Anne Robertson

No other gods. No graven images. Don't take God's name in vain. Those are the commandments that focus this first volume of our series for small group study: Exploring Justice: The Ten Commandments. Do you think idols are merely statues from a false religion? Think again. In this first volume, you'll think about the primary values of your faith and learn the history behind some of today's difficult issues: When did the Pledge of Allegiance change and why? How did Charles "Lucky Lindy" Lindbergh taint the original "America First" movement? Who was the first monarch in history to grant the full freedom of religion and which Christian minister made it happen? Then, with exercises that encourage dialogue rather than division, the group sessions in the separate Leader's Guide will help you think about whether we're really putting God's values first when engaging issues from the NFL protests and Confederate monuments to the Pledge of Allegiance, the First and Second Amendments, separation of church and state, White nationalism, flags in churches, and more. This Leader's Guide provides the step-by-step lesson plans you need to run a group study of volume one. Student books sold separately.

No other gods. No graven images. Don't take God's name in vain. Those are the commandments that focus this first volume of our series for small group study: Exploring Justice: The Ten Commandments. Do you think idols are merely statues from a false religion? Think again. In this first volume, you'll think about the primary values of your faith and learn the history behind some of today's difficult issues: When did the Pledge of Allegiance change and why? How did Charles "Lucky Lindy" Lindbergh taint the original "America First" movement? Who was the first monarch in history to grant the full freedom of religion and which Christian minister made it happen? Then, with exercises that encourage dialogue rather than division, the group sessions in the separate Leader's Guide will help you think about whether we're really putting God's values first when engaging issues from the NFL protests and Confederate monuments to the Pledge of Allegiance, the First and Second Amendments, separation of church and state, White nationalism, flags in churches, and more. Read this book on your own or get the Leader's Guide and gather a group to better understand the issues we face and turn division into dialogue. PRAISE FOR PRIORITIES"Anne Robertson has written an astonishing exposition of the second of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not make graven images. Her study is deeply grounded in scripture. But her work is to mobilize her expansive imagination in order to show the demanding contemporaneity of this innocent-looking mandate from Moses. Amid her work she offers a trenchant critique of our idolatry of nationalism with an eye on our "worship of the flag," and our idolatry of guns with a knowing riff on the NRA. Her work exhibits her acute skills as an educator as she provides effective prompts and cues for critical engagement." This book is the launch volume of a projected multi-volume work on the Ten Commandments. The series promises to be a state-of-the art offer, the best resource we have on the commandments and their contemporary pertinence for a life of faith. As executive of the Massachusetts Bible Society, Anne continues and extends the strong legacy of the Society in its engagement with scripture as a primary way in which to empower the faithful life of the church." Walter BrueggemannColumbia Theological Seminary

When Anne Robertson asked a bunch of people on the street what came to mind when they heard the word Bible, she was met with a flood of mixed responses-words like wisdom, lies, faith, rules, ancient history, bigotry, poison, and many more. What she realized was that we all read the Bible through filtered lenses, according to our varied expectations of what the Bible is or should be. But, says Robertson, the Bible as a whole is primarily God's story-a story of relationship, community, and love. Robertson's New Vision for an Old Story gives readers the right lenses to see beyond the printed page to the God who encounters us in dynamic relationship and transforms our lives. The very nature and message of Scripture are rooted in incarnation. When we need to navigate community, truth, fear, and suffering, the Bible- God's own story-can guide us through it all.

The Leader's Guide for Introducing the New Testament, the third course in the popular Bible study series Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series. With step-by-step instructions for leading each of the six, ninety-minute sessions, even the beginner will have no trouble guiding a small group through this study. The guide also contains tips for recruiting your group and dealing with small-group dynamics as well as resources to call on if you need help. Learn more about Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series and how you can get the Certificate of Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. Student books are sold separately.

"And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger." Jesus is the central figure of the New Testament and this third volume in the popular Exploring the Bible series examines Jesus in three distinct ways: A man like other men, a Jewish rabbi, and the Christ of Christian faith. Then it's on to the cantankerous Paul, the other New Testament authors, and the wild and baffling book called Revelation. Learn what Nazareth was like in the first century, discover what scholars know and don't know about Jesus as a historical figure, and explore how Paul really wrote all those letters. And who is the Antichrist anyway? A Leader's Guide with detailed lesson plans for six group sessions is sold separately. Other volumes in the series include: Volume 1: What Is the Bible? Volume 2: Introducing the Old Testament Learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate of Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES "Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly." Dr. Harvey Cox Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Harvard Divinity School "It would be hard to find a treatment of the New Testament that is fresher, more accessible, and more grounded in solid information than Anne Robertson's Introducing the New Testament. Every page reveals a lively and imaginative teacher who knows what students need to know and-just as important-knows how to communicate that knowledge in terms that students can grasp." Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson R. W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins Candler School of Theology Emory University "Combining solid information with wit and humor, this series is an ideal tool for any church community wishing to attain a deeper understanding of the Bible, its origins, and its significance for today." Dr. Justo L. Gonz lez Retired Professor of Historical Theology Author of the History of Christian Thought "Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions." Dr. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology Emory University "This series of Bible studies offers the readers a comprehensive and refreshing introduction to the Bible. Written in accessible language, it will help individuals and groups to engage in meaningful dialogues about the Bible, which continues to shape Christian imagination and values of the wider society. I highly recommend it." Dr. Kwok Pui-lan William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality Episcopal Divinity School

The Leader's Guide for Introducing the New Testament, the third course in the popular Bible study series Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series. With step-by-step instructions for leading each of the six, ninety-minute sessions, even the beginner will have no trouble guiding a small group through this study. The guide also contains tips for recruiting your group and dealing with small-group dynamics as well as resources to call on if you need help. Learn more about Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series and how you can get the Certificate of Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. Student books are sold separately.

