Prophetic Ethics

Israel's prophets are enigmatic, eccentric characters, who shock us with their disturbing preaching and bizarre behavior. Eccentricities aside, we ought not to dismiss them or their message. By consistently linking right worship with right living, the prophets reminded the people of Israel that their religious observance and how they lived the 'rest' of their lives were inseparable.

By drawing on their tradition, today's prophets continue to build up the church to become a prophetic voice to the culture around it. Our contributors invite us to ask: Who are the prophets today? Who, by their prophetic action and teaching, help us discern the vision of God for our culture and inspire us to enter the works of God's kingdom?

The study guides and lesson plans integrate Bible study, prayer, and worship to help us understand our discipleship in light of the biblical prophetic tradition. The guides can be used in a series or individually. You may download and reproduce them for personal or group use.

Download the entire Prophetic Ethics issue and the set of seven Study Guides. Or, download individual pieces by clicking the titles below.

Articles

• "Would That All Were Prophets," by Tracey Mark Stout
• "I Am About to Do a New Thing," by Carol J. Dempsey, O.P.
• "Prophecy from the Sidelines," by Paul L. Redditt
• "The Church: A Non-Prophet Organization?," by J. Randall O'Brien
• "The Prophet as Storyteller," by Christina Bieber
• "The Wild Goose," by Robert B. Kruschwitz

Art

• "The Sign of Jonah," on The Jonah Marbles, Early Christian, c. 270-280

Hymn and Worship Service

• "In Their Speaking, Art, and Writing," by Terry W. York and C. David Bolin
• Worship Service by David G. Miller

Inspirational Pieces

• "Extreme Virtues," by David Fillingim
• "Swimming with the Prophets," by Carol Younger
• "Lord, Have Mercy," by Lea Pardue Slaton
• Other Voices, Quotations on Prophetic Ethics

Book Reviews

• "Reading the Prophets," by Mark E. Biddle
  • Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Prophets
  • Carol Dempsey, The Prophets: A Liberation-Critical Reading
  • Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination, 2nd ed.
• "Rendering to Caesar, Surrendering to God," by Keith Putt
  • Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon, Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony
  • Robert P. Kraynak, Christian Faith and Modern Democracy: God and Politics in a Fallen World

Study Guides and Lesson Plans 

Download the set of seven Study Guides

• "Jesus as a Prophet"
• "Would That All Were Prophets"
• "I Am About to do a New Thing"
• "Prophecy from the Sidelines"
• "Extreme Virtues"
• "The Prophet as Storyteller"
• "The Sign of Jonah"