Religion

The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues Gregory Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship.

Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that this understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.

Whether you are thinking of stepping out in your community, or in the world at large, Transcending Mission will provide you with the theology to better guide you on your journey. Its thorough approach and critical eye will help you go go out equipped, ready to serve and ready to share God with people yet to discover him.

Mission, missions, missional, and all its linguistic variations are part of the expanding vocabulary and rhetoric of the contemporary Christian missionary enterprise. Its language and assumptions are deeply ingrained in the thought and speech of the church today. Christianity is a missionary religion and faithful churches are mission-minded. What's more, in telling the story of apostles and bishops and monks as missionaries, we think we have grasped the true thread of Christian history.

But what about those odd shapes, those unsettling gaps and creases in the historical record? Is the language of mission so clearly evident across the broad reaches of time? Is the trajectory of mission really so explicit from the early church to the present? Or has the modern missionary enterprise distorted our view of the past?

As with every reigning paradigm, there comes a point when enough questions surface to beg for a close and critical look, even when it may seem transgressive to do so. In this study of the language of mission - its origin, development, and application--Michael Stroope investigates how the modern church has come to understand, speak of, and engage in the global expansion of Christianity. There is both surprise and hope in this tale. And perhaps the beginnings of a new conversation.

Introduces the life and significance of Abraham in a way that will enlighten both complete beginners and people who thought they knew all they needed to know about him.

Abraham follows the biblical account of Abraham and his family in Genesis, while drawing out key points of reflection and action during Lent Written by a brilliant new biblical scholar with a gift for communicating the very latest scholarship in ways that make sense to the non-expert.

Abraham is a Lent book that takes the story of Abraham in Genesis as the basis for a series of six Lenten studies.

There is a single chapter for each of the six weeks focusing on an extract from Genesis. Each chapter is followed by a set of questions arising from it, which could be used by groups or individuals, as well as suggested further reading.

Each chapter begins and ends with discussion addressed to the reader and his or her own experience of moving through Lent. This discussion is related to the chosen passage from the Abraham narratives for that week, and will not assume any previous or background knowledge of biblical scholarship.

In each chapter the reader is offered an interpretation of the chosen passage that is fresh and designed to resonate with their own personal experience. The book gently challenges some traditional ideas about Abraham and his presentation in the Bible.

From an early age Gareth has loved to draw and that passion continues to this day. It's something he still can't believe he gets to do for a living. He's worked on a wide range of projects from greeting cards, editorial illustration and children's books. When he's not working, Gareth enjoys football, gaming and movies.

Why do we exist? Is there a God? What's the point of it all? These are some of the questions that all thinking people ask at some point in their lives.

John Cottingham explores the whys and wherefores that lead people to become believers.

Contents

The starting point
Why want to believe in the first place?
The human quest Reaching for the unknown
The still small voice Intimations of the sacred
Evil and waste
Belief and observance

Beautiful Attitudes features eight interactive Bible studies that dive deeper into the 'beatitudes', a series of teaching given by Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount and show us how we can better apply them to our lives today.

Beautiful Attitudes includes contributions from a number of theologians and biblical teachers, including Debra Green OBE, Rev Malcolm Duncan, and more. This interactive workbook is perfect for group and individual study.

It's time to grasp the vision for what is possible when ordinary people catch a glimpse of God's radical call to follow the Lord Jesus and embrace the beautiful attitudes he maps out for living life to the full.

This is a book to accompany the readings in year B of the Lectionary. It aims to help individuals and groups to understand and use Mark's Gospel. There are two other books that will follow this one: Journeying with Luke in Year C and Journeying with Matthew in Year A.

This book's unique slant is that it asks readers to use their imagination 'to bring the Gospel to life'. It asks readers to visualize themselves in the scenes that Mark describes in order see Mark's Gospel in a fresh and exciting way.

Journeying with Mark is a fantastic resource for anyone following lectionary year B.

The five session focus on:

Session 1: The God who hears our cry

Session 2: The Shepherd who guides and guards his people

Session 3: The Son who is the Way, the Truth and the Life

Session 4: The God who shares our pain

Session 5: The God who calms our fears

The participants on the course audio are the late British politician, Baroness Shirley Williams, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Professor David Wilkinson, Canon Lucy WInkett and Dr David Hope.

This York Course is available in the following formats

Course Book (Paperback 9780955743788)

Course Book (eBook 9781915843159)

Audio Book of Interview to support Glimpses of God Course (CD 9781915843142)

Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781915843135)

Transcript of interview to support Glimpses of God York Course (Paperback 9780955743795)

Transcript of interview (eBook 9781915843166)

Book Pack (9781739182052 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview)

Large print (9781739182069)

Something remarkable is happening across the Middle East. A counter-cultural gospel movement is growing disciples of Jesus deep within the heartland of Islam.

