If you are passionate about participating in the recovery of preaching for the spiritual formation of God's people, then you will want to jump into this lively collection of biblically rigorous, culturally intuitive, grace-drenched sermons. Robert Dean sets the bar very high, even as he throws the gauntlet down, with these remarkable expressions of all that preaching was supposed to be and can still become. Animated by the conviction that the preached word is the playground of the Living Word, the pages of Leaps of Faith are populated by saints and sinners, pimps and prophets. Unexpectedly and delightfully, Bono works alongside Bonhoeffer, Dr. Phil learns a lesson from the Amish, and a discussion of body odor primes the senses for contemplating the mission of God. Rooted deeply in the lives of actual worshipping communities, these wonder-laden sermons from the prophetic imagination of an emerging pastor-theologian dare the reader to leap into the continuing story of the Triune God…

This quarter’s commentary focuses on“Called to Carry the Light,”“Issues of Life and Death,” and“Dimensions of Love.” God has a missionary plan, people, message, and call. As God’s missionary people, Christians are called to “carry the light” to a dark world. Life, death, sexual abuse, and suicide are important “issues of life and death” about which all believers should examine the Bible’s teaching. Friendship love, romantic love, Christian love, and God’s love are four “dimensions of love” God h...

This quarter’s Study Themes are: “Church Gone Wrong,”“Ministry Done Right,” and“I (Still) Do.” The five lessons in “Church Gone Wrong” are based on selected passages from 1 Corinthians and examine problems in that early church, many of which churches continue to face today. This study is important as it provides biblical answers to fixing what’s wrong in the church. The last lesson in this unit is the annual coordinated Evangelism Lesson. “Ministry Done Right,” a three-session Study Theme, is...

This quarter’s Study Themes are:“What’s in a Name?,”“Minor Prophets: Major Messages,” and“What Matters Most.” The names and titles of God revealed in Scripture help us understand His character and relationship with us. Our study theme “What’s in a Name?” looks at five of God’s names, moving from those names that portray His power and transcendence to those names that show His love and intimacy with us. One way to better understand God’s activity today and His plan for the future is to become ...

This quarter’s commentary focuses on these Study Themes:“Courage to Stand for God,”“Let’s Talk about Jesus,” and“Relationships Worth Improving.” “Courage to Stand for God” highlights the bold faith of Deborah; Gideon; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and Esther. The examples of these biblical figures can give today’s believers a foundation for forming the courage it takes to live for God in our world. “Let’s Talk about Jesus” emphasizes Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection, establishment of the ...

This quarter’s commentary focuses on“The Cost of Bold Discipleship,”“Turning Negatives into Positives,” and“Building Blocks of Community.”“The Cost of Bold Discipleship” concludes a study in Mark’s Gospel and challenges adults to follow Jesus at any cost. “Turning Negatives into Positives” examines four repercussions of the pressure on today’s adults—fear, depression, failure, and loneliness—and focuses on God’s assurance of His presence, love, hope, and purpose. “Building Blocks of Commun...

What is the church? What is its mission in the world? Modern Protestantism's inability to provide a clear answer to these seemingly simple questions has resulted in vast confusion amongst pastors about the nature of their calling and has left congregations languishing without a clear reason for existence. Many of the voices and allegiances competing for the churches' attention have rushed in to fill the void, with the result that the church in modernity has frequently found itself captive to the prevailing culture. Yet from within the belly of highly culturally accommodated churches, both the German pastor-theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the American theological ethicist Stanley Hauerwas were able to articulate compelling visions of churches freed from their cultural captivity in order to truly and freely serve God and neighbor. Against the complex and confusing backdrops of Nazi Germany and late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century America respectively, Bonhoeffer and…