Search results for ""inter-varsity press""

The church is political. Theologians have been debating this claim for years. Liberationists, Anabaptists, Augustinians, neo-Calvinists, Radical Orthodox and others continue to discuss the matter. What do we mean by politics and the political? What are the limits of the church’s political reach? What is the nature of the church as an institution? How do we establish these claims theologically? Jonathan Leeman sets out to address these questions in this significant work. Drawing on covenantal theology and the ‘new institutionalism’ in political science, Leeman critiques political liberalism and explores how the biblical canon informs an account of the local church as an embassy of Christ’s kingdom. Political Church heralds a new era in political theology.

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The language of 'christophanies' is used technically by scholars to refer to appearances of the incarnate Son of God after his resurrection, as narrated in the New Testament Gospels and Acts. At a more popular level, though, the term is increasingly applied to alleged appearances of the pre-incarnate Son in the Old Testament. That Jesus appeared to - and was even recognized by - the likes of Abraham and Moses is usually argued from several scriptural trajectories. The New Testament suggests that God the Father is invisible, inviting us to ask who conducted the Old Testament appearances; the mysterious Angel of the Lord has often been interpreted as a manifestation of the divine Son; and several New Testament passages imply Old Testament appearances of and encounters with Jesus. It seems obvious, indeed orthodox, to affirm that Jesus has always been at work in communicating with and saving his world. However, Andrew Malone argues that, while Christ-centred readings of the Old Testament abound, christophanies prove to be a flimsy foundation on which to build. Despite apparent success, any scholarship commending the idea does not withstand close scrutiny. Malone carefully sifts the evidence to show that the popular arguments should be abandoned, and that the pursuit of Old Testament christophanies ultimately threatens to undermine the very values it promotes. He concludes that it better honours the Trinity and the text of Scripture to allow that the Father and the Spirit, as well as the Son, were themselves involved in Old Testament appearances.

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A key issue in Christianity is the nature of works or obedience or faithfulness in the Christian life. While evangelicals can generally agree that one enters into a covenant relationship with God by grace (even solely by grace) apart from works, there is often much more disagreement over how to construe the nature of works, or obedience, inside this covenantal relationship. From a close study of key Old and New Testament texts, Bradley Green shows that in the new covenant, works or obedience will be a God-elicited, real and necessary part of Christian life.

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We all love stories. In a world where people are often hostile to the good news, telling stories is an ideal way to communicate the gospel warmly and winningly. Those who would never listen to a sermon or a gospel presentation are often enthralled by the same message told as a story. Of course, that's just what Jesus did in his parables. Our Bibles are filled with stories that communicate deep truths in a moving and powerful way. But how can we, too, use the power of stories to get gospel truths across in fresh ways, and to teach biblical truth in memorable and life-changing ways? Martin Goldsmith discovered early in his career as a missionary that stories were the most effective way of sharing the gospel - especially in places where evangelism was illegal. But, since then, he's discovered that they are also often the best way of sharing it with our neighbours in the West, who are suspicious of religious truth and hate being preached at. Full of colourful stories from a lifetime of sharing the gospel, this book shows us how to do the same. The author demonstrates how the Bible teaches its theology through story, and how other faiths are shaped by their storytelling - giving us a deeper understanding of how we can reach others and teach real and significant truths in an enthralling way. If we want to win hearers for the gospel in today's world, it is vital to become compelling and persuasive tellers of the gospel story once again.

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'I wanted to change the world, but I couldn't find a babysitter.' School runs, packed lunches, play-dates, date night, nappy changes, homework, football, deadlines, bedtime stories, supermarket runs, peace-keeping, juice and biscuits, park trips, the runs, toddler groups, coffee drinking, mum's taxi, potty training, kiss-it-better. These are our lives. Like you, we are busy mums who want to follow God. We want to be part of his mission to the world. Perhaps you had big dreams of how you'd make a difference to the world, how you'd change it for the better, but now all you can think about is the next feed. Or perhaps you think mission is only for 'special Christians' who are extra holy and know their Bible backwards - and you feel that just ticking off each day on the calendar is an achievement? Wherever you are, whatever you feel, we hope this book will renew your passion to serve God in your own situation. We'd like to share some stories from women who have begun to do just that. And we want to invite you to explore what mission looks like for a normal mum. Because however ordinary we are, we serve an extraordinary God, and he calls us all to be a part of his mission to transform the earth, bring his kingdom, redeem a new humanity and build his church.