Starting in Iran, a radical form of evangelism and discipleship, predominantly led by brand new believers, has begun to spread across Muslim majority nations. Author Phil Moore shares the first-hand stories of these courageous Middle Eastern Christians and compares them to the words of Jesus to his seventy-two disciples in Luke 10. The striking similarities between their experiences show how this spectacular move of God relies on the same instruction, and Spirit, as the first followers of Jesus.

And it does not stop there. Phil goes on to share how this gospel movement is now spreading across Europe and North America. If you long to see new believers coming to faith in the secular post-Christian West too, then let the testimonies in The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus show you that with God all things are possible.

Stress is now a huge factor in modern living, with one-third of British workers likely to suffer from it some stage in their careers. Christians are not immune. Indeed it is arguable that they are even more vulnerable to overstress or burnout than secular people because of behavioural expectations relating to God, Church, society, work and the prevailing culture.
In order to address these particularities, each short chapter in this engaging book responds to a commonly asked question or typical statement, such as ‘How can I tell if I’m overstressed?’; ‘I’m so disillusioned and swamped at work. I don’t know how long I can carry on.’; ‘I’m not managing time for God as I used to.’ etc. The authors then offer basic information, followed by material for meditation or reflection; encouragement of some sort, and finally something for the reader to work on.

How can churches stay healthy and dynamic over the long-term? What’s needed to avoid or reverse church stagnation and decline?

While some churches are vibrant and growing, many more are struggling, especially after Covid. The congregation might be declining and ageing, there’s little success in reaching out to with the gospel, and more time is spent on inward facing problems than loving God and loving others. But the potential that could be released is huge.

David Brown draws on his experience revitalising a church in central Paris to offer a vision and a process for church revitalisation, with a focus on UK and European contexts. Whether you are church planting, in a well-established and thriving church, or looking to turn around a church in decline, Brown provides biblically grounded wisdom along with change management principles for long-term health.

When we reapply God’s priorities to the church, we unleash new life and energy in following Christ in community.

Mentoring Matters explains a reproducible model for maximizing the potential of leaders and helping them go the distance.

It gets behind the issues of leadership skills to address the leader as a person - their spirituality, emotional health, key relationships, vulnerabilities and rhythms of life.

This approach to mentoring is highly flexible so that it can be tailor-made for each mentoring partnership, not relying on a strict format or curriculum. The mentor functions as a doctor of the soul, pulling us back to our most noble intentions and perceptive insights.

The approach is formal and organised - and highly effective.

The public are inundated with untruths about Jesus of Nazareth, the greatest figure in human history and the one by whom we date everything. Sometimes these truths emerge from the media and sometimes from specific assaults on Jesus by special interest groups and writers.
Michael Green thoughtfully and robustly takes on the most important of these untruths.
* Was Jesus just a mythical figure who never lived?
* Were the Gospel accounts of him corrupt and written long after he lived?
* Can we trust the text of the New Testament?
* Was Mary Magdalene Jesus's lover?
* Were the Gnostic Gospels just as good evidence as the four Gospels which Christians read today?
* Did Jesus really die on the cross?
And surely nobody these days believes in the resurrection? After all, hasn't the tomb of Jesus and his family been discovered?
These are some of the issues addressed in this book. The author is an ancient historian as well as a New Testament scholar. He is not ashamed to call the misrepresentations about Jesus what they are - lies, lies, lies!

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.

Retreats give us a space for contemplation and developing our relationship with God, but they aren't always possible. So can we still appreciate and detect the everyday God, even without special 'holy' places and spiritual practices?

Dancing at the Still Point is a book for those who can't or aren't ready to go away for a residential Christian retreat, but who want to be in daily relationship and connect with God in a satisfying way.

In sessions that you can work through at your own pace, Gemma Simmonds guides us through the practices and disciplines of retreats, such as being still physically and spiritually, developing a habit of prayer and learning some basic discernment skills. With insights from the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, she explores how we can fold these practices into every day and shows that a rich life of prayer, in which we have time and space to let God be present, is achievable even in a busy working or family life.

Practical and flexible, Dancing at the Still Point will help you find a richer and more balanced life, where the spiritual takes its rightful place amid all the other calls on time and attention.

If God means for us to save sex for marriage, why doesn't he just zap us with sexuality on our wedding night? Why do most of us experience sexual feelings throughout our adult lives, not just in the safe confines of marriage? Is limiting marriage to the union of a man and a woman anything but outdated prejudice? What is our sexuality actually for?

Today's culture overwhelmingly tells us that sex is essential for human flourishing. Far too often the church perpetuates the same message - as long as you are married. But far from being liberating, this idolising of sex leaves us even more sexually broken than before.

With refreshing honesty and clarity, Ed Shaw calls on the church to rediscover its confidence in the Bible's teaching about our ability to experience or express sexual feelings. He points us to how God's word reveals that sexuality's ultimate purpose is to help us better know God and the full power of his passionate love. He shows us how this is surprisingly good news for all our joys and struggles with sexuality.

How well do you know Jesus? This little book of daily readings introduces you to the character and life of Jesus Christ.

