will provide pastors and others involved in caregiving ministries a new and adventurous way of thinking about and meeting the challenges of their vocation. God is already present in the hospital room and even the funeral home. You have the opportunity to experience the vision of what can happen when we discover that God is always opening up new possibilities, empowering us to partner with God in healing the world, and strengthening us for and comforting us in the difficult times of life.
Learn to connect more closely to the divine and the human, to see more clearly, and to participate more completely, as God does.
A practical, deeply theological, and challenging guide to the adventure of pastoral care.
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A Holy Mystery
Taking Apart the Trinity
by Chris Eyre
Part 34 of the Topical Line Drives series
A pastor says, "If you think you understand the trinity, you've probably fallen into heresy." An expert in biblical studies says, "The trinity is one of the best ways ever invented to say, 'We don't have a clue!'" Many people say the trinity is not found in the Bible, so what is it doing as a doctrine?
This lively and challenging book asks you to think about the trinity, what it means, how it came to be, and what value it might have in Christian conversation today. If you don't want to have your thinking challenged, or you'd rather just go on saying, "I believe in the trinity," without knowing what you're saying, then definitely stay away from this book!
To the rest of you, "Enjoy!"
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Who Is Jesus?
The Puzzle and the Portraits of a Divine Savior
by Allan R Bevere
Part 35 of the Topical Line Drives series
At Easter, major magazines and blogs will publish articles claiming to tell us who Jesus was. Every few weeks we see a new book making similar claims. Is it possible to know?
In Who Is Jesus? Allan Bevere addresses this question from the point of view of a person of faith who takes seriously the gospels and early Christian tradition as documentation of events and of serious theological reflection on those events. According to Bevere, Christian theology was neither an invention, nor a set of random speculations unrelated to reality. Rather, they were the response of early Christianity to the experience of Jesus and the historical pictures as presented in the canonical gospels.
From a discussion of the Old Testament record piecing together the puzzle of biblical messianic prophecy through illumination of the Christological controversies of the first five centuries of Christian history, and then back to the four portraits of Jesus given to us in the canonical gospels, this book provides a clear description of how orthodox Christian scholarship can bring together the varied evidence in order to present a coherent theological picture of the Jesus of history. As Bevere contends, history and theology are not easily separated, but are two threads that create an interwoven tapestry in which events have meaning.
This book is good for individual reading, or could easily provide readings and an outline for a small group study.
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Doing Apologetics
by Elgin L. Hushbeck Jr.
Part 36 of the Topical Line Drives series
Christian apologetics suffers from a reputation for loud arguments, canned answers, and a fascination with technical details.
Some Christians avoid apologetics because they are either concerned about offending people, or because they are afraid they will be unable to answer technical questions.
These concerns and fears are unnecessary. Elgin Hushbeck, Jr., unapologetic Christian apologist points the way toward a Christian witness that is positive, and is possible for everyone. In fact, Hushbeck maintains, all Christians testify to their faith, simply by bearing the name "Christian" and living. By emphasizing listening, respect, and most importantly, a realization that the fruit of our endeavors are God's responsibility, he invites all of us to apologetics that is centered in our own testimony and in building genuine relationships.
This is a short but powerful book. It will help you approach your witness without fear or worry. Anyone can read the book quickly. It won't give you all the answers, but it will reassure you that you don't need all the answers. Nobody else has all the answers either. But what you can do is pursue conversations and depend on relationships within the church to help you. "I don't know," is a valid answer.
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The Triune Nature of God
Conversations Regarding the Trinity by a Disciples of Christ Pastor/Theologian
by Robert D Cornwall
Part 37 of the Topical Line Drives series
The doctrine of the trinity is probably the most complex and mysterious topic in Christian theology, yet it impacts our understanding of many other doctrines.
Pastor/Theologian Robert D. Cornwall brings his knowledge of church history to the task of examining this doctrine, looking at how it developed and what justifies its presence in Christian theology. He uses the history of his own Disciples of Christ tradition as one of the expressions of the Stone-Campbell movement, which avoids creeds very effectively in examining how we distinguish between the statements and events of scripture and our theological reflections on them.
