Search results for ""Christian Faith""

Christianity is more than a religion: it is also a complex intellectual tradition. Christians and non-Christians alike who want to understand the world as it is today have to understand Christianity too. Christianity makes objective claims, but also presents a new way of thinking about the world. In Christianity Considered, renowned theologian Dr. John Frame introduces the reader to the Christian religion and its unique intellectual framework, describing the key pillars of Christian thought and how these shape the Christian worldview. Covering a range of topics, from the resurrection to the Christian posture toward politics, Christianity Considered is a valuable guide to understanding the Christian faith as an intellectual tradition. Useful for both the Christian reader looking for a better understanding of the faith and the skeptical reader who seeks to understand the intellectual tradition that has done much to shape the modern world.

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Rowan Williams writes accessibly and for the general reader on belief, Christianity and the place of religion today. Apart from being a scholar and theologian, Rowan Williams has also demonstrated a rare gift for speaking and writing plainly and clearly about essentials of the Christian faith. In the chapters of this book he writes with profound perception about the life of holiness to which we are called. The range of Williams’ frame of reference is astonishing – he brings poets and theologians to his aid, he writes about the Rule of St Benedict, the Bible, Icons, contemplation, St Teresa of Avila and even R. D. Laing. He concludes with two chapters on the injunction ‘Know Thyself’ in a Christian context. Throughout, Williams points out that holiness is a state of being – it is he writes ‘completely undemonstrative and lacking any system of expertise. It can never be dissected and analysed.’

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The follow-up to the author's highly successful The Things He Carried, this book takes the post-resurrection sayings of Jesus as starting-points and uses the same reflection format. The meaning and significance of the resurrection, how it was first communicated and how it is communicated to us today, are explored by piecing together these sayings of Jesus. However, the content may not quite be what we imagine. Following the resurrection, we would expect the triumphant 'I have risen from the dead'. Yet Jesus' statements are so different, so apparently innocuous, that they are often overlooked. The Christian faith stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus; without it, says St Paul, we are to be most pitied. In this revelatory book of surprising reflections, Stephen Cottrell's retelling of the Easter story encourages us to slow down and hear it properly - perhaps for the very first time.

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More than ever, we must stand firm on the clear teaching of God's Word. In What Every Christian Should Know, Dr. Robert Jeffress equips you to understand ten core doctrines of Christianity so you can be confident that your faith is built on solid ground and stand strong against false teaching. Each chapter illuminates a core belief of the Christian faith, such as God's Word, the Trinity, angels and demons, sin, salvation, future things, and more. This study guide will help you get the most out of the book, whether you are studying it alone, as part of a small group, or as part of a churchwide initiative. Nothing is more hopeful and beneficial in our trying times than good theology. With vivid illustrations, clear explanations, and practical applications for believers today, this book will help you ground your faith in capital T truth.

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Weaving together input from six experts in the fields of Bible, Church History, and Theology, Christianity introduces learners to the practices, traditions, beliefs, and scriptures of the Christian faith. This expanded and updated edition tells Christianity's growth from humble origins to becoming the world's largest religion. New material appears on a variety of topics, such as church architecture, vestments, church offices, apocalyptic literature, the Gospels, Roman citizenship, and the life of Paul. This edition distills the most current research in an accessible style and user-friendly format, and improves on the previous edition by highlighting and defining key terms, adding breakout boxes, and rewriting all major sections with a focus on clarity and up-to-date information. Complete with a new introduction and conclusion, Christianity offers a fresh, crisp, and concise survey of a faith held dear by more than two billion people across the globe.

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In this book the award-winning Belfast journalist and author reflects on a long career of reporting on the main events in Northern Ireland over the past sixty years and on the aftermath of conflictsin the developing world including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam and Rwanda. He covered theworst of the Troubles from the beginning in 1968-69 and reported on some of the most disturbing atrocities such as Bloody Sunday, the Kingsmills Massacre and the no-warning IRA explosion at the EnniskillenCenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. Hehas seen religion at its worst and its best, and he observes how the Christian faith has sustained so many people in times of great suffering and distress, and how the mis- practice of this faith has led to division, misunderstanding and hostility.The author also reflects on his experience of reporting on well-knownfigures in Northern Ireland ranging from Gordon and

