Amazon.com description: Product Description: Connecting the apocalyptic message of Mark's Gospel to principles and programs of socio-cultural transformation in the life of the Black church today, Blount begins his study of Mark by examining the social significance of Jesus' proclamation of the coming Kingdom of God. Through Jesus, God's future power broke through to the human present. This experience of the Kingdom empowered the disciples to "Go preach" the Kingdom message in word and deed, to finish the story that Mark's narration about Jesus began. Blount compares the situation of today's Black church to the situation in which the Gospel arose and explores the implications of apocalyptic theology for the pastoral mission of the Black church. He demonstrates the value of a sociolinguistic approach to the scripture, both in interpreting the text in its original context and in unpacking its meaning for today.