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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Christianity > Christian life & practice > Christian sacraments
Balthasar Hubmaier remains one of the most significant figures in
the radical reformation of the sixteenth century. A Pledge of Love
is close and thorough examination of Hubmaiers view of the
sacraments within the context of worship. This ground-breaking work
examines the distinctive theology of this important Anabaptist and
his possible influence upon others.
The question of the meaning and significance of baptism is explored
from a number of different perspectives in this volume. Inspired by
the honoree of this volume and his important work on the subject,
the contributors approach baptism from biblical, historical,
theological and practical perspectives. Some of the essays
re-examine the well-known biblical texts, feeling free to probe
their implications. Others tease out the implications of the
concept of baptism in a variety of contexts, both ancient and
modern. Contributors include Joel Green, Geoffrey Bromiley, Larry
Kreitzer, John Nolland, Ramsey Michaels and J.D.G. Dunn.>
This book is a comprehensive historiographical survey on Christian
penance and confession from the early sixteenth century to the end
of the twentieth century. The author charts the change from
medieval practices of penance to the modern rites of penance. The
book's title refers to the latin phrase medici et medicamenta, or,
"spiritual doctors and medicines," to indicate a unifying theme of
this study.
This study investigates the procedural techniques, significance,
and the tangible effects of the laying on of hands in the New
Testament. The author investigates the background of the New
Testament practice by conducting investigation in the Old Testament
and contemporary Judaism and the Graeco-Roman and Near-Eastern
literature. The main chapters are exegetical, each discussing a
particular use of the laying on of hands in the New Testament: for
blessing, healing, reception of the Spirit and ordination. A
special attention is given to the inner process of transfer of
power through physical contact. It is the author's conclusion that
in the New Testament the gesture always signifies transfer of some
positive materia: blessing, 'life-force', the Spirit and
charismata. In the final section, an attempt is made to gauge the
possibility of any uniformity in the significance of the various
New Testament uses of the laying on of hands.
Based on a constructive reading of Scripture, the apostolic and
patristic traditions and deeply rooted in the sacramental
experience and spiritual ethos of the Orthodox Church, John
Zizioulas offers a timely anthropological and cosmological
perspective of human beings as "priests of creation" in addressing
the current ecological crisis. Given the critical and urgent
character of the global crisis and by adopting a clear line of
argumentation, Zizioulas describes a vision based on a
compassionate and incarnational conception of the human beings as
liturgical beings, offering creation to God for the life of the
world. He encourages the need for deeper interaction with modern
science, from which theology stands to gain an appreciation of the
interconnection of every aspect of materiality and life with
humankind. The result is an articulate and promising vision that
inspires a new ethos, or way of life, to overcome our alienation
from the rest of creation.
This book explores sacramental poetics through the lens of moderate
realism in the thought and work of Anglican theologians Richard
Hooker (c. 1554-1600) and George Herbert (1593-1648). It does this
in relation to the Christian sacraments of baptism and the
Eucharist and as a way of exploring the abundance of God. Brian
Douglas begins in chapter 1 with a general discussion of a
sacramental poetic and sacramentality in the Anglican tradition and
proceeds to a more detailed examination of the writings of both
Hooker (chapter 2) and Herbert (chapter 3). Each writer explores,
in their own way, abundant life, found as participation in and
relationship with Christ, and expressed as a sacramental poetic
based on moderate realism. Douglas goes on in chapter 4 to explore
the idea of conversation and dialogue as employed by Hooker and
Herbert as part of a sacramental poetic. The book concludes in
chapter 5 with a more general discussion on the abundance of God
and living of the good and abundant life and some of the issues
this involves in the modern world.
The call to care for creation is a central part of our discipleship
as followers of Jesus Christ. However, language and imagery of the
earth is often absent in our worship services. This book helps
reconnect our commitment to creation care with our life of
discipleship. The process includes helping congregational members
name ways that they are involved in caring for creation and
encourage them to see ways that these practices are related to
Christian faith. Nurturing the life of our communities is a vital
way to fostering our identity as those who care for the earth. At
the heart of this process is the importance of discovering and
developing biblical imagery and language that will support and
foster our care of creation and shape our prayers. As our actions
are more closely connected to the language of our prayers, praying
and acting will inform each other. In addition, the book includes
liturgies that highlight earth care prepared for the major
festivals of the church year.
