Search results for ""Inter-Varsity Press""

Is everything a Christian does ‘mission’, or does it only count when we speak about Jesus and share the gospel? Does mission include volunteering at the food bank, campaigning for justice and providing aid overseas? As the needs around us multiply and opposition to the gospel intensifies, this question ‘Is everything mission?’ becomes even more important for us to wrestle with. Tim Chester’s 2018 Keswick Convention lecture helps us unpack what mission is and the role that God wants you, your church, your mission agency, to play.

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Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a fascinating book filled with strange and powerful visions. At first glance, Ezekiel seems a little eccentric and difficult to get close to, but he is worth the time and effort to get to know. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know God – and God revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. You will catch something of the awesomeness of God in this book. You will see God in his transcendent glory like in no other part of the Bible. You will come away stunned – and changed – by God’s majesty.

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Nahum's prophecy of Nineveh's coming destruction. Habakkuk's probing dialogue with the Lord of Israel. Zephaniah's warning to Jerusalem's last great king. The texts of these minor but important prophets receive a fresh analysis in this introduction and commentary. Fanie Snyman considers each book's historical setting, structure and literary features as well as important theological themes.

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Across the barriers of race, class, culture and denomination, Christians are united through the transforming power of the gospel of grace. Yet instead of walls dismantled and alienations healed, churches are often characterised by ugly division, narrow tribalism and painful fragmentation. In a world characterised by growing social division, hostile identity politics and polarised cyber tribes - all compounded by shrill voices on social media - the author unfolds the profound biblical vision of true unity, founded on the redemptive purposes of God to create a single new humanity. This book provides crucial help for handling differences and overcoming division, calling for attitudes and behaviour that portray Christ-like character and reflect true Christian community. Applying key biblical texts, it addresses practical issues of handling conflict, managing change, using words wisely, avoiding tribalism, strengthening partnerships and building counter-cultural community in the local church. Urging us to make every effort to promote godly unity, this is a thoughtful yet passionate call to remember that we are essentially one - for the sake of God’s honour and the credibility of our Christian witness in a fractured world.

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Broken marriages, shattered friendships, racial divisions, war between nations - we live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together? In Ephesians Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God's plan to unite everyone and everything in Christ. Studying this book will renew your hope. The top-selling Lifebuilder Bible Studies have helped millions of people dig deeper into the Bible, individually and in groups. This revised edition 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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Nine studies for individuals or small groups based on the most loved part of the Bible. This well-loved Psalm touches our deepest longings and speaks to our deepest fears. This study will help readers explore the rich message of this Psalm and gain fresh insights.

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Sometimes our worship loses its passion, our prayer life becomes stagnant, we forget why we are serving God. And the world's ways subtly become our ways. Romans addresses these problems and shows us how we can break out of old patterns and become new in Christ. 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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There has been an explosion of interest in wisdom literature, and many studies are now available. There is every opportunity for people to 'get wisdom, get insight' (Prov. 4:5). However, in today’s world it seems that the practical sensibilities that come from wisdom are found in very few places. Wisdom literature is needed now more than ever. By walking in the way of wisdom we will 'find favour and good success in the sight of God and man' (Prov. 3:4). Richard Belcher’s valuable study begins with a survey of the problem of wisdom literature in Old Testament theology. Subsequent chapters focus on the message and theology of the books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. These books point forward to the need for Christ and the gospel. Belcher concludes by exploring the relationship of Christ to wisdom in terms of his person, work and teaching ministry.

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You can't change the fact that you are getting older. And, indeed, you may not want to! Age brings many gifts and opportunities for continued growth. In nine study sessions, Dale and Sandy Larsen help you discover the Bible's perspective on aging. You'll discover how God can effectively and powerfully use those who have grown wiser with the passing years. This LifeBuilder Bible Study in IVP's revised format features questions for starting group discussions and for meeting God in personal reflection, as well as a new "Now or Later" section following each session to help you act on what you learn.