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In this outstanding commentary, Gordon McConville offers a theological interpretation of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy in the context of the biblical canon. He gives due attention to historical issues where these bear on what can be known about the settings in which the text emerged. His dominant method is one that approaches Deuteronomy as a finished work. Dr McConville argues that in the context of the ancient world, Deuteronomy should be understood as the radical blueprint for the life of a people, at the same time both spiritual and political, and profoundly different from every other social, political and religious programme. The book incorporates the tension between an open-ended vision of a perfectly ordered society under God, and practical provisions for dealing with the frailty and imperfections of real people. Hence, it is capable of informing our thinking about the organisation of societies while maintaining a vision of the kingdom of God.

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The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its development follows the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels and the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters as the third in a celebrated series of reference works on the Bible. Picking up where the previous volumes left off, this volume includes in its scope the book of Acts, the general epistles of Peter, James, Jude and John, and the books of Hebrews and Revelation. This Dictionary is without peer in its in-depth coverage of the most neglected books of the New Testament. In addition to its coverage of this New Testament literature, a unique and valuable feature of this Dictionary is its extended coverage of developments in early Christianity through AD 150. Some articles, such as those on each of the apostolic fathers, focus exclusively on this postapostolic period. But nearly all topical articles take into consideration the writings of the apostolic fathers. Readers will enjoy a deeper and expanded understanding of how orthodox Christianity continued and developed in the years just following the New Testament era. No other single-volume reference work provides comparable coverage and assessment of the early patristic era and its theology. The Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its developments is a timely response to post-Enlightenment Christians who are seeking to rediscover their ancient roots in the soil of the first two centuries of the Christian era. And it lays the foundation for budding students of the New Testament who are now being challenged to expand their field of vision to include the broader crucible in which the Christian tradition developed.

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The God of the Bible is the living, active and self-revealing God. He takes the initiative in making himself known. He is a speaking God, and he calls for a listening people. Those who listen in faith, he draws in love into a relationship that engages every fibre of their humanity and enters every event in their lives. This is a book by a theologian and preacher who believes that the first purpose of a biblical theology is to lead us to the feet of the living God. The book ends with the theme of worship: an attitude and activity that takes us out into the world to serve this living God and to make him known.

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A thorough-going exposition of the biblical theology of worship. Deploying impressive exegetical gifts across the significant biblical data, Peterson sees worship as engaging with God in terms of a total lifestyle directed to glorifying him. A book which challenges much current thinking and practice.

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For more than twenty-five years this study guide has introduced readers to the origins and teachings of the major non-Christian faiths. In this fourth edition the contents of the book been entirely revised with many of the chapters completely rewritten. The bibliographies for each religion have been updated to include the best f primary and secondary sources. Written by Christian authors whose firm grasp of recent scholarship is informed by extended personal contacts with the religions they discuss, the essays here are meant to offer a concise, factual account. Particular attention is paid to the historical developments that have resulted from contacts between various religious traditions. Though the authors of the individual chapters have not attempted a detailed "Christian response" to what they would consider the false teaching and aberrant practices of these various religions, the editor does address, in the brief compass of the final chapter, the ever-controversial issue of the Christian approach to comparative religion.

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The study of epistemology can aid us as we work to achieve a vital, healthy cognitive life, one preoccupied with pursuing intellectual virtue. It can help to illuminate our intellectual duties and train us in the mental virtues. Providing an account of the stewardship of the mind requires that we think about three related epistemological matters: the logical structure of our knowledge, the requirement for justified belief, and how both bear on beliefs of central concern to Christians. Undertaking to make ourselves intellectually fit for the world in which we were created to live, believes Jay Wood, quite naturally leads us to ask whether there is an ideal structure for ordering our thought life, what rules or habits dispose us to flourish cognitively, and whether our religious and other beliefs reflect these cognitive ideals.

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From a cobbler's shop in rural England, William Carey went on to become renowned as 'the father of modern missions'. Driven by a burning desire to make Christ known, he spent the last forty years of his life in India. Despite his lack of education and many hardship (including the long-term depressive illness of his first wife Dorothy and the deaths of three children), he learnt several languages, translated the Bible, preached the gospel, administered a mission organization, and campaigned against evils in society. Carey's example has inspired many to become cross-cultural missionaries. This biography highlights the vision of God that motivated him, and challenges us to recover his sense of mission to the whole world.

