Search results for ""inter-varsity press""

There is no place, it seems, that feelings do not run high about feelings. Western civilization is still caught between adoration of the emotions as sublime and denigration of them as merely animal. Can we trust our feelings? Should we suppress them or should we indulge them? In what part of our persons do feelings occur? Contemporary Christianity is no less vexed about emotions. The rise of the charismatic movement in the late twentieth century, with its emphasis on experiential Christianity, has led to an equally strong reaction of suspicion against talk of the emotions as significant for the Christian life. Though these questions have an everyday, practical importance, they also point to profound theological questions about the nature of the triune God and the ascription of emotions to him in the Bible. Does God himself have feelings? This stimulating volume, based on the 2011 Moore College School of Theology, offers perspectives on emotions. Topics include a cultural overview, theological anthropology, the question of divine passions, the emotional life of Jesus, the Spirit’s work in perfecting emotions, preaching the Gospels for divine effects, and the place of the emotions in corporate worship including connections with singing and music. The contributors are Rhys Bezzant, Peter Bolt, Gerald Bray, Andrew Cameron, Keith Condie, Richard Gibson, David Höhne, Michael Jensen, David Peterson and Robert Smith.

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The cross of Christ is the heartbeat of Christianity. It is a place of pain and horror, wonder and beauty, all at the same time. It is the place where our sin collided gloriously with God's grace. But do we really understand what the cross is all about? Or are we so caught up in the peripherals of the faith that we have forgotten the core? We need to ask ourselves: How deep an impact has the cross made on my personality? Do I live in the light of the freedom it has won for me? Am I dying to myself every day, so that I can live for Christ? Do I face suffering with faith and assurance? Can I face death in the light of the hope of the resurrection? The authors present us with a contemporary challenge to place all of our lives, every thought, word and deed, under the shadow of the amazing cross, and allow that cross to transform us here and now.

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For people beginning to doubt the uniqueness and supremacy of Christ, the author of the book of Hebrews provided one of the longest, most profound arguments in the New Testament. Christians today will find their understanding stretched and their loyalty confirmed by this rich presentation of our great High Priest, the Son of God, whose sacrifice of himself took away our sins and gave us continual access to God. Written in a fresh, succinct style, this commentary from influential evangelical pastor Ray C. Stedman supplies helpful background information that paves the way for our seeing what the text means for us today as well as what it meant for its original hearers.

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When Jesus walked with his confused disciples on the Emmaus road, he began with Moses and all the Prophets and explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself - and their hearts burned within them (Luke 24). Contemporary people, too, can find their hearts burning as they hear God speak through the Old Testament texts. However, preaching from this part of the Christian Bible brings significant challenges and raises a number of issues, and hence can be neglected. This stimulating volume offers guidance for expository preaching from the Old Testament, and practical suggestions for how to understand the message of its diverse literature and to apply it today. The chapters cover narrative, plot and characters, along with the main Old Testament genres and two special topics: preaching from 'difficult' texts, and preaching Christ. The aim is to encourage use of all the Bible's rich resources, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in preaching the good news of the kingdom of God worldwide. The contributors are internationally respected evangelical Old Testament scholars, from a wide range of church traditions, who are also active in preaching: Daniel I. Block, David G. Firth, Grenville J. R. Kent, Paul J. Kissling, Alison Lo, Tremper Longman III, Ernest C. Lucas, R. W. L. Moberly, Laurence A. Turner, Federico G. Villanueva, Gordon Wenham, H. G. M. Williamson and Christopher J. H. Wright.

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Is 'newer' really 'better'? We often assume so, but if we do treat the past as inferior we will ignore the legacy of history, and thus will find ourselves stranded on the tiny desert island of our own moment in time. In particular, this applies to Christian theology, which should be thought, and lived, corporately by the church down through the ages. The remedy to 'chronological snobbery' is, as C.S. Lewis put it, 'to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds'. Such is the motivation behind Michael Reeves' introduction to a selection of influential or significant Christian theologians. This accessible and informative volume covers the Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm and Thomas Aquinas. Each chapter begins with a brief biography and some background, then surveys each theologian's major work or works, gives a timeline for historical context, and ends with guidance for further reading. 'Full of interest and totally scintillating.' Greg Haslam, Westminster Chapel 'An important book, wonderfully written.' Steve Holmes, University of St Andrews 'A very readable introduction to many of the key figures and works of the early church.' Tony Lane, London School of Theology

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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.

