This revised and expanded introductory text introduces students of the Bible to the layers of meaning that can be uncovered by serious study of the synoptic gospel texts. Included are two new chapters introducing ideological exegetical approaches to the gospels and a concluding chapter that helps the student synthesize the exegetical discoveries they have made using the methods taught in the book.

Preaching, says professor and author O. Wesley Allen Jr., should be considered as a form of conversation. The church, after all, is a community of conversation that exists in part to interpret God's purposes for the world and to participate in those purposes. The idea of the sermon as a conversation, then, is not simply a style or form of preaching but an integral expression of the nature and purpose of the church.

Traditional books on preaching a book of the Bible often look at broad themes of the text while Lectionary resources often offer exegetical and homiletical insights about preaching individual passages. In this book Wes Allen draws together the strengths of these two approaches into a new genre of homiletical and teaching resource with a focus on the Gospel according to Matthew. Matthew will not only be an essential classroom resource to help students learn to link text and sermon, it will also help congregational leaders develop exegetically informed cumulative preaching and educational experiences focused on but not limited to the lections in Matthew. With liturgical sensitivity and exegetical skill, Allen provides a unique preaching resource that will build biblical literacy by assisting both preachers and listeners in understanding Matthew's Gospel as a whole, not just as a collection of vaguely related stories.

When it comes to understanding a passage in the Bible, context is everything. What historical events surround a books composition? What larger literary unit is a given passage part of? What central themes explored by the book touch on the verses in question? If we dont know the answer to questions like these, we are ill-prepared to speak toand especially preach abouta passages meaning. The Preachers Bible Handbook aims to meet this need for extra help in preparing the sermon. Essays on each of the biblical books introduce the most relevant historical, literary, and theological facts about the book. Each is designed to aid the preacher in setting the stage for a sermon on any passage in the Bible.