Can you sum up Christianity in a single word? This is something only God could do—and he did so in the first century through the writings of his apostles. God in a Word: Five Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ cracks the first verses of the Gospel of John wide open, spilling light on a mystery of the faith that has both challenged church fathers and strengthened the faith of common believers for two thousand years.

How can it be that God became man? That the God whose face was too radiant and holy for Moses to behold would walk and talk among men? That the Creator who made men would stoop to wash their feet, and allow the hands of his enemies to drive nails through his own hands and feet?

The incarnation of the eternal, invisible, almighty God in a first-century Jew born in Bethlehem is a mystery—but not one left to our imaginations. God in a Word leads followers—and seekers—of the one true God on a glorious path through Scripture toward appreciating the most foundational truths about the Christian faith.

Pastors Joe Godwin, Paul Pyle, and Joey Turner unpack the apostle John’s meaning when he says “In the beginning was the Logos.” Then they illuminate the apostle Paul’s famous recitation of an ancient hymn on the emptying of Christ, building to a grand conclusion: Christ is first because he was first. All of this searching culminates in two critical questions for readers:

Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Is that who the Bible says he is?

The chapters of God in a Word began as sermons preached to the authors’ local congregation at Patterson Park Church in Beavercreek, Ohio.

God in a Word: Five Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ is a product of Sermon TRANSCENSION: Transcription for 21st-Century Churches℠, an offering by Good Comma Editing℠. The mission of Sermon TRANSCENSION℠ is to help biblically orthodox churches shepherd their local congregations by extending and deepening the impact of sermons. For more information or to contact an editor, please visit GoodCommaEditing.com.

Joe Godwin and his wife, Kathy, have served at Patterson Park Church since 2004. They have two sons, both of whom are married and live in the Dayton area, and five grandchildren. Joe is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and received a Doctor of Ministry from Ligonier Academy in Biblical and Theological Studies. He is the co-author of Elder Governance: Insights into Making the Transition. Outside of his pastoral responsibilities, Joe is an avid cyclist and runner.

Paul Pyle and his wife, Nanette, have been a part of the Patterson Park fellowship since 1996. They have four adult children and two grandsons. Paul has a degree in English from Evangel University and a Master of Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Paul taught English and Bible at Dayton Christian High School for forty years before joining the PPC staff in 2017.

Joey Turner and his wife, Jenny, have served at Patterson Park Church since 2015. They have four children: JoJo, Maddie, Cora, and Rose. Joey is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. In addition to serving the local church, Joey has written several articles for Rooted Ministry, whose focus is advancing gospel-centered youth ministry.  

Patterson Park Church is in Beavercreek, Ohio, and online at PattersonPark.org.