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We live in a culture obsessed with the idea of 'tolerance'. However, when tolerance, poorly defined, is made an absolute good, it drifts towards intolerance. It must then, argues D. A. Carson, be thoughtfully challenged, both for the good of the church and for the good of the broader culture. Carson examines how the definition of tolerance has changed. It now has less to do with putting up with a person or stance while still seeking to disagree, and more to do with not saying others are wrong. It is impossible to deploy this new tolerance consistently, so that actual practice is often whimsical and arbitrary. Worse, the words 'tolerance' and 'intolerance' have become merely rhetorical terms of approval and disapprobation. Despite the many negatives about these new, often ethically deficient definitions of tolerance, from a Christian perspective there have been gains as well. In this valuable and accessible volume, Carson uses examples and quotations to illustrate his analysis and concludes with practical advice on exemplifying and promoting the virtue of civil civic discourse.

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During the past two millennia, the Christian church has repeatedly faced challenges to its acknowledgment of both Old and New Testaments as Scripture. None of these challenges has been successful: at the dawn of the third Christian millennium, the Bible contains the same books as it did in the early church, with only slight variations between different traditions. And yet, doubts remain and questions continue to be asked. Do we need the Old Testament today? Is this collection of ancient writings still relevant in our postmodern and increasingly post-literary world? Isn't the New Testament a sufficient basis for the Christian faith? What does the Old Testament God of power and glory have to do with the New Testament God of love whom Jesus calls 'Father'? Are these two very different Testaments really one Bible? In this thoroughly revised, updated and expanded edition of Two Testaments, One Bible, David L. Baker investigates the theological basis for the continued acceptance of the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, through a study of its relationship to the New Testament. He introduces the main issues, surveys the history of interpretation, and critically examines four major approaches. He then considers four key themes, which provide a framework for Christian interpretation of two Testaments in the context of one Bible: 'typology', 'promise and fulfilment', 'continuity and discontinuity', and 'covenant'. He completes his study with a summary of the main conclusions and reflection on their implications for the use of the Bible today.

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Despite the teaching of the Bible and church tradition, it seems that many Christians can still lack an appreciation of God the Holy Spirit. He has sometimes been valued more for the gifts he bestows than for who he is; or he has been viewed simply as the 'third person of the Godhead'. However, Keith Warrington's conviction is that the Holy Spirit is more important, more central, more immanently involved in his creation, the church, and individual believers, more often and more strategically, than many Christians realise. When Jesus left his disciples and went to heaven, he gave the best gift he could - the Holy Spirit - knowing that he will be our dynamic guide and partner as we seek to live as God's people. In this practical, biblically based exploration of the Spirit, Warrington encourages believers to recognize that the same Spirit seeks to encounter us and desires that we encounter him.

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The cross and resurrection provide the pattern for discipleship today, calling Christians to a radical new way of living. The Ordinary Hero invites us to : live out the radical implications of grace apply the way of the cross: sacrificial love and service, to every area of life accept the pattern of suffering followed by glory as normal pursue spiritual power, not for its own sake, but in order to live the weakness of the cross embark on risk-taking lives because we're focussed on the world to come Says the author, 'This book strikes a note that is rarely heard today. In particular, the important themes of suffering followed by glory, and the hiddenness of the Christian life, are all but absent in contemporary Christian thought.' The book concludes with a powerful story of an ordinary hero.

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The Second Letter of Peter and the Letter of Jude both address false teaching - teaching that affects behaviour. The recipients had within their midst people whose lives contradicted the gospel that was preached. They defiled the love-feasts; they were themselves immoral and minimized the importance of law in the Christian life. They scoffed at the parousia and were fond of their own rhetoric. Michael Green offers a penetrating analysis that sets both letters in their historical context and shows their relevance to life today.