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'What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions of life and death and their meaning.' - The Guardian'Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life.' - The ExpressIn this international bestseller, Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel addresses some of the foundational questions of life that challenge us all: why am I here? Is there more to life than this? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?Answering step-by-step some of the key questions that lie at the heart of the Christian faith, his intelligent, well-researched and informed approach makes this a sympathetic, fascinating and immensely readable introduction to Jesus Christ.'Alpha was the best thing I ever did. It helped answer some huge questions and to find a simple, empowering faith in my life.' - Bear Grylls

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'"Can't anyone teach me how to pray?" Millions of people today are asking the same question. There is a sense of the necessity of prayer - we have to pray. But how?'Prayer is central to Christian faith; indeed, as Timothy Keller notes in his introduction, it is the main way we experience deep change. Yet so many people struggle with prayer - a struggle that the author himself has shared. This wise and inspiring book is the fruit of those struggles, offering a real and glorious vision of what it can mean to seek God in prayer. Keller begins by giving a theological underpinning of what prayer actually is - both conversation and encounter with a personal God - before describing how we can learn to pray, and then deepen that prayer. Finally he gives detailed, practical suggestions on how to make prayer a part of the reality of daily life.

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Ben Freeth established his credentials to write on this topic through his courageous and successful resistance to the bullying tactics employed by the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe to throw him and his family off their land, a story told in Mugabe and the White African. He now throws his net wider to ask: what response should Christians make to corruption and injustice when perpetrated by governments? Justice is a fundamental aspect of the Judeo-Christian faith. Ben explores this theme through his own experience of government oppression in Zimbabwe, and through contemporary instances where Christians have - or have not - stood up to be counted. He considers the Biblical injunction to obey your rulers, and examines the issues of fear and complacency: sometimes Christians are compromised by their relationship with the ruling group. What is our duty? Most Christians feel powerless. What can we actually do, as individuals, and as a group?

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Why and How Should I Read the Bible? is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Questions of Life, and the sixth talk on Alpha. Nicky Gumbel looks at the reasons why to read the Bible and ways we can read the Word of God. This is a great booklet to pass along to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. It can also be given to a guest who may have missed this Alpha talk.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family, and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.This resource is written in Spanish.

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"His stories shimmer like revelations – the clarity, mystery, beauty, depth, and sheer, thrilling peculiarity of ordinary life when the veil lifts. They’re exhilarating to read, just as exhilarating to re-read." —Deborah EisenbergChildhood does not last long in the Argentine mountains of Córdoba, and adult lives fall apart quickly. In disarming, darkly humorous stories, Federico Falco explores themes of obsessive love, romantic attachment and the strategies we must find to cope with death and painful longing.In the middle of a blizzard a widow watches the ruin of her late-husband’s garden, until suddenly she sees a woman running naked in the falling snow. After telling her parents she is abandoning her Christian faith, a girl becomes infatuated with a Mormon missionary who reminds her of a boy killed in her village years before. When his family’s home is lost, a father desperately offers his daughter’s hand in marriage to anyone who will take them in. And a town’s mayor tries to fulfill his father’s dying wish – to design the perfect cemetery.

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Faith in the Great Physician tells the story of how participants in the evangelical divine healing movement of the late nineteenth century transformed the ways Americans coped with physical affliction and pursued bodily health. Examining the politics of sickness, health, and healing during this period, Heather D. Curtis encourages critical reflection on the theological, cultural, and social forces that come into play when one questions the purpose of suffering and the possibility of healing. Curtis finds that advocates of divine healing worked to revise a deep-seated Christian ethic that linked physical suffering with spiritual holiness. By engaging in devotional disciplines and participating in social reform efforts, proponents of faith cure embraced a model of spiritual experience that endorsed active service, rather than passive endurance, as the proper Christian response to illness and pain. Emphasizing the centrality of religious practices to the enterprise of divine healing, Curtis sheds light on the relationship among Christian faith, medical science, and the changing meanings of suffering and healing in American culture.