Can a doctrine not mentioned in scripture be of value? Are creeds necessary or even useful? Cornwall threads a careful course between the value of the creeds, and within them the doctrine of the trinity, in defining our ecumenical relationships and task on the one hand, and on the other the danger of having creeds as a test of fellowship and faith. While rooted in his own denomination's traditions, this is very valuable to other denominations and movements as we examine what defines us while at the same time seeking freedom in non-essentials.
This book is especially strong in examining the history of the development of this doctrine and connecting this to our ongoing reflection on scripture and what our tradition and experience provides.
This short volume is valuable to all those who seek to understand the trinity not just as an element in a doctrinal system, but as it aids us in thinking about elements of our faith.
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To Love and Cherish
Ephesians 5 and the Challenge of Christian Marriage
by Elgin L. Hushbeck Jr.
Part 38 of the Topical Line Drives series
There are few topics where good advice is more needed than that of Christian marriage. At the same time there are few topics about which the answers given are as scattered and unclear.
In this short but comprehensive volume, Elgin Hushbeck, Jr., tackles one of the most disputed passages in the New Testament, Ephesians 5, and its discussion on Marriage. On the one hand, this passage tends to scandalize some liberals, and, on the other, gets interpreted in a very patriarchal way by some conservatives. Hushbeck puts this passage into its literary and historical context to see what Paul was saying to his immediate audience, and how that message can apply to modern Christians. His clear exposition of structural and rhetorical factors is especially helpful.
His analysis will open the eyes of many as to how this verse presents a challenge to both the conventions of Paul's time and of ours, as it goes to the heart of Christian Marriage.
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The Only Thing That Matters Is Heaven
Rethinking Sin, Death, Hell, Redemption, and Salvation for All Creation
by Terrell Carter
Part 40 of the Topical Line Drives series
Is heaven a place, somewhere we go? Is it a future goal, attainable only after this life ends? Pastor and educator Dr. Terrell Carter looks at this issue with a pastor's heart and a scholars precision, looking at what the Bible teaches us and how this might relate to how we live, act, and worship today. In the process, he introduces readers to such theological terms as Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God. Why a kingdom? Read this book to find out. In each chapter of this book you'll learn something new about how the Bible speaks about heaven and the afterlife. You'll read the parables of Jesus on this topic with a new vision. You'll find things in the book of Revelation that you might have been missing. And you'll find all this in an easy to read style.
This book is a good, quick read for those who are in hurry for an introduction, and it provides a sound basis for a short study on heaven, the afterlife, and life on earth in the meantime for a small study group.
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Choosing Life
Ecological Civilization as the World's Best Hope
by John B. Cobb
Part 41 of the Topical Line Drives series
How do our spiritual beliefs and practices link to our ethics and our care for the natural world around us?
John B. Cobb, Jr. and Jay McDaniel join together to provide a view of life that is refreshing, challenging, and expansive. It could even be called all-encompassing. Rather than looking just at how human life can be preserved, with the world itself and the universe beyond as a sort of backdrop, they look at life and divinity in all things, and ask us to look for a way of life that affirms God's presence everywhere.
As a result of such an affirmation we may need to change not just our practices, but our very goals. We may need to allow our ambitions to be tempered by the needs of others, not just other human beings, but other living creatures, and all nature.
If you would like to develop and consider a world where humanity fits with the web of all life, if you would like to find a way of living non-destructively, if you would like to find a God who suffers with you while working with you to heal and prevent suffering, this book is for you.
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Beauty and Process Theology
A Journey of Transformation
by Patricia Adams Farmer
Part 42 of the Topical Line Drives series
Is it possible to think of God as beautiful?
We tend to think of God with superlatives, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and infinity. By their very nature, these words tend to also make us see God as distant. It seems almost sacreligious to speak of God in the terms we might use for any other person. Very few would think to call God beautiful. In this book, theologian and pastor Patricia Adams Farmer looks at God in precisely those terms, inviting us to move beyond limiting ways we have of speaking of God. She sees God as both beautiful and the ongoing author of beauty. God invites us in living a vision, and that vision is not just "good" in some abstract sense. It is attractive. It draws us in. It is active. It challenges us.
Learn to think about and experience God in a new way as you bring process and beauty together. The journey is worth it!
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Process Theology and Politics
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 43 of the Topical Line Drives series
Does process theology have something to say about political and social issues and our response to them?
