In this study, we read through the Sermon on the Mount (excluding the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer) as found in Matthew 5-7. For background in this study, I have primarily used Oswald Chamber’s Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Emmet Fox’s Sermon on the Mount, and Soren Kierkegaard’s The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air. This Lesson covers six weeks.

Works of Love – Søren Kierkegaard

In this study, we read through abridged excerpts of Søren Kierkegaard’s book Works of Love as found in Provocation – The Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard. Here Kierkegaard explores the outworkings of the duty to love your neighbor as yourself. I have personally found these excerpts to be the most profound discussion on this greatest commandment. This lesson covers four weeks.

The Pastoral Epistles

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Pastoral Epistles – 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These letters contain Paul’s advice and encouragement to a younger apostle. For background on this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone, 1 &2 Timothy and Titus, Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament, and Abraham Malherbe’s Paul and the Popular Philosophers. This lesson covers thirteen weeks.

Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr

In his book, Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self, Fr. Richard Rohr writes about personal transformation and how the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not simply a historical event but is a present reality in which we are all called to participate. As Paul writes, we are crucified with Christ and Christ was raised from the dead so that we too might walk in a new and transformed life. Rom 6:4-11. Particularly during the Easter season, we are called to die to our old ego-centric “False Self,” and be resurrected and transformed into a new Christ-centric “True Self.”  It is this Christ-centric True Self that is Rohr’s Immortal Diamond. This Eastertide study covers six weeks.

Ecclesiastes – A Lenten Study

In this Lenten Study, we will be discussing the first half of Ecclesiastes. The theme of Ecclesiastes is that the things of this world are no more substantive than a vapor that soon disappears and is forgotten. The writer reminds us that regardless of how wise or righteous we are, death comes for us all. During Lent, as we walk with Jesus towards Jerusalem and ultimately Golgotha, we are faced with the question of whether death also comes for God’s Wisdom incarnate who exhibits the perfect Righteousness of God. For if death comes for Him, then all that we do is in vain. Therefore, Ecclesiastes compels us, like the male disciples on Easter morning, to run to see if the rumor of the empty grave and the defeat of death itself is true. For background of this study, I have used the JPS Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes by Michael Fox, The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus, and The Resurrection of the Son of God (Ch. 3) by N.T. Wright. This Lenten study covers five to six weeks.

Bad Girls of the Bible – Liz Curtis Higgs

In her book, Bad Girls of the Bible – And What We Can Learn from Them, Liz Curtis Higgs takes us on a wonderful adventure looking at the ten best-known femmes fatales found in Scripture. Mrs. Higgs has a wonderful insight into these women and their struggles and personalities, and what they can teach us today. Her blog on this book is HERE. This Epiphany study covers eight to ten weeks.

2018/2019

Praying With Icons of the Virgin – An Advent Study with Abp. Rowan Willams

In his book Ponder These Things: Praying with Icons of the Virgin, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams invites us to explore and reflect on the depths of meaning in three classic icons of the Virgin and her child from the Eastern Christian tradition. Advent is the ideal time to engage with the Holy Mother of God for it is through her that the Incarnation occurs. This Advent study covers one to two weeks.

The Epistle of Jude

In this study, we are reading through the Epistle of Jude. Jude is more of a sermon in letter form written as an exhortation to a community of believers. The overall purpose of Jude is to appeal to the faith once delivered against certain false teachers. For background on this study, I have used Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament, David Bentley Hart’s translation and notations in his translation of the New Testament, and the Book of Enoch from which Jude quotes and references extensively. This study is for one to two weeks.

The Epistle of James

In this study, we are reading through the Epistle of James. James is one of the “catholic” epistles (like John and Jude) because, unlike Paul’s letters, James is not writing to a particular congregation with particular issues but to the universal church at large. James’s concern is with the horizontal interpersonal relationships – how members of a Christian community relate to one another – and not with the vertical relationship between his audience and God specifically. James is a work of moral exhortation teaching us what “faith working through love” looks like in practice.  For background on this study, I have used Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament and the Anchor-Yale Bible Commentary on James and Ben Witherington’s Letters for Jewish Christians – A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. This study covers five to six weeks.

Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians

In this summer study, we are reading through Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. The occasion of this letter is to answer the question of whether a Gentile must become obedient to the Biblical Law in order to be a Christian. Within this letter, we encounter the pure distillation of Paul’s Gospel and its message of radical inclusiveness. For background on this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians and Justification, Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians, Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament, Troels Engberg-Pedersen’s Paul and the Stoics, and notes from David Bently Hart’s The New Testament. This summer study covers eleven weeks.