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The Africa Bible Commentary is a unique publishing event—the first one-volume Bible commentary produced in Africa by African theologians to meet the needs of African pastors, students, and lay leaders.Interpreting and applying the Bible in the light of African culture and realities, the Africa Bible Commentary furnishes powerful and relevant insights into the biblical text that transcend Africa in their significance. It gives a section-by-section interpretation that provides a contextual, readable, affordable, and immensely useful guide to the entire Bible. Readers around the world will benefit from and appreciate the commentary’s fresh insights and direct style that engage both heart and mind.Key features: Produced by African biblical scholars, in Africa, for Africa—and for the world Section-by-section interpretive commentary and application More than 70 special articles dealing with topics of key importance in to ministry in Africa today, but that have global implications 70 African contributors from both English- and French-speaking countries Transcends the African context with insights into the biblical text and the Christian faith for readers worldwide

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Adriaan Theodoor Peperzak contends that while many Catholic philosophers try to practice a modern, autonomous style of thinking, their experience of a faith-guided life necessarily compels them to integrate their scholarly pursuits with their Christian faith. He writes, “Christians who think cannot separate their thought from their faith and theology.” Indeed, he argues that the work of Christian, particularly Catholic, philosophers loses its vitality when philosophers try to restrict their reflections to natural reason alone. In this book he explores the essential unity of philosophical and theological thought from various perspectives and pleads for a radical change of method in philosophy. Peperzak maintains that the interdependencies of philosophy, theology, and the sciences must collectively determine the character of a Catholic university. For him, all serious philosophy has a profoundly religious character and is the quest for a kind of wisdom unhampered by arbitrary boundaries. His plea for a paradigm shift in philosophy and theology concentrates on the idea of speaking God’s word in a way that provokes appropriate responses, including praise and prayer.

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The Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith. What can we say about the divine nature, and what does it mean to say that God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit, three persons who are one in being? In this book, best selling author Thomas Joseph White, OP, examines the development of early Christian reflection on the Trinity, arguing that essential contributions of Patristic theology are preserved and expanded in the thought of Thomas Aquinas.By focusing on Aquinas' theology of the divine nature as well as his treatment of divine personhood, White explores in depth the mystery of Trinitarian monotheism. The Trinity: On the Nature and Mystery of the One God also engages with influential proposals of modern theologians on major topics such as Trinitarian creation, Incarnation and crucifixion, and presents creative engagements with these topics. Ultimately any theology of the cross is also a theology of the Trinity, and this book seeks to illustrate how the human life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reveal the inner life of God as Trinity.

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Peter Hitchens lost faith as a teenager. But eventually finding atheism barren, he came by a logical process to his current affiliation to an unmodernised belief in Christianity. Hitchens describes his return from the far political left. Familiar with British left-wing politics, it was travelling in the Communist bloc that first undermined and replaced his leftism, a process virtually completed when he became a newspaper's resident Moscow correspondent in 1990, just before the collapse of the Communist Party. He became convinced of certain propositions. That modern western social democratic politics is a form of false religion in which people try to substitute a social conscience for an individual one. That utopianism is actively dangerous. That liberty and law are attainable human objectives which are also the good by-products of Christian faith. Faith is the best antidote to utopianism, dismissing the dangerous idea of earthly perfection, discouraging people from acting as if they were God, encouraging people to act in the belief that there is a God and an ordered, purposeful universe, governed by an unalterable law.

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Suicide claims a million lives a year. Each one leaves behind survivors – shattered, grieving, angry, guilty and often despairing. Al Hsu is one such survivor. On an ordinary Thursday morning, he answered the phone and discovered that his father had taken his own life. For months and even years afterwards, he wrestled with intense emotional and spiritual questions. There were no easy answers. But he drew deeply from the resources of his Christian faith and the God who offers comfort and hope. Whether you have lost a loved one to suicide or provide pastoral care to survivors, this book will be an essential companion on your journey. This revised and expanded edition includes helpful information for churches and a useful study guide. ‘Graciously points us towards life and light, which can be so hard to see in the darkness left by suicide.’ Amy Simpson ‘One of the most helpful books I read after our son Matthew died by suicide.’ Kay Warren ‘Sad, painful, comforting and wonderful . . . I know of no other book so comprehensive, sensitive and healing.’ Richard Winter

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Written by one of the twentieth-century's foremost modern Trinitarian theologians The Christian Doctrine of God remains a classic ground work for scholars and students alike. In the book Thomas F. Torrance offers a detailed study of the most profound article of the Christian faith - the Holy Trinity. Torrance adopts a holistic approach when examining the inter-relatedness of the three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and their dynamic Communion with the Being and Nature of God. Combining immense academic range with his characteristically fresh theological perspectives, Torrance builds a significant theological bridge between ancient and modern, as well as between the Roman and Protestant theology; he engages deeply with the Church Fathers and discusses the ontological nature of God. Here Torrance conveys a simple message - the doctrine of the Trinity is the doctrine of God. This Cornerstones edition includes a new introduction written by Professor Paul D. Molnar, in which Molnar sets Torrance’s classic work in its modern context and considers how it continues to influence the way we think about the Trinity today.