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The stories and instruction in the Old Testament book of Exodus seem more at home in a museum than in today's world. Yet, for the apostle Paul, the Old Testament is 'written for us': hence, reading Exodus as direct address is the appropriate Christian stance. This volume, based on the 2007 Moore College School of Theology, acknowledges that reading Exodus for all its worth, as a witness to the gospel and as wisdom for Christian living, is an enormous challenge. The book's appeal for today is unmistakable, in terms of its epic scope and moral complexity. The opening chapter surveys the 'uses, re-uses and misuses' of Exodus in contemporary culture, and exhorts us to feel the book's raw power, by facing squarely its moral challenges and being shaped by its sometimes bewildering theology. In response, subsequent chapters explore major units of the text and the main theological and ethical issues that they raise. Topics covered are the exodus event itself; its significance in contemporary theologies of liberation; Moses at Sinai; the Law in Exodus; the tabernacle; and how we should preach Exodus.

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In Christ and Culture Revisited, D. A. Carson begins by exploring the H. Richard Niebuhr's classic typology, with its five options for understanding culture. He proposes that these disparate options are in reality one still larger vision. Using the Bible's own story line and the categories of biblical theology, he attempts to work out what that unifying vision is. Carson acknowledges the helpfulness of Niebuhr's grid and other similar approaches, but warns against giving them canonical force.More than just theoretical, Christ and Culture Revisited is also designed to help Christians untangle current debates about living in the world.

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Can welding a gatepost bring glory to God? Does ironing your children's uniforms help you grow as a disciple? Will your new crime prevention strategy do anything to further the kingdom? To all three Ian Coffey says a resounding 'yes'. With lively Bible teaching and drawing on a wealth of real-life stories, he shows how work was part of God's good plan for men and women - given to us so we can make a creative contribution in his world. Whatever your work, God is interested in it, God can transform it, and God wants to use it - for his glory.

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Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Volume 2' is the third of three volumes extending Ben Witherington's innovative socio-rhetorical analysis of New Testament books to the latter-Pauline and non-Pauline corpora. By dividing the volumes according to the socioreligious contexts for which they were written, Witherington sheds fresh light on the documents, their provenance, character and importance. Throughout, Witherington shows his thorough knowledge of recent literature on these texts and focuses his attention on the unique insights brought about through socio-rhetorical analysis that either reinforces or corrects those gleaned from other approaches. "Bridging the Horizons" sections point to the relevance of the text for believers today, making this volume of special value to pastors and general readers as well as to students and scholars.

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Who is Jesus? Is he the blonde-haired, blue-eyed saviour of bad religious art? Or is he just another 'good thing', alongside Buddha and crystals? Or is he a fiction - the product of a bunch of first-century deluded fanatics? Bill Donahue has met the real-life dynamic Jesus who even in the twenty-first century can captivate us and transform our lives. And we can encounter him too. In forty short sections, ideal for daily reading, Donahue introduces us to Jesus as provocative teacher, sacred friend, truthful revealer, extreme forgiver, authentic leader, compassionate healer, relentless lover and supreme conqueror. With guidelines for Bible reading and prayer you will find that you too experience the living, breathing, Son of God

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This volume provides a comprehensive, thematic survey of the leading traits of worldwide evangelicalism between the 1850s and the 1890s. The discussion covers such topics as commonalities across denominational diversity; expression of faith in spirituality, worship, mission and social involvement; the legacy of the Enlightenment and the influence of Romanticism; and theological trends. The book argues that the movement was marked by a strong sense of global unity. It surveys a range of the era's best-known figures, including Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Dwight L. Moody, Ira D. Sankey, Lord Shaftesbury, David Livingstone, George Müller, Andrew Murray, James Hudson Taylor, and William and Catherine Booth.

