Christians can be adept at drawing lines, determining what it means to be "a good Christian" and judging those who stray out of bounds. Other times they erase all the lines in favor of a vague and inoffensive faith. Both impulses can come from positive intentions, but either can lead to stunted spiritual life and harmful relationships. Is there another option?The late missionary anthropologist Paul Hiebert famously drew on mathematical theory to deploy the concepts...

The cross is the defining symbol of the Christian faith. Yet the Roman cross was first and foremost an instrument of cruel, shameful and violent execution. Early Christians quickly recognized the atoning significance of the cross of Christ, and itresonated deeply with their experience of salvation. But the cross remained a blessing framed by scandal, an epochal and yet mysterious event irreducible to a single formulation.As Joel Green and Mark Baker demonstrate, the New Testament displays ...

Many a Westerner has had a cross-cultural experience of honor and shame. First there are those stuttering moments in the new social landscape. Then after missed cues and social bruises comes the revelation that this culture—indeed much of the world—runs on an honor-shame operating system. When Western individualism and its introspective conscience fails to engage cultural gears, how can we shift and navigate this alternate code? And might we even learn to see and speak the gospel different...

"WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?" -- MARK 8:29Jesus asked his disciples this question, and no question is more important. The Gospel of Mark answers by presenting Jesus as the king who suffered and gave his life for us and invited us to take up our cross and follow him.Mark: A 40-Day Bible Study is meditative, gospel-centered, practical, and prayerful. Over forty days, you will:· Read and reflect on Mark's Gospel.· Meditate on Jesus and th...

The Understanding the Bible Commentary Series helps readers navigate the strange and sometimes intimidating literary terrain of the Bible. These accessible volumes break down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. The contributors tackle the task of interpretation using the full range of critical methodologies and practices, yet they do so as people of faith who hold the text in the ...

Find academic sophistication, pastoral sensitivity, and accessibility in the award-winning BECNT seriesIn this addition to the BECNT series, respected New Testament scholar Robert Stein offers a substantive yet highly accessible commentary on the Gospel of Mark.The commentary focuses primarily on the Markan understanding of the Jesus traditions as reflected in this key New Testament book. For each section in Mark, the author analyzes how it fits the immedia...

In this addition to the well-received Paideia series, Mary Ann Beavis examines cultural context and theological meaning in Mark. Paideia commentaries explore how New Testament texts form Christian readers by• attending to the ancient narrative and rhetorical strategies the text employs• showing how the text shapes theological convictions and moral habits• commenting on the final, canonical form of each New Testament book• focusing on the cultural, literary, and...

The Teach the Text Commentary Series utilizes the best of biblical scholarship to provide the information a pastor needs to communicate the text effectively. The carefully selected preaching units and focused commentary allow pastors to quickly grasp the big idea and key themes of each passage of Scripture. Each unit of the commentary includes the big idea and key themes of the passage and sections dedicated to understanding, teaching, and illustrating the text.

The earliest and briefest of the four Gospels has traditionally been ascribed to a disciple named Mark In some ages it been overshadowed by its lengthier neighbors in the New Testament, but its pages hold rich rewards for those who ask the right questions. Who was "Mark," and what were his purposes--historical, theological, or otherwise? How does he shape his story of Jesus, and what interpretation of the origins of Christianity does that shaping reveal? More particularly, what is his unde...

With her ex-husband, Ted, working nearby in an adjoining county, Kate Fox is eager to prove she's the better sheriff.But when the less-than-popular ex-foreman of a local ranch is found dead, Kate gets the opportunity she's been looking for. As it turns out, the case hits a little too close to home. The dead man's body is discovered in a truck that belongs to Kate's brother Jeremy - and he's missing. Evidence left at the crime scene leads Ted to suspect the ranch's ...

Lonely Planet’s Eastern Europe is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Walk Dubrovnik’s city walls, discover history in Krakow, and explore Moscow’s Red Square; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Eastern Europe and begin your journey now!Inside Lonely Planet’s Eastern Europe Travel Guide:...

The healer of body, soul—and mind: "Gives us fresh insight into deep psychological truths by emphasizing Jesus as the ultimate teacher." —Laurie Beth Jones, author of Jesus, CEOOver one hundred years of modern psychology and we still haven't improved on the principles and lessons taught by the greatest doctor of the human soul—Jesus. In this accessible and eye-opening book, international bestselling author Dr. Mark Baker offers a refreshing and practical un...