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In one systematic volume James Boice provides a readable overview of Christian theology. Students and pastors will both benefit from this rich source that covers all of the major doctrines of Christianity. With scholarly rigour and a pastor's heart, Boice carefully opens the topics of the nature of God, the character of his natural and special revelation, the fall, and the person and work of Christ. He then goes on to consider the work of the Holy Spirit in justification and sanctification. The book closes with careful discussions of ecclesiology and eschatology. In this revised edition of a formerly four-volume work, Boice maintains a remarkable practicality and thoroughness that will make this a standard reference and text for years to come.

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Some chose to follow God. Others followed only fame and fortune. They lived through times of difficulty and times of triumph, through political and emotional turmoil, through popularity and through discontent. This ten-session LifeBuilder Bible Study focuses on the character of the Kings of the Old Testament and what we can learn from them. For over three decades LifeBuilder Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions—making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups. This series has more than 120 titles on Old and New Testament books, character studies, and topical studies.

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Graeme Goldsworthy's magnum opus invites readers to reckon with the differing historical and cultural distances of texts from themselves when thinking about the application of the Scriptures.

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Jesus knows you. Do you want to know Him? In this 365-day devotional, Catherine Campbell invites you to spend a year focusing daily on the life, teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ. Warmly written and firmly rooted in Scripture, Consider Him offers personal stories, anecdotes and narrative biblical retellings to draw our minds and hearts closer to Him. Catherine also seeks to spur our reflection into action with entries that feature opportunities not just to be listeners of the Word, but doers of it as well. Whether you are beginning, renewing or deepening your relationship with Jesus, let Consider Him guide you towards the author and perfecter of our faith.

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This nine-session LifeBuilder Bible Study covers some of the surprising and interesting questions Old Testament characters heard from God, such as when he asked "Where are you?" of Adam and Eve. As we consider the questions God asked others, we are guided inward to reflect on the same questions in our own lives.

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In the book of Jeremiah, the vocabulary of 'word' and 'words' is not only uniquely prevalent, but formulae marking divine speech also play an unprecedented role in giving the book's final form its narrative and theological shape. Indeed, 'the word of the Lord' is arguably the main character, and a theology that is both distinctive and powerful can be seen to emerge from the unfolding narrative. In this stimulating study, Andrew Shead examines Jeremiah's use of word language; the prophet's formation as an embodiment of the Word of God; his covenant preaching and the crisis it precipitates concerning the recognition of true prophecy; and, in the 'oracles of hope', how the power of the Word of God is finally made manifest. Shead then brings this reading of Jeremiah to bear on some issues in contemporary theology, including the problem of divine agency and the doctrine of Scripture, and concludes by engaging Jeremiah's doctrine of the Word of God in conversation with Karl Barth. The prophet's major contribution emerges from his careful differentiation of 'word' and 'words'.

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I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding' (Jeremiah 3:15). Most of the Bible's pastoral imagery is grounded in two traditions: Israel's 'wilderness drama', in which Moses functioned as God's under-shepherd; and the shepherd-king David and his dynasty, with its messianic promises. Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah made sustained use of pastoral imagery, seeing the LORD revealing himself as the ultimate Shepherd of his flock, and creating expectation of a new exodus, a renewed community, and a unique shepherd king. These traditions provided prototypes for leaders that followed, and formed the background for the ministry of Jesus - the 'good shepherd' - in the Gospels. His disciples were sent as shepherds to feed his sheep - and as sheep among wolves. The pastoral role was central to the ongoing life of local churches in the Christian movement, and today's pastors are still called to be shepherds after God's own heart, to lead his people, living on the margins of settled society, to their eternal home. In this excellent study, Timothy Laniak draws on a wide range of Old and New Testament texts to develop a biblical theology of 'shepherd' imagery, and concludes with some principles and implications for contemporary 'pastoral' ministry.

