Thomas B. Slater’s commentary on Ephesians transports the modern reader into the world of the early church. Slater asserts that Ephesians was written to persuade its original readership that an ethnically inclusive church based on religious affiliation and faithfulness was part of God’s plan and that both Jew and Gentile were equal partners in the new religious commonwealth.

More than a translation, The Cotton Patch Gospel continues to make clear the startling relevance of Scripture for today. Now for the first time collected in a single, hardcover volume, this edition comes complete with a new Introduction by President Jimmy Carter, a Foreword by Will D. Campbell and an Afterword by Tony Campolo.

Interpreted masterfully by pre-eminent Old Testament scholar Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos, the story of Samuel touches on a vast array of subjects that comprise the rich fabric of human life.

Christian minister Michael Smith and Jewish rabbi Rami M. Shapiro interpret, argue about, and interrogate a key text drawn from the canons of their respective religions: the Ten Commandments.

In Healing Our Hurts, Daniel Bagby identifies and explains all the dynamics at play in complex, difficult emotions.

Unlike Paul, who wrote primarily to congregations defined by Gentile believers, James wrote to a dispersed and persecuted fellowship of Hebrew Christians who would soon endure even more difficulty in the coming years. Explore an influential book of the Bible through this addition to the Annual Bible Study series.

Nogalski’s comprehensive and accessible commentary offers an overview of the ancient traditions concerning the Book of the Twelve and brings these writings into productive theological conversation with pressing issues of our day.

Edwards draws from more than forty years of writing experience to explore why we use the written word to change lives and how to improve the writing craft.

The Jesus Tribe fleshes out the implications, possibilities, contradictions, and complexities of what it means to live within the Jesus Tribe and in the shadow of the American Empire.

Harbour examines every part of Paul’s letter, providing a rich resource for those who want to struggle with the difficult texts as well as the simple texts, who want to know how God’s word—all of it—intersects with their lives today.

This book shares with the reader the value of establishing a divorce recovery ministry while also offering practical insights on establishing your own unique church-affiliated program. Whether you are working individually with one divorced person or leading a large group, Divorce Ministry: A Guidebook provides helpful resources to guide you through the emotional and relational issues divorced people often encounter.

Nogalski’s comprehensive and accessible commentary offers an overview of the ancient traditions concerning the Book of the Twelve and brings these writings into productive theological conversation with pressing issues of our day.

A self-described “Texas-bred, Spirit-led, Bible-teaching, revival-preaching, recovering Southern Baptist,” James Milton Dunn, over the last fifty years, has been the most aggressive Baptist proponent for religious liberty in the United States. Soul freedom—voluntary uncoerced faith and an unfettered individual conscience before God—is the basis of his understanding of church-state separation and the historic Baptist basis of religious liberty.

In this brief letter to the Philippians, Paul makes clear the centrality of his faith in Jesus Christ, his love for the Philippian church, and his joy in serving both Christ and their church.

Joint Venture is a memoir of the author's journey to find and express her inner, authentic self, not as an egotistical venture, but as a sacred responsibility and partnership with God. Miley's quest for Christian wholeness is a rich resource for other seekers.

Psychic Pancakes and Communion Pizza is Bert Montgomery’s highly anticipated follow-up to Elvis, Willie, Jesus & Me. Containing reflections on music, film, culture, and life, one can find Jesus (and sometimes even the Church!) in the midst of it all.  The book is firmly rooted in time and place—a 21^st-century university town in the South—yet ventures into a varying array of topics and subjects; everything from Hurricane Katrina to the Super Bowl Saints, from Ellen DeGeneres to Charlie Manson, and from suicide to salvation. And, there's a little more Elvis and Willie thrown in for good measure!

In Overcoming Adolescence: Growing Beyond Childhood into Maturity, Marion Aldridge poses questions for adults of all ages to consider. His challenge to readers is one he has personally worked to confront: to grow up all the way—mentally, physically, academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. The key not only involves knowing how to work through the process, but how to recognize what may be contributing to our perpetual adolescence.

In our success-driven culture the topic of dying congregations is taboo, yet that is a reality many pastors and congregations struggle through with little guidance for discernment. In The Role of the Minister in a Dying Congregation Jenkins provides a courageous and responsible resource on one of the most critical issues in congregational life: how to help a congregation conclude its ministry life cycle with dignity and meaning.

When we turn to God’s Word for encouragement, guidance, and instruction, familiar verses often come to mind. Our associations with these verses are nearly automatic, and they comfort us.

How do we know, though, if we are using these verses to mean what they meant to their original audiences? Diane Chen’s Let Me More of Their Beauty See offers eight examples of how attention to the historical and literary settings can safeguard against taking a text out of context, bring out its transforming power in greater dimension, and help us apply Scripture appropriately in our daily lives. At the end of each chapter, additional readings and reflection questions are provided for personal study or group discussion.

In this commentary on Philippians & Philemon, Pauline specialist Todd D. Still turns his learned attention to both a deeply loved letter (Philippians) and a frequently overlooked letter (Philemon) of Paul. With clarity and care, Still lays bare the meaning of these letters along lexical and socio-historical lines. What is more, the author is attentive to the rhetorical features, theological dimensions, and the pastoral possibilities of these texts. Still seeks to think Paul’s thoughts after him and to capture the Apostle’s affection for a beloved congregation and a recently converted slave.

