Unbinding
the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism by Martha Grace
Reese, Brian D. McLaren
A book for church groups to use to enrich and begin
to share their faith. It's a book for pastors who want
to re-envision possibilities for evangelism that really
fit their beliefs. Easy to read, witty, thoughtful and
genuinely spiritual, Unbinding the Gospel is based on a
four-year research project on superb evangelism. It has
been recommended by Sharon Watkins, General Minister of
the Disciples and Dick Hamm, former General Minister and
President. Reviewed by Dr. Rev. Ray Miles
New Interpreter's Study Bible Edited by Dr.
Walter Harrelson, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Vanderbilt,
this new study Bible provides excellent notes that are easy to read and extremely
helpful. Used in tandem with Fred Craddock and Eugene Boring's
People's New Testament Commentary , every Bible student , even
beginners, will find understanding and meaning they never thought possible
when reading and studying the Bible. What a wonderful gift for the Bible student
in your life! What a wonderful gift for yourself! (I also have the
Oxford Annotated Study Bible and have used it for years; they are not
the same, and I find it helpful to compare the notes in both study Bibles
to gain a better look at a passage)
Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
The
New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible
For over 40 years, Abingdon Press’ five volume set, The New Interpreter’s
Dictionary of the Bible has set the gold standard for Bible dictionaries. Now Abingdon
plans to publish a brand new five volume set, featuring articles written by
some of the best scholars of our day, including Luke Timothy Johnson, Richard
Hays, N.T. Wright, Walter Harrelson and more. The first volume becomes available
in late 2006 with an additional volume or two published yearly thereafter.
The Amazon price is EXCELLENT! Pre-order your copy today! Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
The
Pastor's Bible Study: A New Interpreter's Bible Study Resource
Part of the resources now available through The Interpreter’s Bible (see below),
The Pastor’s Bible Study includes 15 sessions on Mark, 10 on II Samuel, 12
studies on the Ten Commandments, plus several other study series as well.
The
Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement
Douglas A. Foster, Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, D. Newell Williams
(editors)
Over ten years in the making, this major
new reference work provides for the first time a sweeping historical and theological
treatment of the Stone-Campbell Movement, an important tradition in American
Christianity that began in the early nineteenth century and is reflected today
in three church branches present in over 160 countries — Churches of Christ,
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Christian Churches/Churches
of Christ.
The
People's New Testament Commentary by M. Eugene
Boring and Fred B. Craddock
At Dr. Craddock's fall preaching workshop, he announced that he and Dr. Boring
had teamed up to offer a fresh one-volume commentary on the New Testament
appropriate for both lay and clergy alike. The reviews so far have been stunning,
as one might expect. It's over 800 pages long, so we know it's comprehensive.
It's written by Dr. Craddock, so we know it's readable, useable, and filled
with insight. Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
When
Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity During the Last Days
of Rome
by Richard E. Rubenstein
While preparing to teach a Sunday School class on the "good confession", I
realized that in order to properly address the words "Jesus, Christ, Son,
Living God" somewhere along the way I would have to talk about the Trinity.
The controversy between Arius and Athanasius proved to be far more thrilling
as described in Rubenstein's book, than in Sallie McFague's Introduction to
Theology class 25 years ago!. Rubenstein, a Jewish professor of sociology,
specializes in the study of social and religious conflict and spent 10 years
researching and writing this book. An excellent writer, he tells a great tale
of intrigue, letting us in on little known, to me anyway, facts about the
personalities involved in the controversy over the divinity of Jesus. FASCINATING!! Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
The
Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels
The Amazon.com review writes that "In The Gnostic Gospels, author Elaine Pagels
suggests that Christianity could have developed quite differently if Gnostic
texts had become part of the Christian canon.". Renowned Biblical scholar,
the late Father Raymond Brown. has been quoted as saying that the Gnostic
Gospels were "rubbish" when they were written, and they're "rubbish now".
What do you believe? Read and discover for yourself.
Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
Upper
Room Disciplines 2006: A Book of Daily Devotions
- The Upper Room Disciplines is a wonderful day by day devotion book which
follows the lectionary. Each week a different author uses the lessons
from the Old Testament, Psalms, Gospels and Epistles to write seven devotions.
Your minister will probably preach on one of these lessons the following Sunday.
The authors are ministers from various denominations. I was delighted
to see that Barbara Brown Taylor, listed among the 10 best preachers in the
English-speaking world in Newsweek magazine, writes the devotions for
Holy Week this spring. Each devotion contains a scripture text, a short
reflection, and a prayer or thought for meditation. A great gift, a
great purchase for yourself.
Reviewed by Landa Harris Simmons
Holman
Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical
History by Thomas C. Brisco, Thomas V. Brisco
Every Sunday School Teacher needs a good Bible Atlas and this is one of the
most popular for very good reasons. The maps are clear and informative,
the photos of the land and archeological items give you a sense for the times.
The New Daily Study Bible
by William Barclay
This classic series furnishes a comprehensive commentary and devotional study
guide for ministers, teachers, students, or lay persons who want to discover
what the New Testament writers said and what their messages mean for today.
Unbinding
the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism
New Interpreter's Study Bible
The
Pastor's Bible Study: A New Interpreter's Bible Study Resource
The
People's New Testament Commentary
When
Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity During the Last Days
of Rome
Upper
Room Disciplines 2006: A Book of Daily Devotions
The New Daily Study Bible
