Biblical Genres

In order to understand, appreciate, and faithfully preach the word of God, pastors must discern the literary nature of the Bible. Instead of just acknowledging the various genres of Scripture, pastors and teachers should allow these genres to influence how the text is approached and communicated. In The Beauty and Power of Biblical Exposition, they will learn how to both read and preach the Bible as a literary anthology.

When psychologist Rocky Devos loses his wife to cancer, he also loses his faith in the fairness of God. For over a year, he lived in the thin space between his love for God and his hatred for what he believed God did. Each night, he bangs on heaven’s gate, demanding an explanation. “Why Rachel, Lord? Why would you let her suffer like that? Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you give us a miracle?” The longer his prayers go unanswered, the more frustrated he gets. But then the answer arrives disguised as a homeless vagabond who claims to be the apostle Paul.

Only one person understands Noah’s gifts with the animals — Jeremiah, the mute shepherd who has been her field companion for years. After the walls of Jericho collapse, God stays silent in the battle of Ai, leaving Jeremiah wounded and Noah’s marital status in jeopardy. But Noah remains faithful to God and her animals and trusts that she will be able to forge a future with her sisters, even when enemies abound. Will the daughters of Zelophehad be able to settle their land together, or will Noah get left behind, trapped in the tent of a troublemaker?

"Evas bog" er en åbenbaring. Ikke fordi den har emne fra Biblen, men fordi Marianne Fredriksson er en ægte og stor fortæller. Hun beretter om, hvordan Eva havde det, da Kain havde slået Abel ihjel, og Adam bare gik ud i lunden og talte med sin gud. Ingen i familien kunne leve videre uanfægtet, og for Eva var det nødvendigt at søge tilbage til barndommens Paradis - eller hvad det nu var - og ind i sig selv. Det bliver en lang rejse, indimellem skræmmende og undertiden betagende, men til slut kan hun vende hjem og fortsætte det liv, som er hendes.

Daniel’s meteoric rise in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court is a two-edged sword. Yahweh has greatly blessed Daniel and his friends, and they have found much favor in the eyes of the Babylonian king, but it has come at a cost. Daniel has made powerful enemies who seek to destroy him and any influence he has over the king of Babylon. Dark forces are moving into position around Daniel. Envious men want nothing more than to see him and his friends dead.

In the ancient hills of Moab, Ruth witnesses the brutal reality of sacrificial worship. Shocked and disillusioned, she renounces the gods she once held sacred, seeing them now as instruments for power and control rather than sources of spiritual guidance.

What can we learn by watching Jesus respond to his mother, when she asks him for help, and he changes the water into wine? What is Jesus saying to Nicodemus, “the up and in,” about being born again and the Spirit? And with the “the down and out” Samaritan Woman at the Well, Jesus shows us how to effectively reach those who have been wounded by religion and relationships.

Very little is known of Mephibosheth from Biblical history. We know that he lived during the rise of the new city of Jerusalem, lived in the palace of David, and undoubtedly witnessed the building of Solomon’s Temple. He would have known of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, his songs and psalms, and the challenges to his power from his son Absalom and others. How did this man, falling from prince to pauper, from able-bodied to a cripple, then restored to the king’s palace, navigate such a turbulent journey?

Book three of the Rise of Daniel follows Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar through the dark period of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel has gained favor within Nebuchadnezzar’s court, but this creates envy in those who resent his rise to power. An array of evil spirits arises against him, threatening to destroy him, his friends, and his people. Daniel walks a thin line of survival where a single misstep could see him consumed by the evil spirits seeking his life. Such is the danger that even his friendship with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah is in jeopardy.

For centuries, biblical historians have pondered the enigmatic origins of the Gospel of Matthew, the foundational text capturing the adult life of Jesus of Nazareth. With no original manuscripts discovered, speculation abounds, with the earliest known fragment dating back to 260 CE. Now, amidst shifting scholarly consensus, a riveting narrative emerges to explore the genesis of this pivotal scripture.

