According to Dr. Mike Lawson, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and President of Church Partners, what you believe about God and His Word and world influences your life philosophy: your value system, how you perceive reality, your reason for living, your decision-making, and so much more.
Wish decision-making: Internalizing theology dictates one's actions.
This book uses theology to make better decisions. It survey's the major concepts and seven basic biblical doctrines: the Triune God, the Study of Man, Sin, Salvation, the Church, Sanctification, and the End Times. Its focus is integrating the biblical doctrines and various biblical studies around the person and the work of Jesus and how each profoundly affects how people perceive life and make decisions.
This book is transformative. Each part you grasp and follow in application will transform your decision-making. It will rewrite your thinking patterns and govern your behavioral choices.
A collection of essays that outline the recent work on ecology, political theology, religion, and philosophy by one of the leading theologians of our age
As we face relentless ecological destruction spiraling around a planet of unconstrained capitalism and democratic failure, what matters most? How do we get our bearings and direct our priorities in such a terrestrial scenario? Species, race, sex, politics, and economics will increasingly come tangled in the catastrophic trajectory of climate change. With a sense of urgency and of possibility, Catherine Keller's No Matter What reflects multiple trajectories of planetary crisis. They converge from a point of view formed of the political ecologies of a transdisciplinary theological pluralism. In its work an ancient symbolism of apocalypse deconstructs end-of-the-world narratives, Christian and secular, even as any notion of an all-controlling and good God collapses under the force of internal contradiction. In the place of a once-for-all incarnation, the materiality of unbounded intercarnation, of fragile yet animating relations of mattering earth-bodies, comes into focus. The essays of No Matter What share the preoccupation with matter characteristic of the so-called new materialism. They also root in an older ecotheological tradition, one that has long struggled against the undead legacy of an earth-betraying theology that, with the aid of its white Christian right wing, invests the denigration of matter, its spirit of no matter, in limitless commodi-fication. The fragile alternative Keller outlines here embraces--no matter what--the mattering of the life of the Earth and of all its spirited bodies. These essays, struggling against Christian and secular betrayals of the spirited matter of Earth, work to materialize the still possible planetary healing.Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Alfred North Whitehead came from very different religious backgrounds yet a study of their ideas shows a number of important and helpful synergies.
This book by Dr. Bruce Epperly, skilled in the clear presentation of the ideas of process theology, examines those ideas and the experiences of these two important thinkers. Epperly shows the ways in which their themes converge and examines how this synergy can help us plan strategies to join God's adventure of the universe in our own spheres.
He argues that both thinkers call for a theological adventure that embraces change and evolution and sees God as a dynamic and transformative force in the universe. Whitehead's metaphysics of love and Teilhard's metaphysics of spiritual evolution offer a synthesis that challenges traditional notions of God and invites us to recognize the mystical and transformative potential within ourselves.
Epperly emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to theology and mission that engages with science, culture, and the challenges of our time. He concludes with a call to embrace the God of Tomorrow and embark on a journey of creative transformation and planetary healing.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in process theology. It is suitable for individual reading, and with sections on spiritual practices with each chapter, it would be a great aid for study, prayer, and meditation in a small prayer or study group. It encourages personal application and action.
Calling for a faith that lives by what it affirms, not just by what it denies, this book outlines a positive, engaging message supported by active spiritual practices, and carried out in action for a better community and planet.
In doing so, Bruce Epperly calls for rethinking and reviving many Christian themes, often neglected or discarded in progressive Christianity, to help carry out this mission.
Among these themes are:
In bringing life to these themes, Epperly looks to Jesus and to scripture without demeaning other faiths. He evokes a relational, non-coercive God as the foundation of a relational and non-coercive presence in the world.
This book will provide both a challenge and a hope to progressive congregations, especially those struggling with diminishing numbers, but it will also provide an excellent antidote to the charge that progressive Christianity is not an affirmative, active, and hopeful faith.
Process theology is considered a very complex and difficult to understand system. Is it possible to get a basic grasp of what it is and how it impacts our lives and service to others?
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, but it also challenges us to live out God's adventure in with joy, sharing God's life with all of God's creatures.
This book is an excellent introduction to process theology, useful for small groups or individual study, and includes a list of resources for further study.
Does theology have to be dry and boring in order to be serious? Not at all
The prophet Isaiah once said, a little child will lead them. But, what about a character from Winnie the Pooh? Can anxious, yet adventurous, Piglet help us understand our relationship with God and one another?
Theology is serious business. So serious that it can't be left solely to adults Bruce Epperly's imaginative conversations with Piglet explore the contours of theological reflection from the perspective of Process Theology. Process Theology is often seen as far too complicated for adults to understand and impossible to teach or preach to laypeople. In this text, an experienced
pastor and professor and a beloved character from the Winnie the Pooh stories bring Process Theology to life and explore themes such as beauty, spirituality, adventure, friendship, healing, and God's presence in our lives. In the spirit of Jesus' parables, Piglet's Process will inspire your imagination and creativity and invite you on a never-ending spiritual journey with a theologian, stuffed animal, and the healer from Nazareth as your companions.
This is a book to read for fun and study seriously. It's theology for everyone.
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.
The God of the Bible is emotional. But for some Christians, the idea of God experiencing deep emotions can be confusing and problematic. In this rich study, Biblical scholar David Lamb examines seven divine emotions, arguing for the goodness of God's emotions, so that we might better know and reflect the beauty of emotion to the world.