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The borderlands of change can be disorienting. We can feel adrift. We may enter them by intention, aspiring to growth, or be thrust into them by illness, relationship breakdown, financial crisis or bereavement. Whatever, they will always form challenging territory. Scripture, though, offers rich resources for navigating such landscapes. The Great Fifty Days from Easter to Pentecost form a unique map for the adventure of spiritual growth. Tracking Jesus’ disciples through these days, this book is for anyone undergoing transition or who seeks to grow in their faith. Poetic and passionate in language, frank and authentic about the challenge of change, it aims to inspire and stir appetite for spiritual formation. Combining insights from literature, psychology and art, it offers scriptural keys that can help and enrich any borderland season of life. Be equipped for a transforming journey into all the fullness of life that Jesus promises.

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Youth work . . . Time for a reboot? We need youth ministry that · has the Bible at its heart · offers firm foundations · is designed to outlive the youth worker ‘May this book contribute to the revival of biblical youth ministry.’ Ajith Fernando ‘Essential reading for every Christian youth worker.’ Andy du Feu ‘Combines a vast knowledge of the Bible and youth ministry with an easy-to-read and witty style.’ Ruth Jackson ‘An important read and worth reading for the sake of our young people.’ Phil Moon ‘Encouraging, constructive, challenging and provocative . . . A must-read, this book will captivate and stretch you.’ Neil O’Boyle ‘This book is 100% fresh, and it shouldn’t be. Read it and you will see what I mean!’ Mark Oestreicher ‘Argues powerfully why we need to encourage young people to love God and love his word.’ Mark Russell ‘Tim’s passion to ensure that the Bible shapes – rather than just informs – our work is both admirable and infectious.’ Martin Saunders ‘Shows us how youth ministry is . . . about living out the biblical story.’ Graham Stanton Tim Gough is Director of Llandudno Youth for Christ, Wales, UK, and the editor of the multi-award-winning blog www.youthworkhacks.com.

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Christian entrepreneurs are at the heart of the church’s mission. They are dynamic, innovative followers of Christ who are making a major contribution to our society through the companies they run, the products they make and the people they influence. A Voice to Be Heard explains and celebrates their work, mostly through their own words. Theological educator Richard Higginson and former retail entrepreneur Kina Robertshaw have worked together on this ground-breaking study, based on interviews with fifty entrepreneurs. Exploring issues of vision, creativity, relationships, stewardship, integrity, prayer and perseverance, they show how people running their own businesses are exercising crucial roles in building God’s kingdom. With the church’s encouragement, they have the potential to do even more. ‘Practical, biblical, informative . . . this book conveys vividly the voices of Christian entrepreneurs.’ Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach ‘This book is a treasure. From car dealerships to toy stores, A Voice to Be Heard visits particular entrepreneurs at work and reveals their leadership lessons for us all.’ Eve Poole ‘This book has truth with flesh on. It is a delicious mixture of story and biblical reflection . . . a truly inspiring read.’ Dr R. Paul Stevens

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The prophet Hosea lived through the tumultuous final decades of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The assassinations and usurpations within Israel and the instability from the re-invigorated Assyrians culminated eventually in the destruction of Samaria, the ending of the Northern Kingdom, and the exile of many of its people. Hosea's prophetic work took place in the midst of those years, calling the people to faith in God through warnings of judgment and promises of hope. He exposed the infidelity of the people as they turned to other nations, to their own counsels, or to other gods for their life and prosperity. Such turning towards others for what God alone could give them was, in Hosea’s most famous metaphor, 'whoring.' As God's people they needed to reckon with 'their' God, who had through long years showered them with care and grace. For Hosea it was their refusal to 'return' to their Lord that resulted in his bringing judgment upon them in the form of the Assyrian invasion. Joshua Moon sets the prophecies of Hosea in their 8th century BC context. The burden of his commentary is the importance of reading Hosea as Christian Scripture, in which we are meant to hear God’s own voice as he calls his people to himself. Moon demonstrates the ongoing importance of hearing God’s words through Hosea, situating the reading of each section within larger biblical and theological concerns.

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Burning pyres, nuns on the run, stirring courage, comic relief. The story of the Protestant Reformation is a gripping tale, packed with drama. It was set in motion on 31 October 1517 when Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. What motivated the Reformers? And what were they really like? In this lively, accessible and informative introduction, Michael Reeves brings to life the colourful characters of the Reformation, unpacks their ideas, and shows the profound and personal relevance of Reformation thinking for today.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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