 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | With the twelve-volume series Feasting on the Word, Westminster John Knox Press offers one of the most extensive and well-respected resources for preaching on the market today. When complete, the twelve volumes will cover all of the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with moveable occasions. The page layout is truly unique. For each lectionary text, preachers will find brief essays-- one each on the exegetical, theological, pastoral, and homiletical challenges of the text. Each volume will also contain an index of biblical passages so that nonlectionary preachers may make use of its contents. The printed volumes for Ordinary Time include the complementary stream during Year A, the complementary stream during the first half of Year B, the semicontinuous stream during the second half of Year B, and the semicontinuous stream during Year C. Beginning with the season after Pentecost for Year C, the alternate lections for Ordinary Time not in the print volumes will be available online at feastingontheword.net. |
Average Customer Rating:   Well worth it! A must have for the lectionary preacher. So far I have purchased the 3 availible editions for Year C of the revised common lectionary- without hesitation I strongly endorse this product.
The 4 articles on each text are invaluable- I come away from each reading with multiple sermon ideas.
This series offers real options to the weekly lectionary preacher (I am United Methodist),the articles are wonderfully written and comprehensive, but not overwhelming. I highly, highly recomend.
The hardcover bindings seem to be built wel also- these are a resource you can keep for the years to come. Lay Worship Learder's remarks As a Lay Worship Leader in the SWPA Synod of the ELCA, I use "Fasting on the Word" on a regular basis. Members of Our Pericope group also use it. We have found it to be a very usefull resource in our studies. A tool for weekly preachers Having the Theological, Pastoral, Exegetical and Homiletical perspectives on the texts all together is a real plus. This book will not replace other comentaries for extensive study. But it's just right for the preacher. The lay-out is a bit unusual at first glance - but makes great sense once it is understood.
One negative - It's a series, and this retired pastor is going to have to spend hard earned pension money purchasing other volumes in the series. Why does a Christian publisher demean Christ with CE and BCE Why does a commentary - an otherwise excellent commentary - on the Word of God, deliberately cheapen its position on who God is and who Jesus is?
I refer to the use of the new age, politically correct dating system Before the Common Era and Common Era.
The division of dating, since the time dating was divided, revolves around the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Chirst - Before Christ, and AD Ano Domini - in the year of our Lord. There is nothing Common about Christ, and without his birth, there would only be a straight line into a hopeless past, and a hopeless future. By using BCE and CE, Westminster John Knox Press (and others) are giving prominence to a Christless world, instead of continuing to hold his name high. I understand that not everyone honors him so, but to remove his name from dating, gives one less witness to his life and the gospel of his good news.
Some have said that this is a discussion among scholars, it nevertheless removes the birth of Christ from the centrality of time, and places Commonality at the center. Perhaps these are the same scholars who determined that in Matthew's version of "The Lord's Prayer," the only words which "Jesus undoubtedly said ... or something very like it" are the two words "Our Father," and in Luke's version, the only word is "Father" (The Five Gospels, Polebridge Press, 1993, pages 36, 148, and 325).
This is not merely an academic discussion. Scholar after scholar has discounted God's Word, dismissed God from his universe, and substituted himself or herself as the final authority. As a friend of mine suggested, I am waiting for the version which says, "In the beginning, scholars . . . "
The writer of the Song of Solomon warned that it is "the little foxes that spoil the vines" (2:15). Using "Before the Common Era" instead of "Before Christ" (and "Common Era" instead of Ano Domini) is part of the process of spoiling and destroying the vineyard. All publishers of Christian material, and WJK is certainly among the leaders, should LEAD the way in preserving the foundations of our faith, because "if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:13).
BCE and CE are additional means by which Jesus Christ is removed from the centrality of thought, and his influence discounted. Using them is a compromise with the anti-Christian spirit which pervades our world. No, worse than compromise, it establishes this commentary series as an authority who discounts and dismisses the Savior's influence. The other good work done by "Feasting on the Word" is cheapened, indeed, is in danger of being negated by this not too subtle attack on the very nature of our faith. A Feast Indeed! This series is a feast,indeed! The table is set with nearly all one needs for sermon preparation by well known and trusted Biblical scholars and theologians. Add the 'salt and pepper' of knowledge of your audience and life experience and illustrations, and one can create a meaningful and satisfying feast on the Word that enlightens our world. |  |
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