Christian life and practice Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGet into the holiday spirit with these magical stories of family and friends… giving and sharing… joy and blessings! And your purchase will support Toys for Tots, creating miracles for the children who need them most. These 101 real-life, personal stories are filled with the cheer of the season - from tales of kindness, gratitude and giving to stories of holiday disasters and pranks, to creating creative gifts and unexpected family bonding. You’ll also pick up some creative ways to make your own holidays even more special, with new ideas for family fun, gift-giving and recipes. This collection of stories is sure to leave you smiling and eager to share all the holidays with family and friends, from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah to Christmas and New Year’s. And we didn’t forget the kids, either. The stories in this collection are “Santa safe,” meaning that they keep the magic alive even for the most precocious readers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller Taking the story of white supremacy in America back to 1493, and examining contemporary communities in Mississippi, Minnesota, and Oklahoma for models of racial repair, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy is “full of urgency and insight” (The New York Times) as it helps chart a new course toward a genuinely pluralistic democracy.Beginning with contemporary efforts to reckon with the legacy of white supremacy in America, Jones returns to the fateful year when a little-known church doctrine emerged that shaped the way five centuries of European Christians would understand the “discovered” world and the people who populated it. Along the way, he shows us the connections between Emmett Till and the Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto in the Mississippi Delta, between the lynching of three Black circus workers in Duluth and the mass execution of thirty-eight Dakota men in Makato, and between the murder of 300 African Americans during the burning of Black Wall Street in Tulsa and the Trail of Tears. From this vantage point, Jones offers a “revelatory…searing, stirring outline” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) of how the enslavement of Africans was not America’s original sin but, rather, the continuation of acts of genocide and dispossession flowing from the first European contact with Native Americans. These deeds were justified by people who embraced the 15th-century Doctrine of Discovery: the belief that God had designated all territory not inhabited or controlled by Christians as their new promised land. This “blistering, bracing, and brave” (Michael Eric Dyson) reframing of American origins explains how the founders of the United States could build the philosophical framework for a democratic society on a foundation of mass racial violence—and why this paradox survives today in the form of white Christian nationalism. Through stories of people navigating these contradictions in three communities, Jones illuminates the possibility of a new American future in which we finally fulfill the promise of a pluralistic democracy.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisLook to Christ, the ultimate revelation of God. The letter to the Hebrews asks questions aimed at the heart of what it looks like for Christians to walk in Christ's footsteps. How should Christians relate to the Old Testament? What are we to make of the New Testament's urgent pleas to persevere in the faith? Can we really lose our salvation? How does Jesus model both humility in his humanity and the glory of God through his earthly life? These questions continue to be fiercely debated by Christians. The ancient letter to the Hebrews answers all by focusing on Christ's magnificent love and greatness. In Christ Above All, Adrio König puts readers in the shoes of the original audience of Hebrews and shows how, in a world full of competing claims to power and authority, Christ--in all his glory and humanity--really does surpass all others. In the Transformative Word series, you'll read the Bible with a global cast of church leaders and scholars. In conversational tone, contributors from around the world explain the importance of a biblical book, showing how it can transform your life.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"That prayer is most likely to pierce heaven which first pierces one's own heart." For the Puritans, prayer was neither casual nor dull. Their prayers were passionate affairs, from earnestly pleading for mercy to joyful praise. These rich expressions of deep Christian faith are a shining example of holy living. The Puritan combination of warm piety and careful intellect have fueled a renaissance of interest in their movement. This combination is on display in Piercing Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from leading Puritans. The language in these prayers has been slightly updated for a modern audience while still retaining the elevated tone of the Puritans. With prayers from Richard Baxter, Thomas Brooks, John Owen, and many more, each prayer reminds us that heartfelt prayer is central to the Christian life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstand and celebrate what we believe For centuries, the Nicene Creed has been central to the church's confession. The Nicene Creed: An Introduction by Phillip Cary explores the Creed's riches with simplicity and clarity. Cary explains the history of the Creed and walks through its meaning line by line. Far from being abstract or irrelevant, the words of the Creed carefully express what God has done in Christ and through the Spirit. The Nicene Creed gives us the gospel. It gives biblical Christians the words for what we already believe. And when we profess the Creed, we join the global church throughout history in declaring the name and work of the one God--Father, Son, and Spirit. Gain a fresh appreciation for the ancient confession with Phillip Cary's help.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith beautiful hand-painted decorations on every page, this keepsake prayer journal offers Christian women daily prompts and scripture on a variety of themes to help them grow their prayer life and deepen their relationship with God. Find inspiration in your day-to-day experiences, worshipping God and seeking Christ with the aid of this guided journal from renowned Bible journaler, Jenna Parde, of Scribbling Grace. It’s divided into seven two-week sections, each with a different topic to pray over: My Relationship with God Family and Friends Home and Life Health and Safety Work and Career Finances The World Along with a Bible verse or prayer prompt, each day includes dedicated space to journal about six prayer topics (with space to record the date): Scripture Gratitude Answered Prayers People in Need Fears to Pass to God Prayer