In this short book, Bruce Epperly says that it has much to say, and can shape not just the ethics and policies of a better world, but also the way in which we debate and decide those policies. Process theology invites discussion and even guides us toward acceptable and positive compromises.
No major political issue of the western world is excluded from this discussion. From immigration to criminal justice, from abortion to reproductive health, from the environment to economic development, process thinking can help guide examination, shaping, and implementation of solutions for a troubled world.
This book is suitable for individual reading by anyone who wants to take a fresh look at policy from an open-minded, progressive point of view. It can also be helpful in group studies for those who want to study how to apply prophetic proclamation to daily living.
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The Gospel in Colossians
by Timothy Dwyer
Part 44 of the Topical Line Drives series
The book of Colossians is often seen as standing apart from other letters attributed to Paul, even by those who affirm Paul as the author. Does Colossians relate the same story of the gospel message as Galatians and Romans?
In The Gospel in Colossians, Timothy Dwyer explains that the gospel message is found throughout Colossians in a clear, deep, and majestic form. Working from creation through covenantal history, to the kingdom of God in the present and future, he believes Paul develops an understanding of the gospel rooted in the supremacy, majesty, and greatness of Jesus Christ.
The 44th volume in the Topical Line Drives Series, this volume is a short, but powerful and comprehensive examination of the way in which this one letter presents the gospel and upholds Jesus as the one and only savior. One important feature of the book is the presentation of the relationship of concepts in a variety of texts that come together in forming the theology of Colossians.
This book will be of benefit to those serious about developing their understanding of biblical theology, for pastors preparing sermons from the text of Colossians, and for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of the foundation of the gospel message.
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A Leap of (Inter)Faith
Finding Treasures Through
by Amber Mattingly
Part 46 of the Topical Line Drives series
How can a spiritual practice from one spiritual tradition be used wisely, respectfully, and effectively in another?
In this 46th volume in the Topical Line Drives series two authors, one ordained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and one a Christian Church/Disciples of Christ minister combine their talents, their passion, and their desire to serve by looking at one practice from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and how it might be practiced by Christians.
They examine both the theoretical, theological, and religious aspects of responding positively to the possibilities in this sharing. At the same time, they are careful to respect one another's faith traditions so that this sharing can be building and healing.
Books in this series are by nature short and to the point. This is an introduction. But it is a powerful and helpful introduction, one that may lead the reader into new adventures of faith and spiritual life.
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Restless Spirit
The Holy Spirit from a Process Perspective
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 48 of the Topical Line Drives series
Are you afraid of the Holy Spirit being active in your church? Are you willing to admit it?
The Holy Spirit has been a kind of third-rate member of the trinity in the theological writings of mainline and progressive Christians. It seems that the Spirit brings disorder to communities, spiritual arrogance to those who claim to "have the Spirit," and frequently doctrinal confusion. We'd rather not have something in our churches that goes where it wants, and doesn't give account for where it's coming from and where it's going.
But the biblical picture of the Spirit is one of action, change, and renewal. Perhaps there is a place for this Spirit in a movement claiming the title of "progressive."
Bruce Epperly has experienced church from many perspectives. He has sat in conservative churches where too much Spirit might be seen as inciting division and heresy. He's been in progressive churches where the Spirit is often considered peripheral. He's a process theologian, and the Spirit, as he points out in this book, is often of tertiary concern. But he has also observed Spirit in action, and he thinks we do well to considered this third element of the trinity.
What does it mean for the Spirit to be active? Is it safe? Can it be controlled? Can you keep it bound by your doctrinal statements? It should be active, and you cannot control it, Epperly argues in this book. You shouldn't control it. Nor does it coercively control you. But it does drive us to new life, to new adventures, and perhaps to transformed understandings of the universe in which we live.
Are you ready to join in this joyous adventure?
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Holiness of Heart and Life
Loving God and Neighbor
by Allan R. Bevere
Part 49 of the Topical Line Drives series
The word "holiness" has become somewhat unpopular, as people associate it with a holier-than-thou attitude, a judgmental approach to others, or a legalistic approach to Christian life.
But holiness is a word that is used a great deal in scripture and has a long history in Christian theology. Is it possible to talk about holiness as a positive element in living? Can people be called to be holy and in fact called holy?
