Preaching john

Rev. Karoline M. Lewis, Ph.D., is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, where she has taught since 2007.

Lewis is the author of a number of books, including Preaching the Word: Contemporary Approaches to the Bible For The Pulpit; Belonging: Five Keys to Unlocking Your Potential as a Disciple; A Lay Preacher’s Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon; Embody: Five Steps to Leading With Integrity; SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry and John: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries, as well as numerous articles, book chapters, and web resources. Lewis was one of a 100 religious scholars in the United States to be a part of the Values and Voices Campaign 2017 (valuesandvoices.com) and again in 2021.

Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Lewis oversees and is a contributing writer for the preaching resource Working Preacher and has co-hosted the site’s weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave, since its inception. Lewis is a popular presenter and leads conferences, workshops, and retreats internationally on the Gospel of John, the New Testament, interpreting the Bible, preaching, leadership, and women in ministry.

Dr. R. Alan Culpepper served as the dean of the McAfee School of Theology from its founding until 2015. He received a B.A. (1967) from Baylor University, his Master of Divinity (1970) from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. (1974) from Duke University. Before coming to McAfee, Dr. Culpepper taught in the Religion Department at Baylor. In 2016, Dr. Culpepper received dean emeritus and professor emeritus status at McAfee.

Outside of life at McAfee, Dr. Culpepper is the New Testament editor for the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary and for the Biblical Interpretation Series published by E.J. Brill. He also is on the editorial board from the Library of New Testament Studies. He has published nine books and several articles, curriculums, and book reviews, including Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel, John the Son of Zebedee, “The Gospel of Luke” in The New Interpreters’ Bible, Mark in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary, and Matthew for the New Testament Library published by Westminster John Knox.

John Mark Hicks has taught full time in higher education among Churches of Christ since 1982 and is currently Professor of Theology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has taught in over 40 states and 20 countries around the world. He has authored, co-authored, edited, or contributed to over 40 books as well as contributing to both academic and popular journals.

He received his B.A. in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University (1977), his M.A.R. in Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (1980), his M.A. in Humanities from Western Kentucky University (1981) and his Ph.D. in Reformation and Post-Reformation Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (1985). He has taught theology since 1982, including nine years at Harding University Graduate School of Religion (1991-2000). He has been at Lipscomb since 2000. He has ministered with churches in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Tennessee. He has published nine books and thirteen journal articles as well as contributed to nineteen other books. He has spoken in thirty-eight states and nineteen countries. He and his wife, Jennifer, share five living children and six grandchildren with her.

Mike Cope is the director of Ministry Outreach for Pepperdine University. Pursuant to a $7.5 million grant recently received from the Lilly Endowment Inc., Cope directs four initiatives: “Compelling Preaching,” “Thriving in Ministry,” “Thriving Congregations,” and “The Rural and Small Town Church Initiative.” 

A minister for 34 years, he is the author of Megan’s Secrets as well as four other books, and served for 12 years as the coeditor, with Rubel Shelly, of Wineskinsmagazine. Following a seven-year ministry at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, Cope served as an adjunct professor at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, for 15 years. In Abilene, he also preached at the Highland Church of Christ for 18 years, and taught and coached little league baseball for 12 years.

Cope and his wife, Diane, continue to live in Abilene and have been married for 47 years. They have two children: Matt, a physician in Abilene and Chris, a family therapist and program director for Brooklyn Community Services in New York City, and four grandchildren.