Becoming a Healing Presence – Dr. Albert S. Rossi

Dr. Albert S. Rossi is the resident clinical psychologist at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York, and the professor of pastoral theology at the seminary. In his book, Becoming Healing Presence, Dr. Rossi tells us that we are called to love our neighbor, and one means to do so is to give them the healing and peace of Jesus Christ. To become this healing presence for others we must first be continuously healed and renewed ourselves through an active relationship with Jesus, because we cannot pass on that which we do not possess.  In the book, Dr. Rossi points the way toward deepening our love for God and for each other so that others may experience Christ through us.  For Dr. Rossi, the key to becoming a healing presence is simply to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:11). For it is only in still waters (Psalm 23:2) that we can both see beyond the surface and also see a reflection of ourselves. This Eastertide study covers nine weeks.

Book of Consolation (Isaiah 40-55)

In this Lenten study, we will be looking at Isaiah’s Book of Consolation contained in Isaiah 40-55 with a specific focus on the four Suffering Servant Songs found in Isaiah 42:1-4, Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 50:4-9, and Isaiah 52:13-53:12. For background, I am using The Suffering Servant in Deutero-Isaiah by Christopher North, excerpts from The Prophets by Abraham Heschel, and a chapter from The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann. This Lenten study covers four weeks.

His Great Name – Joanne Ellison

In her book, His Great Name, Joanne Ellison takes us on an exploration of the different names that the Hebrew Scriptures use for “God.” These various names convey a sacred understanding of the different ways in which God interacts with and relates to his people. This Epiphany study is six weeks.

2017/2018

Martin Luther’s Christmas Sermons

This study is a collection of abridged versions of Martin Luther’s sermons for the Advent and Christmas seasons contained in Martin Luther’s Christmas Book. His Christmas sermons help bring the reality of the Nativity story to life. This Advent study covers three weeks.

Hymns of the Church

During this study on Hymns of the Church, we begin with a review of the history of (Anglican) hymnody. Each subsequent week, we study and sing our way through several hymns drawn from the ancient church, the 1982 Hymnal, and contemporary Christian music. This study is for six weeks.

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. This is the only letter Paul wrote to a congregation that he had not yet visited. In this letter, Paul walks us through the fullness of his gospel message. For background on this study, I have used Ben Witherington’s Romans – A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, N. T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone and Justification, Troels Engberg-Pedersen’s Paul and the Stoics, Luke Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament, and D. A. Carson’s Commentary on the New Testament’s Use of the Old Testament. This study covers fifteen weeks.

The Great Divorce – C. S. Lewis

In his book, The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis gives us a description of those individuals from Gray Town (Hell) who are being given the opportunity to enter Heaven should they simply relinquish their one true love in favor of God.  Each character’s story allows us to contemplate those things in our lives that we also place before our love of God. This Lenten study is five weeks.  

The Creed – Luke Timothy Johnson

In his book, The Creed – What Christians Believe and Why it Matters, Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson leads us through a discussion of the origin and purpose of the Nicene Creed and then will lead us through a discussion of each statement in the Nicene Creed showing us where it came from, what it means, and why the statement is integral to our Christian faith today.  Dr. Johnson is a former Benedictine monk (Roman Catholic) and spent most of his career as the professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University. As additional background material for our discussions, I have also used the Early Christian Creeds by J.N. D. Kelly, Clues to the Nicene Creed by David Willis, and various other secondary sources. This Epiphany study covers eight weeks.

2016/2017

Advent in Isaiah (Isa. 2, 7, 11, 35)

In this Advent Study, we read through the four Advent readings of Isaiah contained in Year A. These readings are: Isaiah 2:1-5 concerning the future House of God, Isaiah 11:1-10 on the future Peaceful Kingdom of God, Isaiah 35:1-10 about the Return of the Redeemed, and Isaiah 7:10-17 where the sign of Immanuel is given.  This Advent study is one week.

Hebrews

In this study, we are reading through Epistle to the Hebrews. Here, we have one long-sustained argument and apologetic for the Christian faith where the writer will take us through the Hebrew Scriptures and show us the superiority of the New Covenant in Christ over the Old Covenant of Moses and the prophets. As background to our study, I am reading through William Barclay’s Letter to the Hebrews and Luke Timothy Johnson’s excerpt on Hebrews in The Writings of the New Testament. This study is for ten weeks.

