The Challenge of Jesus is a provocative new, visually stimulating, progressive Christian educational resource designed for small group discussion in Sunday adult classes, weekday classes, home gatherings, retreats, and seminars.
Renowned historical Jesus scholar John Dominic Crossan presents his life’s work developing the unexplored matrix of Jesus’ life through time and place in four Themes:
- The World of Jesus
- Session 1, “Peace Through Victory”
- Session 2, “On Stone and Marble”
- Session 3, “Acts of the Divine Augustus”
- Session 4, “Olympian Imperial Gods”
- The Life of Jesus
- Session 1, “Empire and Eschaton”
- Session 2, “Herod ‘King of the Jews’”
- Session 3, “By the Sea of Galilee”
- Session 4, “A Collaboration With God”
- The Death of Jesus
- Session 1, “Why Blood Sacrifice?”
- Session 2, “Jewish God and Norman Lord”
- Session 3, “The Last Week”
- Session 4, “The Sacrifice of Jesus”
- The Resurrection of Jesus
- Session 1, “Why Bodily Resurrection?”
- Session 2, “That First Easter Sunday”
- Session 3, “Ascension Into Heaven”
- Session 4, “New Earth & New Heaven”
Each Theme is divided into 4 segments of 15 to 18 minutes, plus the Prologue and Epilogue, totaling 18 segments in all, for easy integration into class curriculum or small group discussions. Depending on time allotted for Sunday classes, small group discussion, or home gatherings, it is suggested that one session be shown per gathering followed by review of the discussion starters and allowing time to explore and discuss the discussion questions.
The Challenge of Jesus DVD video series is designed as a 16-week educational program. However, the series is applicable to be divided into 4 curriculum offerings spread throughout the worship calendar.
