Westminster John Knox Press Radio

WJK Radio 23: Martin Thielen Explains the Least We Can Believe

Martin Thielen joins us to discuss ten things Christians need to believe—and ten things they don’t—to “qualify” as Christians. His new book, What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian? A Guide to What Matters Most is a lively and engaging book for seekers and believers who may find themselves questioning some of the assumptions they grew up with. The book is available at a great discount from TheThoughtfulChristian.com.

Ideal for individual, group, or congregational study, the book is accompanied by a free online leader's guide, featuring unique and easily implemented aids for carrying out a seven-week, congregation-wide initiative that will help local churches reach out to their communities.

Martin Thielen is Senior Pastor of Lebanon First United Methodist Church, in Lebanon, Tennessee. He has been a national worship and preaching consultant, seminary professor, and author, and has led more than one hundred church leadership workshops across the country.

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Related Resources:

Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief

Erik Kolbell, What Jesus Meant: The Beatitudes and a Meaningful Life 

Brian D. McLaren, A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey

 

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 22: Elise Erikson Barrett Offers Guidance on Dealing with Miscarriage

Elise Erikson Barrett joins Dan and Jana to offer theological and practical guidance on a difficult subject: miscarriage. In What Was Lost: A Christian Journey through Miscarriage, Barrett draws on her own painful experiences as well as on interviews with others who have experienced miscarriage. She explores complex questions in an effort to help women grieve and, in time, to think theologically about pregnancy loss. Barrett also offers some much-needed practical advice about breaking the news to others, coping with insensitive comments, and grieving what is often a private loss, unmarked by the world. 

Elise Erikson Barrett, a United Methodist pastor, has worked in a variety of ministry settings, including youth work, hospital and college chaplaincy, and church ministry. A native of Indiana, she now makes her home in South Carolina with her husband and children.

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Related Resources:

Allan Hugh Cole Jr., Good Mourning: Getting through Your Grief

Virginia Stem Owens, Caring for Mother: A Daughter’s Long Goodbye

Nancy Reeves, Found Through Loss: Healing Stories from Scripture and Everyday Sacredness

 

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

 

WJK Radio 21: Ben Daniel Offers Thoughtful Guidance on Immigration

Who is our neighbor? Presbyterian pastor Ben Daniel joins us to discuss the controversial issues that surround undocumented migration in the United States. In his new book, Neighbor: Christian Encounters with “Illegal” Immigration, Daniel provides a Christian case for embracing undocumented immigrants using a blend of travel narrative, interviews, theological insight, and biblical scholarship.

Ben Daniel is a Presbyterian minister in northern California. He has served on the board of Presbyterian Border Ministries and is a regular contributor to UPI’s online religion and spirituality forum, as well as KQED FM, the largest NPR affiliate in the U.S. He is a graduate of Westmont College and Princeton Theological Seminary.

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Related Resources:

 Pamela K. Brubaker, Rebecca Todd Peters, and Laura A. Stivers, editors, Justice in a Global Economy: Strategies for Home, Community, and the World 

James Calvin Davis, In Defense of Civility: How Religion Can Unite America on Seven Moral Issues that Divide Us 

Music Credit:

Shadows,” by David LaMotte

 

WJK Radio 20: David Beckmann Calls Us to Change the Politics of Hunger

David Beckmann, the 2010 World Food Prize Laureate, is with us today to discuss Exodus from Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger.  In his powerful and hopeful book, Beckmann looks at the causes of hunger, presents case studies of countries that have made great strides against it, and puts a human face on the problem by sharing stories of people who are, quite simply, hungry every day. The problems can seem overwhelming but Beckmann lays out a clear and workable plan for effectively using political channels to make great progress. He not only challenges us to get involved, he shows us how.

David Beckmann is president of Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s leaders to end hunger in our country and around the world. He is a Lutheran pastor and an economist. The 2010 World Food Prize recognizes his leadership in achieving changes that have helped hundreds of millions of hungry people.

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Related Resources:

Jim Wallis, The Great Awakening: Seven Ways to Change the World

Greg Garrett, We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel according to U2

Rebecca Todd Peters and Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty (editors), To Do Justice: A Guide for Progressive Christians

Music Credit:

"Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 19: Sharon Baker “Razes” Traditional Notions of Hell

Sixty percent of Americans believe in hell, as do ninety-two percent of those who attend church every week. Sharon L. Baker is here to speak candidly about our traditional views of hell. In her accessible and engaging new book, Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You’ve Been Taught about God’s Wrath and Judgment, Baker explores how these traditional views have damaged our understanding of a loving God. She ultimately proposes an alternate theology of hell that is more consistent with the image of God as a loving creator who desires to liberate us from sin and evil.

