the Pastor’s Bible Study

Volume Two

 Mark, Second Samuel, The Ten Commandments, Great Texts of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Christianity and World Power

a New Interpreter’s® Bible Study

David Albert Farmer, General Editor

The Pastor's Bible Study: Volume Two, A New Interpreter's Bible Study, is a focused preparation guide containing fifty Bible studies. The flexible structure of this resource is designed to meet the needs of pastors who lead Bible studies, whether the group meets for four weeks or an entire year.  Following  the tradition of THE NEW INTERPRETER’S BIBLE commentary series and The New Interpreter's Study Bible, The Pastor's Bible Study bridges biblical scholarship and practical reflections for your congregation's personal and inspirational experience. This resource is designed to be versatile, whether you prefer a canonical, lectionary, or thematic structure. It has been written by scholars and pastors to assist pastors and other church leaders in providing guidance and inspiration in the life and faith of contemporary Christian and interfaith communities.

Content and Contributors:

Introduction by David Albert Farmer, General Editor, Pastor of Silverside Church and adjunct professor of Humanities, Wilmington College, Wilmington, Delaware

1. The Gospel of Mark  by  Mitzi Minor, Professor of New Testament, Memphis Theological Seminary, TN (Ph.D., New Testament) includes 15 lessons plus an introductory chapter.

2. The Second Book of Samuel  by E. Carson Brisson, Academic Dean, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Union Seminary/PSCE (Ph.D., Old Testament and Contemporary Theology, former missionary to Israel) includes 10 lessons with introductory chapter.

3. The Ten Commandments by Tom McDaniel, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA (Ph.D., Old Testament) includes 12 lessons plus an introductory chapter. 

4. The Great Texts of Cultural Diveristy and Inclusion  by Mark Wilson, Assistant Professor of Congregational Leadership at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California.(Ph.D. in Sociology, from the University of Michigan) ; a study in 8 lessons with an introduction.

5. Faith and the Spirits of Politics by Tom Davis, Pastor, Hanover Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware (Ph.D., Ethics and Pastoral Care) contains 5 lessons plus an introductory chapter.

Features include:

• Teaching Tips: Guidelines that help leaders effectively communicate study content.

• Reflections: Foster participation, generate group and individual study, and engage participants in the biblical text through the use of relevant questions for reflection.

• Lectionary Loop: Identifies points where studies intersect with the Christian Year.

• Study Notes: Text refers to The New Interpreter's Study Bible notes and excursuses, when applicable.

• Sources: Complete information on important resources cited.

• CD-ROM (Macintosh/PC compatible): Contains supplementary material, such as:

― A video introduction from David Albert Farmer, General Editor

― The full text of The Pastor's Bible Study, completely searchable by keyword

― Outline of studies

― PowerPoint® slides

― Background graphics

― Customizable supplementary material for handouts, plus screen and video projection.

Dr. Mitzi Minor, a native Alabamian, was graduated from Auburn University, 1980, and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, where she completed her M.Div. (1985) and Ph.D. in New Testament (1989). After several years in parish ministry (1985-90), she became Chaplain and Professor of Religion at Bethel College, the Cumberland Presbyterian (CP) college in McKenzie, TN (1990).  She  was ordained by the CP Church in October of 1991 and in 1993  joined the faculty of the Memphis Theological Seminary, an ecumenical mission of the CP Church, where she is Professor of New Testament.  Her vocational focus has been the intersection of Holy Scripture with our lives of faith.  She’s written articles on feminist interpretation and women’s spirituality, and two books on Mark’s gospel that reflect this interest (The Spirituality of Mark: Responding to God, Wesminster John Knox Press, 1996; The Power of Mark’s Story, Chalice Press, 2001).  She strives to teach students to take serious bible study into their own lives as well as into their congregations.

With an academic background in philosophy and languages, Presbyterian Church (USA) Pastor Tom Davis had intended to become a college professor.  But in 1970 a spiritual awakening in Vietnam changed his course.  He earned a Ph.D. in Christian Social Ethics (University of Pittsburgh), and later an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy (St. Thomas Unversity).  Throughout nearly 30 years of ministry Tom has kept one hand in the local church, and one in academia. He has worked as a campus pastor, church pastor, pastoral psychotherapist, and seminary professor.  He currently pastors the Hanover Street Presbyterian Church, a multicultural congregation in his home town, Wilmington, Delaware.  His passions are peacemaking, writing, and preaching.

Rev. Dr. Doniel Mark Wilson of Oakland, California,  was graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University, receiving a BA in Philosophy with a minor in German.  He earned a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1985, and a Ph.D. in Sociology, from the University of Michigan in 2000. The Rev. Wilson was ordained as a clergyperson in February 1987, under the dynamic ministry of Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams and the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.  During his seven-year tenure in that congregation, Rev. Wilson's love and vision of ministry was nourished and greatly inspired.  These qualities continued to blossom in his pastorate of McGee Avenue Baptist Church, in Berkeley, California.   As pastor of this historic African American congregation for almost twelve years, Rev. Wilson’s ministry has centered on the spiritual growth of his members and his passion for social justice in the public arena.  Dr. Wilson now serves as the Assistant Professor of Congregational Leadership at the Pacific School of Religion, in Berkeley, California.