Book one of the Rise of Daniel follows Daniel, Jeremiah, and Nebuchadnezzar at the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity. Daniel, merely a boy of fourteen, is thrust into a world of conspiracy and evil when Jeremiah the prophet predicts the coming of the powerful Babylonian prince, Nebuchadnezzar, to conquer Jerusalem. The kingdom of Judah has turned her back on the God of Israel, trusting in the Egyptians and the gods of the heathen nations around them.

Jesús de Nazaret, rodeado de un nutrido grupo de seguidores, llega a Jerusalén, donde anuncia el advenimiento del reino de Dios, se enfrenta a los cambistas del Templo y declara que los judíos no han de pagar tributo a Roma. Su actividad despierta recelos tanto entre los romanos como entre los sacerdotes judíos, cuya autoridad Jesús pone en entredicho. Unos y otros deciden capturarlo, y el prefecto, Poncio Pilato, lo sentencia a morir en la cruz. Tras ser ejecutado, sus seguidores, horrorizados, se dispersarán y regresarán a Galilea, de donde la mayoría procede. Jesús ha fracasado.

O evangelho segundo Maria Madalena é um retrato feminista, corajoso e sensual de uma mulher livre, cujo papel na fundação do cristianismo acabou sendo apagado ao longo dos séculos pelos homens da Igreja.

After first sharing King Josiah with my friends as a manuscript, they were at the same time impressed and amazed, as several asked me how I was able to write such an intriguing and brilliant novel. The truth is that aside from my knowledge of Josiah as a historical figure, and my willingness to write, I can take very little credit for the story itself as it was not so much a work of my imagination but flowed out from a much deeper place within.

Book five of the Davidic Chronicles continues to follow David's journey to fulfill his anointing and to become king of Israel. Forced to flee to the Philistines with his mighty men and their families, David lives in constant jeopardy, knowing that a single misstep will see him and everyone he loves destroyed. Meanwhile, other forces conspire to use David for their own ends in a bid to conquer Israel and prove that the gods of the Philistines are greater than the God of Israel.

The purpose of GENESIS: The Novel is to highlight God’s history with human beings. My target audience is the curious - agnostics and believers alike. I wrote the book to present the biblical stories of the book of Genesis in the form of a novel. Telling a story with full disclosure of the doubts, fears, and weaknesses of a biblical character is my intention. I believe that’s how the listener can identify with each one of them and be inspired.

Book four of the Davidic Chronicles continues to follow David’s flight from an enraged King Saul. Hunted and betrayed on every hand, David must seek God's deliverance as he is driven deeper and deeper into the wilderness south of Jerusalem.

Benaiah has joined David's band of outlaws and, in the process, has become a mighty warrior. When David finally comes to the throne of Israel, Benaiah and his family settle down for a life of peace. But little do they know; the true battle is only beginning. The family of Goliath seeks revenge, David's heart is distracted by temptations, and the unity of David's Mighty Men is pushed to its limit. When David does the unthinkable, Benaiah is faced with the fiercest challenge of his life. David is the Lord's anointed, but justice must be done.

Book three of the Davidic Chronicles continues to follow David as he becomes a fugitive and outcast. On the run, alone, and pursued by the king, David must struggle to stay alive and find his place among his own people. Hunted by friends and enemies alike, David confronts his own anointing by Samuel and what that means for his future. As he does this, his king continues to fall under the throes of the evil spirit and is driven to kill anyone who stands in his way—men, women, and children. Most of all, in Saul's mind, David must die.

The throne of Israel is in peril. A band of outlaws have pledged their allegiance to King Saul's son-in-law, David. Living in caves and deserts, the men of David try to keep hidden from the ever-vengeful wrath of their king. Meanwhile, in the small village of Kabzeel, Benaiah the priest lives peacefully with his wife and child. Against his wishes, providence continues to place Benaiah in the middle of Saul and David's battle. Rumors begin to spread that David has been chosen by God. Benaiah is told that he must pick a side. But whose side will he choose?