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Closing Ranks tells of an illustrious career, giving a behind the scenes look at the workings of the Metropolitan Police. One of the founder members of the Black Police Association Charitable Trust, Leroy Logan has had first-hand experience of race relations in modern-day Britain, and he relates how his strong Christian faith helped him persevere in a frequently hostile work environment. Offering encouragement to other black officers to stay on and work to change the culture within the police, Leroy's passion for good policing shines through . . . as does his touching concern to guide and empower young people. 'I was amazed and intrigued by the way Leroy had stood his ground and progressed within the Metropolitan Police against so many obstacles: hostility, outright racism and being repeatedly overlooked for promotion.' Steve McQueen, from the Foreword 'This is a story that needs telling.' Patrick Regan OBE, Kintsugi Hope 'Leroy Logan is a great example of achievement against all the odds.' The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover

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In this groundbreaking work, Peter Brown explores how the worship of saints and their corporeal remains became central to religious life in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. During this period, earthly remnants served as a heavenly connection, and their veneration is a fascinating window into the cultural mood of a region in transition. Brown challenges the long-held "two-tier" idea of religion that separated the religious practices of the sophisticated elites from those of the superstitious masses, instead arguing that the cult of the saints crossed boundaries and played a dynamic part in both the Christian faith and the larger world of late antiquity. He shows how men and women living in harsh and sometimes barbaric times relied upon the holy dead to obtain justice, forgiveness, and power, and how a single sainted hair could inspire great thinkers and great artists. An essential text by one of the foremost scholars of European history, this expanded edition includes a new preface from Brown that presents new ideas based on subsequent scholarship.

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The Alpha Team Guide is recommended for Alpha small group hosts and helpers. It includes notes for the two required team training sessions on how to lead an Alpha small group, and how to lead prayer ministry, that can be found online or on either the Alpha Film Series DVD or Alpha with Nicky Gumbel DVD. It also provides weekly key concept summary and suggested questions to help guide the discussion time for each session of Alpha.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions, and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way.Alpha’s approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion. This resource is written in Spanish.

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Kate McNally grew up in a mainstream Christian faith, where she could not find the connection to the divine that we all seek. She turned to psychology and science and to the pursuit of success. That all worked for a while, providing a measure of comfort but not fulfillment, feeding the ego but not the spirit. Then, at a low point and broken by the drive for success, Kate began a spiritual journey that brought her to the Quakers, where she found a spiritual community and a stripped-down, simple way of following the basic commandment: Love one another. In Quaker Quicks - A Simple Faith in a Complicated World, Kate explores the faith of Jesus rather than the faith about Jesus and shares with us the connections to God, self, and others that have brought her to the spiritual community we all long for. Take this journey with her and explore the idea of perfection and how imperfections make us uniquely ourselves, perfectly suited to the work we are called to do.

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How can God be three and one?How can God take on a human nature?If God planned everything, how can I be responsible?Do my prayers make any difference in God's plan?Christians may attempt to "know" God to the best of their ability--leading some to limit God as they contain Him within tidy answers for human understanding. In The Majesty of Mystery, K. Scott Oliphint encourages believers to embrace the mysteries of Christian faith: the Trinity, the incarnation, eternal life, and the balance between God's sovereign will and human choices. Drawing from the Reformed tradition and interacting with the biblical text, Oliphint shows how a profound recognition of our own limitations can lead us into a richer awareness of God's infinite majesty.Written with deep theological knowledge and threaded with everyday implications, The Majesty of Mystery connects the dots between humanity and God, belief and practice, mystery and worship. Oliphint invites readers to rediscover the purpose to which all theology aims--the worship of the incomprehensible God who faithfully reveals himself in Scripture.

