Seasons of the Christian Life

by Robert Cummings Neville

Overview

Once liberal Christianity was preached in ways that defined it in the public eye. Now Christianity is identified almost exclusively with its conservative expressions. Seasons of the Christian Life presents a series of sermons articulating a liberal Christianity over against its conservative neighbors. They were preached at the University Church (Marsh Chapel) at Boston University (save for one preached in Memorial Church at Harvard) during the 2004-2005 academic year when President George W. Bush was reelected and the country was at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and at war with terrorists wherever they could be imagined. The sermons follow the Revised Common Lectionary and focus on biblical interpretation as it is applied to the then-current spiritual, cultural, social, and political situation. The author is a professor of theology and at the time was Dean of Marsh Chapel and Chaplain of the University. LONG ENDORSEMENTS--NEEDS TO BE EDITED ""With this collection of sermons, Robert Neville gives contemporary liberal Christianity an articulate and powerful voice. Here the author's carefully constructed 'theology of symbolic engagement' is perfected in pastoral practice. Each of these homiletic meditations is a spiritual jewel, as Neville's reading of basic Christian symbols is consistently illuminating, also frequently inspirational. Published a dozen years after being preached, the passing of the seasons has only increased the relevance of these sermons for prospective readers."" --Michael L. Raposa, Professor of Religion Studies, E. W. Fairchild Professor of American Studies, Lehigh University ""Some preachers fled to the lectionary to escape current events in the years after 9/11, but not theologian Robert Cummings Neville, formerly Dean of Marsh Chapel. Whether it is the trying [presidential] election of 2004, the failures in the wake of military adventurism in Iraq, or the seemingly endless culture wars at home, Neville preaches into being an irenic, liberal pulpit, enmeshed in the Christian Year and at once liturgical and public, both faithful and deeply theological."" --David Schnasa Jacobsen, Boston University School of Theology ""Great theologians who craft complex and comprehensive architectonic systems demand much of the reader, and reading Robert Neville's work in philosophical theology is not for the faint of heart. But reading his sermons is immediately and accessibly rewarding. The reader hears the music animating the metaphysics and comes to a rich appreciation of the texture of his religious vision of living faithfully into the glory of being a beloved creature of God the creator. What a gift it is to be finally reading Neville's sermons! Not since Paul Tillich's collections of sermons--The Shaking of the Foundations, The New Being, and The Eternal Now--have American readers been treated to such a rich and subtle feast in which a systematic theological vision is given robust homiletical life. Neville emerges as one of the finest theological preachers of our time."" --John J. Thatamanil, Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Seminary Robert Cummings Neville is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology at Boston University and dean emeritus of the Boston University School of Theology. He is the author of Ultimates (2013), Existence (2014), and Religion (2015)--a series on philosophical theology. His previous books of sermons are Preaching the Gospel without Easy Answers (2005) and The God Who Beckons (1999).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498286206
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	07/04/2016
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Robert Cummings Neville is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology at Boston University and dean emeritus of the Boston University School of Theology. He is the author of Ultimates (2013), Existence (2014), and Religion (2015)—a series on philosophical theology. His previous books of sermons are Preaching the Gospel without Easy Answers (2005) and The God Who Beckons (1999).

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1 Sins: Nailed to the Cross: Psalm 85; Colossians 2:1 15 (11-19); Luke 11:1-13 1

2 The Potter's Vessels: Jeremiah 18:1 11; Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:21-33 6

2 The Value of Something Lost: Jeremiah 4:1 1-12, 21-28; Psalm 14, 1 Timothy 1:11-17; Luke 15:1-10 11

4 Living in Our Own Time: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 1-15; 2 Samuel 11:27b-12:9; Luke 16:11-31 17

5 Religion for Reward: Lamentations 1:1 6;2 Timothy 1:1-4; Luke 17:1-10 22

6 A New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:2 1-34; 2 Timothy 3:11-4:5; Luke 18:1-8 26

7 Humility and Exaltation: The Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost: Joel 2:21 32; 2 Timothy 4:1-8, 11 18; Luke 18:1 14 31

8 Conversion: Habakkuk 1:1 4; 2:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:1 4,1 1-12; Luke 19: 1 10 36

9 The Heavens, the Earth, the Sea, and the Dry Land: Haggai 1:15b-2:9; Psalm 145; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 11 17: Luke 20:21-38 41

10 Endurance: Isaiah 65:11-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13; Luke 21:1-19 46

11 To Be Awake: Isaiah 2:1 5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36 44 52

12 Repent: Isaiah 11-1-10; Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 3:1 12 57

13 Inauspicious Beginnings: Isaiah 63:1-9; Hebrews 2:11-18; Matthew 2:11 23 62

14 Testimony to the light: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1 12 68

15 The Name of Jesus: Baptism of the Lord: Isaiah 42:1-9; Acts 10:31 43; Matthew 3:11 17 73

16 Light, Vocation, Healing: Isaiah 9:1 3; 1 Corinthians 1:11-18; Matthew 4:11 23 79

17 To Know What Counts: Micah 6:1 8; 1 Corinthians 1:11-31; Matthew 5:1 12 84

18 Coping with Transfiguration: Exodus 24:11-18; 2 Peter 1:11-21; Matthew 17:1 9 89

19 Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12, 11-17;2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1 6, 11 21 94

