Search results for ""inter-varsity press""

Soon 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.

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This volume provides the first comprehensive account of the evangelical tradition in the English-speaking world from the end of the nineteenth to the mid twentieth century. It offers fresh perspective on conversionism, the life of faith, reflection on the Bible and theology, and social engagement. These trajectories, through a period of great turbulence in world history, furnished the setting for the deepening diversification of the movement. This led to the fragmentation of the once broad evangelical spectrum into various (and often competing) strands.

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‘The second coming of Jesus Christ is the core of the biblical worldview, the climax of the biblical message, the cornerstone of biblical theology, and the centrepiece of authentic biblical faith for the twenty-first century.’ At the heart of this bold opening statement by Stephen Motyer is the conviction that Jesus Christ is the ‘centre’ of the Scriptures, even though he only appears at the end. For the New Testament writers, Jesus Christ revolutionized their understanding of the Scriptures and gave them a new centre around which to interpret the work of God in the world – and the climax of that work is the ‘second coming’ of that same Jesus Christ. Jesus himself used the language of the Scriptures to promise his ‘coming again’, the ‘coming of the Son of Man’. Hence we need the whole of Scripture to understand what the second coming means for us today. The fact that the Bible ends with the prayer ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Revelation 22:20) is deeply appropriate. The second coming is the ‘end’ of the biblical message, its ‘omega point’, its grand finale, the denouement when all the players in the drama of earth history, both human and angelic, are gathered in the drawing room to hear the Master unpack the plot and give the verdict. Motyer’s comprehensive, stimulating study is divided into two parts. Part One, ‘The biblical frame’, examines three Old Testament passages and lays the foundation for Part Two, ‘New Testament hopes and visions’, which explores a series of key texts. He focuses on the second coming, rather than on millennialism or the ‘end times’, in order to provide the fundamental biblical theology that must underlie our whole sense of God’s future for his world.

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These commentaries are designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means. The Introduction to each book gives a concise but thorough treatment of its authorship, date, original setting and purpose. Following a structural Analysis, the Commentary takes the book section by section, drawing out its main themes, and also comments on individual verses and problems of interpretation. Additional Notes provide fuller discussion of particular difficulties. In the new New Testament volumes, the commentary on each section of the text is structured under three headings: Context, Comment and Theology. The goal is to explain the true meaning of the Bible and make its message plain.JAMESThe letter of James has often been defined in terms of moral earnestness, repentance and consistent social action, leading many to argue that it is not theological. This separation between theology and practice, Douglas J. Moo observes, can all too easily lead people to read Scripture as a book to be analysed rather than a message to be obeyed - the very mindset against which James inveighs. Moo's exposition of these themes illuminates James's rich letter and its message for us today.

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Prayer is foundational to the Christian life, but many people don’t understand it. What is it for? How does it work? Why do we do it? This short and accessible book explains what prayer is, why it exists and how it can encourage us in our life of faith. Written by a pastor with years of teaching and counselling experience, Why We Pray doesn’t simply tell readers why they should pray, but instead focuses on four blessing-filled reasons that will help us want to pray. Rather than feeling discouraged and disheartened by our inconsistency in prayer, we feel reinvigorated to approach God with confidence and joy, delighted by the privilege of talking directly to our heavenly Father.

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Preaching matters. It is a God-ordained means of encountering Christ. This is happening all around the world. The author knows this only too well. He recalls: - the student who, on hearing a sermon about new life in Christ, found faith which changed his life and future forever - the couple facing the trauma of the wife's terminal illness who discovered that Christ was all they needed, following a sermon on Habakkuk When the Bible is faithfully and relevantly explained, it transforms hearts, understandings and attitudes, and, most of all, draws us into a living relationship with God through Christ. This is a book to ignite our passion for preaching, whether we preach every week or have no idea how to put a sermon together. It will encourage every listener to participate in the dynamic event of God's Word speaking to his people through his Holy Spirit. God's Word is dynamite; little wonder that its effects are often dynamic. This title is brought to you by Keswick Ministries. Find out more at https://www.keswickministries.org