'My hope is that as you read, you'll discover, or will remember, just how central Jesus is to Christianity,' says Malcolm. 'Jesus didn't come to establish a religion, he came to change lives and to deal with the barriers that exist between God and us. Unfortunately, we Christians are very good at boxing him in. He doesn't like boxes - they feel a little too like tombs and Jesus has a tendency to refuse to stay in those. May you meet Jesus in a way that will change your life forever.'

A short prayer accompanies each section.

Creation or Evolution helps you make sense of the complex common ground between the biblical doctrine of creation and the scientific evidence behind the theory of evolutionary.

With the guidance of neuroscientist Denis Alexander - a passionate believer in both the Bible and science, you can build a fully integrated understanding of the tricky questions that have divided so many for too long.

This book combines the latest genetic research with an exploration of what we mean by creation and evolution to overcome the common scientific and religious objections to each. He addresses the argument that evolution is atheistic and discovers who Adam and Eve really were.

An enthusiast for both the biblical and scientific contributions to our understanding of God and creation, he shows how the concept of The Fall be reconciled with evolutionary theory. Finally he asks the big question: how could a God of love create a world where people kill each other and inflict so much suffering?

Read Creation or Evolution and you will discover that maybe you don't have to choose. And you will have the arguments and responses to help others overcome their objections to biblical faith without abandoning the scientific facts.

A star, a stable, angels, shepherds, kings, and at the heart of it all a mother and her baby. In The Art of Christmas Jane Williams’ meditations on the birth of Jesus take you deep into the story of the original Christmas as depicted in some of the world's greatest paintings.

These profoundly perceptive reflections on the different ways in which artists have imagined the Nativity will deepen and refresh your appreciation of the real meaning of Christmas, and the message of love, joy and peace that it speaks to all the world.

Illustrated in stunning full colour, with famous and lesser-known Western masterpieces, and presented in a small, easily portable format, The Art of Christmas is ideal Advent reading for all art lovers, but also makes a wonderful Christmas gift.

Jane Williams’ insightful meditations will not only help you rediscover the spiritual heart of Christmas, but will also give you a deeper, expanded appreciation of the skill and mastery behind these masterful paintings. You’ll gain a fuller and more spiritual understanding of Christian art, and see Christmas as never before.

We're more connected than ever, yet many of us feel deeply alone.

Despite endless messages about love and belonging, we're facing a widespread crisis of connection - both inside and outside the church. We were created for meaningful, life-giving relationships, but the intimacy we long for often feels just out of reach.

In The Intimacy Deficit, pastor and bestselling author Ed Shaw explores why this disconnect exists - and how the gospel offers a better way. Drawing on years of pastoral ministry, theological reflection, and personal experience, Shaw helps us rediscover the kind of deep, biblical intimacy we were made for: connection with God, with ourselves, with others, and with God's creation. A trusted voice on Christian identity and relationships, Shaw is also the author of The Plausibility Problem and Purposeful Sexuality, two bestselling books that have helped reshape how the church approaches discipleship in today's world.

Shaw challenges the cultural narrative that intimacy is found only in sex or romance, offering instead a richer, Christ-centred vision of connection. With clarity, compassion, and biblical insight, he shows how gospel-shaped intimacy can meet our deepest relational needs. Whether you're single or married, isolated or emotionally exhausted, The Intimacy Deficit offers hope for those longing for meaningful connection - and a renewed vision of the church as a place of true belonging.

Grounded in Scripture and rich in insight, Shaw reshapes how we think about intimacy - and where it's truly found.

For some time now, I have been writing a simple blessing each day.

I share it with those who are connected to me on social media. My friends, family and those who journey with me through these avenues have often commented that they would like to see them in a little book that you could carry with you on holiday, or leave by your bedside. I pray they will be used by God to bless you, to bless others and to somehow, in a small way, build confidence in Almighty God. You can dip into them or use them on a daily basis. Whatever works for you.

Whether you are already a follower of Jesus, or you are just exploring Who He is and what He does, I pray these little blessings will help you.

Jesus of Nazareth wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. Those who claim to follow him, on the other hand, often are. It's easy to settle for a tamed and domesticated Jesus. A bound-and-gagged Jesus. A Jesus of our own making.

That's why this book focuses on the fifteen most outrageous things Jesus said: the fifteen things you are least likely to hear preached about in church. If you ever suspected that Jesus wasn't crucified for acting like a polite vicar in a pair of socks and sandals, then this book is for you.

Fasten your seatbelt and get ready to discover the real Jesus in all his outrageous, ungagged glory.

Stories shape us and give us meaning - but is it coincidence that the same seven basic plots repeat over time and across the world? What if stories not only reveal something about human psychology, but also give us clues to the meaning of the reality we live in?

In Reality and Other Stories, Peter Dray and Matt Lillicrap explore how seven story archetypes - Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy and Rebirth - are not only universal, but also found in the story of Christ. As they unpack each example, they demonstrate how our deepest longing find fulfilment in Jesus' story.

