Telling Tales about Jesus

Telling Tales about Jesus
Author: Warren Carter
Publisher: Fortress Press
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2016-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1506408117

What are the Gospels and what does it mean to read them? Warren Carter leads the beginning student in an inductive exploration of the New Testament Gospels, asking about their genre, the view that they were written by eyewitnesses, the early church traditions about them, and how they employ Hellenistic biography. He then examines the distinctive voice of each Gospel, describing the “tale about Jesus” each writer tells, then presenting likely views regarding the circumstances in which they were written, giving particular attention to often overlooked aspects of the Roman imperial setting. A sociohistorical approach suggests that Mark addressed difficult circumstances in imperial Rome; redaction criticism shows that Matthew edited traditions to help define identity in competition with synagogue communities in response to a fresh assertion of Roman power; a literary-thematic approach shows that Luke offers assurance in a context of uncertainty; an intertextual approach shows how John used Wisdom traditions to present Jesus as the definitive revealer of God’s presence to answer an ancient quest for divine knowledge. A concluding chapter addresses how the Gospels inform and shape our understanding of Jesus of Nazareth. Maps, images, sidebars, and questions for reflection add value to this student-friendly text.

Short Stories by Jesus

Short Stories by Jesus
Author: Amy-Jill Levine
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2014-09-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 006219819X

The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew, and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh, timely reinterpretation of Jesus’ narratives. In Short Stories by Jesus, she analyzes these “problems with parables,” taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. Levine reveals the parables’ connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.

Parables

Parables
Author: Mary Hoffman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2001-08-01
Genre: Bible stories, English
ISBN: 9780711215238

In eight retellings, Mary Hoffman shows how Jesus used simple parables to convey essential truths to his listeners. The parables include The Lost Sheep, The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, and The House on the Rock.

Communal Reading in the Time of Jesus

Communal Reading in the Time of Jesus
Author: Brian J. Wright
Publisher: Fortress Press
Total Pages: 319
Release: 2017-12-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1506438490

Much of the contemporary discussion of the Jesus tradition has focused on aspects of oral performance, storytelling, and social memory, on the premise that the practice of communal reading of written texts was a phenomenon documented no earlier than the second century CE. Brian J. Wright overturns the premise that communal reading of written texts was a phenomenon documented no earlier than the second century CE by examining evidence for its practice in the first century.

My Little Easter Story

My Little Easter Story
Author: Christina Goodings
Publisher: Lion Children's Bks
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2011
Genre: Easter
ISBN: 9780745969275

An appealing, small format book to introduce children to the Easter story. The retelling is very simple and straightforward, easy to understand and remember.

Scripting Jesus

Scripting Jesus
Author: L. Michael White
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 534
Release: 2010-04-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0061985376

In Scripting Jesus, Michael White, famed scholar of early Christian history, reveals how the gospel stories of Jesus were never meant to be straightforward historical accounts, but rather were scripted and honed as performance pieces for four different audiences with four different theological agendas. As he did as a featured presenter in two award-winning PBS Frontline documentaries (“From Jesus to Christ” and “Apocalypse!”), White engagingly explains the significance of some lesser-known aspects of The New Testament; in this case, the development of the stories of Jesus—including how the gospel writers differed from one another on facts, points of view, and goals. Readers of Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, and Bart Ehrman will find much to ponder in Scripting Jesus.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible
Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2010-06-15
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0310877024

The Moonbeam Award Gold Medal Winner in the religion category, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David---every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle---the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the Story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, The Jesus Storybook Bible invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation---and at the center of their Story too.

The Storytelling God

The Storytelling God
Author: Jared C. Wilson
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2014-02-28
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433536714

The prodigal son. The good Samaritan. A treasure hidden in a field. Most of us have heard these parables before. Yet if these oft-repeated stories strike us as merely sweet, heartwarming, or sentimental, we can be sure we've misread them. Jesus's parables are simultaneously working to conceal and reveal profound spiritual truths about God, humanity, the world, and the future—and we must learn to plumb their depths. A careful reading of the biblical text reveals the surprising ways in which such seemingly simple stories rebuke, subvert, and sabotage our sinful habits, perspectives, and priorities. Discarding the notion that Jesus's parables are nothing more than moralistic fables, Jared Wilson shows how each one is designed to drive us to Jesus in awe, need, faith, and worship.

Loved

Loved
Author: Sally Lloyd-Jones
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Total Pages: 22
Release: 2018-09-04
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0310757681

From the creators of the bestselling The Jesus Storybook Bible—with over six million copies sold—comes Loved, a board book retelling of the Lord's Prayer in very child-friendly language that helps little ones learn to pray. And the colorful, engaging contemporary illustrations that bring the words to life will hold your child's interest as you read together. Hello Daddy! We want to know you. And be close to you. Please show us how. Even the youngest kids can experience God's Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love in this board book that presents the Lord's Prayer in words any child can understand. Loved: Is ideal for children ages 0-4 Is a padded board book with rounded corners that holds up to repeated use, and is the perfect size for toddlers Teaches little ones how to pray Pairs Sally Lloyd-Jones' retelling of the Lord's Prayer with colorful artwork from Jago that shows how the words apply to children's everyday lives Is the perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, and baptisms Is part of The Jesus Storybook Bible series, which also includes Found, The Jesus Storybook Deluxe Edition, The Jesus Storybook Bible audio, and The Jesus Storybook Bible Coloring Book With vibrant new illustrations and a sturdy format perfect for little hands, you and your child can explore Jesus' timeless teaching together in a new and fresh way. Look for additional inspirational children’s picture books in the series inspired by The Jesus Storybook Bible: Found: Psalm 23 Happy: Psalm 92 Known: Psalm 139 Near: Psalm 139 Strong: Psalm 1

Christmas Time

Christmas Time
Author: Sue M. Barksdale
Publisher: Aneko Press
Total Pages: 28
Release: 2015-10-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781622452491

Since Christmas is such a captivating time of year, it's the perfect setting for telling children about the miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ's birth. Using selected passages from the first chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke, Christmas Time - It's All About Jesus tells the story of Jesus' birth in a delightfully poetic and child-like way. The sensational illustrations create an unforgettable image, so a child can always remember the true meaning of Christmas. As an added bonus, Pastor Russ and Sue have developed devotionals to be used by families to enrich their Christmas celebrations. These are complete with attributes and names of Jesus, questions for discussion, and activities to do as a family to share Christ with those around them. Coupled together, this story and devotionals will enhance your celebration of Christmas during the season and all year long! About the Author Sue Murray Barksdale has been a pastor's wife, mom, and educator for over 30 years. She and her husband Russ live in Arlington, Texas, where Russ pastors the multi-site The Church on Rush Creek, a multi-site church. Sue has a BS in Elementary Education from The University of Houston and enjoys teaching at a public charter school in their neighborhood. Russ and Sue consider their relationship with their grown children and spouses and their six beautiful grandchildren as one of the greatest blessings in life! Their desire to leave a legacy of Christ-centered lives motivated them to write this book for their own family and all the children in their sphere of influence. This is Sue's second book, her first being G.I.F.T.S.: A Prayer Book for Kids and Those Who Love Them.