Search results for ""BRF (The Bible Reading Fellowship)""

Get Messy! Volume 2 contains twelve session outlines for Messy Churches. This volume takes you through the basic themes of Christianity including: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? (Pentecost). Other key Christian festivals include: Christmas God entering the world as Jesus and Easter exploring Jesus' last supper before his death and resurrection and why Christians celebrate communion. The material also covers God's best ways of living, demonstrated through Jesus' life; a challenge to follow Jesus and trust God with a new direction; and exploring following and belonging to Jesus through baptism.Other than the key Christian festivals Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, the sessions are standalone and can be done in any order.Messy Churches who wish to dig deeper into discipleship between Messy Church gatherings might like to try a complementary resource, Messy Basics, a discipleship course exploring what Christians believe through faith-based conversations in all-age gro

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In this year's BRF Advent book Sally Welch explores two questions: What is the Christmas story really about, and how do we share it? Through each week of Advent, a different aspect of the Christmas story is examined: light, promise, mystery, love, peace and hope. Within each week, the days are focused on the ways in which the Christmas story is shared: prophecies, journeys, new life, signs, poems, stories and conversations. Each day offers a Bible passage, followed by a reflection and prayer activity. Suggestions for group study and group study questions are also included. ‘Imbued with biblical insight, this book delves into the failings, the forgivings and the foibles of the way we are and the way we behave. Into the glorious muddle of our lives, we search for God and find God. In Sally Welch we have a delightful, experienced pastoral guide.’ Gordon Giles, author of At Home in Advent ‘Sally has woven a beautiful golden cord, binding together scriptural truth and wisdom, profound contemporary relevance and insightful personal experience. Written with warmth, love and understanding, this is a genuine treasure.’ Margaret Silf, author of Lighted Windows

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25 short reflective pieces for the Christmas season written by Claire Musters, travelling through promise and preparation to joy, peace and finally love. Along the way we encounter a choir of diverse voices sharing their favourite carols, poems and prayers, illustrated throughout with original colour artwork. Includes contributions from Naomi Aidoo, Andy Angel, Jonathan Arnold, Imogen Ball, Ruth Bancewicz, Carl Beech, John Bell, Andrew Boakye, Catherine Butcher, Lyndall Bywater, Mags Duggan, Hannah Fytche, Gordon Giles, Paul Goodliff, Isabelle Hamley, Clare Hayns, Liz Hoare, Trystan Hughes, Lakshmi Jeffreys, Andy Kind, David Kitchen, Esther Kuku, Martin Leckebusch, Bekah Legg, Ann Lewin, Tanya Marlow, Leone Martin, Chine McDonald, Lucy Moore, Michele Morrison, Charmaine Noble-McLean, Emma Pennington, Pam Rhodes, Amy Scott Robinson, Margaret Silf, Meric Srokosz, Jo Swinney, Evie Vernon, Sally Welch and Natalie Williams.

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Environmental sustainability is a major issue for us all. In this extensively updated edition, Martin and Margot Hodson consider eight of the key current environmental problems, giving the biblical basis for looking after the environment and helping to integrate environmental thinking into the reader’s understanding of Christian faith. This accessible guide includes ethical reflections, Bible studies focusing on a different biblical doctrine for each chapter, and eco-tips to enable practical response. Among the issues covered are climate change, food, biodiversity, and population, together with the relationship between environmental problems and issues relating to world development. Praise for A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues: Martin and Margot Hodson’s deep commitment to the critical issues that their timely book addresses shines through each chapter. Peter Harris, Founder of A Rocha This book looks straight in the eye of the most serious set of environmental challenges humanity faces. Drawing together in accessible ways scientific evidence, biblical reflection and practical ideas, it will provoke you to better think, act and pray for the renewal of creation. Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich

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Explore the Holy Habits through the life of Jesus This resource provides seven weeks of material for church groups to use during Lent. Each session includes the printed Bible passage, a suggestion for a simple symbolic worship centre, music suggestions, reflection, poem, questions, prayer and take-home ideas. Additional material for Holy Week provides daily reflections that can be used as the basis of a gathered act of worship, or for personal devotion.

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‘The need of the hour is for Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, Father-glorifying, Bible-based, fruitful individuals and churches. This book can only help towards that goal.’ In A Fruitful Life we ponder the teaching of Jesus in John chapter 15, the famous ‘vine’ passage. He is preparing his disciples for his departure and describing how they can be effective witnesses in a hostile world. Just as his instructions revolutionised their lives, so a proper understanding of what he is saying can revolutionise our lives also. It is the heart of the gospel message: the only way to live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live his life in us and through us. This book includes material for individual reflection and questions for group discussion.

