Christ and community
Book Description
In this thoughtful exploration of the Gospels, biblical scholar Suzanne Watts Henderson reveals a transformative understanding of Jesus's identity that extends far beyond individual salvation. Rather than examining each Gospel separately, Henderson weaves together themes from all four accounts to illuminate how Christ's messiahship inherently calls forth community among his followers.
Henderson challenges readers to move beyond viewing Jesus as an isolated figure and instead discover the communal dimensions embedded within his mission and identity. Through careful examination of Gospel evidence, she demonstrates that Jesus's role as the Christ naturally creates a vision for messianic community that his followers are called to embody.
This accessible study addresses longstanding questions in New Testament scholarship while offering practical insights for contemporary believers seeking to understand their collective calling. Henderson's thematic approach reveals how the Gospels present not just the declaration that Jesus is the Christ, but a blueprint for how communities of faith can authentically live into God's reign.
The book serves as both an introduction to Gospel studies and a guide for those exploring what it means to participate in Christ's ongoing mission. Henderson's work illuminates the inherent connection between personal faith and communal responsibility, showing how Jesus's messiahship creates space for his followers to share in his transformative work across centuries.
For readers interested in deepening their understanding of Christian community and Gospel witness, this study offers fresh perspectives on familiar texts.
Who Is This For?
π Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
π Length: 237 pages
What You'll Discover
- β Explore Mission of the church
- β Explore Criticism, interpretation
- β Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- β Explore Messiahship
- β Explore Bible, criticism, interpretation, etc., n. t. gospels
- β Explore Jesus christ, messiahship
- β Explore Biblical teaching