Methodist Bible

American Methodism Revised and Updated begins with the explosion of evangelical Pietism and revolutionary Methodism, the First Great Awakening, as an independent nation was formed. It then highlights key nineteenth century themes and Methodist contributions, such as spreading scriptural holiness through missions and literature, planting tens of thousands of Sunday schools and churches by Circuit Riders, the pivotal Methodist schism between abolitionists and enslavers, the innovative building of schools and hospitals into the next century, and the revivalism of the Second Great Awakening.

Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow Torah, God's word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult. In The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine shows how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how have they been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of the Gospel of love and reconciliation.

A few years ago, during a book signing in my hometown, an old classmate saw an earlier edition of my book, Learning to Love God. She said she had a handle on that one already. I challenged her to read it, and she agreed. A few weeks later, I heard from her, and she said she was caught by surprise to learn that she did not love God as much as she thought. This book brings readers to a sobering reality as they take a serious look at the level and nature of their love they profess to have for God. Learning to Love God encourages Christians to aggressively attempt to love God with their whole ...