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‘This is a wonderful companion for Lent by Bishop David Walker. It is short but deep, and engages the reader in both prayer and reflection. A perfect way to explore what it means for all of us to belong to Christ in a challenging world.’ Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury Every day during Lent Bishop David Walker invites us to look afresh at a Biblical character or saint. We gain new insights into their lives. He helps us journey through Lent with a deeper knowledge of how much God loves and treasures us. God reminds us ‘You are mine.’ David draws on his experience as an ordinary member of a family and a friend, a theologian and a Bishop. God’s desire is for us to belong to Jesus and to each other. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu 'Again and again, as I have sought to look into both the scriptures and my own life, I have heard in the silence the one who assures me, ever more strongly, 'You are mine'. My hope and prayer is that you who read it will hear something of the same.' At this time of Lent, David Walker explores different aspects of human belonging through the medium of scripture and story in order to help us recognise the different ways in which we are God’s beloved. And as we recognise ourselves and our own lives in the narrative of God’s engagement with humanity and his creation, he gently challenges us to engage for God’s sake with God’s world.

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To discover the Rule of St Benedict is to encounter something that is at once inspiring, supporting, reassuring, challenging. Let this book be an introduction to the writing of a man who will change your life. Esther de Waal, author of Seeking God: The Way of St Benedict The Rule of St Benedict has much to say about faith, work and daily living. In a time when many are seeking space, silence and spiritual depth, the Rule retains relevance in a world where change is often feared, stability can be elusive and busyness interferes with listening to God. Life with St Benedict provides daily reflections on the Rule as an aid to enabling personal spiritual growth and prayer. Benedictine communities use a well-established pattern of daily readings to enable the entire Rule to be considered over a four-month period. Life with St Benedict follows this pattern. Each four-month long period begins on 1 January, 2 May and 1 September and each entry shows three dates on which it can be read. There are 122 readings and reflections in each period.

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Attitudes to retirement vary, and in this book Wendy Billington draws on her pastoral skills and life experience to ask the question: what is a Christian view of retirement? If we believe that life is a gift from God, should we not be viewing retirement as part of an integrated whole and see our latter years as part of God’s plan? This book is intended for all to read: individuals preparing for retirement and in their retirement years as well as their families, friends, befrienders, carers and professionals. Written in two sections, ‘Uprooting the weeds’ and ‘Sowing the seeds’, it includes questions for group discussion at the end of each chapter, followed by a meditative thought for the day and a closing prayer.

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This challenging book sets out what is involved in being a Christian minister - its joys and difficulties, its responsibilities and privilege. It discusses the call to and the work of ministry; the breadth and nature of the task. How to Be a Church Minister will prove to be immensely useful across a wide spectrum of church traditions, both to those already in ministry and to those contemplating the vocation.

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A guide to the great big family drama that takes up most of the first book of our Bibles. How can you read it wisely, and know what to look out for? This Really Useful Guide to Genesis 12—50 unpacks the fascinating family stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Richard S. Briggs takes us on a tour of these characters’ lives, suggesting different ways of approaching the stories to draw out different facets and looking at how God can be found throughout. With a discussion of the historical background of Genesis and a detailed look at a few key passages, this book will increase your biblical knowledge and make you more aware of God’s presence in everyday life.

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Holy Habits is an initiative to nurture Christian discipleship. It explores Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. These resources, which include an introductory guide, have been developed to help churches explore the habits in a range of contexts and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.

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Following on from the success of The Contemplative Minister, Ian Cowley offers new insight and greater depth for church leaders in a distracted world. Ian emphasises that the true self finds peace in resting in the love of God. He addresses the compulsions of our consumerist culture and calls those in leadership to an inner life of truthfulness, self-knowledge and self-discipline. Praise for Ian's previous book: 'An immensely readable tour de force' Church Times

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Uncertainty and change can be hard, and even more so for a child. Feelings of confusion, powerlessness and insecurity may be overwhelming. Scripture is full of people just like our children who had to cope with uncertainty and transition and flourished as they saw God’s hand and presence within it all. Designed as a series of stories and discussions for families, this book lays a biblical foundation for who God is in uncertain times and how to stay connected to him. Praise for Comfort in the Darkness: 'What is not to love about this book? 16 stories from the Bible are skilfully retold with just the right amount of drama, suspense and awe - perfect for a shared story!' Ali Campbell, The Resource 'It's simple, it's clever and it's profound. I found my own perspective on night-time changing along with my children's.' Victoria Beech, godventure