This is not just another Christian apologetics book. Reality and Other Stories is an ideal gift to give to new Christians and those just beginning to explore faith. The authors show the power of storytelling to affect our lives, and through examples of story archetypes demonstrates that the life of Jesus truly is the story at the heart of reality.

Reality and Other Stories will help you explore Jesus' story for yourself and better understand how through Jesus, we can discover the true story of reality that gives ultimate purpose to our lives.

This profound little book encourages us to set aside our limited expectations, and to fall in line with God's.

Human beings like organization, structures, plans; God grows people. We ask for a budget; God offers us love. If you are aiming at relationship rather than performance, how do you measure effectiveness? How do you write a mission statement, yet allow God space to act out His plan rather than yours? What does Divine Order look like? Faith in God involves risk, and the possibility that God will do something entirely new.

Starting with the seven days of creation, Danielle considers how God's world resembles A Beautiful Mess - vibrant, full of colour and pulsating with life, but not about propositions. The Christian life is organic, not prescribed. We were not created to work, but to be fruitful. We need to be willing to put ourselves in a position where only God can do what needs to be done, and to have the humility to let God show us what that is.

A new model of youth work and outreach is emerging across the UK and elsewhere, in which churches and faith communities are no longer content to invite outsiders across the great threshold that is the front door of the church.

On the other hand, detached youth work has made great strides into taking the church out into the streets. Between these two polarities is nestled a third way. Middle Space models carve out space in the middle ground for dialogue, relationships, safe spaces, exchange of ideas, not to mention inclusive activities.

The concept of Middle Space is simple. It's not our space, nor is it their space, but a shared space somewhere in the middle. However, Middle Space is about much more than simply utilising so-called "third spaces." Rather, it's a whole new approach to youth work, in which the physical space becomes a metaphor for the youth work itself. While the concept is simple, it is a profoundly new way of doing youth ministry.

This book will be the first of its kind in describing and reflecting upon emerging Middle Space models, and also giving some tips and insights for best practices moving forward.

Using the church as a framework, Through the Year with John Stott explores in 365 days the whole biblical story from creation to the end times.

One of the most highly respected Bible teachers of our times, John Stott gets to the heart of each of the 365 carefully selected passages, covering every essential Christian teaching in a single volume. The readings are broken up into weekly themes. Each devotion is based on a key passage of Scripture, and includes biblical references for further exploration.

This new edition of this much-loved classic devotional includes a new foreword from Old Testament Scholar Chris Wright.

David Atkinson shows how Proverbs addresses all these issues. Wisdom, he argues, is about helping to cope; about seeing the world in a fresh way to five new resources for living; about working out what living for God means in the very ordinariness of daily life.

These sayings, he explains, bring such concerns to life in vivid, imaginative, often humorous pictures, linking the cosmic and the homely. The ancient book puts a mirror up to our behaviour, and asks: 'Are you like this? Is there not a better way to live?'

The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you to follow and to teach the Bible in today’s world.

Encouragement. Perseverance. Stickability. How we need these in our daily lives if we are to grow as Christians and not become jaded and discouraged.

So much for the theory, but how can this work out in practice? And when we feel like just giving up?

With insightful teaching and application from Michael Baughen, David and Ian Coffey, Jonathan Lamb, Nigel Lee, Ivor Poobalan, Andy Prime, Matt Sleeman, Rico Tice and others, this short volume digs into the Bible, offering timeless wisdom from the Psalms, Ephesians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter and Revelation. It draws from the inspirational life of pioneer missionary Amy Carmichael. It equips us for those times when we just need to keep on keeping on.

Tailored for real people in the real world today.

'Tom Wright is simply crucial; his writing can transform one's life.' Anne Rice

Join Tom Wright on a journey with the Apostles, exploring the New Testament themes of thankfulness, patience, humility and joy.

Within each of these themes, Wright offers a week of daily readings and meditations, beginning with the Sunday reading in the Revised Common Lectionary and ending with stimulating questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

Drawing on key passages in his popular For Everyone series of commentaries, these sparkling reflections take you on a journey of spiritual enlightenment, guiding you towards the wonder and joy of Christmas.

Whether you have spent years reading his near-countless books and commentaries, or have never even heard of the man before, this Advent Devotional is the perfect chance to spend the month before Christmas drinking deep from the writing on Tom Wright.

'Tom Wright is, as always, brilliant at distilling immense scholarship into vivid, clear and accessible form.' Rowan Williams

The Song of Songs is a short, beautiful but currently neglected book of the Bible. Whilst acknowledging it's fascinating portrayal of human love and longing for love, this unusual book explores the possibility of drawing on the mystics and the poets to read the book at a more profound level as a resource for contemplative prayer.

Aims to present the Song of Songs as a resource for contemplative prayer. From its recorded beginning before Christ, this biblical poem was widely, and in fact exclusively, interpreted both by Jews and Christians as a hymn of God's passionate love for his chosen people.

The Song of Songs is however a mysterious book, and the more modern reading of it as a celebration of human erotic love has largely displaced this older interpretation. Here, the author presents a contemporary mystical reading, with reference to some later Christian poetry, including John Donne, George Herbert, Gerald Manley Hopkins, and R. S. Thomas.

Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright manages to unravel the great complexity of this extraordinary gospel.

He describes it as 'one of the great books in the literature of the world; and part of its greatness is the way it reveals its secrets not just to high-flown learning, but to those who come to it with humility and hope'.

Wright's stimulating comments are combined with his own translation of the Bible text. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information.

The series is suitable for personal or group use. The format makes it appropriate also for daily study.

In Romans 5-8 Paul speaks passionately of the love of God for mankind and the gift he offered us by sending Christ as our saviour.

As believers, we have immense privileges. We can have peace with God, union with Christ, freedom from the law and life in the spirit.

Today, more than ever, we need a robust understanding of the gospel. And the gospel is indeed good news!

In this 30-day devotional, beloved Bible teacher John Stott unpacks these passages and their full meaning, to show us how Paul's words, written nearly two thousand years ago, are still full of meaning and inspiration for Christians today.

Paul has provoked people as much in recent times as he did when he was alive. Some regard him as a pestilent and dangerous fellow. Others think of him as the greatest teacher of Christianity after Jesus himself.

In this book, leading theologian Tom Wright focuses on key areas of Paul's teaching, helping us to understand what he was doing and saying. He sweeps away the confusion of much modern theology to uncover the real man and his message.

What St Paul Really Said is a book for all who want to weigh the evidence before making up their minds on the vital questions surrounding Paul. Equally it is for those who want to know what his message might mean for us today.

'Read this book, and then rethink everything else.' Danielle Strickland

'A feast of insight and reflection on what just leadership should look like.' The Rt Reverend Dr Jonathan Gibbs

'This book will change the way you lead.' The Rt Reverend Dr Emma Ineson, Bishop of Penrith

'A book that should be on the shelves of every leader today.' The Reverend Will van der Hart

From #MeToo scandals to revelations of spiritual abuse atrocities in the Church, we've watched too many leaders let us down. What went wrong for these leaders? And more importantly, how can we get it right?

Just Leadership offers advice and guidance to empower leaders everywhere to make a difference and answer the call for a fairer, more transparent, more equal society. Drawing on their combined decades of experience in leadership and safeguarding, Justin Humphreys and Simon Barrington explore what it means for a leader to be just, and provide practical ways improve your leadership skills and create a just and open environment.

Across the world, there is a heart cry for justice - but often the fight is too focused on the wider cause, bypassing conversations about individual leaders across our churches, organisations, charities and communities.

Just Leadership is for every leader - whether you are in Church or other Christian leadership, business or professional leadership or even a leader within your local community - who wants to build their skills and start leading the way to a better future.

'Elegant, wide-ranging, and encouraging . . . a masterful book, which could and should be read by every church family whose members care about their engagement with the world.'
CHURCH TIMES

In Living His Story (2020), Hannah Steele wrote 'with an infectious understanding of her subject' (Mark Oakley, Church Times).

Now, in Living His Story Together, she turns her attention to mission and evangelism that is not only for individuals but for the whole local church. Offering an inspiring mandate for the church to see itself as a missionary community, Hannah considers the practical outworkings of that identity through engaging with scripture and current theological thinking, and sharing real-life stories from churches on the front line.

Living His Story Together isn't an argument for a particular model of church (plant or parish, for example) but an exciting exploration of what can happen when two or three of God's missionary disciples are gathered together, empowered by the Spirit and seeking to be good news in the world today. It covers contemporary missional themes, such as hospitality, cultural engagement, presence, diversity and spoken witness, and offers practical principles - vividly enlivened by relating the imaginative and disarming ways in which ordinary churches and individuals are sharing the gospel - to help us embrace the great privilege to which we have been called.

'The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and the love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.'

The Book of Common Prayer, with local variations, is still used in churches inside and outside the Anglican Communion in over 50 countries and in over 150 languages.

The Rise and Fall of the Incomparable Liturgy is the first study to trace the evolution and reception of the BCP, from the Elizabethan settlement of 1559 to the Royal Commission report of 1906, when work on a new prayer book was begun.

Written by a world authority, here is an illuminating and highly readable account of the ascent and decline of a world classic, which still informs our common language as well as much of the great literature of the past four centuries. It will appeal not only to students of liturgy but also to general readers interested in history, literature, theology and cultural studies.

Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright manages to unravel the great complexity of this extraordinary gospel.

He describes it as 'one of the great books in the literature of the world; and part of its greatness is the way it reveals its secrets not just to high-flown learning, but to those who come to it with humility and hope'.

Wright's stimulating comments are combined with his own translation of the Bible text. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text.

Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information. The series is suitable for personal or group use. The format makes it appropriate also for daily study.

The influence of Thomas Aquinas on Western theology is beyond dispute, yet his is a contested legacy. In current evangelical studies, there is an emerging infatuation with Thomas, especially as far as his theological metaphysics is concerned.