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Spirituality' is hot. There are numerous voices telling us how to be spiritual people. But what does it really mean to be spiritual? Who can we trust to show us the way? Here's an opportunity to see what Jesus said about finding true spirituality. This discussion guide is a safe place to explore these and other questions on your own or with a group. You'll take a closer look at Luke's narrative to discover Jesus' principles for the true way to live, and what that may mean for your life. This guide is full of historical information, challenging issues and thought-provoking quotes, but it won't answer all your questions. In fact it may bring up new ones. What it will do is get you started on your journey toward faith.

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The belief that God is a Trinity - one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is fundamental to Christianity, central to the whole understanding of the divine nature and the story of human salvation. Although the term 'Trinity' does not appear in the Bible, it expresses thoroughly biblical teaching. It was developed by the early Christians as the only way to account for the revelation of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Brian Edgar's conviction is that the Trinity is fundamentally simple, thoroughly practical and theologically central - not abstract, obscure or irrelevant. With warmth and clarity, he expounds a range of biblical texts to show that God can indeed be known, and experienced in Christian life and ministry, in his glorious three-in-oneness.

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Our evangelistic attempts can seem quite odd to a watching world. Most people today are not the slightest bit interested in hearing about Jesus. They tell us they are quite happy as they are, thank you very much. This book explains why such people think like this - and provides practical guidance on how we can reach them. It demonstrates ways in which we can help people to want to find out about Jesus, how we can then share the relevance of the gospel with them, how we can answer their difficult questions and, ultimately, how we can lead them in their first steps of faith in Christ. Evangelism is difficult. It always will be. But Nick's thoughtful and imaginative approach, irrepressible humour and infectious enthusiasm will certainly help to make it slightly less difficult.

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Many discussions of Christian spirituality draw on a range of traditions and 'disciplines'. However, little attention appears to have been given to the Bible itself as a source of spirituality, or to its teaching on this theme. Furthermore, a common assumption is that the evangelical tradition has little to offer in the area of spirituality. In response, Peter Adam urges us to renew our confidence in a biblical model of spirituality, and to test our spirituality by the Bible. Drawing on a selection of Old and New Testament texts, along with significant insights from the Christian tradition, he expounds the shape and structure of a gospel-centred 'spirituality of the Word', through which we receive the life that God gives, and know God himself.

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

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Is there hope to be found in the wilderness? Jesus' forty days in the wilderness, which many Christians remember during Lent, echoes the story of God's people wandering for forty years in the wilderness. The book of Numbers tells of these wanderings but can be a difficult book of the Bible to get to grips with. Delving into this book alongside the New Testament and reflecting with prayers and questions, this daily Lent devotional explores how the Israelites' wilderness journey can speak to us in our daily struggles and challenges today. Through all the ups-and-downs of their wilderness adventure, we join with God's people as they learn to see the sure and certain fulfilment of God's future promises in the book of Numbers. We discover God's abiding presence through, as well as in, the wilderness. We see how the wilderness points us forward to the Promised Land, and to Jesus as the One who brings us into the fulness of God's promises. With readings from Numbers and from the New Testament each day, Journeying with God in the Wilderness guides us through an often-neglected book of the Bible, helping us to make sense of the Old Testament through the lens of the New and giving us Christ-centred hope. Journeying with God in the Wilderness is written as an aide to the spiritual journey of faith and can be read either individually or in small groups. It will encourage and inspire anyone feeling lost or bewildered on life's journey, or who wants to join in with the long Christian tradition of Lent as a wilderness experience, by showing them the fulfilment of the promises of God to his people in the wilderness. Join Mark Broadway this Lent and find hope for your wilderness journey.

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In unrivalled poetic language, the Song of Songs explores the whole range of emotions experienced by its two lovers as they work out their commitment to each other, consummated in marriage. The Song's powerful and unabashed affirmation of love, loyalty and earthy sexuality is urgently relevant today, when commercialised eroticism is in, and permanency in relationships is out. Tom Gledhill argues that beauty, intimacy and sexual consummation are to be celebrated, but not as ends in themselves. Rather, the point to another world, another dimension, only occasionally and dimly perceived. God has chose the love of a man and a woman as an image of his own love of his people.

