Review of Ephesians Participatory Study Guide

My study book on Ephesians is due to come out in early January, but the reviews are already coming in.  John Byron, Associate Professor of New Testament at Ashland Theological Seminary has given it his thumbs up!

He writes of it:

I commend Robert Cornwall and Energion Publications for producing a thoughtful study guide that does not spoon feed information to readers and supply with trite solutions to make it through life. Rather, this volume will challenge the reader to think as well as learn. It would serve either an individual or group study, but I think a group setting would make the interaction all the more valuable. I look forward to seeing other similar study guides in the future.

I am deeply appreciative to John for this review and to fellow Energion author Allan Bevere for sharing the book with John.  I hope you will find using this guide to be a rewarding experience.

 

 

Ephesians Study Guide -- Another New Book

Yesterday I announced that me new book on the Lord's Prayer would be coming out soon from Energion Publications. Today I get to announce that Energion Publications is publishing a study guide on the letter to Ephesians,which I wrote over the summer for my church, using a study method developed by Henry Neufeld, who is my publisher for these books. This was a new but exciting experience for me. I think you will find this an interesting way of looking into the letter, which claims Pauline authorship, but which many scholars consider post-Pauline. So, if you're planning a study after November I'd like to invite you to try it out.

Below is the book description from the publisher's website:

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Ephesians: A Participatory Study Guide Pages: 104 ISBN: 1-893729-88-5 SKU: 1893729885 Price: $9.99 Author: Cornwall, Robert D Note: An excellent study guide for individuals or small groups

This title is forthcoming. The final release date has not been set. Release is expected: January, 2010

Participatory Study Series Following the outlines of the Participatory Study Method, Dr. Robert Cornwall presents a study guide to the book of Ephesians that is both usable and challenging while not skirting the difficult issues. These eight lessons take you through the letter leading from the history and background to modern application and sharing in corporate study and worship. Whether you are approaching this book as an individual, as a small group, or in a larger classroom setting, this study guide will provide you with direction, exercises, and questions for discussion and further investigation. The Participatory Study Series from Energion Publications is designed to invite Bible students to become a part of the community of faith that produced the texts we now have as scripture by studying them empathetically and with an aim to learn and grow spiritually. The section Using this Book and the appendices are designed for the series and adapted to the particular study guide. Each author is free to emphasize different resources in the study, and individual students, group leaders, and teachers are encouraged to enhance their study through the use of additional resources. It is our prayer at Energion Publications that each study guide will lead you deeper into scripture and more importantly closer to the One who inspired it. Small Group Resource Energion Publications recommends this book as a small group resource.

What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

There sure is a lot of talk about Jesus and imperialism and such, you know with the New Testament seen in political terms -- yes, I know, I do it too -- .  Wait till you read my new book called Ultimate Allegiance:  The Subversive Nature of the Lord's Prayer (due out in Novemberish -- in time for your Christmas shopping sprees -- from Energion Publications)!  And yes, John Dominic Crossan makes a good case for imperialism being a key component of the gospel message.  Scot McKnight raises some questions about all of this as well, suggesting that it may reflect leftist politics (and I may resemble that remark).

But, I think that the Romans need to be given their due -- as Monte Python does in this scene from the Life of Brian.