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Bless the Lord, O My Soul
FREDERICK J. GAISER
(see full text of essay under “Editorial”)
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To know “what is a
Christian”—the question of this issue—we must first know what is a human....As
Christians, we are, of course, first humans, like other humans. Our joy is to
be given, through biblical faith, deeper insight into what it means to be
human, and for that: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me,
bless his holy name” (Ps 103:1).
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The 2006–2007 Word & World Lecture
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What Is a Christian? Answers from the Global South
AMY PLANTINGA
PAUW
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To be a Christian is to recognize that Christian
identity is centrifugal, outward looking; it is to be anchored in a
particular community of word and sacrament; it is to reflect critically on
one’s own theology and practice. Western Christians can learn much about all
these dimensions in conversation with the churches of the Global South.
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Articles
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The Way Out of No Way: Modern Impediments to
Postmodern Discipleship
A. K. M. ADAM
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A postmodern perspective deserves no exclusive
privilege among Christians, but, to the extent that postmodern thought equips
Christians to profess their faith in a way distinct from the legacy of
modernity, faithful Christians do well to attend to their postmodern
neighbors.
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Believing in Jesus Christ in This Postmodern World
WINSTON D.
PERSAUD
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There is an intrinsic intra-Christian and interreligious character to our conversation about
Christian faith. The genre of story is one viable, fruitful, and necessary
means of entering this conversation.
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Proclaiming the Gospel on Mars Hill
MICHAEL ROGNESS
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These lectures on preaching the gospel in the
contemporary world serve as a fitting summation of and tribute to the work of
Michael Rogness, who just retired as professor of
preaching at Luther Seminary.
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What Do Congregations Do? The Significance of
Christian Congregations to American Civic Life
MARK CHAVES
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Part of the answer to the question of this issue (“What Is a
Christian?”) is supplied by a study of what Christian congregations actually
do, especially their role in American civic life. As it turns out, American
congregations are more important for their contribution to the arts than to
social services and politics.
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African Christianity in the Twenty-first Century
OPOKU ONYINAH
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Much of the explosive growth of the church in Africa
is due to the spread of a form of pentecostalism
that borrows from the West while adapting pentecostal
faith to the African worldview. Here an African professor describes that
phenomenon.
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The 2006–2007 Essay
Prize for Doctoral Candidates
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Passionate Order: Order and Sexuality in Augustine’s
Theology
LAURIE A.
JUNGLING
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The strong interrelation between order and sexuality in Augustine’s
thought has had long-term effect on Christian thinking about sex. Though
Augustine moved beyond a strict body-soul dualism that rejected sex
altogether, he left a legacy that has caused considerable sorrow for those
outside the perceived proper “order” of human sexuality.
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Resources
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“I Come with Thanks Most Grateful”: Paul Gerhardt
and Psalm 111 on Studying God’s Works
FREDERICK J. GAISER
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Word & World continues
here its commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Paul
Gerhardt, “the sweet singer of Lutheranism” (1607–1676), by offering
translations of Gerhardt’s hymns that have hitherto been unavailable in
English.
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“Go Forth, My Heart, and Take Delight”: Paul
Gerhardt’s “Summer Song”
FREDERICK J. GAISER
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In this summer issue, we offer a new translation of Paul Gerhardt’s
“Summer Song.” Rejoicing in God’s good creation, yet aware of the pitfalls
and dangers of the world, Gerhardt, as preacher and poet, anticipates eternal
life with Christ by even now bearing witness in faith and service to God’s
good gifts of grace.
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Face to Face:
What Is a Christian?
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On Doing Good Works
WALTER SUNDBERG
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On Trusting in
Christ
STEVEN
PAULSON
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Texts in Context: “Walk in the Spirit”: Preaching
for Spiritual Growth (Gal 5:13–6:2)
ALAN
G. PADGETT
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Congregations are
hungry for a biblical and trinitarian
spirituality. With a sustained biblical leadership, local churches can be
places where a genuine evangelical and trinitarian
spirituality is reclaimed for our time.
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Reviews
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Prophet and Teacher: An Introduction to the Historical
Jesus, by William R. Herzog II
CHRISTOPHER
W. SKINNER
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Encounters with Biblical Theology, by John J. Collins
STEVEN SCHWEITZER
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Imagining Redemption,
by David H. Kelsey
JAMES R. WILSON
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reality and Resistance, by Larry L.
Rasmussen
JOHN W. MATTHEWS
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Shaping the
Christian Life: Worship and Religious Affections, by Kendra G. Hotz and Matthew T. Mathews
PAUL WESTERMEYER
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Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News about Living a
Generous Life, by Mark Allan
Powell
WENDELL W. FRERICHS
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The Language of God:
A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, by Francis S. Collins
ROBERT BRUSIC
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