Dr. Allan Bevere believes so. Working from the Wesleyan tradition, but also examining the broader record of Christian thought and the scriptural witness, he looks at what holiness is and is not. As he does so he finds it helpful and challenging rather than negative and destructive.
“Topical Line Drive” volumes are intended to point you to the basics and provide a start for deeper study. Individuals and small groups will find this book ideal as a starting point for a study of this important topic. All God's saints (holy ones!) should understand where they stand as they worship a holy God.
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Speaking of God
An Introductory Conversation about How Christians Talk About God
by Robert D. Cornwall
Part 50 of the Topical Line Drives series
Theology is a complex subject, with many subdisciplines, and is known for thick volumes with dense prose. This book bucks that trend, but hitting the basics briefly, but carefully.
In this 50th volume of the “Topical Line Drives” series, theologian and church historian Dr. Robert D. Cornwall provides a clear introduction to the basics. His approach is not to give you a set of beliefs about God, but rather to provide you with an introductory foundation to the way Christians talk about God. Key concepts, such as omnipotence, impassibility, transcendence, immanence, and yes, love, along with many others. The content is brief, but carefully designed as a launching pad for further study.
Read this book in order to make all your other theological reading more profitable. It will keep you from missing out because some of the basic were passed over or were obscured by extensive discussion.
Besides individual reading, this volume is useful as an introductory reading in theology courses or for small groups in churches who would like to better understand their other curricula and more profitably discuss their ideas about God.
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Process Theology and the Revival We Need
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 52 of the Topical Line Drives series
Revival has not been a popular word in mainline and progressive circles, but as more and more progressive and open & relational theologians have become open to spiritual and mystical possibilities, interest has grown.
Bruce Epperly, who has previously tackled such controversial issues as angels, miracles, healing, and prayer, now takes on this challenging topic. With renewed discussion as the result of the Asbury Awakening and the release of the movie "Jesus Revolution," his response to revival movements in the church is especially welcome.
Bruce has long been a prominent proponent of process theology for every church member, explaining some of the more difficult concepts in relatable terms for the people in the pews. In this book, he recognizes the need for revival, and asks what this should look like.
Too often "moves of the Spirit" die out as people find it difficult to see a way to live out the divine encounter they have experienced.
This book is addressed both to those hungry for more and to those who have felt the presence of the Divine in various ways and are asking how they can understand and live in the light of that they have experienced.
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Process Theology and Prophetic Faith
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part 54 of the Topical Line Drives series
Being prophetic is often thought to be a matter of predicting the future, creating charts of end times events, and scaring people into accepting narrow, authoritarian and other-worldly images of God, humankind, and political involvement. That is a distortion of what prophetic ministry has been and can continue to be.
In this booklet, the second of three that integrate process theology with contemporary spiritual life and activity, Bruce Epperly presents a prophetic vision and also a vision of prophetic ministry that is forward looking, but not predictive or controlling, challenging while offering freedom, and positive in its outlook.
Epperly is a specialist in bringing difficult concepts to life for everyone. He combines that skill with the short format of the Topical Line Drives series to present a call to prophetic ministry that invites everyone to action, and applies the prophetic voice to lifegiving words and works for all people everywhere and also for the planet we live on.
This book may well be the call you need to hear to be a voice and a medium for positive change in our world.
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Process Theology and Healing
by Bruce G. Epperly
Part of the Topical Line Drives series
Religious and spiritual healing practices are often seen as a show in which a healer claims to physically cure someone through actions or words. These healings mostly fail.
In this booklet, the third of three that integrate process theology with contemporary spiritual life and activity, Bruce Epperly presents a very different view of healing. He calls for a healing ministry, but one that finds God in all things and uses scientific medicine, healing ritual practices, and prayer in concert, sometimes for spiritual healing but also for a way to live out the challenge of illness, to face death with dignity, and yes, sometimes for a cure that appears miraculous. He applies these healing practices not just to human beings, but to all life and to the planet we live on. Healing is not the province of a few, calling on supernatural forces. Rather, it is a cooperation with the energies God has placed in the universe. Rather than supernatural it is more natural than anything.
Epperly is a specialist in bringing difficult concepts to life for everyone. He combines that skill with the short format of the Topical Line Drives series to present a call for all of us to be healed and to become healers as part of God's call to life and light.
This book may well be the call you need to hear to find wholeness, Shalom, in your life and your relationships to others and this world.