Narrative Discipleship

Narrative Discipleship examines the thematic and theological impact of women in the Gospel of Mark. Using narrative analysis, Aernie explores how Mark intentionally crafts the narratives of women in the Gospel to extend his portrait of discipleship. Mark portrays these women as exemplars of four key aspects of discipleship—restored life, kingdom speech, sacrificial action, and cruciformity. These portraits of discipleship provide a transformative paradigm for Mark’s audience. Mark creates a portrait of narrative discipleship as a means to encourage his audience toward embodied discipleship and faithful participation in God’s in-breaking kingdom.

This study offers a narrative reading of Matthew arguing that the disciples frequently fail to understand Jesus, his mission and his message. The function of this portrayal for Matthew's story and in shaping his concept of discipleship is explored. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org).

Discipleship is a foundational concept of Christian life which has become a popular and ubiquitous description of belonging and growth in early 21st century ecclesiastical language. Discipleship courses and popular writings abound, and the term is used liberally in official church documents and strategies for growth and development, particular in a western context. But does recent use of the word risk reducing the wide range of meanings of discipleship to something less rich and inclusive than is warranted? With contributions from an array of leading thinkers, scholars and theologians, including Rachel Mann, Kirsteen Kim and Anthony Reddie, this book argues that there is need for more clarity, precision and depth in defining what meaningfully and constructively is construed as discipleship. Beginning with an overview of how the concept of discipleship has been understood in history, the volume goes on to consider some of the key figures who have shaped our understanding of the concept, and finally to reflect on what discipleship might look like in contemporary society.

The Story of Discipleship turns a critical eye to certain stories which can help us better understand three central biblical narratives: that of Jesus, that of fallen humanity, and that of the community of disciples known as the church. Drawing on a variety of sources, including contemporary fiction, Barnes provides a creative and persuasive argument as to how narrative can enrich the church's understanding of the gospel.

This study addresses the question of whether a coherent sequence of pericopes can be identified in Matthew chapters 19-20. Employing audience-oriented criticism, it argues that the authorial audience's knowledge of the philosophical tradition concerning household structures provides that coherent sequence. But the audience also encounters in these chapters a critique of the household tradition's patriarchal and hierarchical structure of the rule of husband over wife, father over children, master over slaves, and the accumulation of wealth as an indicator of social identity. It understands that the community of disciples is to exhibit more egalitarian patterns. this alternative structure is placed in the context of wider socio-cultural forces which were also resisting aspects of the conventional household pattern. Features of the alternative structure - opposition ot hierarchical structures, a more egalitarian pattern, a temporal framework, marginal social location, minimalization of gender differences and authority roles and relationships, opposition to wealth - can be seen as aspects of an existence which Victor Turner identifies as normative or permanent liminality. that is, the study of chapters 19-20 contributes significantly to the formulation of the larger pattern of Matthean discipleship.

Jesus' prayer in John 17, known as "Jesus' High Priestly Prayer," is significant for its literary context, and it is rich in theological content. It brings Jesus' farewell speech to its climax and anticipates his glorification in his death on the cross. Although historical approaches often consider this passage to be a later addition, its content is truly Johannine. It presents Jesus as the Son who is sent into the world to reveal the Father to the world. It also illumines John's understanding of authentic discipleship. Consequently, John 17 is rich in its teaching on discipleship as well as in its teaching on Christology. The theme of discipleship in John has received significant attention in the last four decades. However, as the first chapter of this dissertation shows, the relationship between Christology and discipleship in the Johannine narrative in general, and in John 17 in particular, has not been sufficiently investigated. This dissertation explores the relationship between discipleship and Christology in John 17, i.e., how discipleship has its basis in the Gospel's Christology, and how the christological teaching of the Gospel leads to authentic discipleship. In the second chapter, a narrative reading of selected passages from chapters 1-12 shows John's tendency to present christological teaching that leads to teaching on discipleship. The reading of these passages also identifies the elements that indicate the christological character of Johannine discipleship. The third chapter of this dissertation deals with the literary context, the text, and the structure of John 17. This chapter shows that throughout the Farewell Discourse John presents his christological understanding of Jesus as a basis for his message about discipleship. The exegesis of John 17 in the fourth chapter confirms that John's teaching on Christology and discipleship are intimately interrelated to each other. All the elements that indicate the christological character of discipleship are on display in John 17. The dissertation concludes that Christology, which is the center and heartbeat of John's thought, is not an end in itself but leads to discipleship. The twofold message of Christology and discipleship is a distinctive Johannine trait.

A leading New Testament scholar explores key issues in the Gospel of John.

An exploration of discipleship in Mark's gospel relating to Jesus' own mission and purpose.

Discipleship is the process by which Jesus of Nazareth has asked His followers to live in relationship to one another. Followers of Jesus are storylistening, storylearning, storytelling, receivers of redemption, and carriers of reconciliation. Disciples are not static beings. We are alive. We are passionate. And we are messy. When the basic movements of narrative structure are combined with the power of discipleship, there is fresh clarity in living on mission with Jesus. A narrative approach to discipleship is a relational movement. This is the narrative movement of discipleship which Jesus the King lived and practiced. No formula. Story. Life in tension. A posture of anticipation. Hope lived upon lips and fingertips and surrendered lives. Our lips giving voice to the Story. Our fingertips giving sensitivity to the Story. Our lives connected to the beautiful narrative of discipleship. The most captivating story ever told begins with the phrase:: "There was this guy named Jesus..."