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The prophet Jeremiah and King Josiah were born at the end of the longest, darkest reign in Judah's history. Human sacrifice and practice of the black arts were just two features of the wickedness that filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with innocent blood. As outspoken prophet and reforming king, these two men gave their country its finest opportunity of renewal and its last hope of surviving as the kingdom of David. The book of Jeremiah is full of turmoil and national tragedy, the story of key people like Baruch, Gedaliah and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, and the drama of rediscovering the forgotten book of Mosaic law. National events interweave with the lives of individuals; the rediscovered book of God's law transforms Josiah, Jeremiah and the future of the world. Derek Kidner, in this volume that was formerly part of the widely respected The Bible Speaks Today series, gives careful attention to the text and reveals its startling relevance to our own troubled time.

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Christians 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.

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The 'way of a man with a maiden' was too wonderful for the writer of Proverbs to understand. Preoccupying so many thoughts and dreams, the subject of countless songs, films and fairytales, the love between a man and a woman has always been a profound and perplexing mystery. And yet we do not live happily ever after. Four out of ten marriages will end in divorce. Couples now choose to live together rather than marry, and those relationships are even less likely to last. People are having fewer children, later, and with a succession of partners. Ironically, just when so much is expected of love, Western societies are witnessing lower levels of public commitment in sexual relationships than ever before. The scale of this change amounts to a revolution, a major historical paradigm shift. The statistics mask a depth of pain that every pastor and counsellor knows only too well. We must face the inevitable questions: if faithfulness is no longer esteemed, why get married at all? What is marriage? What did God intend when he gave us marriage? Christopher Ash argues that our modern idolization of the sexual relationship contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. To begin to rebuild a biblical confidence in marriage, we need to understand that the primary blessing and purpose of marriage is not sexual intimacy, but rather serving God in partnership. This in turn leads to the blessings of love, friendship, children, and order in society, and will help us to rediscover that faithfulness which is the heart of marriage.

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Is it possible for Christians and Muslims to engage in meaningful dialogue, in genuine and truthful debate? Do we dare to put our faith on trial? To listen to each other in the best possible way, and to give the reason for the hope that we have, with gentleness and respect, as we are commanded? The two faiths hold much in common, tracing their roots back to a common ancestor. And yet they have always held to something of a ghetto mentality. Mutual ignorance is the price paid for trouble-free co-existence, and for some, perhaps, the price for survival. Prejudice and misunderstanding leads to confrontational debate, where one side tries to ridicule, attack and defeat the other. Political correctness and tolerance simply leads to superficial agreement. Chawkat Moucarry believes that there is a better way. Ever since he surprised the religious Education teacher by asking if he could attend the Islamic class at high school, he has been wholeheartedly committed to genuine Christian Muslim dialogue. His prayer is that this book will help us to gain a better understanding of each other's faith, as well as our own, and above all a better understanding of the founder of that faith.

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This book is about the best news the world has ever heard - the message of salvation. The Bible itself is the word of salvation, the message of grace that glorifies God by persuading sinners to believe in Jesus Christ. Philip Ryken opens up God's saving message using the Bible's stories, sermons, letters and poems to explain its own theme of salvation.

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How do we start to share our faith? Are we really sure that we know what our message is? What about those objections that people always come up with? And it's not just what we say. Does our whole way of life fit in with what we believe? These are some of the questions which Paul Little discusses in his book in a fresh, lively way. No wonder that this practical, challenging and enjoyable book has now been printed well over a million times.

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The Bible shows us how David turned negative emotions in his life into godly character qualities. By studying his life and choices we can make the same transformation in our own lives. Christian basics are the keys to becoming a mature disciple. These Bible study guides, based on material from popular authors, will take you through key Scripture passages and help you to apply biblical truths to your life.

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In this powerful and timely book, Michael Green explains the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. No other teacher ever claimed to bring God to us, no other teacher dealt radically with the problem of human wickedness, no other teacher broke the final barrier - death, and no other teacher offered to actually live within his followers.