"And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger." Jesus is the central figure of the New Testament and this third volume in the popular Exploring the Bible series examines Jesus in three distinct ways: A man like other men, a Jewish rabbi, and the Christ of Christian faith. Then it's on to the cantankerous Paul, the other New Testament authors, and the wild and baffling book called Revelation. Learn what Nazareth was like in the first century, discover what scholars know and don't know about Jesus as a historical figure, and explore how Paul really wrote all those letters. And who is the Antichrist anyway? A Leader's Guide with detailed lesson plans for six group sessions is sold separately. Other volumes in the series include: Volume 1: What Is the Bible? Volume 2: Introducing the Old Testament Learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate of Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES "Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly." Dr. Harvey Cox Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Harvard Divinity School "It would be hard to find a treatment of the New Testament that is fresher, more accessible, and more grounded in solid information than Anne Robertson's Introducing the New Testament. Every page reveals a lively and imaginative teacher who knows what students need to know and-just as important-knows how to communicate that knowledge in terms that students can grasp." Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson R. W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins Candler School of Theology Emory University "Combining solid information with wit and humor, this series is an ideal tool for any church community wishing to attain a deeper understanding of the Bible, its origins, and its significance for today." Dr. Justo L. Gonz lez Retired Professor of Historical Theology Author of the History of Christian Thought "Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions." Dr. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology Emory University "This series of Bible studies offers the readers a comprehensive and refreshing introduction to the Bible. Written in accessible language, it will help individuals and groups to engage in meaningful dialogues about the Bible, which continues to shape Christian imagination and values of the wider society. I highly recommend it." Dr. Kwok Pui-lan William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality Episcopal Divinity School

Back before Stonehenge or the wheel, back before the pyramids, math, or even the crudest writing existed, ancient peoples gathered and told stories. They told stories of how the world began, what the first people were like, and which of them were heroes or failures. They tried to make sense of the world around them and tried to sort out who the gods were and what those gods wanted from them. More than ten thousand years later, one set of those stories has come down to us in the form of the Old Testament. It is the story of the Jewish people and their distinctive God, giving us a glimpse through story, song, history, and law of the rocky, raucous, faithful, fumbling beginnings of one of the oldest religions on earth. Perhaps you think you know it. Think again. This second course in Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series will help you better understand the Old Testament in the context of the world in which it was written. Use it as designed in small-group study or work with it on your own. Either way, you will come to a new appreciation for this amazing collection of ancient texts and the faith that they represent. A detailed Leader's Guide for this study is sold separately. You can learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate in Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. Other volumes in the series include: Volume 1: What Is the Bible? Volume 3: Introducing the New Testament PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES "Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly." Dr. Harvey Cox Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Harvard Divinity School "Fortunate will be the readers who take up the study of these materials. These books constitute a compelling introduction to serious study, with intentional pedagogy and fresh articulation. They are accessible without dumbing down, reaching those who want to know about the Bible without compromising either their faith or their wise judgment. Holding such a resource in one's hands is the beginning of a fresh exploration that holds great promise." Dr. Walter Brueggemann Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Columbia Theological Seminary "I am much impressed by the comprehensive, accessible, and engaging quality of this series. If you have been intimidated by the Bible, if you have been reluctant to launch a study of the Bible, then Exploring the Bible offers a grand introduction to Scripture. Here the wisdom of the Bible is not only explored and explicated but also applied. Exploring the Bible is easily adaptable to churches and Bible study groups of all sizes and inclinations. Here's a wonderful addition to our tools for helping Christians grow in their faith." Bishop Will Willimon Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School "Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions." Dr. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology Emory University