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Bold claims. Answers which many are searching for today. This is Jesus in his own words, using metaphors and pictures which are concrete, simple and profound. Meaning: what is the meaning of life? I am the bread of life. Enlightenment: where can I find light? I am the light of the world. Freedom: how can I be truly free? I am the door, Evil: isn't religion evil? I am the good shepherd. Destiny: is this life all there is? I am the resurrection. Reality: what is ultimate reality? I am the way. Value: how can I make my life count? I am the vine. Time: how can we escape being finite? 'I am.' Bold claims - and they are also true. The 'I am' sayings of Jesus are highly relevant. Jesus is uniquely qualified to meet our deepest needs and answer our biggest questions. Find out for yourself.

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To love one's neighbour messy makes.' So writes Amanda Robbie's father in the poem at the start of this book. Messy is OK, even in a world gone mad with perfectionism. The author looks at 'messy' in the context of home, family, children, church, community, meals and celebrations. As someone who has lived in eight homes in four cities and one town, spread across three countries, in the course of her married life, she has had to reassess her priorities regularly and work out what really matters in life. From studying the Scriptures, Amanda has discovered that it's God's grace that matters, not our flawless performance or impressive presentation. In fact - dare we say it? - it's OK to do things imperfectly and even fail. Yes, honestly. This book will lift the burden of guilt from your sagging shoulders. It will free you up to enjoy serving God, imperfectly by this world's standards, but in a way that pleases our heavenly Father

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The writings of the prophets make up over a quarter of the Old Testament. But perhaps no other portion of the Old Testament is more misunderstood by readers today. For some, prophecy conjures up knotted enigmas, opaque oracles and terrifying visions of the future. For others it raises expectations of a plotted-out future to be reconstructed from disparate texts. And yet the prophets have imprinted the language of faith and imagination with some of its most sublime visions of the future - nations streaming to Zion, a lion lying with a lamb, and endlessly fruiting trees on the banks of a flowing river. We might view the prophets as stage directors for Israel's unfolding drama of redemption. Drawing inspiration from past acts in that drama and invoking fresh words from its divine author, these prophets speak a language of sinewed poetry, their words and images arresting the ear and detonating in the mind. For when Yahweh roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem, the pastures of the shepherds dry up, the crest of Carmel withers, and the prophetic word buffets those selling the needy for a pair of sandals. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets is the only reference book of its kind. Not only does it focus exclusively on the prophetic books; it also plumbs their imagery of mountains and wilderness, flora and fauna, temple and Zion. It maps and guides us through topics such as covenant and law, exile and deliverance, forgiveness and repentance, and the Day of the Lord. Here the nature of prophecy is searched out in its social, historical, literary and psychological dimensions as well as its synchronic spread of textual links and associations. And the formation of the prophetic books into their canonical collection, including the Book of the Twelve, is explored and weighed for its significance. Then too, contemporary approaches such as canonical criticism, conversation analysis, editorial/redaction criticism, feminist interpretation, literary approaches and rhetorical criticism are summed up and assayed. Even the afterlife of these great texts is explored in articles on the history of interpretation as well as on their impact in the New Testament.

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Looking for answers to those big faith questions? If God, Then What?' is a profound, quirky and amusing take on life's biggest questions. We encounter truth by sharing stories and asking questions. Andrew Wilson asks nine big questions about truth, origins and redemption, and wonders aloud about the possible answers, offering a fresh way of looking at life and a different way of communicating the gospel. As he ponders those questions with you, the author will leave you with a fresh, new and exciting perspective on the life-giving gospel of Christ.

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Taking each of the Ten Commandments in turn, John Parmiter shows how we can trust in God in our workplaces. Far from presenting a set of rules, his central themes are love and the generous promises of God. With clarity, warmth and practical applications, he demonstrates how we can be more confident as Christians where we work. What do the ancient stone tablets Moses carried down the mountain have to do with our twenty-first-century high-pressure workplaces? Everything, says John Parmiter. In this honest and inspiring book, he explores how applying the Ten Commandments to our jobs brings us freedom and godly purpose. Focusing as they do on personal integrity and our key relationships (with God and with others), they are disarmingly relevant to the daily pressures we face at work. John's insights have been tested in the fire of a contemporary business environment, and pass muster in any boardroom, brickyard or baby-care situation. They provide, whatever your work, a compelling and fresh take on living wholeheartedly for Jesus.