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For fifty years the 'New Bible Commentary' has served Bible readers worldwide. This 21st Century Edition builds on the strengths of the previous three; a one-volume commentary on the whole Bible by an international team of contributors; general articles on what the Bible is and how to read it; an introduction to each Bible book; commentaries dividing each book into sections for ease of reference. Designed to meet the needs of today, the 'New Bible Commentary' makes use of recent international scholarship: 80% of the articles are entirely new and the rest have been rewritten. New maps, diagrams, charts and tables illuminate the text, and further reading lists are included with each article.

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Applying well-informed critical thinking to questions raised by theologians and scientists alike, Collins examines the relevant biblical and Second Temple Jewish texts, to discover whether they really do support the traditional position. He also considers the biblical view of human uniqueness and dignity, and relates these to everyday moral and religious experience, asking whether these too are evidence. He concludes with a description of some sample scenarios for a scientific understanding of human origins. Extensive appendices examine how the material in Genesis relates to similar material from Mesopotamian myths. Collins' goal is to enable readers to think through the issues for themselves. His analysis will strengthen confidence that the traditional Christian story equips us better than any alternatives to engage with life as it is actually encountered in the modern world.

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Why is it so difficult to talk to our closest friends about what's most important to us? Our true identity? Our hopes and dreams? Our true purpose and faith? Andy Bannister struggled with that question himself. As a twentysomething, he operated as an Undercover Christian at his job. He knew it didn't make sense, and he spent the following decades helping countless people find easy, natural ways to discuss the fundamental questions of life with the ones they love. How to Talk about Jesus without Looking like an Idiot explores: - why you don't need to be afraid or uncomfortable, - the four questions that help people open up, - the five steps to respond to tough questions, - and how to effortlessly bring faith into a conversation. It doesn't need to be awkward. Let Andy help you find easy ways to talk about the true meaning of life with your friends and family.

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Are Islam and Christianity essentially the same? Should we seek to overcome divisions by seeing Muslims and Christians as part of one family of Abrahamic faith? Andy Bannister shares his journey from the multicultural streets of inner-city London to being a Christian with a PhD in Qur’anic Studies. Along the way, he came to understand that far from being the same, Islam and Christianity are profoundly different. Get to the heart of what the world’s two largest religions say about life’s biggest questions—and discover the uniqueness of Christianity’s answer to the question of who God really is.

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was one of the most compelling theologians of the twentieth century. A complex mix of scholarship and passion, his life and writings continue to fascinate and challenge Christians worldwide. He was a pastor and profound teacher and writer on Christian theology and ethics, yet was also involved in the resistance against Hitler which plotted his assassination. Bonhoeffer graduated from the University of Berlin and earned his doctorate in theology at the age of twenty-one. While pursuing postgraduate work at New York's Union Theological Seminary his life and ministry was profoundly influenced by his unanticipated involvement with the African American Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem during that time. Protesting the unconstitutional interference by Hitler of the established national Protestant church and the persecution of the Jews, and rejecting the alignment of the German Christian movement with the Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer became head of an underground seminary for the resisting Confessing Church in Germany. At the 2012 Wheaton Theology Conference, Bonhoeffer's thought and ministry were explored in stimulating presentations. Bonhoeffer's views of Jesus Christ, the Christian community, and the church's engagement with culture enjoyed special focus. Throughout it is clear that in the twenty-first century, Bonhoeffer's legacy is as provocative and powerful as ever.

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How can an ordinary church become a community of people who help one another live out their whole life at home, work, church, in the neighbourhood as followers of Jesus in his mission to the world? This book is for those who want life together in church to equip disciples who live out their faith in the realities of their day-to-day world. - Draws on three years of work with pilot churches across the UK - Practical examples of how a church can change - Real-life stories of churches and individuals

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Despite the return of the Hebrews from the Babylonian exile, selfishness, apathy and despair crippled their community spirit. In response to this distress, God raised up three prophetic voices in Jerusalem. Haggai rallied the people to rebuild the Second Temple. Zechariah was given visions of the return of the glory of the Lord to Zion. Malachi preached repentance, covenant justice and restoration of proper temple worship. Andrew Hill's excellent commentary on these oracles shows how they remain timely for the Christian church's worship and mission in the world.