On the occasion of the eighth centenary of Thomas Aquinas, Engaging with Thomas Aquinas is a thoughtful introduction aimed at presenting the main contours of the doctor's complex legacy and critically evaluating it, especially in areas where the "Roman Catholic" Thomas eclipses the "classical" theology which is attracting renewed attention in evangelical circles.

Engaging with Thomas Aquinas contributes a thoughtful analysis from an evangelical viewpoint, offering answers to complex questions such as:

- Is the thought of Thomas and Thomism(s) the same?
- What strengths and dangers does the legacy of Thomas Aquinas present to evangelical thought?
- How can Rome's chief doctor be, at the same time, a reference point for evangelical theology?

In this book, De Chirico offers an evangelical a framework to think through this contested thinker's legacy, as well as an invitation to the inquiring reader to consider an alternative.

500 years after Martin Luther's objections, the Church is threatened with division.

With fundamentalists and liberals pulling at either end of the scale, have we forgotten everything that binds us together? Are we focusing too much on the things that could pull us apart?

In 2017 Spring Harvest celebrates the theme of unity. Instead of fracturing over secondary issues, we have an opportunity to celebrate a God-given unity centred on mission and the primary truths of faith. We have an opportunity to be One for All.

‘Hope is not the product of opinion or argument . . . There has to be something else – an impetus to act, a vision, something that fires our imagination.’

At a time when many feel defeated by the world’s problems, Vincent Nichols reminds us why we need to hold on to hope – and how we can offer genuine hope to those who need it most. With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this stirring book will encourage people of all faith backgrounds to come together and work towards a better future for all.

‘What makes us human? . . . What holds us together across cultures, religions, gender and many other differences? Cardinal Nichols’ answers are both deeply realistic and deeply hopeful.’
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

‘This book . . . is an important call to action, and one that will encourage real-life transformation.’
Ben Cooley, Chief Executive, Hope for Justice

In our era of chronic exhaustion, learn how setting aside 24 hours to stop, rest, delight, and worship restores joy and spiritual vitality in this guide from New York Times bestselling author John Mark Comer and the team at Practicing the Way.

This Companion Guide to the Sabbath Practice from Practicing the Way provides a practical, accessible approach to incorporating this life-giving rhythm into your weekly routine. Designed to be used with four engaging video sessions freely available online, this guide offers spiritual exercises, reflection questions, and additional resources to help you and your community experience Sabbath as the best part of your week.

This guide will help you:

- Understand the biblical foundations of Sabbath
- Learn to "stop" and align with a rhythm God built into the fabric of creation
- Develop personal practices for meaningful rest, play, and communal celebration
- Resist internal and external forces that war against Sabbath
- Cultivate a spirit of worship that extends throughout your week

Discover how setting aside 24 hours can transform every day of your week, leading to a deeper connection with God, others, and your own soul.

Is this as good as life gets?
Does anything I do actually matter?
Can I really change?

We all need encouragement in making the changes that lead to healthier lives. Many of us feel stuck in patterns of thought and behaviour that we wish we could alter. The good news of the gospel is that we do not have to struggle through this process on our own.

Created as an accompaniment to Tim Chester's freshly updated classic, You Can Change, this devotional features daily Bible readings on how we can see more godly transformation in our lives. It can be used for personal reflection or with a trusted friend. With warm gospel-centred encouragement.

Tim Chester offers the hope and resolve needed for change with clear and practical steps that readers can build into their lives.

If your journey to lasting change needs a kickstart, let this 10-week devotional inspire you to keep pushing into the life that Jesus has won for you. Life in all its fullness.

God has given us Christ, the greatest gift of all time. Through the Bible, we discover that he also gives each of us a special gift. Our growing relationship with God involves finding out what our gift is and using it in every circumstance God places us in. For through our special gifts, God blesses others - both inside and outside the Church.

This warm-hearted five-session course, which may be used during Lent or at any time of the year, draws on the skills Olivia Amartey learnt as a senior leader in the NHS. This was God's training ground for her. Despite facing numerous crises, Olivia found herself developing flexibility, wisdom and the grace to maintain a sense of fun amid the topsy-turviness of life. Now she invites us to embrace the adventure we are all on with Christ, as we look, in turn, at: The generosity of God; Discovering our gift and responding; Being with Jesus and becoming fruitful; When things go wrong, and ways of staying on track; and It's all good - how God changes everything.

The course book is accompanied not only by a CD/audio download but also by a video, filmed on location by Monkeynut in an enchanting Georgian country house. Olivia Amartey is joined in discussing the themes of The Gift of Christ by scriptwriter Paul Kerensa, and author and spiritual director Amy Boucher Pye.

