I am the senior pastor at Christ Community Church in Idaho Falls, ID. I also teach as an adjunct faculty member for Liberty University’s School of Divinity, shepherding candidates through their dissertation writing. The passion of my life is studying and teaching about Christ through the Scriptures—the Bible. My primary focus for this website is to encourage practicing scholars, scholarly practitioners, and members of Christ’s body to think deeply about Jesus as the glowing hot center of biblical theology.

Jeff S. Kennedy / Ph.D., D.Min.

“Yet for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:6).

Below, you can browse some of my credentials, publications and courses taught. While I have spent a fair amount of time in academic study, my passion is teaching and instructing members of God’s family, “which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Tim 3:15).

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Bible Exposition / Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University (Summa Cum Laude / 2022)

D.Min. in Discipleship / Talbot School of Theology, BIOLA University (2015)

M.A. in Religious Ed. / Liberty University (2010)

M.A. in Religion / Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (2009)

B.A. in Biblical Literature, Minor in Bibl. Lang. / Northwest University (1995)

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Adjunct Professor and Dissertation Supervisor, Rawlings School of Divinity Online, Liberty University / Lynchburg, VA / Jan. 2023–present.

  • Peer Reviewer for Liberty University’s Eleutheria Journal.

  • Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church / Idaho Falls, ID / Oct. 2015–Present

  • Executive Pastor of Discipleship, Eastpoint Church / Spokane, WA / Feb. 2007–Sept. 2015

  • Adjunct Faculty, Liberty University’s School of Divinity / Lynchburg, VA / Feb. 2012–2018

  • Adjunct Faculty, Moody Bible Institute’s College of Distance Ed. / Chicago, IL / Oct. 2012–2018

  • Senior Pastor and Church Planter, New Hope Church / Post Falls, ID / June 2001–June 2005

  • Pastor of Worship and Associate Teaching Pastor, Life Center North / Spokane, WA / 1999–2002

  • Associate Pastor: Worship and Teaching, Heartland Church / Minneapolis, MN / 1996–1999

  • Associate Pastor of Youth / Harvest Heights Assembly of God / Tri-Cities, WA / 1994–1996

PUBLICATIONS

Books

  • A Prophet Mighty in Word and Deed: Jesus’ Subversive Reading of the Isaian Jubilee in Luke 4:16–20. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2024 (forthcoming).

  • Father, Son, and the Other One: Experience the Holy Spirit as a Transforming, Empowering Reality in Your Life. Lake Mary, FL: Passio Press, 2014. (Winner of the National Critics Book Award)

  • Fearless Conversations: Learning to Share Your Story Without Fear. Spokane, WA: Essential Life Press. 2014.

  • First Steps: Beginning Your Life as a Christ-follower. Spokane, WA: Essential Life Press, 2013.

  • Basic: A Beginners Guide to the Bible, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. Spokane, WA: Essential Life Press, 2012.

  • The Matthew Journey: A 13-Week Discipleship Curriculum. Spokane, WA: Essential Life Press, 2010.

Articles

  • “An Appeal to Mystery without ‘Punting’: Revisiting Molinism’s Biblical Problem in Light of Ephesians 1:4–11 and Romans 11:33–36.” Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal 7.2 (2023): 91–124.

  • “Misunderstanding Jesus: Did the Disciples Misunderstand Jesus’ Message and Mission?” Journal of Biblical Theology 3.3 (2008): 187–203.

  • "Is the Holy Spirit too Weird for American Christianity?" Charisma Magazine, Feb. 6, 2014.

  • "Can You Hear the Sirens? Experiencing the Spirit's Conviction in a Shameless World" Charisma Magazine, Feb. 11, 2014.

  • "Act Your Age: 4 Keys to Living a Godly Life" Charisma Magazine, Feb. 17, 2014.

  • “Why You Have a Crucial Ministry Role to Play” Charisma Magazine, Sept. 30, 2014.

COURSES TAUGHT

Moody Bible Institute

Undergraduate

  • Reading the New Testament

  • The Story and Structure of the Bible

  • New Testament Lit. II

  • Hermeneutics/Bible Study Methods

  • New Testament Survey

  • Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit

  • How to Study and Teach the Bible

  • Ancient Near Eastern Literature

Liberty University

Undergraduate

  • Apologetics and the Christian Worldview

  • Introduction to Christian Thought and Theology

  • Survey of Hermeneutics

  • Survey of Biblical Literature

  • Romans

Graduate/Doctoral Courses

  • Biblical Theology of the Gospels

  • Biblical Theology of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship

  • Personal Spiritual Formation and Discipleship

Sermon Series Through Books of the Bible

  • Daniel

  • Joshua

  • Judges

  • Ruth

  • 1 Samuel

  • Ezra-Nehemiah

  • Galatians

  • The Gospel of John

  • The Gospel of Matthew

  • The Gospel of Luke

  • Ephesians

  • 1 Peter

  • Romans

  • Philippians

Topical Series

  • The Church

  • The Kingdom

  • The Gospel

  • Resilience

  • God’s Vision for the Church

  • Prayer

  • Heaven and Hell

  • Half-Truths

  • Bible Study

  • Hot Button Cultural Issues

Christ Community Church

  • Foundations of Christian Thought: Christian Doctrine 1

  • Foundations of Christian Thought: Christian Doctrine 2

  • Four Views of the Book of Revelation

Memberships

Evangelical Theological Society

Society of Biblical Literature