How to Be Certain That Your Understanding of God Reflects the Truth of Scripture
If we want to know the truth about God, we need a sound approach to incorporating what the whole Bible teaches. In this concise introduction to systematic theology, theologian Graham A. Cole explores how we move from Scripture to doctrine in order to shape what we believe, what we value, and how we live. He shows us the importance of having the right method: rooted in the word of God, consistent with church history, in the context of a broken world, dependent on divine wisdom, and ultimately aiming at pure worship.
The first volume in the Short Studies in Systematic Theology series, this book explores what it means to do theology, why theology matters, and what it looks like to derive doctrine from God's word--helping us understand what to believe, what to value, and how to live. Each chapter looks at 1 of 5 crucial components for constructing good theology: revelation from God, tradition from the past, worship, wisdom, and experience of brokenness, with case studies illustrating how doctrine is developed from each of these important sources. Readers will be left with a deeper understanding of how to make sure their theology faithfully reflects the truth of God's word.
A collection of essays that outline the recent work on ecology, political theology, religion, and philosophy by one of the leading theologians of our age
As we face relentless ecological destruction spiraling around a planet of unconstrained capitalism and democratic failure, what matters most? How do we get our bearings and direct our priorities in such a terrestrial scenario? Species, race, sex, politics, and economics will increasingly come tangled in the catastrophic trajectory of climate change. With a sense of urgency and of possibility, Catherine Keller's No Matter What reflects multiple trajectories of planetary crisis. They converge from a point of view formed of the political ecologies of a transdisciplinary theological pluralism. In its work an ancient symbolism of apocalypse deconstructs end-of-the-world narratives, Christian and secular, even as any notion of an all-controlling and good God collapses under the force of internal contradiction. In the place of a once-for-all incarnation, the materiality of unbounded intercarnation, of fragile yet animating relations of mattering earth-bodies, comes into focus. The essays of No Matter What share the preoccupation with matter characteristic of the so-called new materialism. They also root in an older ecotheological tradition, one that has long struggled against the undead legacy of an earth-betraying theology that, with the aid of its white Christian right wing, invests the denigration of matter, its spirit of no matter, in limitless commodi-fication. The fragile alternative Keller outlines here embraces--no matter what--the mattering of the life of the Earth and of all its spirited bodies. These essays, struggling against Christian and secular betrayals of the spirited matter of Earth, work to materialize the still possible planetary healing.What can we learn by combining the wisdom of two major theological pioneers of the 20th century?
The God of the Growing Edge: Whitehead and Thurman on Theology, Spirituality, and Social Change explores the intersecting spiritual visions of two such towering figures: Alfred North Whitehead, the eminent philosopher and process theologian, and Howard Thurman, the influential African American mystic, theologian, and civil rights leader. This book offers a timely resource for contemplative activists seeking a deeper integration of spirituality and social transformation in our turbulent times.
The God of the Growing Edge examines these intersecting visions, highlighting their complementary strengths. Whitehead's metaphysics provides a robust intellectual framework for understanding a universe of interconnectedness, change, and possibility, while Thurman's lived experience of oppression and spiritual resistance infuses this framework with prophetic urgency and practical wisdom. Together, they offer a powerful and timely message for today's world.
This book is a personal and spiritual exploration. Drawing on the author's own experiences The God of the Growing Edge invites readers to embark on a holy adventure guided by the wisdom of Whitehead and Thurman. It offers practical spiritual practices at the end of each chapter, along with powerful prayers by Thurman. By exploring the growing edge of faith, this book offers a compelling path toward a more just, compassionate, and sustainable future.
What might Jesus say to you today about your political decisions? Would he care?
With his gift for making Scripture and theology clear and very relevant, Dr. Bruce Epperly looks at the Sermon on the Mount and suggests to us what Jesus might be saying about our own politics and social ethics. Point by point he brings the topics Jesus covered home to a modern audience, especially in America.
With topics such as all-embracing love, intercessory prayer, and bringing the light, almost anyone will find something here to think about. Perhaps God is asking something more of us in the social and political sphere than we might have imagined. Are we called to be Jesus in public forums and the halls of government?
The book closes with a series of conversation starters, several for each chapter, which makes this an ideal book for a small group study. It can also be read individually, and will perhaps give you both the impetus and some of the ideas that will help you change our world.
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 community resolutions.
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 or moderate 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.
Were the biblical Adam and Eve historical figures, or are the early events described in Genesis primarily symbolic in nature?
Behind the debate of a historical Adam is the age-old debate about evolution and the agreement between Scripture and science. With an introduction that outlines the history and main points of every viewpoint from Darwinism to Young Earth Creationism, this book then clearly outlines four primary views on Adam held by evangelical Christians.
Contributors include Denis O. Lamoureux, John H. Walton, C. John Collins, and William Barrick. Each focuses his essay on answering the following questions:
This book allows each contributor to not only present the case for his view, but also to critique and respond to the critiques of the other contributors, allowing you to compare their beliefs in an open forum setting to see where they overlap and where they differ.
Concluding reflections by pastor-scholars Gregory A. Boyd and Philip Graham Ryken highlight the significance of the topic in the faith of everyday believers.
The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.