So here's our New Year offering. Sarah and I are going to host a series of evening conversations on (re-)reading the Bible and all that that might mean, imply, demand, unsettle, rouse in us. Our emphasis is really on conversation, talking together about the subject at hand.

At the moment I'm anticipating eight evenings of discussion, the first being next Sunday evening, 20th January, from 8.30pm. I'm anticipating them being about every 2 weeks (and not always on Sunday evenings) for as long as we've got something more to unpack and explore.

If you're interested to this point, here's the skinny …

1. Re-Reading the Bible (1) - SUNDAY 20th JANUARY, 8.30pm
   • Scripture, authority and the larger whole
   • Scripture, Spirit, Community, Jesus
2. Re-Reading the Bible (2)
   • What is this text?
   • Reading, interpreting and community
3. Re-Reading the Old Testament
   • The Story of Israel
4. Re-Reading the New Testament
   • A Jewish Story
5. Reading the Bit In Between
   • Inter-testamental angst
6. Re-Reading the Bible (3)
   • Reading the whole story
7. Reading After the Bible
   • Creeds, Councils, Canon and consequences
8. Reading the Bible Through History
   • Old battles and new ones
   • Shallow debates and deep wisdom

Having laid these eight out, of course, many more possibilities come to mind, and I'd love to further explore …

• scripture and culture,
• scripture and politics,
• scripture and philosophy,
• scripture and theology,
• scripture and ethics.

… and that's just for starters.

More here as things unfold.