by: Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781441205308

  Pub. Date

  May 2009

  SRP

  $28.00

  Buy

About

"This work will serve well as a textbook for college- and seminary-level ethics courses and as a trustworthy guide for pastors, lay leaders, and all ministry professionals who desire to apply faithfully the texts of Scripture to many of today's crucial ethical issues. I highly recommend this superb volume."--Robert V. Rakestraw, Bethel Seminary

Trusted Bible scholar and teacher Walter Kaiser answers these questions by connecting eighteen tough ethical issues to eighteen key teaching Scriptures, including, for example, poverty with Isaiah 58, genetic engineering with Genesis 1:26-30 and 2:15-25, substance abuse with Proverbs 23:29-35, cohabitation with 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and war with Deuteronomy 20:1-20 and Romans 13:1-7. Through authoritative teaching from Scripture, suggested expositional outlines, and insights from years of teaching this material at Gordon-Conwell and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Kaiser demonstrates how to connect Scripture to ethical issues and train congregations to think biblically about ethics. The result is a vital text for teaching pastors, a stimulating resource and guide for preaching, and a foundation for developing Bible studies.

Endorsements

"This series of studies will prove an invaluable tool to any Christian leader and will leave every thinking believer, even if not in agreement with all Dr. Kaiser's conclusions on every issue, sharing the Jubilee Centre's desire to explore further the continued relevance of biblical principles to the social, economic, and political questions facing modern society."--John Hayward, executive director, Jubilee Centre, Cambridge, England

"In today's churches, many ethical pronouncements are made without firm biblical grounding, and many biblical sermons are preached without concrete application to the issues of the day. This book will help preachers and teachers speak to the ethical challenges facing the church from an informed perspective rooted in sound biblical theology and solid scholarship. I heartily recommend it."--John Jefferson Davis, professor of systematic theology and Christian ethics, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Walt Kaiser is the right person to write this book. The work reveals a lifetime of experience in the Scriptures, in the classroom, and in churches. Kaiser's strategy of working primarily with one or two focal texts in relation to each ethical issue addressed is a unique and valuable aspect of the book. His close adherence to the biblical text offers a fine model for expository preaching and teaching. This work will serve well as a textbook for college- and seminary-level ethics courses and as a trustworthy guide for pastors, lay leaders, and all ministry professionals who desire to apply faithfully the texts of Scripture to many of today's crucial ethical issues. I highly recommend this superb volume and expect it will have a long and useful life."--Robert V. Rakestraw, emeritus professor of theology, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

"Many people feel overwhelmed by the number and complexity of the moral questions we face. And with people knowing less of God's Word, the need for accurate biblical guidance for navigating today's ethical dilemmas has never been greater. Thankfully, Walter Kaiser fills the void by clearly pointing us back to our biblical roots for moral guidance and by unpacking the meaning and implications of central teaching passages from the Bible. Kaiser has done it again!"--David K. Clark, professor of theology, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Reviews

"People in the pews hunger for relevance, and in [What Does the Lord Require?] Kaiser shows how we can effectively apply God's Word to a host of pressing ethical issues. . . . The resources provided could launch a powerful sermon series about how God's Word addresses contemporary issues."--PreachingNow

"Many have pointed to the erosion of American morality, but few have offered a workable--and biblical--solution. [This book] is a good resource for addressing such issues. . . . Kaiser's work is both thorough and simple. He does a good job of surfacing problems that the pulpit has ignored or forgotten. . . . He responsibly addresses complicated subjects with biblical theology. . . . What Does the Lord Require? offers a means for preachers and teachers to address biblical ethics in their churches, while providing readers a further opportunity to explore Christian morality. Indeed, Kaiser supplies a great resource for individual Christians trying to understand ethical issues for themselves."--Jonathan A. Partlow, Christian Chronicle

"Too many Christian preachers think that Christian preaching can only be done from the gospel reading or the writings of St. Paul. Kaiser demonstrates how genuine Christian preaching can be inspired by Old Testament passages as well. Here he focuses his attention more specifically on passages that deal with ethical matters. . . . His critical approach to the biblical material and his method of recontextualization will enlighten even those who might not agree with his theological stand."--Dianne Bergant, CSA, The Bible Today

"Walter Kaiser's latest contribution to biblical studies is a refreshingly new approach to Christian ethics--preached and taught. . . . The range is considerably wider than many evangelical books on ethics. . . . This is a helpful book, not least in the assistance it offers in preaching from the ethical material in Scripture."--David McKay, Reformed Theological Journal

"Today's pastors certainly have their work cut out for them in the area of teaching their congregations biblical ethics, and this book goes a long way toward filling the void for a practical guide on preaching and teaching in these areas. Kaiser is highly qualified to write this type of book, not only because he has preached and taught in this area for about 50 years but also because it is a perfect follow-up to his earlier books on OT ethics and preaching the OT. . . . He provides a careful and balanced evaluation of each of the biblical texts. And his suggested sermons provide a starting point for pastors. . . . I highly recommend this practical guide for preaching and teaching biblical ethics. It clearly demonstrates Kaiser's commitment to the importance of Scripture and his equally important commitment to helping pastors preach the OT and NT with power and authority."--Paul D. Wegner, Bulletin for Biblical Research