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A clear and comprehensive introduction to the study of Jesus and the Gospels. Craig Blomberg's award-winning Jesus and the Gospels prepares readers for an intensive study of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the events they narrate. Blomberg considers the historical context of the Gospels and sheds light on the confusing interpretations brought forth over the last two centuries. This updated edition incorporates new scholarship, debate, critical methods, and the ongoing quest for the historical Jesus, and ensures the work will remain a valuable tool for exploring the life of Christ through the first four books of the New Testament.

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When the book of Acts is mentioned, a cluster of issues spring to mind, including speaking in tongues and baptism with the Holy Spirit, church government and practice, and missionary methods and strategies. At the popular level, Acts is more often mined for answers to contemporary debates than heard for its natural inflections. Instead of using Acts as a prooftext, this New Studies in Biblical Theology volume brings a biblical-theological framework to the account to expose Luke's major themes as they relate to the book as a whole. With this framework in place, Alan Thompson argues that Acts is an account of the 'continuing story' of God's saving purposes. Consequently we find that Luke wants to be read in light of the Old Testament promises and the continuing reign of Christ in the inaugurated kingdom. Read in this way as a snapshot of God's dynamic, unfolding kingdom, the book of Acts begins to regain the deep relevance it had in the first century. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

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As a young church in a hostile environment, Peter's first readers found in his first letter encouragement, not just for facing suffering, but for living responsibly in the world as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Christians today will also find in Peter's letter a wealth of practical counsel on how to conduct themselves in family and social life, as well as in relation to a society that makes it tough to follow Jesus Christ.

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The best of evangelical Christian theology has always paid attention to the key thinkers, issues and doctrinal developments in the history of the church. What God has done in the past is key to understanding who we are and how we are to live. The purpose of this volume is threefold: to introduce a selection of key early and medieval theologians; to strengthen the faith of evangelical Christians by helping them to understand the riches of the church's theological reflection; and to help them learn how to think theologically. These essays offer insightful analysis of and commentary on each theologian, along with some critical assessment of how evangelicals should view and appropriate his insights. The contributors' intention is the cultivation of minds 'fired by the grace of our creator and saviour' (Augustine), so that we might think well and rightly about our good and great God and live in his light.

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For more than thirty years, The Universe Next Door has set the standard for a clear, readable introduction to worldviews. In this new fifth edition James Sire offers additional student-friendly features to his concise, easily understood introductions to theism, deism, naturalism, Marxism, nihilism, existentialism, Eastern monism, New Age philosophy and postmodernism. Included in this expanded format are a new chapter on Islam and informative sidebars throughout. The book continues to build on Sire's refined definition of worldviews from the fourth edition and includes other updates as well, keeping this standard text fresh and useful. In a world of ever-increasing diversity, The Universe Next Door offers a unique resource for understanding the variety of worldviews that compete with Christianity for the allegiance of minds and hearts. The Universe Next Door has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been used as a text at over one hundred colleges and universities in courses ranging from apologetics and world religions to history and English literature.

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When Faith Flickers, Stoke the Fire No one sins out of duty. We sin because it offers some promise of happiness. That promise enslaves us - until we believe that God is more desirable than life itself (Psalm 63:3). Only the power of God's superior promises in the gospel can emancipate our hearts from servitude to the shallow promises and fleeting pleasures of sin. John Piper shows how to sever the clinging roots of sin that ensnare us, including anxiety, pride, shame, impatience, covetousness, bitterness, despondency, and lust. Delighting in the bounty of God's glorious gospel promises will free us for a less sin-encumbered life, to the glory of Christ. Rooted in solid biblical reflection, this book aims to help guide you through the battles to the joys of victory by the power of the gospel and its superior pleasure.