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As told to Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson.Alexander Gustafsson grew up in Arboga, a small town in Sweden. A country boy, he started boxing when he was 10 - winning the national youth medal at the age of 16. After a handful of run-ins with the law he began practicing mixed martial arts and working his way up the ranks of the UFC. Nicknamed The Mauler by his training partners, due to his power, killer instinct and somewhat recklessness whilst fighting; this is the story of Gustafssons struggle to succeed in one of the world's most challenging sports. Family, friends, and the Christian faith all play decisive rolls. But above all, it's Alexander's unique talent for martial arts which, in just a few short years, sees him become one of the UFC's main poster boys.The Mauler is a frank and at times painful account of a young man rapidly heading off the rails, and of his fight to reach the top of his game in an effort to change his life forever.

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What if those moments we put down to coincidence are really the calling cards of God? What if those pinpricks of light in the darkest places are beacons to guide us, telling of the agonizing love in God's heart? What if God is calling to us, 'I miss you, please come home' ? Lighting the Beacons seeks to expand our everyday horizons by daring us to believe that the realities of heaven can break through right here, right now. Inspired by her own recurring vision of pinpricks of light being fanned into flame, Bishop Jill writes for a wide audience to kindle faith in our hearts, to light beacons. Highlighting stories from contemporary culture, Scripture and the writings of the saints, Lighting The Beacons seeks to encourage those who are curious about the Christian faith, those who feel discouraged and those aspiring to be giants of faith and part of a transformed society. An excellent gift for those who yearn to be transformed by God. With study guides at the end of each chapter, it is also ideal book for group discussion.

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

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As told to Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson.Alexander Gustafsson grew up in Arboga, a small town in Sweden. A country boy, he started boxing when he was 10 - winning the national youth medal at the age of 16. After a handful of run-ins with the law he began practicing mixed martial arts and working his way up the ranks of the UFC. Nicknamed The Mauler by his training partners, due to his power, killer instinct and somewhat recklessness whilst fighting; this is the story of Gustafssons struggle to succeed in one of the world's most challenging sports. Family, friends, and the Christian faith all play decisive rolls. But above all, it's Alexander's unique talent for martial arts which, in just a few short years, sees him become one of the UFC's main poster boys.The Mauler is a frank and at times painful account of a young man rapidly heading off the rails, and of his fight to reach the top of his game in an effort to change his life forever.

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Martin Luther was classically orthodox.Scholars often portray Luther as a heroic revolutionary, totally unlike his peers and forebears--as if he alone inaugurated modernity. But is this accurate? Is this even fair? At times this revolutionary model of Luther has come to some shocking conclusions, particularly concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. Some have called Luther modalist or tritheist--somehow theologically heterodox.In The Trinity and Martin Luther Christine Helmer uncovers Luther's trinitarian theology. The Trinity is the central doctrine of the Christian faith. It's not enough for dusty, ivory tower academics to know and understand it. Common people need the Trinity, too. Doctrine matters.Martin Luther knew this. But how did he communicate the doctrine of the Trinity to lay and learned listeners? And how does his trinitarian teaching relate to the medieval Christian theological and philosophical tradition?Helmer upends stereotypes of Luther's doctrine of the Trinity.This definitive work has been updated with a new foreword and with fresh translations of Luther's Latin and German texts.

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The greatest of all tragedies must be that of the person who dies just outside the gate of life. They are standing, as it were, just outside the wicket gate to the church grounds – seeing the beauty of the building, knowing the people going in – but not stepping over the threshold themselves. Almost saved but altogether lost. This is a book of immeasurable value to those who have some knowledge of the Christian Faith but who are resisting God’s call to commit their lives to him. No Christian should be without a copy, to either lend or give away to a friend or acquaintance who may be lingering at the gate. Around the Wicket Gate is written in Spurgeon’s unique style – sharp, penetrating, and easily readable. One of the most quoted preachers of modern times, his sermons have proved to be a blessing to millions. For someone thinking about Christianity, who has yet to accept Christ as their saviour, reading this book could help them towards the most important step they ever take.