The Beatitudes

In this section, we are studying the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12 using John Stott’s workbook The Beatitudes: Developing Spiritual Character.  We will also be reading relevant excerpts from Martin Luther’s Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount,  Gregory of Nyssa’s Sermons on the Beatitudes, and Kenneth Bailey’s chapter on the Beatitudes from Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes. This study is for eight weeks.

Paul’s Letters to the Thessalonians

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians. In these letters, Paul’s focus is on eschatology (end-times).  Paul’s writing, however, is not intended to provide systematic theological instruction, but to provide pastoral care and instruction to an anxious congregation. For background on this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone, Galatians and Thessalonians, Timothy Johnson’s The Writings of the New Testament, and Abraham Malherbe’s Paul and the Popular Philosophers. This summer study covers six weeks.

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming – Fr. Henri J. M. Nouwen

In his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming,  Fr. Henri J. M. Nouwen writes about his encounter with Rembrandt’s painting of the same name based upon Jesus’ parable in Luke 15:11-32.  Within his book, Nouwen explores three major themes: 1) how each of us is the spendthrift, prodigal, younger son, and the judgmental, resentful, elder son; 2) how Jesus perfects both the younger and the elder son; and 3) how we are ultimately called to become the loving, forgiving father. As additional background material for our discussion, Kenneth Bailey’s The Cross and the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants. This Lenten study covers five weeks.

Crazy Christians – Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

In his book, Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry challenges us to be crazy enough to love like Jesus, to give like Jesus, to forgive like Jesus, to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God― like Jesus. The book is a collection of his addresses delivered at the Diocesan conventions of the Diocese of North Carolina. The Epiphany study covers five weeks.

2015/2016

Mary – An Advent Study

For Advent this year, Fr. Gabriel Bullock of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church is leading us in a study of Mary. As background to our study, I am reading through the Protoevangelium of James, Mary and The Fathers of the Church by Luigi Gambero, and The Mystery of Christ by The Very Rev. John Behr. This study is for two weeks.

The Gospel of Mark

In this study, Fr. Gabriel Bullock of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church is leading us through the Gospel of Mark. All that is needed for this study is your Bible. For background in this study, I am reading The Writings of the New Testament by Luke Timothy Johnson, The Anchor-Yale Bible Commentary on Mark edited by Joel Marcus, and The Genesis of Secrecy by Frank Kermode. This is a ten-week study.

The Lord’s Prayer

In this study, we are walking through the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13. As secondary sources, I have used Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey, On the Lord’s Prayer – Tertullian, Cyprian, & Origen by St. Vladimir’s Press, Sacred Dissertations on the Lord’s Prayer by Herman Witsius, The Institutes (Book 3, Chapter 20) by John Calvin, and The Lord’s Prayer – A Collection of Historical Writings by Curtis Rose. This study is for five weeks.

Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. This is still a church in turmoil and division, however, unlike Paul’s first letter, his message here is more conciliatory and less confrontational. For the background of this study, I have used Paul for Everyone: 2 Corinthians. This study is for nine weeks.

The Imitation of Christ –  Thomas à Kempis

The Imitation of Christ is the most-read book in Christianity after the Bible. It is the high point of medieval spirituality where the goal is for the believer to truly partake of the divine image and nature. Its study requires a contemplative heart, not an analytical mind. The work is composed of four books. The first three books concern the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages of spiritual growth which are analogous to the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ. The fourth book is an extended meditation on the Eucharist. I used this version with commentary along with Vedic Commentary on the work. The book was studied over three Eastertides. Books 1 and 2 cover nine weeks, Book 3 covers 6 weeks, and Book 4 covers 4 weeks.

Looking Through the Cross – Rev. Dr. Graham Tomlin

In Looking Through the Cross (the Archbishop of Canterbury’s 2021 Lenten Study), Dr. Graham Tomlin guides us on a deeply spiritual and personal exploration of the meaning of the Cross and how it does and should impact our everyday lives. This lesson covers seven weeks.

2014/2015

Luke’s Infancy Narrative

In this two-week Advent study, we read through the Christmas story as found in Luke 1-2. We look at how this story provides a bridge between the Old and New Testaments and how Luke’s story is very different than portrayed in our Christmas pageants. For the background of this study, I have used Kenneth Bailey’s Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes, N.T. Wright’s Luke for Everyone,  Kurt Willems’s The Roman Empire During the Time of Jesus, and D.A. Carson’s Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. This Advent study is for two weeks. 