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Our identity or self-image is a bit like looking in a mirror. We see our reflection and make judgments about ourselves. However, the 'mirror' we use tends to be the world around us: how do I compare with others and what do they think of me? But there is another mirror we can use - the mirror we should use. James 1:23 - 24 tells us that the Bible, God's word, is like a mirror. We look into it and see what we are really like. Here is a description, not from culture, but from God. The world tells us that we need a good self-image. The Bible says that we need a right self-image. With a pastor's heart, Graham Beynon, minister at Avenue Community Church in Leicester, helps us realign our thinking.

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With over 60,000 copies in print since its original publication in 1984, 'Ethics' has served numerous generations of students as a classic introduction to philosophical ethics from a Christian perspective. Over the years the philosophical landscape has changed somewhat, and in this new edition Arthur Holmes adjusts the argument and information throughout, completely rewriting the earlier chapter on virtue ethics and adding a new chapter on the moral agent. The book addresses the questions: What is good? What is right? How can we know? In doing so it also surveys a variety of approaches to ethics, including cultural relativism, emotivism, ethical egoism and utilitarianism - all with an acknowledgment of the new postmodern environment.

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The Da Vinci Code. Misquoting Jesus. The Jesus Papers. The Gospel of Judas. New portraits of Jesus continue to stir up interest and debate. The more unusual the portrait, the more it departs from the traditional view of Jesus, and the more attention it receives in the popular media. Critical study of the Gospels has often shed light on the Jesus of history - but has also distorted the Gospels and rendered Jesus unrecognizable. Why are some scholars so prone to fabricate a new Jesus? What methods and assumptions predispose them to distort the record? Why is the public so eager to accept such claims without question? Is there a more sober approach to finding the real Jesus? Craig Evans offers insights into the methods and biases of modern interpreters, whether scholars associated with the Jesus Seminar or popularizers like Michael Baigent and Dan Brown. He examines how we got today's New Testament text, how ancient historians did their work, what second-century Gnosticism was all about, and the way first-century Jewish and Greek culture informs scholarly study of the Gospels. Readers will come away with a new appreciation of the value and limits of contemporary biblical research.

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One of humanity's most basic and common practices - eating meals - was transformed by Jesus into an occasion of divine encounter. In sharing food and drink with his companions, he invited them to share in the grace of God. His redemptive mission was revealed in his eating with sinners, repentant and unrepentant alike. Jesus' 'table fellowship' with sinners in the Gospels has been widely agreed to be historically reliable. However, this consensus has recently been challenged, for example, by the claim that the meals in which Jesus participated took the form of Greco-Roman symposia - or that the 'sinners' involved were the most flagrantly wicked within Israel's society, not merely the ritually impure or those who did not satisfy strict Pharisaic standards of holiness. In this excellent and thorough study, Craig Blomberg engages with the debate and opens up the significance of the topic. He surveys meals in the Old Testament and the intertestamental period, examines all the Gospel texts relevant to Jesus' eating with sinners, and concludes with some contemporary applications.

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They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha ... And they crucified him ... Some women were watching from a distance' (Mark 15:22, 24, 40). At the climax of Mark's Gospel, Jesus of Nazareth is put to death on a Roman cross. The text tells us that, in that lonely hour, a group of women were watching the crucifixion 'from a distance'. In a sense, they are given a stance towards the cross that we can share. It is an event that occurred so long ago, in a world that in many ways seems so foreign to our own. In this exploration of Mark's Gospel, Peter Bolt looks at why the cross is so prominent in the narrative; asks what contribution Mark's teaching can make to our understanding of the atonement; and shows how this teaching can inform, correct and enrich our own preaching of the gospel in the contemporary world. He helps us to stand in wonder before the God who has come close to us in the cross of Jesus Christ, and to live in hope of the better things to come.