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'Any coherent comment on what the Bible says about the Bible, the Christian Scriptures,' says Tim Meadowcroft, 'must address the wider notion that God speaks.' Accordingly, his fresh, wide-ranging exposition of 'the message of the word of God' is structured around four key propositions. The first is the extraordinary, fundamental reality that God speaks - and that when he speaks, he acts. This introduces us to the breadth of God's speaking, both in the text of Scripture and by means of the world that he has created. Secondly, God speaks in the written words of Scripture in a particular way: this is because the biblical texts are unique. Thirdly, God speaks in Christ: the word of God is finally and fully revealed and heard in the person of Jesus, the incarnate Word. From this it follows that the word of God in Scripture is a witness to the revelation of God in Jesus, that Jesus provides a model for interpretation of the Scriptures, and that the Scriptures are best understood and interpreted in the light of Christ. The fourth proposition is that God speaks today: his voice continues to be heard in the light of Christ and through the reading of Scripture. Throughout, Meadowcroft shows how God's speaking is concerned with his glory, and calls into being his people - who themselves are to live out and declare the word of God to others.

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I am eager for your company on this journey,' writes Maurice Sinclair. 'Our aim is to discover what happens when the wisdom of man, as expressed in schools of philosophy down the ages, meets the wisdom of God, as revealed in Scripture. We want to find out if this interaction will be a perfect blending, or an uneasy truce, or a dramatic explosion!' With freshness and insight, Sinclair surveys a panorama of earthly wisdoms across the full course of human history, and around the world, to the present day. He helps us to grasp some principal ideas from key philosophers, without the intricacies or abstractions, and with a minimum of technical language. Throughout, he keeps in mind wisdom 'from above', from the eternal perspective of God’s revelation in Christ. Taking the long view, the history of wisdom turns out to be 'his story'. In this fast-paced and accessible volume, Sinclair's essential purpose is to encourage us to seek wisdom for love's sake - a wisdom and a love that are as practical as they are visionary - and to marshal the reasons for our hope in Christ.

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The doctrine of the Trinity has received considerable attention in recent years. These essays demonstrate the substance and importance of the doctrine for Christian faith, particularly in worship, in the reading of Scripture, and in the church's mission. The contributors are Philip W. Butin, John R. Franke, Edith M. Humphrey, Mark Husbands, Keith E. Johnson, Robert K. Lang'at, David Lauber, Gordon T. Smith, Daniel J. Treier, Leanne Van Dyk, Kevin J. Vanhoozer and John D. Witvliet.

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Sixty-six books, forty authors, written over nearly 2,000 years, in many different genres. A worldwide best-seller published in countless translations and languages. A book that has been sworn by in court, fought over, and quoted in arguments. Clearly, the Bible is no ordinary book. So how can we begin to read and understand the Bible as a whole? In this excellent overview, Vaughan Roberts paints the big picture, showing how the different parts of the Bible fit together under the theme of the kingdom of God. He offers us tools to read it with confidence, enthusiasm and understanding. Vaughan points us to the Bible's supreme subject, Jesus Christ, and the salvation God offers through him.

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The Global Dictionary of Theology' is inspired by the shift of the centre of Christianity from the West to the global South. But it also reflects the increase in two-way traffic between these two sectors as well as the global awareness that has permeated popular culture to an unprecedented degree. 'The Global Dictionary of Theology' has approximately 250 articles written by over 100 contributors representing a global spectrum of theological perspectives. The full range of standard theological topics are represented, but in addition to the Western tradition the GDT canvasses the array of theologies that are currently being worked out around the globe. Many articles are composite in nature and achieve a sort of conversation between more than one global perspective. The GDT surveys, describes and classifies the rich variety of theological perspectives that have grown in local and diverse soils around the globe. In an age of unprecedented global awareness, the GDT will become a standard launching point of theological research that will enrich every student's understanding of theology. Moving beyond mission theology, it explores the local and global theological fruit of the inculturation of the gospel.

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Numerous useful books on Old Testament theology are now available. However, they often give too much information - or too little. Some can seem large, and daunting to the ordinary student or pastor, and because of their layout, information may be hard to access. Others take a more introductory approach and do not deal with many of the theological issues and questions that the Old Testament raises. Robin Routledge's aim is to bridge this gap. He provides a substantial overview of the central issues and themes in Old Testament theology in the main body of the text, with more detailed discussion and references for further reading in the footnotes. His purpose is to examine the theological significance of the various texts in their wider canonical context, noting unity and coherence within the Old Testament (and to some extent between the Old and New Testaments), whilst also being aware of diversity. A brief outline of the relationship between exegesis and biblical theology within the overall task of interpreting and applying biblical material is given in the first chapter. His hope as a Christian minister is that, while this volume has grown out of a teaching context, and is intended for students, it will also be of benefit to others who want to take the theological content of the Old Testament seriously, and to apply its message to the life and ministry of the church today.

