Luther's theology of the cross has impacted major theologians and centuries of theology, including the present, and yet it is weakened by its reactionary theological determinism, reductionism, and understandable failure to properly integrate fluid, melioristic, and pro-creation kingdom eschatology. N. T. Wright's revolutionary cross, articulated in The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion, is a brilliant and clarion new creation eschatological call to action that suffers from a somewhat cryptic, imprecise, and unrefined eschatology. Heino O. Kadai has presented an authoritative and concise rendering of Luther's key insights. Brian Rustin has persuasively absolved Luther's theology of the cross of blame for the Deus absconditus of modernity in his Barthian influenced Covering Up Luther. Robert Cady Saler has masterfully articulated a relevant and pastoral Theologia Crucis framed by Moltmann's Theology of Hope that is most applicable to the contemporary church and sociopolitical engagement. A Theology of Cross and Kingdom sympathetically and creatively critiques and synthesizes dominant themes in such classical and contemporary theologies of the cross within a unified cross and kingdom eschatology. Matthews deftly overcomes many of the less than helpful disjunctive approaches to the theology of the cross while proffering a way forward for this most influential and core theological treasure of the church.

Christ and the cross are the center and the reality of the Bible. In their writing, all the apostles emphasized Christ and the cross, and when we know this matter, we will truly appreciate the preciousness of the Bible. “In order for us to grow in life, to see the spiritual things and the spiritual way, and to be proper Christians, we must know Christ and the cross. A person who does not know Christ and the cross cannot do a spiritual work or service that satisfies God’s heart. In order to grow spiritually or do a spiritual work, such as preaching the gospel or administrating the church, we must know Christ and the cross.”

Reprint of the original, first published in 1871.

This five-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately) by noted teacher and historian, Ray Vander Laan, is volume eleven of the That the World May Know filmed-on-location DVD and Discovery Guide series. In this study, God’s story continues with the intense devotion of his people. Discover how their passionate faith prepares the way for Jesus and his ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice at the cross. Then, be challenged in your life to live as they did – by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Faith Lessons is a unique video series that brings God's Word to life with astounding relevance. By weaving together the Bible's fascinating historical, cultural, religious, and geographical contexts, teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan reveals unique insights into the Scriptures' significance for modern believers. Each lesson: Focuses on passages of Scripture explored in the DVD Includes sidebars, maps, photos and other study tools Features questions that facilitate discussion and inspire personal reflection Includes 25 personal Bible studies to help you deepen your learning experience between sessions, and turn lessons from the past into applications that impact how you live out your faith today. Filmed on location in Qumran, Machaerus, En Gedi, Jerusalem and Gethsemane, these illuminating "faith lessons" afford a new understanding of the Bible that will ground your convictions and transform your life. The Faith Lessons video series is ideal for use in small groups, personal and family Bible studies, and adult Sunday school. Individual believers and families will gain vital insights from long-ago times and cultures through this innovative approach to Bible study. Lessons include: The Way of the Essenes – Filmed in Quamran The Way of John the Baptist – Filmed in Machaerus Into the Desert to Be Tested – Filmed in En Gedi The Last Passover – Filmed in Jerusalem The Fifth Cup: Our Way of Hope – Filmed at Gethsemane Designed for use with the Early Church Video Study (sold separately).

It is about life beyond the cross. The book takes us through some of what the cross of Calvary actually means and the stages of the life of Christ before, on and beyond the cross after his resurrection and ascension to heaven. In other words, Jesus Christ before the cross was not the same as he hanged on the cross; neither was he the same Jesus Christ after his resurrection and ascension to heaven (2Corinthians 5:16). It is also an effort to throw some light on the cross of Jesus Christ and its connection to Gods plan and power of salvation for mankind; much more, it shares to reveal the rightful position of power and authority of the New Creation in Christ and how he or she can operate in the realms of Gods glory right here on earth.

The Mystery of the Cross and the Narrow Gate Revealed is a search to reconcile apparent contradictions in the Bible, especially those passages pertaining to salvation. Beginning with the premise of the infallibility of the Bible, it argues that both the Reformers understanding of the atonement and their doctrine of salvation are invalid, since they are contradicted by numerous scriptures. In the end, the result of this search is a new understanding of both the atonement and salvation and the development of doctrines on these subjects, which will enable us to read canonically without seeing contradictions. Through faith and reason, a sound hermeneutic and careful exegesis, The Mystery of the Cross and the Narrow Gate uncovers the internal coherence of scripture, with the principal objective of restoring truth and bringing reform to a church that fails to grasp that the Holy Spirit is given to humankind to enable us to become holy and be made fit for the kingdom in heaven-refer www.themysteryofthecross.com.

This book identifies the impasse between classical Protestant and contemporary charismatic and Pentecostal pneumatologies as a fundamental theological problem. Its goal is to contribute a constructive pneumatological proposal for moving beyond this impasse, based on the resources of the theology of Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919). The disagreement is over the question of unmediated experience of the Holy Spirit. Luther's rejection of 'enthusiastic' pneumatologies on the basis of a narrow concept of the mediation of the Word and a pessimistic anthropology became Protestant orthodoxy. In relation to classical Protestantism, the primary theological distinctive of charismatic theology is its strong affirmation of unmediated experience of the Spirit in Christian life and worship. The Pentecostal movement's rapid growth in the past century has brought this difference to the fore. Christoph Blumhardt's theology, which integrates pessimistic anthropology and unmediated experience, is well-suited to exploring the impasse between the two theological traditions.

The cross of Christ crucified symbolized the central theme of Paul’s ministry. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle commenced his correspondence with the message about the cross and power of God (1 Cor 1:18, NRSV). The proposal for this paper utilizes the method analogia scripturae. Set within the wisdom motif of the Greco-Roman world, this study is dedicated to the examination of the apostle’s Christology in the context of 1 Cor 1:18–25 and the pneumatology in 1 Cor 2:9–16 as both pericopes are juxtaposed in his epistle. Essentially, the thesis concerns the grounding of the pneumatology of Paul with his Christology in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthian church required clarification and pastoral wisdom with their pneumatic experiences; thus, Paul recognized that a strong theology of the cross complemented their encounters with the Spirit. The question for biblical studies involves a lively tension of the pneumatology of the Spirit with a robust Christology. Because the power of God throughout this passage has the cross as its paradigm, the structure of the book leads to the significance of the apostle’s pneumatological contribution of the cross and Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:18; 2:2). For this reason, a strong Christology must ground the pneumatology of the Pauline corpus. This study in biblical literature commences a new discussion in ecumenical dialogue between pneumatic experiences in the church and christological issues in Scripture.

Cross-cultural partnerships in today’s global environment are both challenging and necessary. Misunderstanding and miscommunication often lead to conflict between culturally diverse groups. Christians must understand and evaluate their own culture, the culture of others, and the text of Scripture itself, while remaining faithful to Scripture and relevant to culture. Unmediated tensions combined with relational isolation lead to a myriad of problems. This study proposes cross-cultural missional partnership as a relationship that mediates these tensions, thereby encouraging mutual, faithful engagement in the mission of God. Cross-cultural tensions may never disappear, but within a healthy partnership, partners can assist one another in understanding and responding faithfully to Scripture. Partners help one another more faithfully interpret and apply Scripture, leading to obedience to God’s will and engagement in God’s mission within unique and diverse contexts.