I am available to teach classes at churches, schools, and gatherings in central Maryland and the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro areas. If you are outside of those regions, contact me to find out if I can travel to your group.

The following are examples of classes and retreats that I have led in various locations:

Dunces, Dogs, and Disciples

Have you ever wondered why Nicodemus seems so dumb? Have you ever wondered why Martha gets such a raw deal? Explore what recent historical and literary biblical scholarship has to say about these and other stories in the Gospels.

This five-hour retreat includes presentations on the following topics:

• The New Testament Gospels: What are Gospels and how do we read them?
• Mary and Joseph: What were the neighbors thinking?
• The Canaanite woman: A dogged mother
• Nicodemus: Dunce or disciple?
• The woman at the well: A literary makeover
• Mary and Martha: More than a personality test

Women in the New Testament

The role of women among Jesus’ disciples and in the early church is a topic that is interesting for historical reasons and also relevant to the life of the church today.  Responsible and creative interpretation of women’s stories enriches Bible study and is crucial for proclamation of the gospel.  This series of five hour-long presentations examines the portrayal of women in the New Testament and explores the relevance of these stories for life and ministry today.

How to Interpret the Bible

What is the Bible? Is the Bible authoritative? What does it mean to say that the Bible is inspired? How do we deal with troubling or contradictory passages? Why do people reading the same Bible sometimes reach very different conclusions on social and theological issues? This one to two hour class introduces a method of reading the Bible that keeps history, theology, and literary elements in balance. It teaches students how to put passages in historical context, while also honoring the modern context of readers today. For a longer series, this class can easily be paired with a topic of interest to a particular group (for example, the Bible and sexuality, the Bible and women, the Bible and slavery, etc.).

Philemon

The shortest of Paul’s letters has often been ignored by scholars and church-goers alike, either because they do not think it contains anything theologically significant, or because they reject it as affirming slavery. But there’s more to this little book than meets the eye. This two to three hour class on Philemon explores both the broad historical background and the nitty-gritty details of this interesting text.

Discipleship from the Underside

This course introduces Mark’s Gospel and explores the meaning of discipleship in the book. Throughout Mark it is not Jesus’s disciples who understand him the best. Rather, it is those who are lower status based on gender, ethnicity, income, and health who show a greater understanding of Jesus’ core identity and mission – the service, suffering, inclusion, and humility that he was calling people to. These are the unexpected people who understand the unexpected message of the suffering and crucified messiah.

Women of the Pauline Mission

You’ve heard of Mary Magdalene and Martha, but what do you know about Prisca and Junia? Come learn what we know about Paul’s female co-workers. This three hour class also explores what Paul wrote about women in his letters.

Exile and Empire

How did God’s people in the past deal with a changing and challenging world, and what can we learn from them for dealing with our own changing and challenging world? The ancient Israelites learned from their experience of the Bablyonian Exile to broaden their perspective and seek God in new ways. The early church experienced persecution as they lived under the power of empire — exploring their experiences can help us learn to have God’s point of view on the world.

Other Possibilities

The above descriptions represent classes I have already taught and would be glad to repeat for your group. However, I would also be happy to develop a new program for your group on a topic of interest to you. For example, if your group is interested in studying Acts, Galatians, Luke, John, Romans, or another book, I can present a lesson or series on any book of the New Testament. If you have an idea for something else, let me know!

For more information or to inquire about my availability and usual speaking fees, please contact me.