How well do you know the Bible? Do you know the stories? Do you know how the Bible is organized and how those texts were chosen? Have you ever thought about all the different ways people approach the Bible and decided for yourself what to think? If you said "no" to any of these questions, you need What Is the Bible? This six-week study in basic biblical literacy assumes no prior knowledge of the Bible and is not biased toward any particular Christian tradition. It is the first course in the popular set of Bible studies Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series. A detailed Leader's Guide for this study is sold separately. You can learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate in Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. Other volumes in the series include: Volume 1: What Is the Bible? Volume 3: Introducing the New Testament PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES "Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly." Dr. Harvey Cox Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Harvard Divinity School "Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions." Dr. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology Emory University "Fortunate will be the readers who take up the study of these materials. These books constitute a compelling introduction to serious study, with intentional pedagogy and fresh articulation. They are accessible without dumbing down, reaching those who want to know about the Bible without compromising either their faith or their wise judgment. Holding such a resource in one's hands is the beginning of a fresh exploration that holds great promise." Dr. Walter Brueggemann Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Columbia Theological Seminary "Combining solid information with wit and humor, this series is an ideal tool for any church community wishing to attain a deeper understanding of the Bible, its origins, and its significance for today." Dr. Justo L. Gonz lez Retired Professor of Historical Theology Author of the History of Christian Thought "This series of Bible studies offers the readers a comprehensive and refreshing introduction to the Bible. Written in accessible language, it will help individuals and groups to engage in meaningful dialogues about the Bible, which continues to shape Christian imagination and values of the wider society. I highly recommend it." Dr. Kwok Pui-lan William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality Episcopal Divinity School "I am much impressed by the comprehensive, accessible, and engaging quality of this series. If you have been intimidated by the Bible, if you have been reluctant to launch a study of the Bible, then Exploring the Bible offers a grand introduction to Scripture. Here the wisdom of the Bible is not only explored and explicated but also applied. Exploring the Bible is easily adaptable to churches and Bible study groups of all sizes and inclinations. Here's a wonderful addition to our tools for helping Christians grow in their faith." Bishop Will Willimon Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School

How well do you know the Bible? Do you know the stories? Do you know how the Bible is organized and how those texts were chosen? Have you ever thought about all the different ways people approach the Bible and decided for yourself what to think? If you said "no" to any of these questions, you need What Is the Bible? This six-week study in basic biblical literacy assumes no prior knowledge of the Bible and is not biased toward any particular Christian tradition. It is the first course in the popular set of Bible studies Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series. A detailed Leader's Guide for this study is sold separately. You can learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate in Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org. Other volumes in the series include: Volume 1: What Is the Bible? Volume 3: Introducing the New Testament PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES "Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly." Dr. Harvey Cox Hollis Research Professor of Divinity Harvard Divinity School "Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions." Dr. Thomas G. Long Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology Emory University "Fortunate will be the readers who take up the study of these materials. These books constitute a compelling introduction to serious study, with intentional pedagogy and fresh articulation. They are accessible without dumbing down, reaching those who want to know about the Bible without compromising either their faith or their wise judgment. Holding such a resource in one's hands is the beginning of a fresh exploration that holds great promise." Dr. Walter Brueggemann Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Columbia Theological Seminary "Combining solid information with wit and humor, this series is an ideal tool for any church community wishing to attain a deeper understanding of the Bible, its origins, and its significance for today." Dr. Justo L. Gonz lez Retired Professor of Historical Theology Author of the History of Christian Thought "This series of Bible studies offers the readers a comprehensive and refreshing introduction to the Bible. Written in accessible language, it will help individuals and groups to engage in meaningful dialogues about the Bible, which continues to shape Christian imagination and values of the wider society. I highly recommend it." Dr. Kwok Pui-lan William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality Episcopal Divinity School "I am much impressed by the comprehensive, accessible, and engaging quality of this series. If you have been intimidated by the Bible, if you have been reluctant to launch a study of the Bible, then Exploring the Bible offers a grand introduction to Scripture. Here the wisdom of the Bible is not only explored and explicated but also applied. Exploring the Bible is easily adaptable to churches and Bible study groups of all sizes and inclinations. Here's a wonderful addition to our tools for helping Christians grow in their faith." Bishop Will Willimon Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School

With one foot in the countryside and the other connected to the metropolis, Newton Mearns is the southernmost suburb of Glasgow. The parish of Mearns bounds southwards over undulating landscape and moors to Ayrshire, with the slopes of Clarkston and Busby within its northern edge, marked by the River Earn. From Rouken Glen to Fenwick Moor, from castles and mansions to farmlands, fermtouns, and cotton mills, its 800-year history records a fertile area and an ever-increasing population. In the twelfth century, King David I granted lands to Walter Fitzalan, and subsequent landowners built Mearns Castle and Pollock Castle. In the 1700s, they were joined by elegant mansions and estates from Greenbank to Balgray, owned by wealthy Glasgow merchants. Railway travel in the nineteenth century brought more villas, and cars and buses from the 1920s enabled new housing and commercial developments. Today, schools and golf courses abound, the countryside is attractive and the climate is fresh.

You may be the only Jesus some people ever meet! Suppose that the 2:00 am feeding of your infant daughter was not just meeting a physical need but also was teaching her that God’s provision could be trusted? And suppose her cries for succor were also teaching you to respond to the cries of Jesus when he presents himself as “the least of these”? Based on the Great Commandment, this book examines relationships common to us all—those of intimacy, authority, rivalry, and otherness— and shows how learning to love within those relationships affects our relationship with God. Supported by biblical examples and references to psychological studies, this book examines all our basic relationships—family relationships, relationships with authority figures, friends and enemies, companion animals, even virtual relationships—to show how learning to love within those relationships is truly divine work. In a culture where relationships are often divisive and exploitative, and where the call to love enemies often seems impractical, this book offers the reminder that every relationship provides an opportunity to love God in the other and to be “God with skin on” for that person in return.