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisChristians tend to polarize. Some have intellectual faith, while others are more emotional. Some focus on structure, while others focus on freedom. And some champion evangelism, while others advocate social action. John Stott's clear-headed and classic statement of balanced Christianity shows how we can hold these tensions together in ways which are biblical and faithful. 'The liberal to me, is like a gas-filled balloon which takes off into the ether and is not tethered to the earth in any way,' he says. 'The fundamentalist is like a caged bird, unable to escape at all. To me, the true evangelical is like a kite which flies high but at the same time is always tethered.' This edition includes an interview entitled 'Life in the Spirit of Truth' between Roy McCloughry and the author.Trade ReviewI read this book standing in a bookstore as a college student. When done, I bought it, took it home, read it two more times over the course of the year, and then somehow I lost it - no doubt because I loaned it to a friend. In this book John Stott first opened my mind to the delightful joy of truths we cannot always resolve but to which we can commit ourselves in tension. Stott not only writes here of balance, but as a person he exhibited it. In your hands is one of the great tracts of 20th century evangelicalism. Savour it. * Scot McKnight, Northern Seminary *Poignant and provocative. * Mark Labberton *John Stott not only writes of balance, but, as a person, he exhibited it. * Scott McKnight *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe world is changing fast, and digital technology fastest of all. The growth of social media and increasingly innovative digital advancements raises questions for every Christian. How should we understand the new digital age? And how can we live well within it? These technologies hold awesome potential for good. But when we engage unthinkingly with the online world, there is a danger that we begin to become increasingly like the technologies we use, relating and thinking without human connection. We fall short of what we were made to be. We are virtually human. Whether you are an early adopter, a sceptic, or just content to go with the flow, this book will help you navigate the digital world in a way that honours Christ and leads to your growth and the growth of those around you.Trade ReviewThis book is for anyone wanting to think about technology and its place in God’s story. It is for parents grappling with how to guide and influence their children through the morass of issues that technology presents. It is for people struggling with the quantity of time that technology takes. It is for anyone seeking to live a Christ filled life in a world of smartphones and cloud computing. The book is a helpful read and will stimulate good conversation. After each chapter there are questions for further conversation so that the book could be used in a small group setting about these matters. Highly Recommended -- Geoff Gertzen * Reach South Africa *accessible, well-researched, biblically based and carefully applied to everyday life * Inspire Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSoon after Jesus began his public ministry, he called his first `disciples’. He would teach and train them and then, after his death and resurrection, commission and empower them to go to the `nations’ to make more `followers’ of himself. The risen Jesus is still calling and sending disciples today. If we heed his call the result can be just as transformative and as exciting as it was for the first disciples. While there are no explicit occurrences of the term `disciple’ outside the Gospels and Acts, with only two further biblical references to `followers’ of Jesus, it is Peter Morden’s conviction that we need the whole Bible if we are going to be whole-life disciples. He reflects on Scripture and asks the primary question, `How do we live as committed disciples of Jesus today?’ He explores the foundations, the resources and the practice of discipleship, from a range of Old and New Testament texts. The result is a well-rounded and satisfying picture of Christian discipleship, one that is wonderfully attractive as well as deeply challenging.Trade Review"The vision of discipleship in these pages is God-centred, holistic, missional and rooted in Peter Morden’s rich grasp of evangelical sources. What emerges is not discipleship as an optional extra, or as a heroic exception, but discipleship for everyone. Despite our failings, we are already on the discipling road; and Peter provides here a steady guide for this tough and glorious journey.", Mark Powley, Principal, St Hild College, Yorkshire

Read more less

Book SynopsisFamily life has undergone revolutionary changes in Western society in the last sixty years, posing both theological and ethical challenges for the contemporary church. This book responds with wide-ranging essays on sexuality, marriage, family life, singleness, same-sex relationships, violence against women, anthropology, gender and culture. These chapters are essential reading for anyone concerned with Christian teaching on marriage and the family. They balance a clear loyalty to the church’s historic and biblical teaching with a recognition that all doctrine is contextualized. There is a growing gap between the ethics of many Christians and those of wider society. So Christians have to be counter-cultural. But the church also has to be self-critical, differentiating between biblical revelation and cultural development. And it must know how to present unchanging Christian convictions to a constantly changing society. The contributors are Andy Angel, Daniel Block, Rosalind Clarke, Barry Danylak, Andrew Goddard, Stephen Holmes, David Instone Brewer, A. T. B. McGowan, Nicholas Moore, Onesimus Ngundu, Oliver O'Donovan, Ian Paul, Andrew Sloane, Katy Smith, Elaine Storkey and Sarah Whittle.Table of ContentsIntroduction Thomas A. Noble, Sarah K. Whittle and Philip S. Johnston Part 1: Biblical perspectives 1. The patricentric vision of family in the book of Deuteronomy Daniel Block 2. Ordered relationships in Leviticus Katy Smith 3. 'Who is this coming up from the wilderness?' Identity and interpretation in the Song of Songs Rosalind Clarke 4. The sexuality of God incarnate Andy Angel 5. Developing a biblical theology of singleness Barry Danylak 6. 'Let even those who have wives be as though they had none': 1 Corinthians 7:29 and the challenge of the 'apocalyptic' Paul Sarah K. Whittle 7. Are we sexed in heaven? Bodily form, sex identity and the resurrection Ian Paul 8. Deferring to Dad's discipline: family life in Hebrews 12 Nicholas Moore 9. Evidence of non-heterosexual inclinations in first-century Judaism David Instone-Brewer Part 2: Doctrinal and contemporary perspectives 10. Marriage in early, Christian and African perspectives Onesimus Ngundu 11. Human sexuality and Christian anthropology A. T. B. McGowan 12. 'One man and one woman': the Christian doctrine of marriage Oliver O'Donovan 13. Covenant partnerships as a third calling?: A dialogue with Robert Song's Covenant and Calling: Towards A Theology of Same-Sex Relationships Andrew Goddard 14. 'Male and female he created them'? Theological reflections on gender, biology and identity Andrew Sloane 15. Shadows across gender relations Elaine Storkey 16. On not handling snakes: late-modern cultural assumptions about sexuality Stephen Holmes

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat has God said? How has he said it? And how does it apply to our lives today? This accessible book is for everyone who wants to grow in their faith as they hear God speak. Each section starts with an introduction to the topic and then moves to a Bible passage. We focus on the theme, go deeper and explore ‘living out’ the word. Useful prayer prompts also help to make the message deep, real and personal. Here is sure-footed Bible teaching to warm your heart and feed your mind. ‘Biblical, practical, devotional and thoughtful. An excellent resource for group or personal study to strengthen our convictions about the truth of the Bible, and enable us to discover its riches for ourselves.’ John Risbridger, Chair of Keswick Ministries, Minister and Team Leader, Above Bar Church, Southampton ‘In a word-based faith, words count. Faith comes by hearing God’s word and it flourishes when that word is applied. Here is a workable, practical guide that will help you to study the Bible by yourself or with others. Used well, it will help you grow in your faith.’ Ian Coffey, speaker, author and Vice-Principal, Moorlands College, DorsetTable of ContentsIntroduction God has spoken About his Son Through his Spirit A sufficient word A transforming word A relational word Notes for leaders

Read more less

Book SynopsisTruth is a tricky thing. Today, ‘the truth’ is not just hard to swallow; it is something we refuse to swallow. Truth is too certain, too divisive, too arrogant. In response, today’s truth is often one of relativism: what’s true for you might not be true for me. But if it’s sometimes true, and sometimes not, is it really truth at all? Jesus claimed to be ‘the way and the truth and the life.’ But can we really accept this ultimate truth in an age of questioning, uncertainty, relativism and scepticism? In More Truth, young philosopher Kristi Mair explores whether Christians can be confident in the ‘truth’ in our anything goes age.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNo-one thought Bertie Simmonds could speak. So, when he is heard singing an Easter hymn, this is not so much the miracle some think as a bolt drawn back, releasing long-repressed emotions with potentially devastating consequences...A decade later, Bertie marries Anstace, a woman old enough to be his mother, and another layer of mystery starts to peel away. Beginning in a village in Kent and set between the two World Wars, That They Might Lovely Be stretches from the hell of Flanders, to the liberating beauty of the Breton coast, recounting a love affair which embraces the living and the dead.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA daily devotional to support, encourage, and inspire you on your cancer-healing journeyA healing mindset takes fortitude, faith, and courage--and acceptance of support when you need it most. As the survivor of cancer for over 15 years, Chris Wark, best-selling author of Chris Beat Cancer, knows the daily struggles involved in healing from cancer and wants to support you as you walk this path with God. This daily devotional offers nuggets of scripture, inspiration, encouragement, and actions for surviving life's difficult storms. Embrace the challenge and know that you have the divine guidance and power to prosper--mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Your future will be better than your past, better than you can even imagine.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis prayer guide was commissioned by God. "Write a book and show people how to speak to Me," He told author Teresa O'Driscoll. This is her work of obedience. Do you speak to God from your heart, listen for His reply and do what He asks? By sharing experiences of Christ and Bible-based private prayers, Teresa O'Driscoll shows how you too can have enlightening conversations with God. Through simple meditations, confide your troubles, listen expectantly for answers and overcome fear and doubt by allowing Christ to guide you through the tests of daily life, boosting self-confidence and resilience.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWe all have ideas about what we think life will be like - ideas we pick up from books, films, music videos, the adults around us, and even church. We think we have a roadmap that will guide us towards success. But it isn’t long before life throws some curve-balls at us. Florence Gildea looks at a series of myths that we cannot help but absorb from films, fairytales, songs, and advertisements: that we get to call the shots and have control over how our lives turn out; that a happily ever after is within our reach. All the strategies we have learned to make ourselves safe, loveable, and successful will backfire. Life, it turns out, is found exactly where Jesus said it was: at the end of ourselves, at the foot of the cross.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen tourism transforms a fishing village on the green and beautiful Greek island of Corfu, old hatreds, envy and greed threaten to tear the community apart. Behind the scenes, personal demons fuel division while guardian angels battle to neutralize their influence… Hotelier Jason - planning to get rich - ruthlessly chases his goal, unaware of the trouble and danger he is stirring up. Three visitors from Ireland, America and Wales bring their own problems. Clare, running from a broken relationship, is drawn into a love triangle with Jason. Aeron, battling a mid-life crisis, is closer to despair than he realizes - while Bethany, jolted by a Big Birthday into doing a Shirley Valentine, is hoping it will sort her life out. As the sizzling summer unfolds, each faces make-or break-challenges. Extra help is at hand though, with the arrival of Gabriella, angel of Greece. When meddling demons prevail, and smouldering greed and vengeance reach flashpoint, can she avert disaster?

Read more less

Book SynopsisArchibald Mountbank has the power to make almost anything 1% better. Whether you want to be 1% better looking or 1% taller, Archibald Mountbank is your man. He can even boost your immune system or your willpower... for a fee. Archibald Mountbank, one of the richest (and most hated) men in Britain, is about to retire from his highly contentious "profession". But before he retires, Mountbank's Commercial Manager has accepted an offer to allow Mountbank to be shadowed by a journalist. Alistair Dodd, a cynical journalist commissioned to write a hatchet job biography, gets a rare look into the life and practices of the elusive Mountbank and discovers that everyone needs to believe in something... it's just a question of what.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhere are you? Today, your favourite maps app will give you your location down to a greater level of detail than ever before. But do you really feel like you know where you are? Major cultural shifts over the past generation have left us feeling disorientated; constant connection has left us feeling dislocated. And many of us are searching for something we can’t seem to find. Could the problem be that we have lost a place for God? Pete Nicholas invites you to explore the big questions asked by each generation from those of origin and identity to happiness and hope, arguing that by reinstating God’s centrality in our lives we can find a sense of rootedness, peace and the answers we’ve been looking for. Featuring a foreword by Timothy Keller, author, speaker and church leader.Trade ReviewBold, insightful, gospel centred and accessible. This book cries out for a stop and invites the reader to consider honestly the state of society. Pete Nicholas argues boldly and convincingly that the solution to our social ills is not gaining more of what we have but gaining back what we have lost; we have lost God. Brilliant book: every thought leader should get hold of it. -- Girma Bishaw, pastor and Director and founder, The Gratitude InitiativeAfter thirty years of speaking at university missions, I have drawn on scores, if not hundreds, of articles and books that are useful in arguing why the Christian faith is so relevant to post-modern Western culture. More recently, I have listened to Pete Nicholas delivering such talks before live audiences and admired both the substance of his material and the style in which he relates to the audience. At last, his outstanding material has been captured in writing and I thoroughly commend it to you. Here are two very practical reasons why: first, if you want to grasp the answers to some big questions about the meaning of life, this is a "go to"; second, if you ever deliver talks on these issues, throw away (most of) your notes and use this book! A Place For God is top class. Buy it! -- Graham Daniels, General Director, Christians in SportBefore we begin the necessary work of cultural rebuilding, we need to check the foundations and discern whether they are strong enough to build upon. A Place for God is a fantastic guide for such an exploration. For those searching for faith or wanting to strengthen their faith, I couldn’t recommend this book more highly. -- Pete Hughes, KXC Church, LondonWe need books that not only listen to the everyday experiences and problems of modern people, but that also draw on the best recent scholarship as well as ancient biblical wisdom in order to address these issues in an understanding, accessible, but challenging way. Pete Nicholas has written such a book. He uses both his academic training and his pastoral experience to address the deeply felt tensions that young people feel in secular society today . . . I could not be more encouraged by Pete’s book. -- Tim Keller, pastor and authorAn interesting, creative and deftly woven exploration of life’s big questions, and the stories we tell in order to answer them when God has been removed from the town square of our lives. A must read if you’re exploring these questions yourself or know someone who is. -- Kristi Mair, apologist and author of MORE > Truth: Searching for certainty in an uncertain worldMany will recognize themselves in Pete Nicholas’s acute analysis of a contemporary world which is not at ease with itself. He combines his description of the symptoms with a fresh and engaging presentation of the Christian faith as both the ultimate explanation of our problems and the fulfilment of our longings. Whatever your faith or lack of it, I guarantee this book will get you thinking – and it could just change your life. -- Vaughan Roberts, pastor and author

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow should Christians be faithful disciples in the political turbulence of Trump and Brexit? Christopher J H Wright unpacks the Biblical theme of idolatry and connects it to discipleship in today’s world. As Christians, we desperately need to name and expose the false gods and idols that we are tempted to bow down to – ‘Here are your gods!’ The Bible challenges the idols of political power and nationalism. The Biblical story is filled with hope that the kingdom of God will ultimately triumph over all human empires. How then should we live as followers of Jesus, the Messiah, Saviour, Lord and King? Part One is adapted from chapter 5 of Wright’s The Mission of God, ‘The Living God Confronts Idolatry’. Parts Two and Three bring the Bible to bear on contemporary politics in the UK and USA, and for all Christians seeking to make sense of the changing world we live in.Trade ReviewFearless, provocative, clear, direct, sharp, urgent, wide-horizoned: it was all those things when he wrote it. But in light of subsequent events, by the time it's published it is a tract for the times. -- John Goldingay * Senior professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, author of Old Testament Ethics *Christopher Wright has given us a powerful and incisive analysis of the nature of idolatry both in biblical times and today. He spares no punches as he exposes the dangers of political idolatry, which has tempted many contemporary Christians. Importantly, he not only diagnoses the problem, he gives us the remedy. This book should be must reading for Christians as they engage with the political process. * author of The Bible and the Ballot: Using Scripture in Political Decision *Wright's careful dive into Scripture on the meaning of idolatry packs a punch for our times—an important reminder that idols, including political idols, are false gods that we create in our image, capable of great harm and destruction but ultimately ciphers within the true created order. * Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis *The biblical warning to 'keep yourselves from idols' hones in on the source of spiritual, social, moral, and existential ruin. Chris Wright's fine study on idolatry in Scripture and his application of it to our Western world shines a bright light to help us see more clearly what is at stake. Although the West has been shaped by many (now-fading) biblical ideals, we are witnessing a culture shot through with a host of idolatrous tendencies to put our trust in the wrong places—in that which is not-God. Whatever our political views as Christians may be, Wright offers correctives for all of us, exhorting us to be guided by biblical priorities and Christ-centered discipleship, which will ultimately lead to our flourishing as God's image-bearers. * Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University, coauthor of Introduction to Biblical Ethics *Chris Wright’s excellent ‘Here are your gods’ is wonderful. It’s not for the faint of heart, because it challenges personal and cultural idolatry, as Wright applies Scripture to the issues of the day. I don’t believe that anybody could possibly read this book and not be unsettled – and driven back to the Bible. As you would expect from Chris Wright, it then ends with a reminder that Christian Scripture is about mission and our role in God’s mission. I wish I’d read his insights into how we should read the Bible years ago! -- Gordon Showell-Rogers, facilitating networks and partnerships globally. Formerly Associate Secretary General WEA

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Here's an astonishing claim. John 3:16 appears on everything from fridge magnets to sports stars' faces. But what does it actually mean? And how does it relate to you and me? With warmth, personal stories and humour, the author explains God's love, his Son, his sacrifice, and the all-important connection with us today. This is an invitation for anyone to dive straight in and take the first step in an exciting, life-transforming journey of faith.Trade ReviewA fresh, punchy, fascinating-facts-filled, humorous, yet thought-provoking, take on the meaning of life, based on the Bible’s most famous verse. Read it yourself and then pass it on to a friend. Go on, what do you have to lose? You’ll also discover how woodpeckers avoid concussion (but I'm not going to tell you which page that’s on!) -- Jeremy McQuoid * Teaching Pastor at Deeside Christian Fellowship, Aberdeen, and Chairman of Trustees, Keswick Convention *If you want a short and clear explanation of the good news that is the heart of Christianity, then this is the book for you. Contemporary illustrations spur your interest as Martin takes you through the best-known sentence in the Bible. I was impressed by the personal warmth speaking from the pages, and the careful theology lying under the surface. John chapter 3 verse 16 tells the greatest story in the world, and Martin has done a wonderful job in showing just how vital this is for you and me. -- Andrew Hill * Executive Director of the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association *Warm and engaging … If you are a sceptic or a seeker you will find food for thought here. Martin answers questions, discusses big issues and tackles misconceptions with sensitivity, humour and clarity. A compelling case for John 3:16 being the best news for all people for all time. -- Clare Heath-Whyte * Author and historian *As I read this, I could think of people I wanted to give it to. It’s not a coincidence that this book is in your hand, and I really hope you will read it. It is very relevant and, even more, important. -- George Verwer * Founder of Operation Mobilization, author, missionary and speaker *Having been active in evangelism for over twenty-five years, I have one verse which I share more than any other: John 3:16. Timeless, relevant, widely familiar and simple to learn, it's a verse even a child can understand, and yet so deep that you cannot tire of studying it. Martin’s book is a work of art: a mixture of theology, personal stories and lessons from history, helping us not only to unpack but also enjoy the richness of John 3:16. This book is for everyone. A wonderful one-to-one 'study' to work through with a non-Christian friend, a source book for preachers, a tool box for fellow evangelists/ apologists, a devotional, a commentary, and a beautiful gift. If you are serious about evangelism, then you need to buy this book, a highlighter and a notepad - or the digital equivalent.’ -- Mitch * Evangelist, Crown Jesus Ministries, Belfast *Packed with illustration and brilliant insights, this book will open up to you the riches of this one incredible Bible verse. Whether you would call yourself a Christian or not, you will find yourself face to face with the beautiful God of love. It really could change your life. -- Jonty Allcock * Pastor of The Globe Church in Central London *A banner with the words 'John 3:16’ continues to show up at many major sports events. Martin Salter gives a brilliant explanation of what it actually means. This short book is a very easy read, offering clarity about the Christian faith and loads of really simple and compelling illustrations that bring this famous Bible verse to life. I really loved reading this book! -- Graham Daniels * General Director, Christians in Sport *So Loved is a concise yet insightful exploration of some of the most famous words of Jesus. If you have questions about the Christian faith, you will find this book to be accessible, relatable and honest, and I encourage you to read it. -- Dr Sharon Dirckx * scientist, author and speaker *Have you ever wanted to give something to a friend who’s willing to be open-minded about the Christian faith and explore a bit further? Martin’s book is friendly, easy-to-read, personal and engaging. It walks us through perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, and in doing so summarizes the gospel comprehensively and accessibly. -- Jeremy Marshall * author and speaker *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Cross is the universal symbol of the Christian faith. But what does the Cross mean? Why did Jesus have to die? In this magisterial and best-selling book, John Stott explains the significance of Christ's cross and answers objections commonly brought against biblical teaching on the atonement. Stott will help you discover how Jesus himself understood the cross, and how 'Christ in our place' is at the heart of its meaning. Understand what the cross achieved, and learn what it means to live under the cross. This modern classic combines excellent biblical exposition, and a characteristically thoughtful study of Christian belief, with a searching call to the church to live under the cross.Trade ReviewIn our world of war and terror, there is nothing more important to contemplate than the cross of Christ. May John Stott’s reflections give us the courage to fight, with all the love within us, the war of the slaughtered Lamb. The cross teaches us there is something worth dying for but nothing worth killing for, that we can conquer evil without mirroring it. So grab this book and get ready to live real good and get beat up real bad. It is the story of our faith. -- Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible RevolutionRarely does a volume of theology combine six cardinal virtues, but John Stott’s The Cross of Christ does so magnificently. It says what must be said about the cross; it gently but firmly warns against what must not be said; it grounds its judgments in biblical texts, again and again; it hierarchizes its arguments so that the main thing is always the main thing; it is written with admirable clarity; and it is so cast as to elicit genuine worship and thankfulness from any thoughtful reader. There are not many ‘must read’ books – books that belong on every minister’s shelf, and on the shelves of thoughtful laypersons who want a better grasp of what is central in Scripture – but this is one of them. -- D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolI have no hesitation in saying that this is the most enriching theological book I have ever read. I read it slowly and devotionally over a period of several months. I found that it edified and challenged me, thrilled me with the glory of the cross and equipped me to answer some of the questions non-Christians and sceptics ask about the cross -- Ajith Fernando, teaching director, Youth for Christ, Sri LankaJohn Stott’s marvellous treatment of the biblical, theological and practical meaning of the cross is more needed today than ever, especially in light of its uncompromising defence of the heart of Christ’s death for us as a "propitiation", a sacrifice that bore God’s wrath in our place and turned his wrath to favour for undeserving sinners -- Wayne GrudemJohn Stott rises grandly to the challenge of the greatest of all themes. All the qualities that we expect of him—biblical precision, thoughtfulness and thoroughness, order and method, moral alertness and the measured tread, balanced judgment and practical passion—are here in fullest evidence. This, more than any book he has written, is his masterpiece. -- J. I. Packer, author of Knowing GodOutside of the Bible itself, this may be the best book I've ever read on the cross of Christ. It is thorough, thoughtful and timely. As I read it, my mind was challenged, my heart was warmed, my faith was strengthened, and my focus was sharpened on the cross. Praise God for just giving us Jesus with nail prints in his hands and feet! -- Anne Graham Lotz, author of Just Give Me JesusI read everything John Stott writes because I know it will be biblical, well-reasoned and contextually applicable. The Cross of Christ is an intelligent, imaginative and timely exploration of the centrality of the cross, by a personal mentor I've come to appreciate for his scholar's mind and pastor's heart; he knows God deeply, understands the times clearly and engagingly explains truth in a relativistic age. -- Dick Staub, author of Too Christian, Too PaganMy wife and I consider The Cross of Christ one of the outstanding books of all times. We refer to it often. We have given copies away and recommended it widely. We take it out as we discuss the work of the Savior and in preparation for preaching and teaching. My own personally autographed copy is all marked up. It is an outstanding exposition of scriptural truth. I believe we must saturate the churches across the world with the central truth of The Cross of Christ. Once again as a call for the history of Christianity, a fresh generation of young followers of Jesus Christ need to understand the cross of Christ. Many are weak and some are even childish spiritually for not understanding the work of the cross. Chapter six alone—"Self-Substitution of God"—is worth the whole of this rich, God-honoring, Christ-exhausting, devotional, biblical, ever-so-balanced, theologically sane and clear book. -- Luis Palau, international evangelistThe passion of Paul's statement, 'I am determined to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified,' resonates on every page of this classic book on the centrality of the cross. What's more, Dr. Stott has validated every word with a life spent in servant leadership. -- Michael Card, musician, author of A Violent GraceBiblical, clear and cogent are the words that came to mind on first reading this book. The passing of time has also made it indisputable that this book is a classic which is profound in a way that few evangelical books have been in recent years. It is compelling in its simplicity and comprehensive in its grasp of the way in which God conquers our sin, our rebellion, our ghastly evil through the person of Christ. Here is truth which is true, not just because it works for me, but because it is grounded in the very being and character of God, revealed and authenticated by him, worked out in the very fabric of our history, and therefore it is truth for all time. -- David F. Wells, Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryFor those who want an evenhanded and robust defense of the penal substitutionary theory of the atonement, John Stott's The Cross of Christ is the benchmark. With a deft hand, Stott has given us a classic articulation of this influential, evangelical doctrine that is both vigorous and readable. Books like this stand the test of time. -- Tony Jones, author of The Sacred WayAs relevant today as when it first appeared, The Cross of Christ is more than a classic. It restates in our own time the heart of the Christian message. Like John the Baptist, John Stott points us away from the distractions that occupy so much of our energies in order, announcing, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' -- Michael Horton, professor of theology and apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

Read more less

Book SynopsisGod is utterly faithful. That's his nature. He cannot lie, always keeps his word, and is fully committed to his glory. So what does this mean for me today? * No sin is too awful for him to deal with * Because he's kept all his promises to me in the past, he will keep them in the future * My salvation is secure * He will come again and take me to be with him forever This brings comfort, joy and security. It also motivates me to repent of sin, avoid sin, continue in God's service, and extend grace to others. Because God is faithful, I should be faithful too. Faithfulness matters in the day-to-day things, but also for the long haul. I need to hold fast to God when life is uncertain and unfair, pressing on and becoming more Christlike every day. This study guide will give you a big and reassuring view of God, but will also enthuse you to grow daily in faithfulness and grace.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs there hope to be found in the wilderness? Jesus' forty days in the wilderness, which many Christians remember during Lent, echoes the story of God's people wandering for forty years in the wilderness. The book of Numbers tells of these wanderings but can be a difficult book of the Bible to get to grips with. Delving into this book alongside the New Testament and reflecting with prayers and questions, this daily Lent devotional explores how the Israelites' wilderness journey can speak to us in our daily struggles and challenges today. Through all the ups-and-downs of their wilderness adventure, we join with God's people as they learn to see the sure and certain fulfilment of God's future promises in the book of Numbers. We discover God's abiding presence through, as well as in, the wilderness. We see how the wilderness points us forward to the Promised Land, and to Jesus as the One who brings us into the fulness of God's promises. With readings from Numbers and from the New Testament each day, Journeying with God in the Wilderness guides us through an often-neglected book of the Bible, helping us to make sense of the Old Testament through the lens of the New and giving us Christ-centred hope. Journeying with God in the Wilderness is written as an aide to the spiritual journey of faith and can be read either individually or in small groups. It will encourage and inspire anyone feeling lost or bewildered on life's journey, or who wants to join in with the long Christian tradition of Lent as a wilderness experience, by showing them the fulfilment of the promises of God to his people in the wilderness. Join Mark Broadway this Lent and find hope for your wilderness journey.Trade Review"In this delightful study, Mark does three very helpful things. First, he offers us a positive and manageable way in to the Book of Numbers, which is both a vital part of the canon and a neglected one. Secondly, he makes creative and insightful connections with other parts of Scripture. Thirdly, he connects both of these with the realities of the lived Christian life, drawing from his own experience and insight. The combination is certain to be an encouragement and a blessing for your Lenten journey. Take and read!" -- Rev'd Dr Ian Paul, Theologian, Author, Speaker"During Lent we talk often about the wilderness but rarely take time to reflect on the story of God's people in the wilderness that is laid out in Numbers. This brilliant book of reflections takes us step by step through the book of Numbers and opens our eyes to the many riches that wilderness experiences can offer. I highly recommend it!" -- Dr Paula Gooder, Writer and Speaker"Warm, honest, inviting biblical wisdom. Mark is a thoughtful, relaxed, guide as we journey through the book of Numbers, always helping us see how the story of God's people in the wilderness, is taken up in Jesus' own life, and through the New Testament to our own lives. A model in the use of the Old Testament in the life of Jesus' disciples today." -- Rev'd Professor Jeremy Duff, Principal of St Padarn's Theological Institute"Mark Broadway offers everything that should be in a good Lenten study book. It doesn't need any specialist prior knowledge at all - Mark does not browbeat with theology, but provides straightforward, grounded daily theological insight relevant to our modern lives. For many of us, Numbers has been literally and metaphorically a 'closed book' of the Bible. But here it is opened to us with deft skill, drawing us into the dramatic narrative and calling our attention to the constant points of reference between our own lives and these ancient events. In doing so he imbues them with an engaging freshness: this is personal Bible study at its best. It is written for absolutely everyone, though I wonder - with some professional excitement - if this is a Bible study guide which will be rather more accessible to men than is typical for the genre, and only in part because of the nature of the events described in Numbers. I can recommend this book gladly, and will be buying copies for friends." -- Canon Tim Llewellyn Jones, Director of Ministry & Discipleship, Llandaff Diocese"The book of Numbers is all too easily overlooked by today's Christians, even though it recounts the things which Paul tells us "happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us" (1 Corinthians 10:11). This Lent devotional will take you along with the Israelites on their journey through the wilderness, pointing out the examples and warnings, offering us hope and challenging us to do better as we face our own wilderness experiences today." -- Dr Ros Clarke, Associate Director of Church Society and author of 'Forty Women' and 'Human'"In the wake of the personal and societal wilderness brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this Lenten devotional is especially fitting for a time such as this. Mark skilfully approaches Numbers, a book whose pages are often intentionally passed over, and makes it wonderfully accessible in a way not seen often. His balance of interesting historical background, modern cultural references, and relatable personal anecdotes help illustrate and illuminate the story of God's character and His faithfulness to His people Israel even among the trials of their wilderness wanderings on the way to the Promised Land. More importantly, throughout this devotional Mark ties the Lord’s promises to Israel with His ultimate plan for all the nations in the sending of His son Jesus Christ for the redemption of the whole world!" -- Canon Wes Jagoe, Canon to the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America

Read more less

Book SynopsisHyper-individualism and consumerism are failing to satisfy our hunger for meaning. We face an identity crisis in which real community is increasingly hard to find. The culture wars have been painful and polarising and have proved a poor way to agree any kind of moral standards. Is it even possible to find a vision for goodness that can bring us together? Rumours of a Better Country addresses our hunger for justice and a better way of living by awakening our moral imagination to the potential of a trusting community. Drawing on ancient wisdom and looking through the lens of daily reality, it shows how trust and trustworthiness must be the foundation for any kind of meaningful freedom. Through the questions and mysteries of the ‘Café Now and Not Yet’, readers will experience chance encounters with Palestinians in a pub in communist Czechoslovakia, appreciate an intriguing sculpture from Romania and hear post-communist Ukrainians struggling to imagine a better life. Each of these encounters provides a real-life context for a rich and provocative journey into the heart of goodness and why it matters.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat should the church's cultural witness be? Too often, it has been marked by political strong-arming or fearful withdrawal into the "Christian bubble." There is another way: creative cultural engagement, using our imaginations to plant oases in the desert, breathable spaces that refresh, challenge, and draw together Christians and non-Christians alike. Oases refresh the soul, provoke discussion, challenge assumptions, and lead the imagination to a new place. In Oasis of Imagination, Ted Turnau lays out the Biblical mandate for engaging culture, and why the imaginative path holds promise. He explores the nature of the imagination from both Scripture and nature. He asks, "What makes a Christian imagination that resonates with non-Christians different?" He explores examples of Christian creativity done well from video games to movies to music to The Lord of the Rings. He challenges the church, artist and non-artist alike, to be intentional about their own imaginative lives, how artists and non-artists can support each other, as they together engage in building bridges and being cultural ambassadors to the wider community. In-depth and wide-ranging, Oasis of Imagination equips and encourages Christians, whatever their calling, to consider how to imaginatively enter into the broader cultural conversation, beyond the culture-warring and Christian bubbles. It seeks to provoke a conversation within the church between its artists and non-artists about how best to unleash our God-given creativity to shine light into the broader culture.Trade ReviewWe have waited a long time for a biblical theology of the imagination, and Ted Turnau has given us a deep, thirst-quenching drink. Here you will find a sure-footed guide, who avoids both cultural indifference and culture wars, plants a dagger in heart of Christian kitsch, and then encourages us onwards, without nostalgia, not to be satisfied with merely consuming, or even intelligently critiquing our culture, but to decide to contribute. You’ll be taken into territory that is unfamiliar, thrilling, and occasionally disturbing. You’ll be shown how the gospel is provocative, unsettling, and yet deeply compelling to a lost world. Above all Ted has laid down a challenge for artists, churches, pastors, creatives of all kinds, to ‘plant oases’, where we can begin to imagine what it’s like to inhabit the glory of the kingdom-yet-to-come, and make it so attractive that even as we worship here, we long to be home, bringing many others with us. -- Rev Chris Green, vicar at St James, Muswell Hill and author of The Gift.This is a wonderful book. Above all it is full of … imagination. It combines solid theoretical foundations with lively examples. It’s all very rich, but Part IV holds a special interest for me. I have been personally invested in several of personages here. Few if any studies that I know of join together this company under the theme "subversive, hopeful protest." The section on Blind Willie Johnson is worth the price of the book. Non-Christians ought to read this book, if only to disabuse them of the bromides about evangelicals. Christians must read this book in order greatly to enhance their lives. -- William Edgar, Professor Emeritus of Apologetics, Westminster Theological SeminaryOasis of Imagination offers a refreshing and much-needed vision for the church to engage with the wider culture in a way that is neither shrill nor shallow. His passionate call to cherish the creative arts as God himself does provides fresh, compelling ways for the church to connect with and bless the world. Whether you consider yourself a creative or not, Ted Turnau's insights will inspire you to imagine a church faithful to its own imaginative calling and how you can play your own part in offering hospitality and hope to a weary world. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their relationships and influence beyond the walls of the church. -- Peter Dray, Director of Creative Evangelism, The Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UK)I don't know of a more comprehensive, more inviting, or more compelling case for a Christian understanding of the imagination than the one offered in this book. Oasis of Imagination belongs in every church library, every seminary, every Christian classroom, and on every believer's shelf. I wish I'd had this book years ago. I will be using it for years to come. -- Karen Swallow Prior, author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn A to Z of Mindfulness for Christians is geared to help Christians live in the now, the present -- the presence of God -- by encouraging them to explore mindfulness. Studies show that mindfulness benefits not only people with depression, anxiety and pain; it also benefits those who do not live with such conditions but who would like nonetheless to have greater well-being in their lives. Drawing from personal experience and the experience of others, David Harper shows how mindfulness can make a positive impact on well-being and therefore on faith and spirituality, while countering some of the myths about mindfulness. Divided into 52 themes and spanning the alphabet, An A to Z of Mindfulness for Christians explores aspects of mindfulness and how they relate to being a Christian. Each letter represents two relevant themes, from Awake and Attitude to Body and Breath to Zest and Zacchaeus, and each theme is informative, encouraging and overlaps with spirituality, faith and mindfulness.