With the help of pictures and historical maps, the reader can follow the inner development of Jesus and his disciples and their role in society. Against the backdrop of the landscape of Galilee emerges the figure of Jesus the compassionate man.,

"Illustrated throughout in four-color pictures, Jesus and First-Century Christianity in Jerusalem traces the little-known story of the original Jewish-Christian community. Focusing on the first century (33-135 CE) in Jerusalem after the death of Jesus, the authors of this book present evidence to show that the Jerusalem community remained true to their Jewish heritage and had a connection with the Essenes. Jesus and First-Century Christianity in Jerusalem brings to light Christianity's Jewish connections and an appreciation of Christianity's Jewish heritage."--BOOK JACKET.

A pilgrim spirituality for Holy Land travel, Jerusalem Bound resources the Christian traveler with biblical, historical, and contemporary images of the pilgrim life. Integrating historical sources, on-the-ground experience, and the voices of global pilgrims, Jerusalem Bound presents a fresh approach to pilgrimage, explores pilgrim identity and the Holy Land experience, offers ideas for Holy Land travel, and encourages pilgrims to focus upon the Other as much as themselves. Unique among Holy Land resources, Jerusalem Bound discusses material that is seldom addressed on a Holy Land journey: the motives of Holy Land pilgrims, the history of the Christian Holy Land, understanding the holy sites, pilgrim practices, material objects, and the challenges of Holy Land pilgrimage. Emphasizing the incarnational nature of lived experience, the book encourages pilgrims to derive meaning in both the highs and lows of religious travel. Attentive to the transformational nature of pilgrimage, Jerusalem Bound is ultimately interested in Christian formation and the aftermath of the Holy Land journey.

Woven through the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is a fifth Gospel. The things Jesus' enemies said in criticism are actually good for us to hear. "Friend of sinners," they said. That is good news for us sinners. "Better for one man to die to save the nation," they said. He died to save not just the nation but the world. The thirteen meditations in this book examine the criticisms and other comments that had negative intent and explore how positive they are for us and what they mean to believers today. These meditations can be used for personal devotional time or for small group discussion. They are designed for a quarter's weekly study or two weeks of daily devotion. Open your heart and mind as you read and pray over these devotions whenever and however you use them, and may God guide you in your study.

“There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John...and the Christian. But most people never read the first four.” There are any number of books on how to do evangelism. This book is different—it’s an invitation to actually live out the message of the gospel. Jesus’s original intention was for ordinary people like you and me to live lives that point others to the only Person who can give them hope for this life as well as the next—to visibly display the Good News of salvation through the Messiah and Redeemer of humankind. But many Christ followers today are either ridden with guilt for not telling others about Jesus or so silent that no one really knows they’re a Christian. The Fifth Gospel will help you wrestle with the critical issues involved in living out your faith in front of a watching and sometimes not-so-friendly world. Isn’t it time to become a witness for the One you profess to love? Prepare yourself to represent your Savior well and to discover a new way to do evangelism. Get ready for God to unleash the gospel through you!

Gathered into this one volume are the principal fruits of Father Pixner's research: explanations of numerous archeological discoveries in the Holy Land accompanied by photos, illustrations, and maps. Prepared in collaboration with Professor Rainer Riesner, a Scripture scholar from the University of Dortmund, the chapters bring to light not only those details of interest to the man of science but also the connections between these and early Christianity of interest to the man of faith. --