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Barry Webb's The Message of Zechariah has been redesigned and sensitively updated to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

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Church planting is in vogue, yet there is a paucity of sustained biblical and theological reflection on the topic. Key voices are practitioners and planters themselves - here is the biblical theology that the missiological practice of our day has been crying out for. John Valentine explores the Bible's 'how' and 'why' for starting new churches and revitalizing old ones - in this robust and comprehensive biblical theological look at one aspect of the mission of God.

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The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters is a one-of-a-kind reference book. Featuring 208 articles written by numerous experts, it brings the very latest in Pauline scholarship and theology to students, teachers, ministers and laypeople in an accessible and easy to use layout. No other single volume reference work presents as much information focused exclusively on Pauline theology, literature, background and scholarship. This second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters has been completely revised and updated, to ensure that it contains the very best and most recent developments in Pauline thought. With articles organized in alphabetical order, it is easy to browse through and find exactly what you need - whether you are a student, preacher or simply interested in better understanding Paul's writings. Part of the IVP Reference series, the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Second Edition, is committed to the authority of Scripture, utilising the best of critical methods, and maintaining dialogue with contemporary scholarship and challenges facing the church Those who have enjoyed and benefited from the first edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters will find this second edition an equally indispensable companion to study and research, while those who are new to the study of Pauline theology will find this an incomparable resource.

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What would the world look like if the Old Perspective on Paul was right about justification, the New Perspective was right about Judaism, and the Radical New Perspective was right to note ongoing differences between Jewish and Gentile converts? Galatians Reconsidered is a compelling, practical study of Paul the Apostle’s writing that explores just that. Emphasising the central role played by regression in Paul’s argument on justification, Neil Martin examines the dichotomy between faith and works and how the apostle envisaged the differences in how Jews and Gentiles should interact with the Law. By re-establishing Galatians in its original Jewish and pagan context, Martin exposes the problems faced by Galatian churches and shows how they still speak to modern churches today. His insight not only helps us better appreciate Paul’s message but challenges us to put his wisdom into practice in our own church settings. Provocative and stimulating Galatians Reconsidered is a robust new look at the question of justification. It will leave you with a thorough knowledge of the merits and failings of both the old and new perspectives on Paul, as well as a broader understanding of the letter to the Galatians both in the context in which it was written and its continued relevance today.

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The Apostle Paul was bound by prison chains when he wrote to the church at Philippi. Despite his loss of liberty, and opposition from fellow-workers, the letter radiates joy - joy that Christ was proclaimed, joy in fellowship with the Philippian Christians, and above all joy in Jesus himself. Alec Motyer explores Paul's great themes, so relevant today: Christian unity; the Person of Jesus and what he has achieved for us; the call to live a life worthy of the gospel.

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In the book of Acts, we see the church unleashed on society to make God’s kingdom known. Thousands came to faith, signs and wonders inspired awe, and the church was radically united together for God’s work. But we also see the tensions of the early church – struggles over belief and holiness, leadership and unity. 2000 years later, how can we learn from Acts to be the church unleashed? These seven studies explore different aspects of the church seen in Acts and applies them for the church today as we work out our mission in the world. Specially designed for small groups and individuals based on the theme of Spring Harvest 2020, this workbook contains material for seven sessions, all of which help small groups engage with the Scriptures and apply them to daily life. Each study includes Bible passages, key thoughts and comments, questions to reflect upon or discuss, action points and prayer guidance.

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Where are you? Today, your favourite maps app will give you your location down to a greater level of detail than ever before. But do you really feel like you know where you are? Major cultural shifts over the past generation have left us feeling disorientated; constant connection has left us feeling dislocated. And many of us are searching for something we can’t seem to find. Could the problem be that we have lost a place for God? Pete Nicholas invites you to explore the big questions asked by each generation from those of origin and identity to happiness and hope, arguing that by reinstating God’s centrality in our lives we can find a sense of rootedness, peace and the answers we’ve been looking for. Featuring a foreword by Timothy Keller, author, speaker and church leader.