At issue in the Book of Job is a question with which most all of us struggle at some point in life, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” James Crenshaw has devoted his life to studying the disturbing matter of theodicy—divine justice—that troubles many people of faith. Few individuals come from reading Job unmoved. If they seek answers, they likely will be disappointed. And, many find the depiction of God troubling. If God were merely to meet our expectations, the Creator would hardly be anything more than our own projections into the heavens. Perhaps the ancient poet serves readers best by starkly portraying the brutal reality that life and this world are not fair, and that justice is a human project.

Twenty-five years after the very public tragedy of the space shuttle Challenger, June has written her private story—from childhood poverty, homelessness, and family dysfunction to 26 years with shuttle Commander Dick Scobee before that heartbreaking day in January 1986 when he and his six crewmates “slipped the surly bonds of Earth.”  Ever seeking the silver lining amid great difficulty, her story of faith and triumph over adversity will inspire readers of every age.

The stories of Jesus are familiar to most of us. We have walked the paths of his life with him and his disciples over and over again. We could easily think that we are finished gleaning any new wisdom from these stories. The good news for those of us who have already read Mark’s Gospel, the first testament to the life of Jesus Christ, is that this living story, with its living characters, is never finished with us. 

Readers of Tull’s engaging guide will come to understand Isaiah as visionary spokesperson of ancient Jerusalem’s God in a critical moment in the history of western faith. They will learn about the paths the book traveled as it grew, absorbed new meanings, underwent reinterpretion, and emerged as Scripture for synagogues and churches. Preachers, teachers, and students will imagine afresh the connections between modern people and this ancient book.

The Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series brings insightful commentary to bear on the lives of contemporary Christians. Using a multimedia format, the volumes employ a stunning array of art, maps, and drawings to illustrate the insights of the Bible. It is built upon the idea that meaningful Bible study can occur when the insights of contemporary biblical scholars blend with sensitivity to the needs of students of Scripture. In addition, the CD-Rom, which offers powerful searching and research tools, pairs the text with a digital resource that is a distinctive feature of this series.

William Tuck makes the important connection between religion and daily living. Our Christian faith is not reduced to worshiping on Sundays and participating in private devotions, as important as those disciplines are; our religion is about how we relate to God and other people. Our faith can help us deal with circumstances that try to twist and distort our perspective, bearing us safely over the angry current to the shore on the other side.

When Millard left business at age thirty and turned his life in a new direction, he began writing an autobiography. He kept a journal in his desk and wrote in detail about his business and law ventures. In 1968, Millard finished the story of his journey from pauper to millionaire to home builder. In 1970, a publisher offered to consider the book “at a later time,” and the manuscript was packed away. His wife, Linda, occasionally would ask him about getting it published, but Millard would reply, “Not now. I’m too busy.” This is that story.

Immersing us in the Gospel of John, this study explores themes that point to transformation, that is, to becoming a new person by trusting in and following Jesus. These studies offer Jesus’ “words of life” to a new generation of believers. Those who prayerfully ponder and strive to live these words will discover that they still have the power to breathe God’s peace and presence into every believing heart.

Cecil Sherman gives his reader a truly rare treat: a handbook of the "best practices" of effective leadership delivered with his signature wit, wisdom, and faithfulness to the gospel and way of Christ. He developed his recipe for growing churches--without forgetting along the way to grow his own family and maintain his Christian character--over the span of a career marked by prophetic truth-telling, struggle, controversy and outstanding success. To Be a Good and Faithful Servant offers a window into how one pastor navigated the many daily challenges and opportunities of ministerial life and shares that wisdom with church leaders wherever they are in life--whether serving as lay leaders or as ministers just out of seminary, midway through a career, or seeking renewal after many years of service.

More than a personal odyssey, The Enoch Factor is also a testimonial to the innate dangers of fundamentalist thinking. It is a persuasive argument for a more enlightened religious dialogue in America, one that affirms the goals of all religions—guiding followers in self-awareness, finding serenity and happiness, and discovering what the author describes as “the sacred art of knowing God.

The Black Church: Relevant or Irrelevant in the 21st Century? emerges from Davis’ great love, admiration, and deep concern for the future of the black community and the black church. Davis contends that a relevant church struggles to correct oppression, not maintain it. An irrelevant church sees the self-destructive behavior, oppression, and powerlessness of the oppressed but refuses to take the necessary steps to eradicate it. How can the black church focus on the liberation of the black community, thereby reclaiming the loyalty and respect of the black community?

"Transformational" leadership involves understanding and growing so that we can help create positive change in the world. This journey is not for the faint of heart or those who think leadership is achieved by learning a set of skills. On the contrary, effective leaders know that they have to be willing to change if they want to help transform the world. They are honest about their personal strengths and weaknesses, and aren’t afraid of doing a fearless moral inventory of themselves.

From the first days of Baptist beginnings—as early as the 1630s—Baptist women preached throughout England. Their voices are soft and loud, prophetic and pastoral, humorous and sincere. They are African American, Asian, Latina, and Caucasian. They are sisters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and friends. This Is What a Preacher Looks Like: Sermons by Baptist Women is a collection of sermons by thirty-six Baptist women. Just imagine—the work of thirty-six Baptist women preachers in one volume. Yet, the truth is that this book could have contained sermons by 836 Baptist women, all preaching the word of God!