With this volume on Paul's Letter to the Galatians, Dr Bruce Epperly, author of Philippians: A Participatory Study Guide, Finding God in Suffering: A Journey with Job , and Transforming Acts: Acts of the Apostles as a 21st Century Gospel , again brings the study of a Bible book to life for a 21st century audience. Epperly founds his work in the results on modern critical scholarship, but he's not content with reciting scholarship or discussing history. He aims to make the study of this theologically central letter a transformative experience. He does so by never losing sight of the fact that human problems remain human problems and that human potentiality, touched by God's grace, can accomplish great things. He finds a message of liberation in this book. Liberation from our guilt, yes, but also liberation from our self-imposed limitations. Through reading, discussion, exercises, and thought questions, he leads the reader through a study that can only be described as an adventure. It's an adventure you won't want to miss.
All of humanity lives with the certainty of death. In this world we do not live forever. But what happens afterward? Is there something beyond the grave? How should we react to the loss of loved ones, whether through an untimely accident or old age? With one foot in the world of theological reflection and the other in the untidy nature of daily life and of spirituality in action, Dr. Bruce Epperly embraces hope while recognizing fear, adventure even in lives touched by regret, and confidence in the face of uncertainty to help us explore the possibilities a loving God has placed before us. We can grieve our loss while looking forward with joy. We can acknowledge what we don't know, while expecting more than we are able to imagine. If you've ever wondered what happens next, this is the book for you.
Death. Illness. Divorce. Unexpected. Undeserved. In this world there is going to be suffering and pain. As a person of faith, we are not exempt from that undeniable fact. What do we do? Where is God when the pain is unbearable and the night so long? How do we reach out to others with something more than platitudes? "It has been said that theology begins in the experience of suffering. At the very least, debilitating suffering challenges our images of success and security, and invites us on a quest for something solid and dependable when the foundations of our lives are shaking. The book of Job emerges from one person’s unexpected encounter with suffering. Job seeks God’s presence, and to find a God he can trust again, he must jettison his previous images of God." – Bruce Epperly