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Luke the Physician was fascinated by people - rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rulers and slaves. In his Gospel he delights to portray Jesus as the Saviour not of an elite group but of any one, in any condition, who turns to him. Jesus is indeed the Saviour of the world. Luke knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote his Gospel. He tells us his goal in the opening verses: to set forth an orderly and accurate account of what had been accomplished by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. In this engaging exposition, Michael Wilcock gives special attention to these opening words. Then, as he examines the individual deeds and sayings of Jesus, he shows how the structure of Luke's narrative brings out their meaning. The good news of Luke is still true today. None of us are beyond redemption unless we choose to put ourselves there. This message has implications not only for our personal lives but for our churches and society as a whole.

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Who am I and do I really matter? This is a heartfelt cry today, articulated in different ways, often even among those who claim to be Christians. Paul Mallard shows us what the Bible teaches us about our identity as human beings and, more specifically, as Christians. We look at our relationship with God, with the church, with our family and in the workplace. The starting point is the NT book of Ephesians, which is far more relevant today than we might think. The author brings us right into the heart of his family, explaining how Abe, his young grandson, in spite of severe disability from birth, was made by a loving and kind Creator, with unique value and immeasurable dignity. In fact, our dignity as humans stems from the fact that God has created us in his image - how amazing is that! This is a book which will orientate and reassure us, offering genuine confidence. But it will also move our hearts to praise God for investing such value in human beings like us, and for sending his Son, Jesus, so that we could have freedom from sin and enjoy the status of sons and daughters. Preface 1 Who am I? 2 Unbelievably blessed 3 Undeservedly rescued 4 Unimaginably transformed 5 Every barrier is down 6 Every person is needed 7 Everyone worships something 8 Against the flow 9 The home - men and women 10 Fight for who you are 11 People of hope 12 More loved than you can imagine

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We have a God-given responsibility to infiltrate the world, listening to the world's challenges, but also to bring our own challenge to the world by sharing the good news by word and deed. We look at four aspects of mission: * The uniqueness of Jesus, the chief foundation of Christian mission * The nature of God himself, and mission coming from his heart * Mission in word, but also in works * A clear and fresh vision of Christ We look at the model, the costliness, the mandate, the motivation and the urgency of the mission to which we are called.

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It sounded implausible. God promised an old, childless man that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Yet Abraham chose to believe God, embarking on a transforming, lifelong journey of faith and obedience. As Jack Kuhatschek leads us through these nine studies on Abraham’s life, we will learn to be people who listen to, obey and trust God and the promises that he has made to us as well. With more than 130 titles, the LifeBuilder Bible Studies series delivers sound biblical content and raises thought-provoking questions. It provides a unique Bible study experience for individuals and groups.

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Do you wonder whether you will be with Jesus after you die? When you are suffering, do you wonder if God has forgotten you? Would you like to be sure that your life is pleasing to the Lord? At times we all feel anxious and insecure about life - and about our faith. The Thessalonians were asking these questions, and Paul wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians to help them find assurance. This revised title features questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, as well as a "now or later" section in each study.

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We are called to four great loves: to love God; to love God’s Word; to love God’s people; to love God’s purposes in the world. It is both an awesome task and a glorious opportunity that God promises to equip us for. Through two studies for each topic, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament, we see tangible ways to love and serve the God who loves us perfectly and who longs for us to know him more intimately.

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Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To be spiritually mature is to show the fruit of the Spirit in Christ in our lives. These nine New and Old Testament passages highlighting each quality will allow the Spirit's fruit to ripen in our lives. This revised LifeBuilder Bible study features additional questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, together with expanded leader's notes and an extra 'now or later' section in each study.

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I'll never grow up. Sometimes we feel a little like Peter Pan. We'd rather be children, free of obligations and responsibilities. Sometimes we even feel that way about our Christian lives. The writers of Peter & Jude understand how difficult it is to grow into maturity. But they show us how God provides direction and comfort when we travel dark roads, and show us what it takes to be mature in Christ. This revised edition features questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, as well as a 'now or later' section in each study.