COMPLETE LIST OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST PRODUCTS

Course book including transcript of video and access to video/audio downloads (paperback 978 1 91584 331 9)
Course book including transcript of video and access to video/audio downloads (eBook 978 1 91584 333 3, both ePub and Mobi files provided)
Participants' book including transcript of video: pack of 5 (paperback 978 1 91584 332 6)
Participants' book including transcript of video (eBook 978 1 91584 334 0, both ePub and Mobi files provided)
Audio book of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (audio digital download 978 1 91584 335 7)
Audio book of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (CD 978 1 91584 336 4)
Video of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (available only via the publisher's website)

Most people live or work among Muslim colleagues and neighbours, or mingle with Islamic people on trips overseas. But many Christians struggle to see beyond the stereotypes to connect in depth with the people they meet.

In this winsome book Martin Goldsmith recounts colourful stories from a lifetime of conversations and friendships with Muslims in various countries around the world, including the UK.

Part-travelogue, part-biography, readers are whisked from an English college garden to an Afghan market, from a London secondary school to a North African tourist destination, from Dubai airport to a home in Scotland, all the while becoming better equipped to make their own connections with Muslims - to the glory of God.

CONTENTS:

Introduction

Haji Ahmed: can we know God?
Muslim students: speaking up
Airport encounters: reflections on prayer and jihad
On the waiting list for Jesus: when cultures merge
Suleiman and the jinn: folk Islam and evil spirits
The polygamous sheikh: what about other faiths?
Dr Abdul: life in a multifaith world
Walking in the sandals of the judges: meeting the qadis
Muhammad, Ali and the whirling dervishes: exploring Sufism
Tariq and Hussein: Afghan stories
Connecting with Christians: making the most of tourism
Conclusion
Appendix

'Rowan Williams is one of the great theologians of our time. He is also an inspiring teacher whose godly wisdom helps us understand profound truths.' Nicky Gumbel

Starting in the first century with St Paul and ending in the twentieth with St Oscar Romero, Rowan Williams invites you to reflect with him on the lives and legacies of twenty great Christians – saints, martyrs, poets, theologians and social reformers. Their stories and writings have profoundly influenced his own life and thought, and this sequence of short reflections is sure to sharpen your theological vision and cast a fresh light on what it means to live and breathe the gospel.

Included among these 'luminaries' are Augustine of Hippo, William Tyndale, Teresa of Avila, Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Simone Weil,

Let these brilliant meditations light your way as you follow the footsteps of the faithful who have gone before.

Discovering Revelation is the perfect introduction to the interpretation of Revelation. Through a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates, it encourages in-depth study of the text and a genuine grappling with the theological and historical questions raised.

As part of the Discovering Biblical Texts series, Discovering Revelation draws on a range of author-, text- and reader-centred methodological approaches as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of Biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.

Discovering Revelation is an ideal commentary for students and those looking to dig deeper into the Book of Revelation. You will gain a solid grasp of the structure and content of Revelation, and a thorough understanding of key interpretations and theological concerns that will enhance your own reading of the text.

Whether you've just started reading the Bible or you've been reading it for a while but don't feel you're getting the most from it, this is the book for you.

Taking a step-by-step approach, God Speaking shows you how to absorb, retain and rejoice in what God is saying through each individual book of the Bible.

The first step is to choose one Bible book and read it right through before going back and delving deeper. For only when you've grasped the overall thrust of a book can you begin to see how its different parts fit together and contribute to the whole.

Gilbert Lennox has developed and refined this approach over many years, and in God Speaking he shows how it works by leading you through two very different books of the New Testament: the First Letter of Peter and the Gospels of John.

'New Testament Wisdom for Everyone' is a challenging book presenting Tom Wright's meditations on key passages in the New Testament.

The message that Jesus preached and lived has inspired and convicted countless lives over 2000 years. Wright's convincing and connecting voice has helped many engage with these words for themselves and act upon them, aligning themselves within Jesus' message and the Early Church attitude. In 'Wisdom for Everyone', readers will be invited to muse with Wright as he weaves from message to message, connecting this ancient wisdom with the modern mind.

With testing questions for personal reflection or group discussion, anyone who reads this book and takes it seriously will discover that following Jesus is both costly and rewarding.

Too few people attending church today, even in evangelical churches, are exposed to the gospel explicitly. Sure, many will hear about Jesus, and about being good and not being bad, but the gospel message simply isn't there - at least not with precision and fullness.
Moved by the common neglect of the explicit gospel within Christianity, Matt Chandler begins with the specifics of the gospel - outlining what it is and what it is not. He then switches gear to focus on the fullness of the gospel and its massive implications at both personal and cosmic levels.
Recognizing our tendency to fixate on either the micro or macro aspects of the gospel, Chandler also warns us of the dangers on either side - of becoming overly individualistic or syncretistic. Here is a call to true Christianity, to know the gospel explicitly, and to unite the church on the amazing grounds of the good news of Jesus!

The Father delights in his Son.

This is the starting point of mission, its very core.

The word 'mission' means 'sending'. But for many centuries this was only used to describe what God did, sending his Son and his Spirit into the world.

World mission exists because the Father wants people to delight in his Son, and the Son wants people to delight in the Father.

Tim Chester introduces us to a cascade of love: love flowing from the Father to the Son through the Spirit. And that love overflows and, through us, keeps on flowing to our Christian community and beyond, to a needy world.

