David Schnasa Jacobsen draws together the strengths of two exegetical approaches to the Gospel of Mark in this volume of the Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries series. Jacobsen takes a broad thematic approach to the first Gospel, while at the same time giving exegetical and homiletical insights about individual periscopes in their narrative context. By helping preachers and students make connections between the various lections from Mark throughout Year B in their sermons and studies, they and their parishioners will have a deeper appreciation of Mark's unique interpretation of the Christ Event and how that influences their approach to living the Christian faith in today's world. With liturgical sensitivity and exegetical skill, Jacobsen provides a unique preaching resource that will build biblical literacy by assisting both preachers and listeners in understanding Mark's Gospel as narrative-theological whole, not just as a collection of loosely related stories.

Sometimes lectionary preachers struggle when situations present themselves in parish life. A congregational member dies, two lives are joined in marriage, a contentious social justice issue demands attention, or a public event like 9/11 shakes us to the core. Although lectionary and worship allow us to deepen our appreciation for the Bible and the themes and emphases of the Christian calendar, they sometimes fail to allow preachers to speak the gospel directly to the situations that occupy their congregations. This book is designed to help pastors and seminarians discover resources they already have to unpack situations and understand them theologically in light of their task of preaching the gospel.

Most preachers have little fondness for apocalyptic texts because of their scathing language, surrealistic plots, and enigmatic symbols. David Jacobsen helps preachers move past these barriers with clear step by step directions and insightful analysis, showing how to move from text to sermon for the apocalyptic texts included in the lectionary.