Adult Study: ‘Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist’

John the Baptist is often treated as a supporting character in the story of Jesus—but what happens when we take a closer look at John himself? In Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist, New Testament scholar James F. McGrath explores the historical John: his world, his ministry, his message, and his relationship with Jesus.

Together, we’ll use John’s story as a doorway into some bigger questions of faith. How might understanding John help us see Jesus more historically? Did John and Jesus share the same expectations about what God was going to do? What might their ministries reveal about a God who is both beyond us and intimately present with us? And how might we understand the movement from “God is coming” to “God is here”?

Join Reyn Wheeler and Rebecca Guzman for this six-week study and conversation. Participants are encouraged to read Christmaker along with the class. Purchase Christmaker on Amazon.