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Few things are more essential to the health of the church than clear understanding of the Bible's teaching concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Doctrine informs devotion, and this, in turn, motivates discipleship. Neglect or misunderstanding of Christology will inevitably weaken Christian character and conduct. Furthermore, the ascendancy of pluralism leads many to the view that there is nothing unique about Jesus, and the media regularly present distorted portraits of him. It is essential that the church is able to proclaim the authentic and incomparable Christ to a needy world. This stimulating volume, based on the second Affinity Theological Study Conference, offers biblical and theological explorations of the majesty and mystery of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. All the contributors are fully committed to the belief that the Jesus of the Bible is the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. These studies are intended not only to stretch and enlighten minds, but also to stir hearts and transform lives.

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Throughout Christian history, the overwhelmingly predominant view of the Bible has been that it is itself the living and active word of God. Timothy Ward explains and defends what we are really saying when we trust and proclaim, as we must, that the Bible is God's word. In particular, he describes the nature of the relationship between the living God and Scripture. He examines why, in order to worship God faithfully, we need to pay close attention to the Bible; why, in order to be faithful disciples of Jesus - the Word-made-flesh - we need to base our lives on the words of the Bible; and why, in order to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we need to trust and obey what the Bible says. Ward offers an understanding of the nature of Scripture under three main headings. A biblical outline shows that the words of the Bible form a significant part of God's action in the world. A theological outline focuses on the relationship of Scripture with each of the persons of the Trinity. A doctrinal outline examines the 'attributes' of Scripture. A final chapter explores some significant areas in which the doctrine of Scripture should be applied. Grounded in the relevant scholarship, this excellent, lucid exposition of the nature and function of Scripture stands firmly in line with the best of the theological traditions and is expressed in a form appropriate for the twenty-first century.

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God invented marriage. So it seems rather obvious to look to our Maker for marriage instructions. Yet by nature we prefer to work it out for ourselves, starting with our own needs, hopes and desires. This book turns our thinking upside down. The author examines the Bible's teaching on marriage, while remaining firmly earthed in the twenty-first-century world where messing up, heartbreak, divorce and sexual chaos are distressingly common. Starting with God's grace applied to our pain and failure, the author centres on God's plan for sex and marriage, one of service. Whether you are an engaged couple preparing for marriage, or have been married for many years, this Biblical wisdom will help you grow your love and commitment both to one another and to God.

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Dallas Willard's 'Renovation of the Heart' has become established as a classic guide to the spiritual life. In this abridged version, Don Simpson makes its riches more easily available for devotional use. The authors believe that we fail in the spiritual life mainly through neglect of the roles played by the various elements of our personality. They reflect on each of these elements - heart, mind, body, social life and soul - and invite us to understand its role, train it in new patterns, and expose it to God's transforming power. This holistic approach will, they suggest, produce new ways of responding to life, and will result in profoundly changed character. This accessible distillation of an award-winning work can be read as an ordinary book, or used for personal study and prayer or on retreat. Suggestions for meditation and response appear at the end of each chapter.

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By almost any measure, a bold and confident use of the Bible is a hallmark of Christianity. Underlying such use are a number of assumptions about the origin, nature and form of the biblical literature, concerning its authority, diversity and message. However, a lack of confidence in the clarity or perspicuity of Scripture is apparent in Western Christianity. Despite recent, sophisticated analyses, the doctrine is ignored or derided by many. While there is a contemporary feel to these responses, the debate itself is not new. In this excellent study, Mark Thompson surveys past and present objections to the clarity of Scripture; expounds the living God as the Guarantor of his accessible, written Word; engages with the hermeneutical challenges; and restates the doctrine for today.