Sharon L. Baker is Associate Professor of Theology and Religion and Coordinator of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She has published numerous articles and speaks frequently throughout the United States on nonviolent atonement and hell. A former stay-at-home mom, Baker received her PhD from Southern Methodist University in 2006.

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Related Resources:

Keith Wright, The Hell Jesus Never Intended

Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 18: Amy Pauw discusses Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible

Amy Plantinga Pauw discusses WJK’s newest Bible commentary series: Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, which she developed with William C. Placher. Each volume will explain the theological importance of Scripture for the church today by connecting the words of the Bible to the church's doctrines and practices, as well as to the life of faith in the Christian community. The first two volumes, Mark by William C. Placher and Luke by Justo L. González are now available.

Amy Plantinga Pauw is Henry P. Mobley Jr. Professor of Doctrinal Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

William C. Placher^† worked with Amy Plantinga Pauw as a general editor for this series until his untimely death in November 2008. Westminster John Knox Press wishes to dedicate the entire series to his memory with affection and gratitude.

For more information on the series, visit http://belief.wjkbooks.com.

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Related Resources:

Lamar Williamson Jr., Mark (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)

Fred B. Craddock, Luke (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)

Gail R. O’Day and David L. Peterson, editors, Theological Bible Commentary 

Music Credit:

"Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 17: Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce on Who’s Going Where...And Why!

Who ever thought stats could be so much fun? Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce are here to talk about the latest trends and changes in congregational life. Complete with tables, statistics, and hilarious cartoons, their latest book, A Field Guide to U. S. Congregations, Second Edition, compiles the results of the U. S. Congregational Life Survey, the largest and most representative profile of worshipers and their congregations ever developed in the United States.

Cynthia Woolever is Research Manager of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, former Professor of Sociology of Religious Organizations, Hartford Seminary, and a researcher for the PC(USA) Research Services office.

Deborah Bruce is Associate Research Manager for PC(USA) Research Services, and a member of the Religious Research Association, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the Association for the Sociology of Religion, and the International Society for the Sociology of Religion.

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Related Resources:

Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Places of Promise: Finding Strength in Your Congregation’s Location

Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Beyond the Ordinary: Ten Strengths of U. S. Congregations

 

Music Credit:

"Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 16: John Goldingay on the book of Genesis . . . for Everyone!

John Goldingay joins us for a delightful and thoroughly engaging discussion about Genesis for Everyone, Part One and Genesis for Everyone, Part Two, the first volumes in the new “Old Testament for Everyone” commentary series from Westminster John Knox Press. Goldingay’s lively and accessible style makes it easy to develop a deeper understanding of the spiritual and theological significance of the Old Testament books.

John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is an international authority on the Old Testament.

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Related Resources:

N. T. Wright, For Everyone Gospel Set

Donald L. Griggs and W. Eugene March, Genesis from Scratch: The Old Testament for Beginners

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 15: Walter Brueggemann paves the way toward the common good

Respected author and theologian Walter Brueggemann joins us today for a penetrating look at today’s most pressing issues, including terrorism, health care, and the recent economic collapse. He offers guidance for navigating through these challenging times through neighborliness, covenanting, and reconstruction. His new book, Journey to the Common Good, is now available from Westminster John Knox Press. 

Walter Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is the world’s leading interpreter of the Old Testament and is the author of numerous books, including Westminster John Knox Press best sellers such as Genesis and An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination. For more information, visit http://brueggemann.wjkbooks.com.

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Related Resources:

Jim Wallis, The Great Awakening: Seven Ways to Change the World

Walter Brueggemann, Mandate to Difference: An Invitation to the Contemporary Church

 

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 14: Alyce McKenzie on crafting creative sermons

From Frederick Buechner to Stephen King, Alyce McKenzie explores how fiction writers approach the task of writing novels, and what preachers can learn from them to enhance their sermons. She speaks with Dan and Jana about these techniques, outlined in her new book, Novel Preaching: Tips from Top Writers on Crafting Creative Sermons.

Alyce M. McKenzie is Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is the author of a number of books, including The Parables for Today and Preaching Proverbs: Wisdom for the Pulpit from Westminster John Knox Press.

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Related Resources:

Sondra B. Willobee, The Write Stuff: Crafting Sermons That Capture and Convince

Cleophus J. LaRue, More Power in the Pulpit: How America's Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons

 

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte