Christianity Books

Book SynopsisThe amazing true story of the miracles transforming Africa--starting with how the son of two witch doctors became God's chosen agent of hope and change.

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Book SynopsisIn Did Jesus Exist? historian and Bible expert Bart Ehrman confronts the question, "Did Jesus exist at all?" Ehrman vigorously defends the historical Jesus, identifies the most historically reliable sources for best understanding Jesus’ mission and message, and offers a compelling portrait of the person at the heart of the Christian tradition.Known as a master explainer with deep knowledge of the field, Bart Ehrman methodically demolishes both the scholarly and popular “mythicist” arguments against the existence of Jesus. Marshaling evidence from within the Bible and the wider historical record of the ancient world, Ehrman tackles the key issues that surround the mythologies associated with Jesus and the early Christian movement.In Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth, Ehrman establishes the criterion for any genuine historical investigation and provides a robust defense of the methods required to discover the Jesus of history.

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Book SynopsisThe author clearly shows the idea of Jesus as part of a Trinity was a Greek Pagan idea adopted by early Christian mission-aries to gain converts among the Greek, and did not become a widely accepted Christian doctrine until after the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative guide to the lives and works of over 300 saints, with expert commentary and over 500 beautiful paintings, statues and icons.

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Book SynopsisCovering twenty top concerns, struggles, and opportunities that come with saying 'I do,' Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage by bestselling author Jodie Berndt equips you with powerful prayers and scriptural insights that will help you discover the peace, provision, and joy that come from trusting God with your most important relationship.Trade ReviewFor years I thought, 'Couldn't there just be a book to guide me through praying the Bible for my marriage?' (I'm a girl who needs tools--who needs hand-holding.) This book is that book. Finally, twenty-one years into marriage, I have gentle help engaging with God's Word related to my marriage in these pages and the stories therein. Sara Hagerty, author of Adore, Unseen, and Every Bitter Thing Is SweetHaving loved, read, and reread Jodie Berndt's Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, I was thrilled to have Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage as part of my devotional routine. Jodie's words are honest, approachable, and biblical. But what sets this apart from other marriage books is its accessibility! It is easy to use but not shallow or trite. Her words will always direct you to Scripture and to the most powerful influence in your marriage--Jesus Christ. Phylicia Masonheimer, founder and CEO of Every Woman a TheologianJodie Berndt continues to create resources that will richly bless your relationships through the invitation to pray specifically in ways that are guided by Scripture. Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage is a helpful, practical, and beautiful guide to prioritizing your marriage and your spouse through prayer. Audrey and Jeremy Roloff, New York Times bestselling authors and the founders of The Marriage JournalJodie Berndt does it again! She takes the unfailing words of God and rocks us to the core with the power of prayer for marriage. When my marriage was in crisis and my prayers felt more like burdens than blessings, I needed this book. Rather than aiming our prayers at God to fix what's wrong in our marriages, Jodie encourages us to get curious with God about our frustrations and hurts through Scripture and prayer. The wit and grit that Jodie brings, partnered with the supreme wisdom of God's Word working itself out in prayer, will encourage anybody on the spectrum of time in marriage. Alisa Keeton, founder of Revelation Wellness and bestselling author of The Wellness RevelationJodie Berndt's books about how we can pray for our children give me peace every single day, and now the gift of receiving that same thing for our marriage is here! Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage is honest and purposeful, practical and wonderful. Make this book your go-to anniversary, shower, or wedding gift. Every married couple should have a copy! Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, New York Times bestselling author, wife to NFL-loving Tim Hasselbeck, and mom to three living childrenMarriage represents our deepest human relationship, and Jodie Berndt understands the power of prayer when it comes to establishing the intimacy and connection we crave. She makes it all very doable, no matter what your faith background looks like, how odd or cheesy it feels, or whether your spouse is willing to pray with you. As Jodie so invitingly puts it, 'Do what works.' Rebekah Lyons, bestselling author of Rhythms of RenewalPacked full of humor, sensible advice, relatable marriage stories, and, most importantly, biblical truth, Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage is an easy-to-read and encouraging marriage resource. Jodie Berndt has done a wonderful job writing a marriage book that weaves together the realities of what couples face and the significance of what's really important, equipping readers with confidence to take their relationship to God through purposeful prayer. The insights layered in every chapter are like treasures waiting to be discovered. Jennifer and Aaron Smith, authors of Marriage After GodPraying the Scriptures for Your Marriage is unlike any marriage book you've read. While offering plenty of rich insight and wise advice, Jodie Berndt also offers brilliant prayer guides to help you invite the power of God's transformational work and presence into your marriage. An outstanding read for any couple who wants to take their marriage to the next level. Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage and CherishThe Praying the Scriptures series includes the most transformative books I've ever read, and this book is no exception. I can't think of a better tool for marriages than praying the Scriptures for our relationships. For the couple who is thriving, for the couple who is at the end of their rope and clinging to threadbare hope, for the couple who has endured impossibly painful life circumstances . . . no matter where you are in your marriage, Jodie Berndt reminds us of words God has given us to pray--his words! His loving truth is the best news for ourselves, our spouses, and our marriages! Thank you, Jodie, for another life-changing book. Nicole Zasowski, marriage and family therapist and author of What If It's Wonderful?Too many husbands and wives today are failing at their most important vocation--marriage. The research tells us that couples who pray together are not only much more likely to steer clear of divorce court but also to be happily married (most of the time). Jodie Berndt's breathtakingly honest, wise, and funny Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage shows couples how to pray well for each other and how to find a spiritually grounded intimacy that sustains them amidst the challenges of contemporary life. Highly recommended to anyone wishing to forge a strong and stable marriage. Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project, University of VirginiaWhile we'd say we are in a happy and successful marriage, we were blown away at how Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage gave us an opportunity to grow individually and as a couple. It prompted questions we needed to ask ourselves and each other so we can go even deeper with God and in our relationship together. Whether your marriage is thriving or stuck in a rut, you need to read this book! And even better, this book is more than a onetime read. Using these questions and prayers as an annual marriage 'refresher' is a great plan--especially as your marriage season changes. Alexa and Carlos Penavega, actors and singersWithout a doubt, marriage is hard at times--and there are countless issues and challenges that can derail this vital relationship. Jodie Berndt understands how tough marriage can be, but she also knows that nothing is too difficult for the Lord. When we are guided by the very words of Scripture in lifting our union with our spouse before God, there's no telling how He will transform our marriage. Jim Daly, president of Focus on the FamilyYoung married or seasoned couples, new believers, or mature saints--here is a dynamic new book for every marriage. We tend to forget that God's Word is called a sword in Ephesians 6:17. Every couple needs to become better at handling 'the sword' for their most important relationship this side of heaven. With gentle practicality, vast experience, and deep wisdom, Jodie Berndt takes her readers on a journey of discovery and discipline, emphasizing the power and vital importance of the Word in marriage and teaching couples how to engage that power for marriage during prayer every day. Matt Jacobson (FaithfulMan.com) and Lisa Jacobson (Club31Women.com)

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Book SynopsisIn the first of a three-volume systematic theology of culture, leading Reformed philosopher James K. A. Smith casts a new vision for worldview through the lens of Christian liturgy.Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Beyond "Perspectives": Faith and Learning Take PracticeMaking the Familiar Strange: A Phenomenology of Cultural LiturgiesThe End of Christian Education: From Worldview to Worship (and Back Again)Picturing Education as Formation in Orwell's Road to Wigan PierElements of a Theology of Culture: Pedagogy, Liturgy, and the ChurchPart I: Desiring, Imaginative Animals: We Are What We Love1. Homo Liturgicus: The Human Person as LoverFrom Thinking Things to Liturgical AnimalsFrom Worldviews to Social ImaginariesFrom Spheres to Aims: Liturgical Institutions2: Love Takes Practice: Liturgy, Formation, and CounterformationWhy Victoria's In on the Secret: Picturing Discipleship at the Moulin Rouge"Thick" and "Thin" Practices: Ritual Forces of Cultural FormationFormation, Mis-Formation, and Counter-Formation: Liturgies Secular and Christian3. Lovers in a Dangerous Time: Cultural Exegesis of "Secular" Liturgies"Reading" Culture Through the Lens of WorshipConsuming Transcendence: Worship at the MallMarketing (as) EvangelismPicturing the Liturgy of Consumerism in The PersuadersSacrificial Violence: The "Military-Entertainment" ComplexCathedrals of Learning: Liturgies of the UniversityPicturing the University's Liturgies in Wolfe's I Am Charlotte SimmonsApologetic Excursus: The Persisting Witness of IdolatryPicturing Resistance in 1984Part II: Desiring the Kingdom: The Practiced Shape of the Christian Life4. From Worship to Worldview: Christian Worship and the Formation of DesireThe Primacy of Worship to WorldviewThe Sacramental Imagination: Resisting Naturalism and SupernaturalismPicturing the Sacramental Imagination in Graham Greene and Anne SextonExcursus: The Shape of Christian Worship5. Practicing (for) the Kingdom: An Exegesis of the Social Imaginary Embedded in Christian WorshipLiturgical Time: Rhythms and Cadences of HopeCall to Worship: An Invitation to Be HumanGod's Greeting: Hospitality, Community, and Graced DependenceBaptism: Initiation into a Royal Priesthood/Constitution of a New PeopleSong: Hymning the Language of the KingdomConfession: Brokenness, Grace, HopeLaw: Order, Norms, and Freedom for the GoodThe Creed: Situating BeliefPrayer: Vocalizing DesireScripture and Sermon: Re-narrating the WorldEucharist: Supper with the KingOffering: Kingdom EconomicsSending: The Great Commission as Cultural MandateWorship, Discipleship and Discipline: Practices Beyond Sunday6. A Christian University is for Lovers: The Education of DesireA New Monasticism for the University: Why Christian Colleges Should Corrupt the YouthChristian Education Takes Practice: Three Monastic OpportunitiesExcursus: Christian Worship as Faculty Development: From Christian Scholars to "Ecclesial" ScholarsIndexes

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Book SynopsisNew and substantially expanded edition of Tom Wright's popular book on the role of the Bible in Christian life and thought. Exposes the weaknesses of both 'liberal' and 'conservative' assumptions about how God communicates through scripture.

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Book SynopsisAimed at equipping Christians to obey Jesus's command to make disciples, this book by Mark Deverwalks through the who, what, where, why, and how of discipling in the context of the local church.

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Book SynopsisEvery Christian longs to know greater fulfillment in his or her prayer life. This book by bestselling author John MacArthur is filled with weekly inspiration that will greatly enrich your prayer life. You’ll find your prayers becoming more focused, more powerful, more God-centered in ways that are truly life-changing.

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Book SynopsisExamining the words of Rabbi Jesus in the light of their Jewish context will provide a richer, deeper understanding of Jesus’ ministry, compelling us to live differently, to become more Christ-like.

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Book SynopsisAt a time when Christianity is flourishing in the Southern hemisphere but declining in much of the West, this Very Short Introduction offers an important overview of the world''s largest religion.Exploring the cultural and institutional dimensions of Christianity, and tracing its course over two millennia, Linda Woodhead provides a fresh, lively, and candid portrait of Christianity''s past and present. Addressing topics including the competition for power between different forms of Christianity, the churches'' use of power, and its struggles with modernity, this new edition includes up to date information on the growth and geographical spread of Eastern Christianity, reflecting the global nature of Christianity in our ever-shifting contemporary culture. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewLinda Woodhead has chosen to revise her 2004 book in the Oxford 'Very Short Introduction' series and this is well worth a read. * Adrian Alker, Modern Believing *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Jesus: the God-man ; 2. Christian signs and symbols ; 3. The spread of Christianity ; 4. Church and biblical Christianity ; 5. Mystical Christianity ; 6. Modern Christianity ; Conclusion ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisEvery blessing, every breakthrough, and every miracle can be traced back to the prayers that were prayed by you or for you. Join Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, as he equips you to become an extraordinary influence in the lives of your children through one simple practice: praying for them.Praying Circles around Your Children combines timeless scriptures with stories of parents just like you, which will revolutionize your prayer life and give you a new perspective on the power of prayer.Along the way, Batterson shares five biblically backed prayer circles that will not only help you pray for your kids, but also pray through your kids.In Praying Circles around Your Children, Batterson will give you the tools you need to: Create prayer lists that are unique to your family Turn your family circle into a prayer circle

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Book Synopsis“Gretchen Starr-LeBeau’s Seven Myths of the Spanish Inquisition provides an excellent introduction to Habsburg Spain’s most reviled and misunderstood institution. Drawn from archival sources and modern scholarship, this concise study presents the long and tortured history of the Spanish Inquisition in an accessible format for readers interested in the intersection of religion and jurisprudence. Addressing common misconceptions about the procedures, effectiveness, and reach of the Inquisition, this work argues convincingly for an updated assessment encompassing change over time and variations across Spain and its empire. Students of the early modern period will benefit from the volume’s logical organization, glossary of terms, and suggestions for further reading.” —Benjamin Ehlers, University of GeorgiaTrade Review“Gretchen Starr-LeBeau has given us a deeply researched, wide-ranging correction of the various myths attached to the Spanish Inquisition. Her ability to track and explain the development of those myths over time is remarkable. The volume is wonderfully written and consistently accessible for a student audience. I learned a great deal from it and look forward to assigning it in my classes.” —Lu Ann Homza, William and Mary

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Book SynopsisIn this concise guide, Conrad Mbewe explores unity as a fruit of the gospel, urging believers to respond to Paul's apostolic pleastanding together for the advancement of the gospel and the kingdom of God.

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Book SynopsisThis easy-to-read book combines biblical teaching on love and marriage with the latest medical information on sex and sexuality, helping couples everywhere fully enjoy the gift God intended for pleasure.

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Book SynopsisThe Very Revd Thomas F. Torrance was Professor of Christian Dogmatics, University of Edinburgh, UK.Paul D. Molnar is Professor of Systematic Theology, St John's University, NY, USA.Table of ContentsPreface by Paul D. Molnar Introduction 2. The Christian Perspective 3. The Biblical Frame 4. The TrinitarianMind 5. One Being, Three Persons 6. Three Persons, One Being 7. Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity 8. The Sovereign Creator 9. The Unchangeableness of God Index Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe NASB Pew and Worship Bible is perfect for any church pew or classroom and matches page-for-page with the NASB Preacher’s Bible. Universally recognized as the gold standard among word-for-word translations, the beloved New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition, is now easier to read with Zondervan’s exclusive NASB Comfort Print typeface.

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Book SynopsisAre natural rights ''nonsense on stilts'', as Jeremy Bentham memorably put it? Must the very notion of a right be individualistic, subverting the common good? Should the right against torture be absolute, even though the heavens fall? Are human rights universal or merely expressions of Western neo-imperial arrogance? Are rights ethically fundamental, proudly impervious to changing circumstances? Should judges strive to extend the reach of rights from civil Hamburg to anarchical Basra? Should judicial oligarchies, rather than legislatures, decide controversial ethical issues by inventing novel rights? Ought human rights advocates learn greater sympathy for the dilemmas facing those burdened with government?These are the questions that What''s Wrong with Rights? addresses. In doing so, it draws upon resources in intellectual history, legal philosophy, moral philosophy, moral theology, human rights literature, and the judgments of courts. It ranges from debates about property in medieval Christendom, through Confucian rights-scepticism, to contemporary discussions about the remedy for global hunger and the justification of killing. And it straddles assisted dying in Canada, the military occupation of Iraq, and genocide in Rwanda.What''s Wrong with Rights? concludes that much contemporary rights-talk obscures the importance of fostering civic virtue, corrodes military effectiveness, subverts the democratic legitimacy of law, proliferates publicly onerous rights, and undermines their authority and credibility. The solution to these problems lies in the abandonment of rights-fundamentalism and the recovery of a richer public discourse about ethics, one that includes talk about the duty and virtue of rights-holders.Trade Reviewa welcomed addition to the current discussion. Biggar's previous work on the ethics of war gives him a unique angle to approach cases of rights talk, focusing on specific instances such as torture and killing in war. He makes a strong case for making rights the conclusion of a process of moral consideration rather than a foundational starting point to which everything else must yield. * Todd A. Scacewater, Journal of Language, Culture, and Religion *This is a scholarly book worth reading and a critique worth constructively engaging with. * Ethna Regan, Studies in Christian Ethics *Courageous ... What's Wrong With Rights? is a rich and challenging book. Not everyone will agree with Biggar's views, but anyone writing about human rights who wishes to be taken seriously will need to engage with his arguments. * Jonathan Sumption, The Times *I...commend this book for its clarity of reasoning and its engagement with fundamental issues with which we should all be discussing. * John Duddington, Law and Justice *A brilliant, provocative and intelligent book. * Simon Heffer, The Daily Telegraph *A thought-provoking work of scholarship... [a] compelling challenge to sloppy rights-thinking. * Craig Purshouse, Times Literary Supplement *This encyclopaedic study provides a marvellous survey of the complex field of rights and raises important questions as to the growing use of rights language. * R. Dean Drayton, International Journal of Public Theology *...A powerfully reasoned intellectual history of the sceptical tradition from the 1780s to the present day. [Biggar is] a discriminating guide rather than an anti-rights ideologist, and his analysis of these traditions is intricate, exacting and fair. While clearly Christian in his perspective, he keeps claims from authority, especially divine authority, firmly in their place * Michael Ignatieff, Literary Review *It is a rigorously reasoned argument and ... Biggar succeeds brilliantly in deflating the inordinate claims made for rights today...Along with being a profound study in moral and political philosophy, this is also a devastating and highly topical attack on the belief that ethical dilemmas can be resolved by 'an oligarchy of judges' expanding existing rights and conjuring up new ones...Over the past two decades, Biggar has produced a body of work of the highest intellectual quality which has made him one of the leading living Western ethicists. * John Gray, New Statesman *Quietly, cautiously, and with careful scholarly integrity, Professor Biggar has derailed a gravy train. Should the UK withdraw from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights? Should it repeal or redraft the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010? The result would surely be petitions, denunciations, hostile crowds, the toppling of statues, the banning of speakers, self-righteous lawyers. But all this happens already; what is there to lose? Thanks to Biggar, we see how much there is to gain. It is time for philosophical arguments, won in the pages of this important book, to be translated into legislation. * Jonathan Clark, The Critic *This scholarly, but nonetheless most readable, book makes an important contribution to the debate about to be had when the UK Government takes forward its promised (some would say threatened) new Commission on the Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights. No stranger to controversy, Professor Biggar argues in effect that the assertion of human rights has got out of hand. He pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. This is a penetrating examination of the relationship between rights and responsibilities and reflects many of the concerns expressed in Jonathan Sumption's 2019 Reith Lectures. * Lord Simon Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood *What's Wrong With Rights? isone of the most remarkable scholarly achievements I know of:it deftly addresses a wide variety of theoretical and practical problems of great normative importance; it engages with a vast and complex legal, philosophical, and theological literature about the morality of rights; it articulates plausible assessments of the most important contributions to that literature; and perhaps most importantly, the topics it addresses are at the very heart of political discourse in contemporary liberal polities. I cannot recommend it more highly. * Christopher Eberle, Professor of Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis *With the noble post-World War II human rights project increasingly imperiled by misunderstanding and manipulation, Nigel Biggar's new book is a major contribution to clear thinking about what we mean when we speak of rights. Whether or not they agree with his conclusions, friends of human rights everywhere should welcome this timely and informative analysis of what's wrong with rights and what needs to be done to put them right. * Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University and author of Rights Talk (1991) *Despite its eye-catching title, this book is neither a rejection of rights as such nor of natural morality, but a keen-eyed critique of natural rights in particular. In a discussion both dazzlingly wide-ranging and compellingly concrete, Nigel Biggar shows how natural rights talk undermines appropriate acknowledgement of the contingent, circumstantial character of political and ethical judgments. We do well to recognize that rights are paradigmatically legal and enrich ethical discourse by attending to virtues and duties as much as to rights. What's Wrong with Rights is the most significant Christian ethical contribution to reflection on rights since Nicholas Wolterstorff's Justice: Rights and Wrongs. * Jennifer Herdt, Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Christian Ethicsat Yale Divinity School *What's Wrong With Rights? is magisterial, combining theology, intellectual history, and detailed attention to particular cases and examples. Biggar is not afraid of making controversial judgements and works towards them in a manner that is honest and transparent, always commanding respect. At a deeper level, his book invites the reader to engage in debates about rights, maybe to disagree, but to do so from within a richer moral tradition, which gives more opportunity for insight, nuance, and dissent. The possibility arises of not only better judgements, but better disagreements. Both robust and generous, this landmark book represents a leading theological ethicist writing at the height of his powers. * Christopher Insole, Professor of Philosophical Theology and Ethics at Durham University *Rights talk has dominated public discourse for the past seventy years. But our political disagreements are worse than ever. Nigel Biggar not only explains what happened, he also proposes a comprehensive way forward. We need to move beyond "rights fundamentalism", and retrieve a richer public discourse that emphasizes duty, virtue, and the concrete challenges facing a political community. Crossing the boundaries of theology, philosophy, history, and law, Biggar's incisive analysis shows why talking about "natural rights" isn't helpful: defining, defending, and balancing rights always requires well-functioning legal institutions. * Cathleen Kaveny, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology at Boston College *What's Wrong with Rights?is a finely crafted review of the history of rights and an insightful assessment of contemporary discussions across a range of disciplines and contexts. Nigel Biggar raises important basic questions for theology, ethics, and law, and this book will reshape our ways of thinking about rights in all three fields. * Robin W. Lovin, Cary M. Maguire University Professor Emeritus of Ethics at Southern Methodist University, Dallas *This is a critique of one of most fashionable and incoherent notions of our time, the idea that there are enforceable rights, 'natural' or 'human', that exist independently of collective human choice. It is original, thought-provoking, and carefully reasoned. Such rights have many supporters, and always will have. But they should not be taken seriously unless they are willing to engage with the ideas in this impressive book. * Lord Jonathan Sumption, QC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of the UK *What's Wong With Rights? is a timely, wide-ranging, and historically informed book that subjects the prevailing human rights culture, in its various manifestations, to a strong dose of Burkean scepticism. Philosophers will be provoked by his thesis that rights are paradigmatically the creatures of law and form no part of natural morality. Lawyers will be challenged by the vigorous criticisms of what Biggar views as the illegitimate employment of rights vocabulary as a mean of enforcing the moral and political views of an "oligarchy of judges". This is an iconoclastic book that deserves to be reckoned with in the serious conversation about the nature and limits of rights that we desperately need. * John Tasioulas, Yeoh Professor of Politics, Philosophy, and Law at King's College London *This is a cleverly titled, crisply written, and largely clear-eyed engagement with the history, concept, and limits of rights and right talk in the Western tradition and beyond.Nigel Biggar brings a big analytical mind and deft pen to the task — and a pair of sharp elbows too. He engages a substantial library of human rights scholarship and case law with critical acuity and philosophical originality, concluding with a cautious and conditional endorsement of rights. * John Witte, Jr, Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Law and McDonald Distinguished Professor, Emory University School of Law, and Director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University *Biggar's method in discussing the intellectual history of rights is to distil the most notable expressions of the 200-year-old British tradition of scepticism about natural rights into a set of main objections. * Esther D. Reed, University of Exeter, Modern Believing *Biggar's method in discussing the intellectual history of rights is to distil the most notable expressions of the 200-year-old British tradition of scepticism about natural rights into a set of main objections. * Esther D. Reed, University of Exeter, Modern Believing *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1: Are there Natural Rights? 1: The Sceptical Tradition 2: Are there Natural Rights? 2: The Sceptical Critique and Rights before 1776 3: Are there Natural Rights? 3: The Sceptical Critique and Rights after 1776 4: Are there Natural Rights? 4: The Sceptical Critique and the modern Roman Catholic Tradition 5: Are there Natural Rights? 5: The Sceptical Critique and Contemporary Theories 6: What's Wrong with Subjective Rights? 7: Are there Absolute Rights? 8: Are Human Rights Universal? 9: What's Wrong with Rights in Ethics? 10: What's Wrong with (some) Judges? 1: Al-Skeini, Al-Jedda, Smith, and the Fog of War 11: What's Wrong with (some) Judges? 2: Carter and the Invention of a Right to 'Physician-assisted Dying' 12: What's Wrong with (some) Human Rights Lawyers? Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe new book from Pete Greig - his first since 2007 - which continues the story of 24-7, the global prayer movement he founded, as begun in Red Moon Rising.

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Book SynopsisChristianity Today Book Award Winner The digital revolution has ushered in a series of sexual revolutions, all contributing to a perfect storm for modern relationships. Online dating, social media, internet pornography, and the phenomenon of the smartphone generation have created an avalanche of change with far-reaching consequences for sexuality today. The church has struggled to address this new moral ecology because it has focused on clarity of belief rather than quality of formation. The real challenge for spiritual formation lies in addressing the underlying moral intuitions we carry subconsciously, which are shaped by the convictions of our age. In this book, a fresh new voice offers a persuasive Christian vision of sex and relationships, calling young adults to faithful discipleship in a hypersexualized world. Drawing from his pastoral experience with young people and from cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines, Jonathan Grant helps Christian leaders understand the cultural forces that make the church's teaching on sex and relationships ineffective in the lives of today's young adults. He also sets forth pastoral strategies for addressing the underlying fault lines in modern sexuality.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by James K. A. Smith1. Adjusting Our Vision: Christian Formation and Relationships in a Sexualized AgePart 1: Mapping the Modern Sexual Imaginary2. Seeking the Truth Within: Love, Sex, and Relationships within the Culture of Authenticity3. Three Paths to Freedom on the Road to Nowhere: The Dead End of Modern Liberty4. We Are What We Acquire: Consumerism as a Corrupting Dynamic5. The Hypersexual Self: Sex and Relationships as Happiness Technologies6. Churches without Steeples: The Loss of Transcendence and the Atomistic WorldviewPart 2: Charting a New Course for Christian Formation7. Searching for Truth That Transforms: Introducing a Christian Social Imaginary8. Seeing the Good Life and Becoming What We See: The Role of Vision within Sexual Formation9. Getting to the Heart of Things: Redeeming Desire and Becoming Our True Selves10. Living the Gospel Story: Narrative Discipleship within the Narrative Community11. Becoming What We Do: The Formative Power of PracticesEpilogue: Melodies of HeavenIndex

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Book SynopsisAs Christian girls, it's hard to hold on to a sense of who we are in Christ in a world that is constantly telling us who we should be. But our worth isn't defined by society. It's defined by our loving God, who made us and calls us his redeemed daughters. God has a good plan for our beauty, femininity, relationships, and identity and wants to help us thrive in his freeing design. That's what Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal have been sharing in their popular books, videos, podcast, and blog. Now they offer this 60-day devotional to help you find your entire identity in Christ. Beautifully designed and filled with uplifting Scripture, sincere encouragement, questions for reflection, some good laughs, and room to journal, Shine Bright makes a lovely and thoughtful gift--for a friend, a mom, a daughter, or yourself!

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Book SynopsisWe may associate a number of images with the Eastern Orthodox church – ornate church buildings, services with candles and incense, men wearing embellished robes – but what does the Eastern Orthodox church actually believe? What are the similarities and differences between them and western evangelical churches? What is their history? In this short book Panagiotis Kantartzis introduces us to Eastern Orthodoxy from an Evangelical perspective and tells us what we need to know.Trade ReviewPastor Kantartzis covers the most important points with clear, concise and well–researched prose. If you want the best engagement with Orthodoxy from an evangelical perspective, look no further. -- Michael Horton (J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California, Escondido, California)Blessed with wide learning, acute theological insight, and pastoral experience from living in an Orthodox country, Dr. Kantartzis is outstandingly qualified for this task, which he does superbly. -- Robert Letham (Wales Evangelical School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales)Kantartzis offers a unique book that combines careful and sensitive analysis of Orthodox Christianity with a respectful and constructive engagement from the perspective of his own Evangelical faith. -- Aristotle Papanikolaou (Professor of Theology and the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, Fordham University, New York Co–founding Director, Orthodox Christian Studies Centre)… reminds us that the differences between Evangelical Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy are rooted in fundamental principles that touch on every aspect of theology. The presentation is clear and fair to both sides, making it a reliable resource for dialogue between these two very different Christian traditions. -- Gerald Bray (Research Professor, Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama)

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Book SynopsisIn charismatic circles, exuberance is the norm. But what about introverts who quietly exercise the gifts of the Spirit?Trade Review"Mark Tanner is an insightful and thoughtful man with a great deal of experience both in theological training and growing churches. This book encapsulates his wisdom." -- Nicky Gumbel“The wonderful message of Pentecost is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all people, whatever their gender, age, or ethnic background. In this important book, Mark Tanner shows how the personality that we are created to be is included in that universal pouring out. It is a book which demonstrates the maturity of the charismatic movement from one of its wisest and most influential leaders.” -- David Wilkinson, Principal, St John’s College, Durham“A really helpful book that raises important issues, concerns and questions. Drawn from real life experiences, deep reflection and thoughtful consideration, readers be they extrovert or introvert will glean many insights, help and encouragement in their own lives and in and understanding and relating to others. A good, accessible read and valuable resource for all personality types and not just those who find themselves in charismatic circles.” -- Revd Roy Searle, leader, Northumbria Community and former President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain."As an extrovert I have found this book incredibly insightful and brilliantly challenging. I will be recommending it to students and younger leaders as a must-read so that we can grow and shape a much more self-aware and generous church family. We need both introverts and extroverts to bring their lives into the communal space we share and we will be a healthier family for it. This book has challenged me to the core. It has made me reassess how I lead and how I love others. Even now I can think of ways my own church community can be a much more inclusive and releasing space for both introverts, extroverts and indeed every mixture of our God-given humanity. This is an important work and I am grateful to have read it at the start of my leadership journey." -- Miriam Swaffield, Student Mission Developer“The process of prayer – of offering God all that we are as we drink deeply at that never-ending well – is pivotal for every Christian. Yet I have never yet met anyone who found it easy. With immense self-awareness and pastoral wisdom, Mark Tanner offers profound insight here for particular people – introverts – whose concerns and contributions are seldom identified yet widely experienced. The whole Church has much to learn here as it seeks to be conformed to Christ.” -- Justin Welby, Archbishop of CanterburyTable of ContentsContentsForeword 10Preface 131. An Introduction 182. What is an Introvert? 30Introverts are not necessarily shy 36Introverts are not necessarily antisocial 37Introverts are not necessarily arrogant 37Introverts are not necessarily inarticulate 39Introverts are not necessarily self-sufficient… 40Meet Anna 423. Introversion in the Bible 45Where do we see introvert behaviour in the Bible? 47Some insights around personality from the Bible 54A Letter to Charismatics from an Introvert Among You 634. What Do We Mean by “Charismatic”? 71They wear the regalia of the kingdom 76They are distinctive in their speech and outlook 77They do the works of the King 79They are clear where they belong 80They carry the authority of the King 81Meet Bob 845. Charismatics Throughout History 87The “Church Fathers” 90Montanism 93Messalianism 94The Cathars 96Mysticism 99Enthusiasm 99The seventeenth century and Methodism 101Topeka Bible School, Kansas (1900) 103Meet Roy 1096. Why is the Charismatic World Hard for Introverts? 114Meet Ian 1257. Blessings and Challenges for Charismatics in the Introvert World 128Charismatic culture is naturally active and pragmatic 129Charismatic culture is not very reflective 130Charismatic culture doesn’t like missing out 131Charismatic culture is not good with quiet 132And for the extrovert… 133Meet Bishop David 1388. Why is the Charismatic World Good for Introverts? 142Why, then, do introverts need to engage with the charismatic world? 147A Letter to Introverts from a Charismatic Among You 1529. What Do Introverts Offer the Charismatic World? 159Introverts offer a familiarity with, and comfort in, the inner world 160Introverts offer the practice of reflection 161Introverts offer the space to wrestle, question, ponder, and wonder 162Introverts offer the dignity of space 163Introverts offer the gifts of listening and noticing 164Introverts offer a hunger for the heart of God 165Introverts offer the search for wisdom 165Meet Aian 16810. Six Steps Towards Fullness of Life 1721. Recognize and accept that you are an introvert 1732. Learn the disciplines that feed you 1763. Find a voice 1804. Learn a second language 1835. Step out in faith 1876. Practise the habits that bring health 190Meet Kate 19611. Towards Some Resources 199Some resource areas for introvert charismatics 200Nine important dynamics in public worship 204Notes 214

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Book SynopsisThe goal of God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty is straightforward: to help readers develop “a faith that is real and credible---and strong enough to help others find faith in God.” To that end, Rice Broocks outlines a roadmap that guides seekers to acknowledge the most basic truths of Christianity

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Book SynopsisMonasticism is a major theme in early Christian studies and there was no greater early monastic theologian than Evagrius Ponticus. His work survives in numerous ancient languages and this book provides a vibrant synthesis of those writings. Ideal for students of early Christian theology, patristics, heresy and ancient philosophy.Trade Review'This is the most revolutionary book on Evagrius in decades … our understanding of Evagrius will be greatly advanced by this book.' Ian Gerdon, Religion Studies ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Evagrius' life and his contemporaries; 2. Evagrius' writings; 3. Evagrius' reputation; 4. The fellowship of Evagrius; 5. The interpretation and enactment of Scriptures; 6. Prayer - the fountainhead of Evagrius' theology; 7. Christ, the face of God and the face of man; 8. The Trinity and ultimate blessedness; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisPastor and author Jared C. Wilson demystifies discipleship, helping readers go beyond the expected Sunday school responses to the realities of following Jesus in their unpredictable lives.

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Book SynopsisHe argues that religionis a construction of European modernity, a construction that authorizes-for Westerners and non-Westerners alike-particular forms of history making.Trade ReviewThis eloquent, lucid, and complex work is the product of remarkable intelligence and erudition; it is a profound contribution to the understanding of the cultural hegemony of the West. -- Ralph M. Coury Religious Studies Review All articles are extremely well written, exhibit impressive scholarship, and are thoughtful and are thoughtful and stimulating. Asad's criticisms are neither judgmental nor self-righteous but are generally driven by the will to understand. -- James R. Wood Contemporary SociologyTable of ContentsPart 1 Genealogies: the construction of religion as an anthropological category; toward a genealogy of the concept of ritual. Part 2 Archaisms: pain and truth in medieval Christian ritual; on discipline and humility in medieval Christian monasticism. Part 3 Translations: the concept of cultural translation in British social anthropology; the limits of religious criticism in the Middle East. Part 4 Polemics: multiculturalism and British identity in the wake of the Rushdie affair; ethnography, literature and politics - some readings and uses of Salmon Rushdie's "Satanic Verses".

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Book SynopsisA biography of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, combining rigorous research with keen insight into the life of the former leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain.Trade Review"Dr Pyman re-creates the life and times of Metropolitan Anthony as only an old friend could. We encounter one of the great Christian apologists of post-war Britain, someone for whom 'to live is Christ' - and a man Russian to the core, impossible to understand apart from the larger-than-life world of the Russian emigration and its complex relationship with the Soviet and post-Soviet 'motherland'." Elizabeth Theokritoff, co-editor, Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology (2008) "Avril Pyman's life of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh provides readers with an amazing portrait of a complex and fascinating figure. Young Andrei Bloom, student, then physician, then monk, then priest, came to radiate a vision of Orthodoxy as universal Church that drew Western converts while also touching Russian émigré believers and some in Russia itself. Metropolitan Anthony could not have hoped for a finer biographer than Avril Pyman, whose superb scholarship is enriched by her lively narrative and personal insights." Joan Delaney Grossman, Professor Emerita of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of California at Berkeley, and co-editor of William James in Russian Culture (2003) "As vicar of Cambridge University Church I am vividly aware of the enormous influence of Metropolitan Anthony on generations of students - including myself - through his preaching which attracted huge congregations (more than any other preacher in his era). This biography shows how his influence as a preacher was rooted in his personal experience of Christ and his life of prayer. Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh helps us to enter into the same quality of experience that he shared with so many in his lifetime." John Binns, author of An Introduction to the Orthodox Christian Churches (2002) 'Avril Pyram . fills a considerable gap. Relying on the MASF archive, on published and unpublished sources as well as on accounts of persons who knew metropolitan anthony and her own recollections, the biographer explores the complex personality of this spiritual father of our days, his theoretical insights, his pastoral work, an his activity as an outstanding broadcaster and preacher' Adalberto Mainardi, Monastero di Bose, Theologishe Revue vol. 115 nr.1Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Acknowledgements 1. From Prince to Pauper: Origins and Childhood, 1914-1922 2. Alienation and Revelation: Growing up in Exile, 1922-1929 3. Conflicting Vocations: The Formation of a Monk "in the World", 1928-1937 4. Surgeon in the French Army and Monk in the Surgery, 1937-1949 5. Priesthood, Move to London, Ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain, 1949-1957 6. Fame in a Divided World, 1957-1963 7. The International Arena, 1963-1974 8. The Consolidation of the Second Diocese of Sourozh, 1974-1989 9. Mission to Russia and New Problems in England, 1983-2003 10. Agony Endnotes Glossary of Proper Names Index of Proper Names

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Book SynopsisThe Philokalia Vol 1 - here translated and edited by G. E. H. Palmer - is the most influential book besides the bible in the recent history of the Orthodox church.The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the fourth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition. First published in Greek in 1782, translated into Slavonic and later into Russian, The Philokalia has exercised an influence far greater than that of any book other than the Bible in the recent history of the Orthodox Church.Other volumes available from Faber:The Philokalia Vol 2The Philokalia Vol 3The Philokalia Vol 4The Philokalia Vol 5Writings from the Philokalia

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Book SynopsisThe booklet will help deepen love for Christ bringing him closer to the everyday needs, concerns and joys of all. Explaining the effects of devotion to the Sacred Heart over the centuries, the booklet is a practical and simple way for people to foster a devotional spirit and can be used individually or in parish groups.

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Book SynopsisDo miracles still happen today? This book demonstrates that miraculous works of God, which have been part of the experience of the church around the world since Christianity began, continue into the present. Leading New Testament scholar Craig Keener addresses common questions about miracles and provides compelling reasons to believe in them today, including many accounts that offer evidence of verifiable miracles. This book gives an accessible and concise overview of one of Keener's most significant research topics. His earlier two-volume work on miracles stands as the definitive word on the topic, but its size and scope are daunting to many readers. This new book summarizes Keener's basic argument but contains substantial new material, including new accounts of the miraculous. It is suitable as a textbook but also accessible to church leaders and laypeople.Table of ContentsContentsPreface: Get Up and WalkIntroduction: Miracles Books, Old and NewPart 1: Perspectives on Miracles1. What Is a Miracle, Anyway?2. Why Do Some People Assume That Miracles Don't Happen?Worldviews3. Why Do Some People Assume That Miracles Don't Happen?David HumePart 2: Witnesses of Miracles4. Are There Many Witnesses of Miracles?5. Do Only Christians Report Christian Healings?6. Is Healing Just a New Thing?7. Baby PicsPart 3: Videos and Doctors' Reports8. Do Healings Ever Get Captured on Video?9. Medically Attested Catholic Cures10. A Few Vignettes of Brain Recovery11. Back from Virtual Brain Death12. More Medically Attested Twentieth-Century Cures13. Some Medically Attested Twenty-First-Century Cures14. Cancer Cures15. Doctors Cured of CancerPart 4: "The Blind Receive Their Sight, the Lame Walk, the Lepers Are Cleansed, the Deaf Hear" (Matt. 11:5//Luke 7:22)16. Do Blind People Still Receive Sight? Witnesses17. Do Blind People Still Receive Sight? Doctors18. Do Disabled People Still Walk? Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy19. Do Disabled People Still Walk? Marlene's Cerebral Palsy20. Do Disabled People Still Walk? Bryan's Spinal Injury21. Do Disabled People Still Walk? Vignettes22. Are Lepers Still Cleansed? Visible Healings23. Do Deaf People Still Hear?Part 5: "The Dead Are Raised" (Matt. 11:5//Luke 7:22)24. Are the Dead Still Raised? History25. Are the Dead Still Raised? Africa26. Are the Dead Still Raised? Asia27. Raised in the West? Cases in the News28. Raised in the West? Cases That Don't Make the News29. Doctors Who Witness Raisings30. Friends Who Used to Be Dead or Met Those Who Had Been31. Raised in Our FamilyPart 6: Nature Miracles32. Do Nature Miracles Still Happen?33. Do You Know Any Witnesses to Nature Miracles?Part 7: Kingdom Mysteries34. A Firsthand Witness?35. Why Don't We See More Miracles in the West?36. Spiritual Factors and Miracles37. When Healing Is Temporary38. When Miracles Don't Happen39. What Does the Bible Say about Non-healing?40. Closing Personal ThoughtsAppendix A: Did Prayer Make Things Worse?Appendix B: Some of Hume's Other ArgumentsAppendix C: False Signs

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Book SynopsisBills pile up. Savings accounts go down. Marriages go south. Pandemics rage. Work goes off the rails. Stress goes off the charts. Suddenly, you feel powerless to calm life''s chaos. It’s all too much to take on by yourself. But pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado has great news for you--Help Is Here.Now more than ever, we''re all weary from the loads we carry and the challenges we face. We have questions we cannot answer and problems we cannot solve. We''d hoped that life would be an invigorating adventure or an inspiring journey. We never expected to grow so tired so quickly. But Max teaches us that we can find fresh strength and purpose in the power of the Holy Spirit.The Bible makes more than a hundred references to the Holy Spirit, and Jesus says more about the Spirit than he does about the church, marriage, finances, and the future. But do we really know the Spirit? In Help Is Here, Max will give you the tools and enco

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Book SynopsisAn easy-to-learn, easy-to-use tool for in-depth Bible studyBeloved and acclaimed for more than five generations, the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible is unparalleled in its ability to enrich personal devotions, topical study, and sermon preparation. This unique reference Bible enables you to search the breadth of Scripture''s teachings on thousands of topics and allows you to follow those topics throughout the entire Bible. With over 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, the chain-reference system is an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.The NKJV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, Handy Size is printed in the NKJV Comfort Print® typeface for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for th

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