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Sometime around 56 AD, the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. His letter was arguably his theological masterpiece, and has continued to shape Christian faith ever since. He entrusted this letter to Phoebe, the deacon of the church at Cenchreae; in writing to the church that almost surely met in her home, Paul refers to her both as a deacon and as a helper or patron of many. But who was this remarkable woman? In this, her first novel, Biblical scholar and popular author and speaker Paula Gooder tells Phoebe's story - who she was, the life she lived and her first-century faith - and in doing so opens up Paul's theology, giving a sense of the cultural and historical pressures that shaped Paul's thinking, and the faith of the early church. Written in the gripping style of Gerd Theissen's The Shadow of the Galilean, and similarly rigorously researched, this is a novel for everyone and anyone who wants to engage more deeply and imaginatively with Paul's theology - from one of the UK's foremost New Testament scholars.

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Franz Liszt is well known for his early years as 'super-star' pianist who excited audiences throughout Europe, but his later life is also of great interest. In his final 25 years he sought to achieve his life's aims of promoting new forms of music and giving stronger witness to his Christian faith, while continuing to support his stalwart life partner Princess Carolyne. However, he was to face unexpected problems in the continued negative reception of his music and recrimination in his closest relationship. Drawing on detailed analysis of Liszt's correspondence from his fiftieth year onwards, Peter G. Coleman approaches his later life as a case study of an older person grappling with a succession of often disturbing life experiences. These included the deaths of two of his children, political upheaval and war within Europe, and a growing realisation of his own past failings. Liszt suffered frequent bouts of depression but never ceased composing music nor steadfastly heeding Christ's command to bear one's cross. This sensitive treatment of an extraordinary individual will appeal to the scholar and general reader alike.

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Does Religion Do More Harm Than Good? is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Searching Issues. Nicky tackles questions around faith and the misuse of faith in our world today. This is an ideal take away for an Alpha guest who is struggling with this topic or anyone curious to find out more.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.This resource is written in Spanish.

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What About the Church? is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Questions of Life, and the fifteenth talk on Alpha. Nicky Gumbel addresses the Church: what it is, what it's not, and how it relates to us in our faith. This booklet may be given to a guest who missed this Alpha talk.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family, and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.This resource is written in Spanish.

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Ted Hughes is one of the most important twentieth-century British poets. This book provides a radical reassessment of his relationship to the Christian faith, revealing his critically-endorsed paganism as profoundly and productively engaged with all the essentials of Christian thought. Hughes's intense criticism of the Reformation, his interest in restoring the Virgin Mary to her pre-Christian status as divine mother-goddess, his attempts to marry evolutionary science and scripture with a biological interpretation of the fall, his endorsement of the cross as the central symbol of the human condition, and the role of Christ in his myth of Sylvia Plath are among the many topics explored. Along the way, Troupes establishes strong thematic and intertextual links between Hughes and the American Transcendentalist tradition - a tradition which offers moments of vital illumination of Hughes's religious themes while encouraging a more generous trans-Atlantic appreciation of Hughes's literary affiliations.

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The King James Bible or Authorized Version (1611) comprises the Old Testament, the Apocrypha and the New Testament, from God's creation of the heaven and earth and the fall of man in Genesis, through the life Jesus Christ, to St John the Divine's foretelling of the end of the world and God's final judgment in Revelation. Among the most influential texts of all time and the cornerstone of the Christian faith, the King James Bible is the work of the great scholars and theologians of the early seventeenth century and reflects their desire for greater stability in the Christian religion. They revised and retranslated existing versions, including that of William Tyndale, to create a standardized Bible that would be accessible to all speakers and readers of English. Definitive and highly readable, this superb edition brings new vigour to one of the finest pieces of English prose.

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What About the New Spirituality? is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Searching Issues. Nicky tackles questions around the New Spirituality, as it can be a barrier to faith and one of the most common questions asked on Alpha. This is an ideal take away for an Alpha guest who is struggling with this topic or anyone curious to find out more.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family, and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.This resource is written in Spanish.

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Is There a Conflict between Science and Christianity?is a chapter from Nicky Gumbel's book, Searching Issues. Nicky tackles questions around Science and Christianity, as it can be a barrier to faith and one of the most common questions asked on Alpha. This is an ideal take away for an Alpha guest who is struggling with this topic or anyone curious to find out more.Alpha creates an environment of hospitality where people can bring their friends, family and work colleagues to explore the Christian faith, ask questions and share their point of view. Alpha makes it easy to invite friends to have spiritual conversations which explore life's biggest questions in a safe and respectful way. Alpha's approach to hospitality, faith, and discussion is designed to welcome everyone, especially those who might not describe themselves as Christians or church-goers. Each session includes time for a large group meal, short teaching, and small group discussion.This resource is written in Spanish.