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The atonement is the crown jewel of Christian doctrine. And it is the responsibility of each generation of theologians to preserve its heritage, explore its facets and allow its radiance to illumine their day. 'The Glory of the Atonement' is an attempt to fulfil this trust at the dawn of a new millennium. In this book evangelical biblical scholars explore the atonement within the contours of Scripture, while historical and systematic theologians weigh the atonement in ancient, medieval and Reformation tradition. The primary focus is on the Reformed tradition, which is traced up to Karl Barth and evangelicalism, capped with a consideration of the atonement and postmodernism. The implications of the atonement are brought home with a look at the atonement in contemporary preaching and Christian living. The result is a full-course feast for ministers of the word, a textbook for students of the Bible and theology, and a valuable resource for any theological library.

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Exodus, Cole says, is 'the centre of the Old Testament'. It recounts the supreme Old Testament example of the saving acts of God, narrates the instituting of Passover and enshrines the giving of God's law. It portrays Moses, the prototype of all Israel's prophets, and Aaron, the first high priest.

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Despite the centuries which separate us from the authors of these proverbs, the everyday realities of human existence remain: making friends, coping with sexuality, handling money, responding to poverty, making a living, learning through loss, muddling through difficulties, facing death. David Atkinson shows how Proverbs addresses all these issues. Wisdom, he argues, is about helping to cope; about seeing the world in a fresh way to five new resources for living; about working out what living for God means in the very ordinariness of daily life. These sayings, he explains, bring such concerns to life in vivid, imaginative, often humorous pictures, linking the cosmic and the homely. The ancient book puts a mirror up to our behaviour, and asks: 'Are you like this? Is there not a better way to live?' The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today’s world.

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This is the second volume of a practical and readable introduction to the Psalms which effectively unfolds the text and meaning as songs for the people of God. The expositions represent Michael Wilcock's attempts over many years to unfold God's Word to real people confronting the raw questions of life in the church and in the world. He sees the Psalter as a collection, an anthology, a hymnal, a book of songs. It is full of pictures that show us a variety of places in a land of spiritual experience. In his view it is important for Christians today to appropriate the range of human emotion that is embodied in the Psalms. We also need their imaginative vitality. The book will be helpful in using the Psalms in church services, and includes an exposition of every Psalm, long or short, familiar or neglected. The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today's world.

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Recognising veiled allusions to the Old Testament in the four Gospels has long contributed to our understanding of the Gospels message. Nicholas Lunn takes the investigation of allusion a significant step further in The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes. He explores allusions not just in isolated verses, but rather occurring throughout whole passages, demonstrating that many Gospel episodes interact with specific Old Testament accounts through an extended sequence of allusions. Furthermore, his examination is not restricted to episodes presented by a single Gospel, but includes allusions distributed across two or more Gospel treatments of the same event. In The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes, Lunn offers a series of self-contained studies that bring to light allusions, many of them previously unnoted, that affirm the intricate interweaving of New Testament texts with those of the Old. This volume will greatly enhance your appreciation of the Gospels' presentation of Jesus's life and ministry. It will inform and equip scholars, pastors, preachers, Bible teachers and readers to appreciate new depths in the Gospels.

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The Book of Nehemiah offers a first-hand telling of how ancient Jerusalem's walls were rebuilt in the face of great odds after the Babylonian exile – an act that represented the renewal of the people's faith and the reforming of their conduct. In The Message of Nehemiah, Raymond Brown explores this powerful story and the striking relevance of this themes for Christians living today. Vividly drawing out Nehemiah's historical and social milieu, Brown demonstrates that Nehemiah is one of the most inventive and resilient personalities in the Old Testament. His doctrine of God, his passion for Scripture, his experience of prayer and his example in leadership all provide valuable lessons that can be applied to how we live our faith every day. A revised volume in the trusted the Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Nehemiah offers a compelling exposition of the Biblical text, unpacking its meaning for both the original audience it was written for and for Christians in the twenty-first century. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to delve more deeply into the riches of Scripture and better understand how it can be applied to modern life. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Nehemiah is perfect for anyone looking for accessible commentaries on Nehemiah that will help broaden their knowledge and understanding of the this fascinating book of the Old Testament.