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Why does a good God allow innocent suffering? Why does a just God act unfairly? Why does a sovereign God let disease and evil run rampant? These are not questions asked from the onlooker's armchair, nor from the academic's desk, but from the anguish of the sickbed and the frustration of the wheelchair. The problem of pain is considered with the heart as well as the head. Christopher Ash leads us through the biblical story of Job as we wrestle with these questions today. He honestly explores the lonely and cruel nature of suffering and whether God can be found in the midst of it. He exposes the shortcomings of Job's friends who deny the possibility of innocent suffering, and are unaware of the roles that Satan, the fall and the cross have to play. With compassion and clarity he takes the reader through Job's long debate with God - towards a humbling and hopeful resolution.

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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth ... And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem ... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man."' (Revelation 21:1-3, ESV). In this comprehensive study, Gregory Beale argues that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the end-time reality that God's presence, formerly limited to the Holy of Holies, was to be extended throughout the whole cosmos. Hence, John's vision in Revelation 21 is best understood as picturing the new heavens and earth as the eschatological temple. Professor Beale's stimulating exposition traces the theme of the tabernacle and temple along the Bible's story-line, also illuminating many texts and closely related themes. He shows how the significance and symbolism of the temple can be better understood in the light of contrasts to and similarities with Ancient Near Eastern assumptions, and offers new insights into the meaning of the temple in both Old and New Testaments.

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This book sets out in short compass what seems to me to be the permanent essentials of Christianity, viewed as both a belief system and a way of life ... Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness. It should therefore be presented in a way that brings awareness of the divine presence. Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory.' - J. I Packer Packer's classic summary covers nearly one hundred subjects, from a Reformed perspective. Brief, easy-to-understand chapters offer precise descriptions without sacrificing depth. The four main sections present God revealed as Creator, Redeemer, Lord of grace, and Lord of destiny.

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The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587 BC is the likely setting for the book of Lamentations. This was the most traumatic event in the whole of Old Testament history, with its extreme human suffering, devastation of the ancient city, national humiliation, and the undermining of all that was thought to be theologically guaranteed - the Davidic monarchy, the city of Zion, and the temple of the God of Israel. It is out of that unspeakable pain that Lamentations speaks, in poetry of astonishing beauty and intricacy, though soaked in tears. If we neglect this book, says Chris Wright, we miss the challenge and reward of wrestling with the massive theological issues that permeate it. How can suffering be endured alongside faith in an all-loving, good God? Even if these events are recognized and accepted as God's judgment, has not the flood of brutality and evil gone beyond all bounds? If anarchy, death and destruction stalk the land, can the centre of Israel's faith hold? Wright shows that as Christian readers we must not, and cannot, isolate Lamentations from the rest of the Bible; and equally, that we should not read the rest of the Bible without Lamentations. We must still let it speak for itself, as a book for today.

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When life is tough and we seem to have reached a dead end, it’s easy to feel as if God has given up on us. We’re not alone in feeling like this. Catherine Campbell vividly retells the stories of real people from the Bible with difficult and sometimes painful lives, who struggled to see God’s path for them. Abigail was trapped in marriage to a fool. John Mark ran away from his friends. The Samaritan woman faced shame in the society of her day. Judah sinned against Tamar and Joseph. Simeon and Anna had the challenges of old age. But God hadn’t finished with any of them. With Life Lessons reflections to encourage us to respond biblically to our own life circumstances, and questions for personal reflection or group discussion, Catherine Campbell helps us see what the Bible tells us – God isn’t finished with you yet!

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Who are you? And how can you find who you are? Andrew Bunt has wrestled with these questions. At one point in his childhood, he thought he might be a girl in a boy’s body. As he grew up and discovered he’s same-sex attracted, the world started to tell him that his sexuality is his identity. And for many years, he believed the lie that he was a freak and a weirdo, assuming that’s what everyone thought of him. In this short Christian introduction to identity, Andrew explores and examines different ways we can discover who we are. Blending his personal story with careful Bible teaching and genuine cultural awareness, this is a book to get conversations going and help us all understand our best identity. With questions for discussion and reflection, and an application exercise to end the book, Finding Your Best Identity is a practical and profound introduction to some of the biggest questions we all face.

