Jesus of Nazareth, the Nazarene, Jesus Christ, the Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Redeemer or the Deliverer? To this day, the identity of Jesus remains an unfathomable mystery for non-believers and a glorious open book of hope for the devout. Who really was this figure and why are his life and sermons so pivotal to the core of Christianity, the religion founded in his name and in honour of his sacrifice to humankind? The Essence of Jesus tackles such fascinating subject matter in ground-breaking form, turning to sources as diverse as the Bible, iconic art, Church reformers, religious ritual, as well as other religions, leaders and holy texts, in order to offer a well-rounded discussion about the power of Jesus' word and his legacy.

Originally published: Huntsville, Ark.: D. Cannon, c1985.

The Essence will take you on a personal, guided journey of discovery through some of the most essential passages of Scripture. The significance of each will be revealed, and you will begin to understand how everything fits together. You will see Jesus as the Offspring of the woman, the Passover Lamb, the Bread

The Essence of the New Testament surveys the books from Matthew to Revelation. Based on decades of scholarly research and classroom teaching, a team of biblical scholars from Liberty University provides a practical, readable, and insightful introduction to the second major division of the Christian biblical canon. This uniquely illustrated, full-color volume features book introductions, background studies, outlines, surveys, theological concepts, practical applications, study questions, and helpful word studies. Editors Elmer Towns and Ben Gutierrez draw from their lives as teachers to provide a well tested and proven New Testament overview written at the collegiate level, yet appropriate for pastors, scholars, and laymen alike. They represent the finest evangelical scholarship along with a passion to open windows of spiritual and practical insight into the biblical text. This exciting new survey of the Scriptures highlights the key elements of the New Testament. The history, archaeology, and wisdom of the biblical world are revealed with an eye on the application of their moral principles, theological insights, and practical application to today’s world.

Following helps us. As upside down as it sounds, it frees us. It takes us out of the bondage of our own selfishness and vanity and places us in an arena that is outside of ourselves. It is full of adventure and wonder and discovery because we are not at the controls and don't know what each new turn will bring. We really live when we follow, and it is a noble life. Followers live for the prestige, recognition, and glory of Another. Life is no longer centered on self. And the less focused that we are on self, the more we seem to help ourselves at the core of our being. God does a remarkable thing by placing us in unique human relationships. Those relationships become the grid of how well we play out the reality or lack of it as it relates to followship. The relationship that God has ordained for some has placed them in a positions where they must be a good leader simply because of the many people for which they are. However they must be good followers because all of those people must have an example of what a good follower looks like. Followship will give you a fresh perspective in your Christian walk.

Drawing on a deep knowledge of Christian scripture as well as Hindu philosophy, musician and teacher Russill Paul reveals that the mystical core of religion offers us much more than the simple solace of unthinking dogma. By demonstrating that these two seemingly separate and irreconcilable religions can actually unite in one person’s spiritual practice at the center of his life — as they did in his — he offers an alternative to religious intolerance and strife, as well as hope for personal liberation.

Why is God's beauty often absent from our theology? Rarely do theologians take up the theme of God's beauty—even more rarely do they consider how God's beauty should shape the task of theology itself. But the psalmist says that the heart of the believer's desire is to behold the beauty of the Lord. In The Beauty of the Lord, Jonathan King restores aesthetics as not merely a valid lens for theological reflection, but an essential one. Jesus, our incarnate Redeemer, displays the Triune God's beauty in his actions and person, from creation to final consummation. How can and should theology better reflect this unveiled beauty? The Beauty of the Lord is a renewal of a truly aesthetic theology and a properly theological aesthetics.