Sunday Morning Forum: Reading the New Testament Anew
From January 5-June 1, the Sunday Morning Forum, 9:15-10:10 am, will focus on reintroducing you to the scriptures and world of the New Testament. We will begin with some intertestamental literature in January in order to get a sense of the Judaisms inherited by the earliest Christ followers. Then, we will dive deeper into Luke, Acts, and Revelation as we shadow the lectionary.
Here is the schedule:
JANUARY
January 5: Intertestamental Literature: Tobit – An apocryphal story of prayer, suffering, and strange and wondrous things.
Reading assignment: Read Tobit. It’s only 4 short chapters, and it’s kind of a page-turner.
January 12: Intertestamental Literature: Joseph and Aseneth – Outsiders, insiders, and initiation.
Reading assignment: Read Joseph and Aseneth.
January 19: Intertestamental Literature: Why the Maccabees matter
Reading assignment: Read selected readings from handout, to be distributed.
January 26: Luke-Acts: Liberation through the Power of the Spirit
Reading assignment: Read chapter from Richard Hays’, The Moral Vision of the New Testament.
FEBRUARY
February 2: Luke: The Infancy Narratives
Reading assignment: Luke 1-2.
February 9: Luke’s Journey Narrative: Making the Path While Walking
Reading assignment: Luke 9:51-19:27.
February 16: Luke’s Journey Narrative Part II: Focusing in on Distinctive Luke Material
Reading assignment: Read selected readings from handout, to be distributed.
February 23: Luke’s Passion Narrative
Reading assignment: Luke 22:1-23:56a, with reference to handout on distinctive Luke material, to be distributed.
MARCH
March 2: Luke’s Resurrection/Ascension Narratives
Reading assignment: Luke 23:56b-24:53, with reference to handout on distinctive Luke material, to be distributed.
March 9: Acts: The Spirit in the Church
Reading assignment: Read Acts with an attentiveness to where and how the Spirit is at work.
March 16: Meeting Peter in Acts
Reading assignment: Read Acts 1-12 with an attentiveness to Peter as disciple, apostle, leader.
March 23: Meeting Paul in Acts
Reading assignment: Read Acts 13-28 with an attentiveness to Paul as convert, apostle, evangelist, leader.
March 30: Traveling with Paul in Acts
Reading assignment: Read any part of Acts 13-28 you haven’t finished with attention to how the travels of Paul shape Paul and the gospel.
APRIL
April 6: Luke-Acts: History of Interpretation Show-and-Tell
Bring in some artifact (art, music, literature) influenced by Luke-Acts and tell us about it.
April 13 is Palm Sunday. There will be no forum on this day because we will be rehearsing the Passion Reading. Email Rev. Eileen if you would like a part in the Passion Reading.
April 20 is Easter Sunday. There will be no forum on this day.
April 27: Apocalypse and Empire
Reading assignment: Read chapter from John J. Collins. Handout will be provided.
MAY
May 4: Revelation: Resisting the Beast
Reading assignment: Read chapter from Richard Hays. Handout will be provided.
May 11: Reading Revelation:Part I
We will do a little readers’ theatre in the class (Opening Letters through Third Cycle), but a bonus handout from Craig Koester will be provided.
May 18: Reading Revelation:Part II
We will do a little readers’ theatre in the class (Fourth through Sixth Cycle), but a bonus handout from Craig Koester will be provided.
May 25: What kind of world is possible? Biblical apocalyptic literature and visual art
Reading assignment: A bonus handout from Brennan Breed et al. will be provided.
JUNE
June 1: Sing a New World into Being: Revelation and Hymnody
Bring a hymn you think was inspired by Revelation.
June 8 is the Feast of Pentecost, and there will be no forum on this day. The Sunday Morning Forum will resume on June 15 with a new series.
