Description
Book SynopsisThis book helps educators to treat their teacher identity as a theological resource, rather than an obstacle, and in so doing to discover new insights on Christ which can be of relevance to the wider church and its mission.
Trade ReviewJesus the teacher is so often misunderstood, and we in the churches have to take our share of responsibility for that. Congratulations to Mark for a wonderful new look at Jesus through educational eyes. Jesus Christ, Learning Teacher asks questions about how Jesus the teacher is presented to us in the text of the Gospels, and in the imagination and teaching of the contemporary churches. Bad theology costs lives. But in this book we have good, life-giving theology, good surprises about Jesus, and practical ways forward for the churches. -- Steve Chalke, MBE, Founder and Leader, Oasis Global
An outstanding book, one that needed to be written. It has a strong foundation in scholarship and professional experience. Mark’s argument that the church needs to take the educational Christ more seriously in its educational and pastoral work is topical and compelling -- Fr Richard Peers, Sub-dean, Christ Church, Oxford
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ix Foreword by David F. Ford xi Introduction: Jesus Christ, learning teacher – is that even possible? xiii Part 1 First born 1 1 A teacher looks at Jesus: Baggage and biography 3 2 A teacher looks at the church: Hermeneutics and education 14 3 The dance of theology and pedagogy 20 4 Getting to know him 35 Part 2 Learning teacher 51 5 The other side of you: The risen Christ as trickster teacher 55 6 Go and learn the meaning of the words: The roots and formation of a teacher 66 7 You have heard it said: A teacher of hermeneutics 75 8 Destroy this temple: The significance of location in Jesus’ teaching 85 9 The lesson that fails: Was Matthew’s Jesus a good teacher? 98 10 How shall we picture the kingdom? Reflections on a critical incident 110 11 Now at last you are speaking clearly: John’s Jesus as a teacher of light 120 Part 3 How our hearts burned within us 133 12 Writing an educational Christ 137 13 Teaching as sacrament of salvation 155 14 Towards an educational economy of the Trinity and the church 168 Postscript and proposals: Where pedagogy and theology meet 183 Index of Bible references 193 Index of names and subjects 198