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Daniel asserts the meaning of history is that God’s kingdom is coming. As it does, faithful people persevere in their work for God. Believers can rely on the certainties the book proclaims: God is sovereign over human affairs and is effectively bringing in his eternal kingdom, which will encompass all nations. Paul House shows how Daniel rewards readers who embrace its historical, literary and theological features as key means of personal and community formation.

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Christians usually focus on what Jesus has done (his life, death and resurrection) and what he will do (his second coming and eternal reign). While there has been something of a revival of interest in his ascension, studies of Jesus in his exalted state are relatively rare. However, the Christ that Christians trust in, relate to and love is not only the one who lived, died, rose and will come again: he is also currently seated at God’s right hand. Christian faith as well as theological reflection must take into consideration this significant aspect of Christ’s person and work. Peter Orr attends to this somewhat neglected topic in biblical theology. He explores the New Testament witness to Jesus as he is now, the exalted Christ, through the lenses of his identity, his location and his activity.

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Does the church have a future? Across the generations troubled Christians have often asked this question. Even as early as the end of the first century the future of the church hung in the balance. False teaching, internal division and persecution were rife. Emperor Domitian had exiled the apostle John, probably in his 90s, on the island of Patmos. You can imagine John, pacing up and down the island at night, looking across the sea to the cities on the shore, wondering, `Does the church have a future?' Into this situation the Lord comes and makes these glorious revelations. He gives John this vision and tells him to write to the seven churches of Asia Minor, in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, in what is now called Turkey. To each of these churches Jesus says, `I know... I know your hopes and dreams, your faults and failings, your joys and sorrows, your temptations and frustrations.' Jesus knew each church, and so he could speak wisely and truthfully into each circumstance. He said some hard things to shake the believers out of their apathy. He also spoke words of comfort. The letter ends by pointing the believers to heaven, a reminder that despite their present struggles, ultimately they are on the victory side. Today the church still faces internal division, opposition and persecution. It is understandable that some believers ask, `Does the church have a future?' The answer is the same as it always has been. Absolutely.

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Putting Jesus in his rightful place. This was the issue which the church at Colossae wrestled with. There was a plethora of other gods and spiritual beings to worship. The city was rife with syncretism: the belief that you can worship Jesus but need to supplement this by turning to other powers and authorities. If you get sick or want your business to flourish, then surely it's expedient to pay allegiance to these other powers and not just Jesus? In Colossae Jesus was eminent. He had status. The fundamental question though was: is he pre-eminent? Yes, Jesus was important, just not all-important; adequate but not totally sufficient for every need. Writing from a prison cell in Rome, Paul warns the new believers of the danger of turning to another Jesus. If they fail to heed his warning, their faith will unravel. The New Testament letter to the Colossians has much to say to us today. It provides challenge, inspiration and a renewed focus to keep on living for Christ in our generation. Is Christ pre-eminent in your life and mine?

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What is the sabbath? A weekly day of rest and worship. People of all ages are discovering that the sabbath is a gift from God – a blessing that brings a renewed awareness of who God is and who we are as his beloved children. These studies will help you to learn more about what the sabbath is and how to practise it. Come and discover God’s gift of rest. With more than 130 titles, the LifeBuilder Bible Studies series delivers sound biblical content and raises thought-provoking questions. It provides a unique Bible study experience for individuals and groups.

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

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In many ways, Proverbs is similar to the wisdom literature of the wider Ancient Near East. However, while the book initially appears to consist primarily of practical advice, it demonstrates that wisdom is grounded in a relationship with God. Lindsay Wilson shows how the first nine chapters provide a reading guide for the many proverbs in subsequent chapters; and how the fear of the Lord, choosing wisdom rather than folly, and having our characters formed by good choices are crucial for understanding Proverbs as Christian Scripture and living out our faith in daily life. Part of the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series designed to help the reader of the Bible understand what the text says and what it means.

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Today the language of mission is in disarray. Where do the language and idea of 'mission' come from? Do they truly have precedence in the early centuries of the church? Michael Stroope investigates these questions and shows how the language of mission is a modern phenomenon that shaped a 'grand narrative' of mission. He then offers a way forward.

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