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In the busyness and challenges of daily life, it's easy to put showing gratitude low on our priority list. Yet Scripture continually reveals how important gratitude is for God's people—in good times and bad. In this eight-session LifeBuilder Bible study guide, Dale and Sandy Larsen help us explore how giving thanks reminds us of what God has done, reorients us around God's grace, and helps us enjoy the gifts we have received instead of taking them for granted. Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, Gratitude encourages us to grow in trust and joy as we hold tight to God's goodness in life's ups and downs. Gratitude features questions that can be used both individually or in small groups, and its ready-to-use Bible studies are perfect for the busy homegroup leader. It is a brilliant resource for anyone wanting to understand Biblical teaching on gratitude better, and for those looking for guidance in expressing Christian gratitude and ways to give thanks.

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The Books of Obadiah, Jonah and Micah are richly juxtaposed. From Micah’s call to challenge brutal political and religious leaders at home, to Jonah and Obadiah both addressing audiences beyond the boundaries of geo-political Israel, we see these three prophets speaking into their contexts with rhetorical force and passion. As well as wrestling with theological conundrums, through Obadiah, Jonah and Micah we hear the living Words of God – powerful words, intended to warn, cajole and console, and words which still have much to say to God’s people today. Offering cogent analysis on these often-overlooked books as well as exploring the practical implications for modern Christian life, this is a scholarly Bible commentary on Obadiah, Jonah and Micah that will benefit all preachers and serious students of the Bible. Part of the Apollos Old Testament commentary series, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah follows a clear, helpful structure that provides a thorough exploration of the Biblical texts – beginning with translation and notes, examining form and structure, offering insightful commentary and ending with a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology. It will leave you with a deeper knowledge of the divine and human aspects of Scripture, as well as a broader understanding of what these prophets mean for Christians in the twenty-first century. The Apollos Old Testament Commentaries are scholarly bible commentaries ideal for those preaching from the Old Testament and looking to explore its riches in depth within their sermons. They will also help lay people and scholars studying the Bible on a higher level. Comprehensive and compelling, Elaine Phillips’ commentary on Obadiah, Jonah and Micah is a thorough study that will give you an appreciation of the struggles these prophets faced as they answered God’s call to speak into difficult geo-political contexts, and the lessons that they can teach Christians today.

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Where do we come from? What is our purpose? The early chapters of Genesis proclaim the origin of the world, and of human life on earth. In The Message of Genesis 1-11, David Atkinson explores how the first eleven chapters serve as an overture to the rest of the Bible. They evoke wonder as God is portrayed in his creative power and beauty. They reveal his loving mercy and salvation even in his terrible judgment of those who turn from him and despoil the harmony of creation. With vivid, provocative insight, Atkinson illuminates how the meaning of Genesis is still resonant today – providing the insight that allows us to understand both the greatness and the tragic flaw inherent in human beings. Although it was written thousands of years ago, the message of Genesis is one of timely urgency for the modern world: we are responsible participants in God's creation who must, like Noah, confront the possibility of global catastrophe. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Genesis 1-11 offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Genesis and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text. Readable and reliable, The Message of Genesis 1-11 will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the Genesis that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

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What does it mean to be pilgrims in a confusing world? What vision of the good life drives us? In this thoughtful exposition, Raymond Brown explores how the book of Numbers offers a picture of a better life. He shows how its message is eminently suited to our contemporary world, a world without firm spiritual and moral foundations. In contrast to contemporary thinking, Numbers pictures life as an accompanied journey, and not a meaningless maze. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Numbers offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Numbers and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. Readable and reliable, The Message of Numbers will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the book of Numbers that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