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How can we live a little more hopefully each day? Fear, terrorism, corruption, fake news… it can be easy to become discouraged by the culture around us. Now more than ever, society needs hope in order to survive and flourish. This book takes us beyond comfort zones and easy answers, and towards a deeper understanding and practice of hope. It offers reflections, stories and practical ways for individuals and groups to find hope in their lives through discovering more about God in their midst. Focusing on God’s intervention in biblical history, God’s presence in contemporary contexts and God’s promised hope for the future, Joanne Cox-Darling encourages us to live more confidently, noticing more of the Spirit in our daily lives, and with more compassion and – ultimately – hope in God. ‘Joanne Cox-Darling has a gift for storytelling, which she uses with great ability to do the difficult weave between the Bible and the world we inhabit. She does not flinch before the shabby hope-destroying culture all around. But she also does not blink before the audacity of the Bible. Readers will be glad when they pause to participate in her buoyant gifts.’ Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

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How can churches become centres for empowering parents to raise God-connected children? How can we transform the lives of parents, carers, grandparents and church communities, and the way generations of children are raised? While it is parents who are on the front line of discipling their children, God has placed us as the church to journey alongside them, nurturing and equipping them and cheering them on. This book will help church leaders and volunteers to grow in the skills needed to make our churches places that empower families. It explores how to help parents over the major obstacles that hinder them from proactively discipling their children, and looks at practical ways to lay the foundations of a church culture where parenting for faith can flourish.

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Using the biblical idea of pilgrimage, Sally Welch walks alongside us as leader and guide, but also fellow traveller, to explore how we can understand this biblical principle and make it our own. This book is divided into sections of a journey, beginning with the preparations necessary before setting out, exploring the obstacles which might be put in our path and sharing ways in which the journey can be made easier and more productive. At the end of each reflection there is a suggestion for an activity or prayer to enable the reader to apply the learning to their own life.

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Here is an original way of approaching Lent, one that will encourage you to consider your own faith journey in the light of the Easter story. Inspired by Neil MacGregor's Radio 4 programme, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects', Gordon Giles spends each week in a different room gleaning spiritual lessons from everyday household objects. As a result, you might discover that finding God in the normal pattern of life – even in the mundane – transforms how you approach each day. Running as a thread through it all are the seven Rs of Lent: regret, repentance, resolution, recognition, reconciliation, renewal and resurrection.

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The biblical title ‘The Prince of Peace’ leaves us in no doubt that God’s purpose in Jesus Christ is to bring peace – universal peace, both with God and with our neighbours. But have we really understood what this peace might look like, especially in a world of wars and suffering? David Kerrigan sees the coming of Jesus at Christmas as central to the divine plan to bring peace to the world. Through reflection on biblical texts and mission stories he locates God at the centre of our mission and encourages us to restore the peace, joy and hope that come from accompanying Jesus.

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Musings of a Clergy Child was written when Nell Goddard was a Theology student at Durham University. She grew up as the daughter of two ordained priests, who have had jobs ranging from Oxford chaplain to academic theologian to priest-in-charge of a central London parish. She is passionate about justice, ethics and feminism and is a co-founder of a Christian social justice society at Durham University, which is part of the national movement, 'Just Love'.

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Like the seasons themselves, our lives are variable and can change in a moment. In Seasoned by Seasons, Michael Mitton acknowledges this and offers Bible reflections for the variety of life's seasons: spring, the season of emerging new life; summer, the season of fruitfulness; autumn, the season of letting go; winter, the season of discovering light in the dark. What can we learn, and how can we be encouraged in each season of our lives? This book will empower you to discover for yourself the truths and messages of scripture, and might well change the way you view life's changes.

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Using the Blob style of illustration popularised in the Blob Tree publications, The Visual Christmas Story opens up the Bible for readers and non-readers alike, of all ages and abilities, and is suitable for use at home, church or school. The Bible text appears opposite verse-by-verse illustrations that encourage emotional and intuitive engagement with the narrative. Includes the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of Jesus.

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From the Community of Aidan and Hilda, here is a resource to create a daily rhythm of prayer, inspired by historic and contemporary Celtic Christian spirituality and earthed in the activities of everyday living. Celtic Rhythms of Life contains ready-to-use forms of prayer for morning, midday, evening and night, seven days a week. Morning and evening prayer have a choice of four psalms and scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments. Midday and night prayer have short scripture readings printed in the text. Each day also has its own theme, from resurrection on Sundays to the kingdom on Saturdays.

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Grandparenting brings new life and joy, and also the opportunity to walk spiritually alongside our grandchildren. In this book, Becky Sedgwick explores how grandparents can actively encourage and equip their grandchildren to meet and know God, offering tools and skills for the journey. Whatever your circumstances, God has positioned you to be a unique voice speaking into your grandchildren’s lives, helping to nurture them into the reality of a relationship with the God who loves them.

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This inspirational book takes the reader through Advent to the celebration of Christmas through the eyes and beliefs of Celtic Christianity. Starting in November and reflecting on Jesus' coming at his birth as well as into our lives by the Holy Spirit and at the world's end, the author offers a unique approach to the season to help you gain a new sense of wonder in the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

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