Back Cover of HEAVEN ON EARTH

Here is the finished back cover of HEAVEN ON EARTH, which is being released on April 1. Amazon is offering a pre-order discount of 48%, which is less than I can buy it for directly from the publisher. Please order a copy and urge your fiends and colleagues to do the same.

WORSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Oscar Cullmann wrote that the eating of the Lord’s Supper and the presence of the Holy Spirit were the two indispensable features of Christian worship in the early church. Both were manifestations of the exalted Jesus among his people. He served as host of the Supper and ministered through the Spirit. The church thus participated in the “already” aspect of salvation history as it anticipated the “not yet” eschaton. Likewise, when we join Christ in a festive meal and in ministry, worship is transformed into a transcendental experience. In these few hours each week heaven touches earth.

Second Peter, Anti-Imperial Meals, and Social Identity

I completed my chapter for the T & T Clark Handbook of Social Identity and the New Testament (eds, Brian Tucker and Baker Coleman), which will be released at the end of 2013 or the start of 2014. This book will be the "go-to" reference for scholarly discussion the topic. It will consist of 30+ chapters. I am happy to be part of the project.