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough doubt is a normal part of Christian life, it is not a visible discussion within most churches. This tension led Kat Wordsworth to experience acute shame and isolation when she was overwhelmed with doubt while working for a church. Let's Talk About Doubt offers an antidote to this silence by combining Kat's story of doubtful faith with a wider look at the attitude towards doubt within contemporary Christian culture. Kat doesn't pretend to present a cure or step-by-step guide to eliminating doubt. Instead, she recounts how she found a way to accept her doubt, reclaim her faith and engage with church. Brutally honest but ultimately hopeful, Let's Talk About Doubt is essential for all those who experience doubt and all those who want to support them.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exploration of a unique pilgrimage garden designed to mirror the Christian life and its connection to the environment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn every window, a seasonal image from delightful illustrator Maja Lindberg. A fine new art advent calendar from Flame Tree.Enjoy the countdown to Christmas! Open a numbered window every day in December until the big day and reveal a seasonal sticker to help you get in the festive spirit! This advent calendar features a delightful cover detailing the Twelve Days of Christmas and further gorgeous vignettes behind every window from Swedish illustrator Maja Lindberg. Maja is inspired by fairy tales, dreams and childhood memories; her art is colourful with a hint of dark - often a little melancholic with a dreamy touch. Printed on FSC-certified paper.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA groundbreaking assessment of the use medieval English history-writers made of saints' lives. The past was ever present in later medieval England, as secular and religious institutions worked to recover (or create) originary narratives that could guarantee, they hoped, their political and spiritual legitimacy. Anglo-SaxonEngland, in particular, was imagined as a spiritual "golden age" and a rich source of precedent, for kings and for the monasteries that housed early English saints' remains. This book examines the vernacular hagiography produced in a monastic context, demonstrating how writers, illuminators, and policy-makers used English saints (including St Edmund) to re-envision the bonds between ancient spiritual purity and contemporary conditions. Treating history and ethical practice as inseparable, poets such as Osbern Bokenham, Henry Bradshaw, and John Lydgate reconfigured England's history through its saints, engaging with contemporary concerns about institutional identity, authority, and ethics. Cynthia Turner Camp is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Georgia.Trade Review[A] very engaging and useful book that will be helpful to scholars in many areas of medieval studies, especially those working in Middle English hagiography or historiography. * JOURNAL OF ENGLISH AND GERMANIC PHILOLOGY *Highly detailed and carefully argued, Camp's study succeeds in showing how the creators of these lives manipulated not only historical narrative and perceptions of time, but also poetic form and hagiographic discourses to construct institutional identities and address audiences both within and without the monastery walls. * SPECULUM *[O]ffers interesting new ways of looking at the nature of late medieval English hagiographic literature and innovative paths of inquiry for hagiographic and memory studies. * THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW *Table of ContentsIntroduction Edith of Wilton and the Writing of Women's History Audrey Abroad: Spiritual and Genealogical Filiation in the Middle English Lives of Etheldreda Henry Bradshaw's Life of Werburge and the Limits of Holy Incorruption The Limits of Narrative History in the Written and Pictorial Lives of Edward the Confessor The Limits of Poetic History in Lydgate's Edmund and Fremund and the Harley 2278 Pictorial Cycle Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisJesus came to bring life in all its fullness and yet often Christians behave as if he is only really interested in the so-called 'spiritual' bits, like church, Bible study and evangelism. Everything else - work, leisure, culture and so on - are relegated to second place. But God did not intend us to live with this artificial separation. In this book Julian Hardyman reclaims all of life for God's glory and helps us discover where that sports skill, passion for politics or flair with fashion might fit into God's plans for an abundant life. Previously published as 'Glory Days', this second edition has been updated throughout and contains two brand new chapters on glorifying God during dark days and the environment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy think about the future? After all, 'what will happen will happen', it only leads to controversy and argument, and it's irrelevant to life now. However, Graham Beynon shows that the real danger is that we don't think about the future. God in his Word puts last things first - the whole gospel is shaped around what is to come. God has a plan for where he is taking this world, and his people are called to live in the light of that future. Christians are to be those who look back - to the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All that happened then shapes our life now. However, they are also to look forward - at what God will do in finishing his plans for his creation through Jesus. The Bible teaches Christians to store up treasure in heaven; to wait faithfully for the return of their Master; to think of this world as temporary and passing; and to think of the world to come as their inheritance. Graham Beynon takes a fresh look at this teaching and shows how what is to come should shape practical Christian living now, with regard to godliness, handling of money, service of others, speaking about Jesus, faithfulness to him, response to hardship, and more.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor many the resurrection is a nice thing to believe, the 'happy' ending to the gospel, as though after the darkness of the cross Spielberg was brought in to do the finish. But 'Lifted' shows that it's far more. The resurrection has overwhelmingly positive implications for our daily lives. Through it we can have real assurance of forgiveness and salvation. We are raised and empowered to live new, transformed lives. We have hope after death for our bodies and this physical world. We see the urgency of reaching all nations with the message of the risen Jesus. Life is now different: we have been lifted. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just for Easter. It's for all of life.

Read more less