20 Temptation: Genesis 2:11-17; 3:1-7; Romans 5:11-19; Matthew 4:1 11 97

21 The Difference faith Makes: Genesis 12:1-4a: Romans 4:1-5, 11-17; John 3:17 103

22 Seeing beyond Expectations: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ephesians 5:1-14; John 9:1 41 108

23 Spirit and Flesh: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-11; John 11:1 45 113

24 The Power of Humility: Isaiah 50:1-9a; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 27:11-54 118

25 Teaching: Isaiah 50:1-91; Philippians 2:1-11; Mathew 21:1-11 123

26 "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." 128

27 Raised with Christ in Newness of Life: Romans 6:1-11; Matthew 28:1 10 131

28 The Day of Resurrection: Acts 10:31-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18 136

29 Meeting the Risen Christ: Acts 2:14a, 31-41; 1 Peter 1:11 -23; Luke 24:11 35 141

30 To Follow the Shepherd: Acts 2:41 -47:1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10 146

31 "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life": Acts 7:51-60; 1 Peter 2:1-10; John 14:1-14 151

32 Forms of Love: Acts 17:2 1-31; 1 Peter 3:11 22; John 14:1 1-21 157

33 Freedom of the Spirit: Acts 2:1 21; 1 Corinthians 12:3b 13; John 7:31-39 162

34 Something New and Lasting: Psalm 149; Song of Solomon 8:1-7 167

35 The Ambivalence of Family, or The Lesson of Hagar: Genesis 21:1-21; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:21 39 171

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"With this collection of sermons, Robert Neville gives contemporary liberal Christianity an articulate and powerful voice. Here the author's carefully constructed 'theology of symbolic engagement' is perfected in pastoral practice. Each of these homiletic meditations is a spiritual jewel, as Neville's reading of basic Christian symbols is consistently illuminating, also frequently inspirational. Published a dozen years after being preached, the passing of the seasons has only increased the relevance of these sermons for prospective readers."
—Michael L. Raposa, Professor of Religion Studies, E. W. Fairchild Professor of American Studies, Lehigh University

"Some preachers fled to the lectionary to escape current events in the years after 9/11, but not theologian Robert Cummings Neville, formerly Dean of Marsh Chapel. Whether it is the trying [presidential] election of 2004, the failures in the wake of military adventurism in Iraq, or the seemingly endless culture wars at home, Neville preaches into being an irenic, liberal pulpit, enmeshed in the Christian Year and at once liturgical and public, both faithful and deeply theological."
—David Schnasa Jacobsen, Boston University School of Theology

"Great theologians who craft complex and comprehensive architectonic systems demand much of the reader, and reading Robert Neville's work in philosophical theology is not for the faint of heart. But reading his sermons is immediately and accessibly rewarding. The reader hears the music animating the metaphysics and comes to a rich appreciation of the texture of his religious vision of living faithfully into the glory of being a beloved creature of God the creator. What a gift it is to be finally reading Neville's sermons! Not since Paul Tillich's collections of sermons—The Shaking of the Foundations, The New Being, and The Eternal Now—have American readers been treated to such a rich and subtle feast in which a systematic theological vision is given robust homiletical life. Neville emerges as one of the finest theological preachers of our time."
—John J. Thatamanil, Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Seminary

Editorial Reviews

"With this collection of sermons, Robert Neville gives contemporary liberal Christianity an articulate and powerful voice. Here the author's carefully constructed 'theology of symbolic engagement' is perfected in pastoral practice. Each of these homiletic meditations is a spiritual jewel, as Neville's reading of basic Christian symbols is consistently illuminating, also frequently inspirational. Published a dozen years after being preached, the passing of the seasons has only increased the relevance of these sermons for prospective readers."
—Michael L. Raposa, Professor of Religion Studies, E. W. Fairchild Professor of American Studies, Lehigh University

"Some preachers fled to the lectionary to escape current events in the years after 9/11, but not theologian Robert Cummings Neville, formerly Dean of Marsh Chapel. Whether it is the trying [presidential] election of 2004, the failures in the wake of military adventurism in Iraq, or the seemingly endless culture wars at home, Neville preaches into being an irenic, liberal pulpit, enmeshed in the Christian Year and at once liturgical and public, both faithful and deeply theological."
—David Schnasa Jacobsen, Boston University School of Theology

"Great theologians who craft complex and comprehensive architectonic systems demand much of the reader, and reading Robert Neville's work in philosophical theology is not for the faint of heart. But reading his sermons is immediately and accessibly rewarding. The reader hears the music animating the metaphysics and comes to a rich appreciation of the texture of his religious vision of living faithfully into the glory of being a beloved creature of God the creator. What a gift it is to be finally reading Neville's sermons! Not since Paul Tillich's collections of sermons—The Shaking of the Foundations, The New Being, and The Eternal Now—have American readers been treated to such a rich and subtle feast in which a systematic theological vision is given robust homiletical life. Neville emerges as one of the finest theological preachers of our time."
—John J. Thatamanil, Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Seminary

From the Publisher