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Relatively little has been written on Psalm 110 from a biblical-theological perspective. Most modern critical studies go behind the text, concluding that Psalm 110 is essentially a political attempt to unite the Jebusite cult with the Davidic monarchy. Evangelical interpreters take a more theological approach, but rarely develop a satisfying answer to the question of how David would have come to the realisation that the Messiah was to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. In this NSBT study, Matthew Emadi shows how David came to this conclusion through his reading of the Torah, consideration of the events in his own life, and reflection on the contents of the Davidic covenant. He also considers the impact of Psalm 110 on early Jewish literature and how the New Testament (Gospel of Mark and Hebrews) applies Psalm 110 to Christ. By considering David’s biblical warrant for bringing together priesthood and kingship in a single figure, Emadi shows how we are able to uncover the biblical-theological foundation on which Psalm 110 is built. He situates Psalm 110 in Scripture’s storyline, showing that Melchizedek’s royal priesthood is tied to creation and redemption. Insightful and accessible, The Royal Priest is a valuable new addition to the New Studies in Biblical Theology series. An ideal commentary for students studying Psalm 110, pastors preaching from Psalm 110, and anyone looking for commentaries on the Old Testament that dig deeper into its theology.

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In the Book of Job we meet a man who is afflicted physically and emotionally. We encounter friends who do their best, but make things worse. We are brought face to face with intellectual puzzles. Through all this, and because of it, we find Job struggling with his faith in God. In this compelling study, David Atkinson guides through The Message of Job to show that Job’s story has the power to reach into our human situation, and to engage with our human needs. Although facing suffering, both personally and on a wider scale, can be challenging, in the Book of Job we can find comfort and reassurance that God is with us through it all. A revised edition in the much loved Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Job offers an encouraging and thoughtful pastoral exploration of Job’s struggles. It will be of particular help for those involved in ministry and counselling who are supporting others in their suffering. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students and preachers who want to better get to grips with Scripture and deepen their understanding its original context as well as its continued relevance in the twenty-first century. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Job is perfect for anyone looking for stimulating, readable commentaries on Job that will broaden their understanding of how they can learn from it today.

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"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14:3 (ESV) Jesus Christ was very clear: one day He will return, and we must know the signs of the times, remain watchful, and be ready for when He comes again. In this insightful study, Steve Motyer explores a number of key biblical texts to unpack The Message of the Second Coming. Examining passages from both the Old and New Testaments, he demonstrates that 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. A new volume in the trusted the Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of the Second Coming offers a clear, cogent and thought-provoking exposition of what the Bible tells us about the second coming of Jesus Christ and how the lessons drawn from that can be applied to modern Christian living. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, the Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of Scripture and its continued relevance today. This volume is also perfect for those preaching on the second coming of Christ and looking for accessible exposition they can draw on for their sermons. This new edition uses the NIV Bible text and its beautiful cover matches the redesigned editions of existing Bible Speaks Today Commentary. The Message of the Second Coming is perfect for anyone looking for compelling commentaries will help them better understand the meaning of the second coming of Christ and how it applies to their everyday life.

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The Book of Esther is one of two books of the Bible to be set entirely outside of the Promised Land, and the only book which does not mention God at all. In this cogent, readable study, David Firth explores The Message of Esther, to help us better understand this paradoxically important book and its implications for our own contemporary context. With clear insight, he lay out how the reality of God's presence is experienced against a backdrop of God's relative anonymity and seeming absence, and shows us how that speaks into the lives of Christians today. A revised volume in the trusted Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Esther offers an accessible and thought-provoking exposition of Esther’s story, that considers its meaning for both its original audience 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 deepen their understanding of Scripture as it was first written as well as its continued relevance today. This beautifully redesigned edition has been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text. The Message of Esther is perfect for anyone looking for a stimulating, accessible commentary on Esther that will help them apply its lessons to their everyday life.

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Do Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics share a common orthodoxy, as promoted by initiatives such as Evangelicals and Catholics Together? Or do the profound differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology and how they view the doctrines of Christ, the Church and salvation mean they actually hold to very different gospels? Same Words, Different Worlds explores whether Evangelicals and Catholics have the same gospel if they have core commitments that contradict. It lays out how the words used to understand the gospel are the same but differ drastically in their underlying theology. With keen insight, Leonardo de Chirico looks at various aspects of Roman Catholic theology – including Mary, the intercession of the saints, purgatory and papal infallibility – from an Evangelical perspective to argue that theological framework of Roman Catholicism is not faithful to the biblical gospel. Only by understanding the real differences can genuine dialogue flourish. Same Words, Different Worlds will deepen your understanding of the differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology, and how the Reformation is not over in the church today.

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