Amos

In this study, we discuss how Amos confronts and criticizes the religious-political elites of Israel who obey only the outward trappings of God’s Law while simultaneously exploiting the poor and perverting justice, and how his message speaks to us today. As background for this study, I have used The Prophets by Abraham Heschel and Amos, Doing What is Right by Robert Baker. This study covers five weeks.

On the Incarnation – Athanasius

In this study, we read through St. Athanasius’ classic work On the Incarnation. Athanasius gives us the very framework for understanding the reasons and reality of the Incarnate Logos in the person of Jesus Christ. In this lesson, I have used Fr. John Behr’s Introduction, C.S. Lewis’s Introduction, and excerpts from Reading Scriptures with the Church Fathers by Christopher Hall. This study covers seven weeks.

Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians. This is a church overcome by division and located in the most licentious city in the Roman world. Out of this conflict, Paul writes this pastoral letter addressing dissension, lawsuits, idolatry, sex, church organization, and proper worship all of which can be resolved through love. As background for this study, I am using N.T. Wright’s commentary Paul for Everyone and William Barclay’s The Letters to the Corinthians. This summer study is for twelve weeks.

Parables (2014)

In this Eastertide study, we are studying some of the parables of Jesus. Jesus did not teach systematic theology, rather whenever someone asked him a question, he would respond with “Let me tell you a story.” To help us better understand the parables, we are using Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey and The Parables by Archbishop Dmitri Royster. This Easter study is for six weeks and covers eleven parables.

The Seven Capital Sins – Abp. Fulton J. Sheen

In his book, The Seven Capital Sins, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen takes us on a Lenten journey through the seven capital sins of Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Covetousness, Gluttony, and Lust. He exposes not only the nature of these sins but shows how these sins are to be overcome by the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross. This Lenten Study is for six weeks.

Ezekiel

In this study, we discuss how Ezekiel’s prophecies speak condemnation and hope into an exiled people and prefigured the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. As background for this study, I have used Origen of Alexandria’s Homilies on Ezekiel, The Holman Old Testament Commentary – Ezekiel, and the chapter on Ezekiel from James Kugel’s How to Read the Bible. This Epiphany study covers eight weeks.

2013/2014

Angels – An Advent Study

In this three-week Advent study, we will be exploring Angels. We will look at how angels are described to us in the Scriptures and down through Christian history. As background for our study, I am using Lifted by Angels: The Presence and Power of Our Heavenly Guides and Guardians by Joel Miller, Angels of God: The Bible, the Church, and the Heavenly Hosts by Mike Aquilina, The Angels: The Catholic Teaching on the Angels by Fr. Pascal Parente, Angels by Rev. Billy Graham, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Bk 1, Ch.14) by John Calvin, and The Celestial Hierarchy by Pseudo-Dionysius. This Advent study is for three weeks.

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

In his book Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton takes us through his concept of correct reasoning to his acceptance of the Christian faith. Chesterton’s writings will influence the later works of both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In preparation, I have used the study guides from Alfred J. Freddoso (Notre Dame), Joe Grabowski, (Marquette), and Kyle D. Rapinchuk (College of the Ozarks). This study is for nine weeks.

Abraham

In this study, we explore the stories of Abraham from the perspective of Jesus, Paul, and their Jewish contemporaries in an attempt to read the Old Testament the way they did. The readings include the Genesis account of Abraham, other verses of Scripture, and other writings from Jewish, Christian, and Islamic perspectives. For the general outline of the teaching, I used How to Read the Bible by James Kugel. This was one of our first studies, and I send only one email each week with an attached study outline and readings. This study covers six weeks.

Paul’s Epistle to Philemon

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Epistle to Philemon. This letter gives us a very practical example of the outworking of the Gospel. As background for this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. This study covers one week and should be read in conjunction with the study on Colossians.

Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians. In this letter, Paul reminds his audience to keep their hearts and minds on the glories of Christ Jesus. As background for this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. This study covers four weeks.

Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians

In this summer study, we read through Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. Paul’s great theme is God’s eternal purpose in establishing and completing the universal Church of Jesus Christ. As background for this study, I have used N.T. Wright’s Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. This study covers six weeks.

The Psalms

This was our first study of the Bible study group. The study takes the Psalms topically with an emphasis on the liturgical season. For background, I used C. S. Lewis’s Reflections on the Psalms, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible, and Mike Aquilina’s Praying the Psalms with the Early Christians which provided a great resource of Patristic commentary. This study is for eleven weeks.

2013