Michael D McCullar

James wrote in an extraordinary time in history and to a unique people. Unlike Paul, who wrote primarily to congregations defined by Gentile believers, James wrote to a dispersed and persecuted fellowship of Hebrew Christians who would soon endure even more difficulty in the coming years. James's letter had a two-fold intent: 1) Encourage these new believers to remain strong in the face of increasing persecution. 2) Equip them to continue in the faith throughout eras of hardship. If the dispersed believers lived exemplary lives among unfamiliar people in new areas, they could be living witnesses to the reality of Jesus as the Hebrew Messiah. According to James, the way of God is accepting the reality of persecution and applying faith to each and every instance. This "holification" of suffering that had been modeled by Jesus could indeed provide excellent witness to the reality of their faith. As James "tells it like it is" he consistently offers paths to effective living that can only be accessed through a personal relationship with God. Michael D. McCullar is the executive pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama-Birmingham, New Orleans Baptist Seminary, and Oxford Graduate School. He is the author of Sessions with James, Sessions with Corinthians, Sessions with Timothy & Titus, A Christian's Guide to Islam, and co-author of Building Blocks for Sunday School Growth and Sessions with Mark.

Sessions with Ephesians is a nine-session study unit designed to explore Paul's response to a young congregation in need of a definable doctrine and a theological document to meet the needs of an expanding church that was literally being invaded by divisive and contrary philosophies. Each session is followed by thought-provoking questions that allow for a deeper experience of the scriptural passages. Ephesians has been called "the most contemporary book in the Bible." Strip it of just a few first-century references and it would be easily applicable to the modern church. It was, however, directed to the church of Paul's day that struggled with issues of inclusion and moving beyond the constraints of ancient Judaism. In this letter we see where God wants to take the church, and, if we truly internalize its words, we see our own unique role in God's plans.

Sessions with Timothy & Titus is an eight-session study unit designed to provide a compelling preview to the books of 1& 2 Timothy and Titus. Each session is followed by a thought-provoking page of questions that allow for a deeper experience of the scriptural passages. These resource pages can be used by seminar leaders during preparation and group discussion, as well as in individual Bible study.Michael McCullar takes readers on a journey through Paul's two letters to Timothy and his letter to Titus. Commonly referred to as the Pastoral Epistles, these personal letters served as guidance to a pair of young, inexperienced church leaders who required structured guidance and encouragement. Students of these letters today, however, will find that Paul's advice to Timothy and Titus contain timeless teachings for leaders of any age.

Sessions with Mark is a ten-lesson study designed to provide a compelling look at the Gospel of Mark. Each session is followed by a thought-provoking page of questions that allow for a deeper experience of the scriptural passages. These resource pages can be used by seminar leaders during preparation and group discussion, as well as in individual Bible study.Immersing us in the Gospel of Mark, Michael D. McCullar and Rickey Letson reveal Jesus as a person of intense passion, energy, and drive. Mark portrayed Jesus as powerful yet benevolent-healing the sick, calming storms, exorcising demons, raising the dead, and restoring sight to the blind. Mark's Jesus was God on a mission.