By Earl Kooperkamp

A crucial question is whether resurrection can make a difference in our world and our lives. Paul’s witness gives insight on resurrection as powerful transformation or transformational power. Resurrection is standing for solidarity in the midst of struggle—perhaps even the Occupy Wall Street Movement…

by the Editors

These lectionary notes serve the Sundays and feasts in April-June 2012.

Reviewed by Neal Presa

Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace.
Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.

Selected by Darla Turlington

Quotations about resurrection.

By Jin Han

I am delighted to invite you to this new issue of The Living Pulpit that focuses on the resurrection. As many of our readers know, The Living Pulpit devoted a past issue to Easter, and many would fondly remember it. The current issue is not a reprint. It is a totally new edition with feature articles freshly written by biblical scholars, church leaders, preachers, and a rabbi.

By Thomas Boomershine

This article gives ideas for presenting the Bible orally to familiarize worshippers and clergy with Scripture, helping them to learn how to make the Spoken Word more interesting and relevant to both those who proclaim and to those who hear the Word.

By Dale T. Irvin

By the end of 2012 we expect to see The Living Pulpit back up and running with four issues a year as an online journal that is both in a web format and in .pdf for download and printing. We have a new web team in place and plan to offer new resources online such as a lectionary section with fresh and relevant biblical exegesis and a place for comments from readers.

By Uriah Y. Kim

When preparing sermons on King David, preachers over the years have pored over every detail of David’s life and every trait of his character to expound lessons and examples for believers to learn and imitate.  Lessons, examples, types, or symbols become even more apparent when King Saul is introduced as David’s foil.  In this article I examine David and Saul in their “multi-people” environment so that we can appreciate some characteristics of their leadership that are useful in our multicultural context.

By Wanda Lundy

This revealing analysis of Jacob’s night alone at Peniel gives preachers added avenues as to how to use this familiar and dramatic story for prophetic preaching and interesting teaching.

By Efrain Agosto

The author explores the question of who became leaders in the churches founded by Paul and what was the social status of those leaders with respect to the strict, hierarchical social structure of Greco-Roman society. Like Jesus, Paul selects leaders from among those whom he serves. He expects them, as he does of himself, to serve even to the point of risk and sacrifice.

By Baruch Levine

Scholars have achieved a common discourse that enables them to study the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament together, despite confessional differences. This article explores how this is possible and what benefits may evolve.

By Joseph Crockett

Bible engagement is an intentional, goal-directed activity. As language shapes an individual’s thought categories and empowers him or her to transcend those categories, engagement with biblical narratives involves social processes that can build and transform character. Individuals and communities have the capacity to be informed by the Word and the narratives of Judeo-Christian faith traditions—to become like Christ.