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Introduce little ones to the faith-affirming virtue of hope with this accessible and engaging board book for babies and toddlers. Even the youngest child experiences uncertainty that things will turn out the way he wants. With this sweet and engaging board book, little ones will begin to understand how hope can lead them to a brighter outlook and become an important part of their lives. 'Baby Hope' believes good things can happen. He understands that things take time. He trusts God will answer his prayers in just the right way. Baby Hope is excited for what tomorrow will bring. The Baby Virtues series introduces babies and toddlers to the fundamentals of Christian faith and biblical virtues. Each book in the series personifies a virtue as a lovable character and uses action-oriented language and recognizable settings to explore the importance of the virtue in an accessible manner appropriate for the youngest child.  

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Why did Christianity produce the special organizational form church in the first place? Is it possible to be a Christian without the church? To what extent is Christian faith in community with other believers an alternative to the mere self-optimization of individuals?In this accessible and questioning new work, Hans Joas traverses theological, church-historical, sociological, and ethical territory in search of a viable conception of the church adequate to contemporary globalized societies. Across eleven essays that draw on work by Ernst Troeltsch, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, H. Richard Niebuhr, Leszek Kolakowski and others, Joas reflects on key debatesfrom the failure of so-called secularization theory to explain religiosity in modern society, to the role of Christianity and the church in relation to rampant nationalism and refugee crises, and to the question of whether or not human dignity ever was, or still is, the highest value in the West. Addressing the sociology of the

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'Why anyone would pick up a book with that formidable title eludes me,' writes Philip Yancey of G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy. 'But one day I did so and my faith has never recovered. I was experiencing a time of spiritual dryness in which everything seemed stale, warmed over, lifeless. Orthodoxy brought freshness and, above all, a new spirit of adventure.''We direly need another Chesterton today, I think. In a time when culture and faith have drifted even further apart, we could use his brilliance, his entertaining style, and above all his generous and joyful spirit. He managed to propound the Christian faith with as much wit, good humour and sheer intellectual force as anyone in this century.'Since its first publication in 1908, this classic work has represented a pivotal step in the adoption of a credible faith by many other Christian thinkers, including C. S. Lewis. Written as a spiritual autobiography, it stands as a remarkable and inspirational apologetic for Christianity.

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A milestone work in Christian theology--available again! "As a critic of the contemporary theological scene, Van Harvey has few, if any, competitors. This is nowhere clearer than in The Historian and the Believer . . . the classic discussion of its topic. Rich in insight and penetrating in argument, it is one book that belongs in the library of every theologian and seminarian." -- Schubert M. Ogden, author of Doing Theology Today Is it possible to be both a historian and a Christian? Van Harvey's classic The Historian and the Believer posed that question when it was first published. In this printing, the author has provided a new introduction in which he reflects on how he would reframe his original argument in order to bring out more fully the basic theological intention underlying his view that Christian faith cannot rest on dubious historical claims. From reviews of the first edition: "Probably the most interesting piece of American theological writing to appear this year." -- John Reumann, Union Seminary Quarterly Review

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There is much talk today of 'new ways of being church' and 'new monastic spirituality'. As Simon Reed explored the Celtic roots of the Christian faith, in community with others who drew inspiration from our spiritual ancestors in the British Isles, he came to realise that the third millennium church has much in common with the first millennium church, and more importantly, much to learn from it. In Creating Community, he introduces us to a new but at the same time very old way of being church which is based upon three core elements: a Way of Life, a network of Soul Friends, and a rhythm of prayer. The book shows how the rediscovery of these elements by Christians today offers a vital key that opens up an ancient way for modern churches, one which not only helps to bring believers to lasting maturity but creates genuine and much-needed community in an increasingly fragmented world.