The Eucharist continues to be central to contemporary Christian
religious tradition and to be the focus for a wide range of
assumptions and disputes. Chief amongst these disputes is the role
of women in the theology and the ritual of the Eucharist.
Reinterpreting the Eucharist brings together a diverse range of
voices with each using their own marginalised experience to explore
other ways - indigenous culture, medieval and contemporary art,
social history, and environmental ethics - of engaging with the
Eucharist. Presenting new forms of theological and ethical
engagement, the book responds to the challenge of reconsidering the
meaning of the Eucharist today.
Catechesis for Infant Baptism will help parishes design a
catechetical process for the formation of a ministry team to share
"our common treasure" of faith with parents preparing for their
infant's baptism. This book is for pastors, pastoral staff,
liturgists, DREs, and all those who prepare catechists to engage in
this ministry. Ellen Marie Collins employs primary symbols, the
Lectionary and prayer texts for infant baptism to offer a process
for deepening the catechists' understanding of the Rite of Infant
Baptism and to help them as they share their faith as a baptismal
ministry team.
The third volume in the exciting new Interpretation series offers a
comprehensive look at the theology of sacraments. For many church
people, worship is about preaching and music. Baptism and the
Lord's Supper are occasional additions to Sunday services.
Recognizing that church-goers are uncertain about the need for
sacraments, Ronald Byars describes the possibility that the very
"doing" of worship--the actions observed, the postures assumed, the
sound and sight of water, the smell and taste of bread and
wine--will subtly alter the temper of the heart and the mind. If we
encounter the sacraments honestly, they lead us to the very heart
of the gospel.
Before the advent of printing, the preaching of the friars was the mass medium of the middle ages. This edition of marriage sermons reveals what a number of famous preachers actually taught about marriage. David D'Avray teases out the close connection between marriage symbolism and social, cultural, and legal realities in the thirteenth century; and assesses the impact of this preaching.
The right words for the right occasion A pastor must be able to
step with ease into a number of different speaking venues. In
addition to a regular preaching schedule, you as a pastor face an
endless parade of special occasions at which you are asked to
speak. Some occasions are planned, others are unexpected, but for
all occasions you must be ready to communicate the Word of God in a
way that complements the liturgy and worship. Preaching for Special
Services gives you practical guidance on how to develop and deliver
clear, listener-sensitive sermons for special occasions such as
weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Each chapter examines the history
and theology of preaching for a particular occasion and then
centers on the development of the sermon for that event. Scott M.
Gibson's approach to sermon construction is based on Haddon W.
Robinson's central-idea preaching described in his Biblical
Preaching. Preaching for Special Services also offers an extensive
list of resources for each special occasion and specific exercises
to help you put the principles in this book into practice.
How Baptism and the Eucharist Shaped Early Christian Understandings
of Jesus Long before the Gospel writers put pen to papyrus, the
earliest Christians participated in the powerful rituals of baptism
and the Lord's Supper, which fundamentally shaped their
understanding of God, Christ, and the world in which they lived. In
this volume, a respected biblical scholar and teacher explores how
cultural anthropology and ritual studies elucidate ancient texts.
Charles Bobertz offers a liturgical reading of the Gospel of Mark,
arguing that the Gospel is a narrative interpretation of early
Christian ritual. This fresh, responsible, and creative proposal
will benefit scholars, professors, and students. Its ecclesial and
pastoral ramifications will also be of interest to church leaders
and pastors.
A short, simple and thoroughly biblical explanation of the meaning
and purpose of Holy Communion, designed to appeal to all ages.
Explains its biblical origins, the different ways in which
Christians have understood it over the centuries, and its crucial
place in the Christian life today.
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