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As understanding and awareness of abuse has grown, many revelations of church leaders abusing their power have come to light. How did the church get here? Is there a way we can address both individual and institutional failings to counter the misuse of power and, more importantly, prevent it in first place? Powerful Leaders? exposes and explores how leaders are tempted away from a biblical model of leadership into illegitimate - and in the worst cases abusive - use of authority and power. Director of Living Leadership, a charity that focuses on healthy leadership and church culture, Marcus Honeysett traces how leaders move along a spectrum of healthy to unhealthy uses of power and position and offers practical wisdom for countering and preventing harmful leadership. Drawing on his years of experience in the local church and working with leaders and congregations, Honeysett unpacks how to spot danger signs of abuse in the church and provides advice on what to do if you see or are under unhealthy leadership. He also explores why people don’t blow the whistle and encourages critical self-examination in existing leaders to ensure they maintain a healthy use of power – and offers guidance to help leaders improve their skills and move back towards healthy, biblically-based leadership. For anyone concerned about improving safeguarding in the church, Powerful Leaders? will prove a valuable resource. It challenges and equips both those in leadership and those in a position to hold leaders accountable, and will empower them to take the necessary steps forward to create healthier church cultures in which everyone can thrive.

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Genesis sets the scene for the whole of the Bible, and indeed the entire human drama. It is a book both of beginnings and of a new beginning – the dawn of the gospel. In The Message of Genesis 12-50, Joyce G. Baldwin shows how the vivid narratives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph still speak to us today, highlighting God's ways of dealing with ordinary men and women. Unpacking how, in fulfilling his great plan for the whole of humanity, God works individually with imperfect people, Baldwin explores the meaning Genesis 12-50 holds for modern Christians – and how the often painful experiences it relates help us to know the character of the God we worship better. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Genesis 12-50 offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Genesis and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NRSV Bible text. The stories of Genesis offer glimpses of the gospel, and the message of Genesis speaks with practical meaning to the followers of Jesus in the twenty-first century. The Message of Genesis 12-50 will help for anyone looking for a commentary on the Genesis that makes clear that meaning both in its original context and for Christians today.

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The whole story of the Old Testament book of Exodus is a covenant narrative; in Moses’ story, the pledges that God made to Abraham are honoured and fulfilled, as the Israelites are saved from Egypt and guided to the promised land. In The Message of Exodus, Alec Motyer offers a warm-hearted and insightful exposition of what this key part of Scripture testifies about the Bible's God. Exploring the meaning that Exodus still has for us today, he unfolds the ways it points to Jesus Christ and heralds him in advance, and how it bears on the nature and life of the people of God - their redemption, obedience, security and inheritance. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Exodus offers an clear, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Exodus and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Exodus will help for anyone looking for a commentary on Exodus that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for Christians in the twenty-first century.

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For many Christians, the Old Testament book of Leviticus tends to be largely unknown and unread. However, the gospel makes little sense without the background it provides. In The Message of Leviticus, Derek Tidball shows how this vital part of Scripture is of foundational importance for our understanding of God, the gospel and Christian living, with a meaning that continues to be of utmost relevance today. In this excellent exposition, he demonstrates how Leviticus serves as a preliminary sketch of the masterpiece that was to be unveiled in Christ, testifying to a faith of grace, love and gratitude – and one that sets God's people free to be holy. Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Leviticus offers an insightful, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how it relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Leviticus and who want to delve deeper into the text. This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. Readable and reliable, The Message of Leviticus is a book for anyone looking for a commentary on Leviticus that make clear its meaning both in its original context and for twenty-first century readers.

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The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of AD 381 was a key statement in the context of the theological controversies and confessional atmosphere of the fourth century church. Alexander Irving explores Christian belief about God, creation and redemption as it is expressed in the Creed, and thereby contributes to the ongoing task of the church’s self-examination of its talk about God. * Sets out the importance of our tradition and the intrinsic relationship between the thought of the church today and the thought of the church across time. * Grounds the Creed in its historical and theological context. * Connects the theology of the Creed to some areas of contemporary theological inquiry. The Creed sets out the basic parameters of Christian belief. While the specifics of what is believed within those parameters are not determined, there is an internal logic to the Creed's presentation of the Christian faith. The contrast between God's internal and external relations is the theological motif that gives particular shape to the Creed, which expresses an expansive vision of the generosity of God, with his relation to creation grounded in his being as love.

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