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Nurturing children in the Christian faith is a privilege given to all of us whose responsibility it is to raise children. God’s desire is that our parenting guides each child to meet and know him, and to live with him every day through to eternity. In this fully updated compilation of her Parenting Children for a Life of… series, Rachel Turner explores how the home can become the primary place in which children are nurtured into the reality of God’s loving presence and encouraged to grow in a two-way relationship with him that will last a lifetime. This book examines how we can enable our children to know what it means to be in a relationship with God, rather than just know about him – helping our children to be God-connected rather than merely God-smart. Each chapter includes true stories and questions to help us reflect on our own experience as we journey together with our children.

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This first translation of the complete poetry of Peruvian Cesar Vallejo (1892-1938) makes available to English speakers one of the greatest achievements of twentieth-century world poetry. Handsomely presented in facing-page Spanish and English, this volume, translated by National Book Award winner Clayton Eshleman, includes the groundbreaking collections "The Black Heralds" (1918), "Trilce" (1922), "Human Poems" (1939), and "Spain, Take This Cup from Me" (1939). Vallejo's poetry takes the Spanish language to an unprecedented level of emotional rawness and stretches its grammatical possibilities. Striking against theology with the very rhetoric of the Christian faith, Vallejo's is a tragic vision - perhaps the only one in the canon of Spanish-language literature - in which salvation and sin are one and the same. This edition includes notes on the translation and a fascinating translation memoir that traces Eshleman's long relationship with Vallejo's poetry. An introduction and chronology provide further insights into Vallejo's life and work.

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BARONESS COX OF QUEENSBURY was appointed a Life Peer in 1982. A former deputy speaker of the House of Lords, she is a tireless advocate for international human rights. She visits the most forgotten people in the world – often in highly dangerous conditions – to carry their stories of abuse and persecution back to the West. She has risked her life many times while taking aid to war victims in Armenia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and South Sudan, and Syria. Honorary Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, recipient of the Wilberforce Award and of the Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, she has also received honorary degrees from universities on three continents. Her motivation is profoundly Christian: “Faith without deeds is dead; love without action is dead.” This new edition has been revised throughout to bring Baroness Cox’s remarkable story up to date.

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Welcome to A.S.K – Ask. Seek. Knock. ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.’ (Matthew 7:7–8). We all have questions about Jesus, the Bible, the Christian faith and our culture today. The great news is that Jesus gives answers. These questions were gathered from teenagers in fifteen countries in five different continents. All of them are real questions from real teenagers. 52 short chapters. Each contains a question, a Bible passage, a Bible verse, a discussion, something to consider, recommended further reading and a prayer. These answers may lead to more questions which is fine – but the main aim of this book is that you, the reader, come to see and know better the One who is the Answer, Jesus Christ.

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If the Bible gives us the Maker's instructions for human life, why are they so confusing? And how can we call it the Good Book when it glorifies war, commands ethnic cleansing, and sanctions slavery? Or are we investing it with the wrong kind of authority and bringing the wrong expectations to it?This book examines where the Bible came from, what were the purposes for which it was originally intended, and how and why it became so central to the Christian faith. It asks: Has the Bible ever in fact been the supreme authority for Christians? Was it really meant to be? The author suggests that we should give up approaching the Bible reverentially as an authority, trying to get our heads around all its problems, or - just as bad - pretending it really says the things we want it to say. The best way we can honor the Bible is by coming to it as we are and seeing it as it is. In this way we can enter into a real dialogue with it and appreciate what a marvelous, passionate, vibrant collection of writings it is.

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Christians sometimes approach the Old Testament with a mixture of awe and bewilderment, knowing that it contains pearls of wisdom, but unsure how to dive for them ... especially when it comes to the Prophets.In The Message of the Prophets, author J. Daniel Hays offers a scholarly, yet readable and student-friendly survey of the Old Testament prophetic literature that presents the message of each prophet in its historical and its biblical context and then tracks that message through the New Testament to challenge readers with what it means for them today. Hays focuses on synthesizing the message of the prophets, which enables students to grasp the major contours of the prophetic books clearly and concisely. Hundreds of colorful pictures help to illustrate the historical and cultural background of the prophets. After identifying what the message meant for ancient Israel, Hays helps the readers to move toward theological application today, helping readers to gain a better understanding of God and the relationship between God and his people. The Message of the Prophets is essential for professors, students, and others seeking to understand the role that the OT prophets play in the Christian faith.

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