Mission matters. This book is for ordinary individuals willing to step out and be part of the most amazing, exciting venture in the history of the world.

Multi-generational worship is important for most church leaders, worship teams, and children's workers - but how can you truly engage everyone so that all age worship can thrive in your church?

Worship for Everyone offers an inspiring vision crucial for bringing longevity and life to all age worship as well as a practical guide bursting with ideas and resources.

Nick and Becky Drake, pioneers in multi-generational worship ministry, provide a theology for bringing all ages together that draws on their years of experience. Alongside this they give advice and tips on running intergenerational worship sessions and dealing with the many challenges that face the church in producing meaningful all age worship.

Worship for Everyone contains all the resources pastors, children’s workers and church leaders need to run all age worship services. Service plans, talks, recommended songs, Bible readings and more are all included, so you can make your all age worship engaging and significant for every generation.

This is a book for anyone with a heart to see new generations engaging with God.

The whole story of the Old Testament book of Exodus is a covenant narrative; in Moses' story, the pledges that God made to Abraham are honoured and fulfilled, as the Israelites are saved from Egypt and guided to the promised land.

In The Message of Exodus, Alec Motyer offers a warm-hearted and insightful exposition of what this key part of Scripture testifies about the Bible's God. Exploring the meaning that Exodus still has for us today, he unfolds the ways it points to Jesus Christ and heralds him in advance, and how it bears on the nature and life of the people of God - their redemption, obedience, security and inheritance.

Part of the loved and trusted The Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries, The Message of Exodus offers an clear, readable exposition of the Biblical text and thought-provoking discussion of how its meaning relates to contemporary life. Used by Bible students and teachers around the world, The Bible Speaks Today commentaries are ideal for anyone studying or preaching Exodus and who want to delve deeper into the text.

This beautifully redesigned edition has also been sensitively updated to include modern references and use the NIV Bible text.

The Message of Exodus will help for anyone looking for a commentary on Exodus that makes clear its meaning both in its original context and for Christians in the twenty-first century.

Continuously in print for over 30 years, and available in many different languages, John Drane's Introducing the New Testament has long been recognized as an authoritative and accessible survey of the subject.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated with fresh material on the many political contexts in which the early church flourished, along with new insights into the writing and reception of written texts in what was essentially an oral culture. Specific issues that will be of particular interest to students are highlighted in special boxed feature sections, along with an extensive glossary of technical terms and key maps and diagrams.

This book is the ideal starting point for readers who wish to explore the New Testament and its world in the light of recent scholarship, and its relevance to life in the twenty-first century.

"In this accessible and engaging introduction, [John Lennox] guides us through the great debates about science and faith, and offers incisive assessments of the issues." Alister McGrath, Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford

Is the rigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge really compatible with a sincere faith in God?

Building on the arguments put forward in God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Prof John Lennox examines afresh the plausibility of a Christian theistic worldview in the light of some of the latest developments in scientific understanding. Prof Lennox focuses on the areas of evolutionary theory, the origins of life and the universe, and the concepts of mind and consciousness to provide a detailed and compelling introduction to the science and religion debate. He also offers his own reasoning as to why he continues to be convinced by a Christian approach to explaining these phenomena.

Robust in its reasoning, but respectful in tone, this book is vital reading for anyone exploring the relationship between science and God.

The first comprehensive scholarly survey of all the Gospel miracles for nearly fifty years. In this magisterial study, Keith Warrington paints a rounded picture of Jesus as a miracle worker by exploring each of the miracles in the Gospels in their literary and historical setting.

He demonstrates that, while the miracles are historically authentic, there are several reasons for their presence in the Gospels other than simply to identify Jesus as a miracle worker.

They are also intended to function as vehicles of teaching: expressing aspects of the mission and person of Jesus, providing lessons for his would-be disciples and adding theological value for each Gospel's original audience.

The books of 1 and 2 Samuel vividly describe the passing of the age of the judges and the founding of the Israelite monarchy. We read of the rise and rule of Samuel, the last and greatest of the judges, and his role in establishing Saul and, later, David as kings over Israel. The wars, deceptions, victories, friendship, intrigue, rivalry, jealousy, and (for David) adultery and family discord that marked the reigns of these two men ensure that 1 and 2 Samuel are among the most readable - and relevant - books of the Old Testament. Using personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

Developed during his teaching ministry around the world, this book is the fruit of a lifetime's engagement with the Psalms. As a broadcaster and writer, John is loved for being entirely genuine and, in the words of Archbishop Justin Welby, 'his cogent and penetrating contributions reach an audience well beyond the churches'.

Here John explores the psalms as they impinge on daily life, drawing on stories and personal testimonies in order to help readers grieve, or rejoice, or draw encouragement from this most extraordinary and fascinating collection of sacred poems and songs.

'John Bell of the Iona Community has been for many years one of the most recognized voices on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, where his cogent and penetrating topical contributions reach an audience well beyond the churches.' - Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

Twenty high-profile footballers share their faith and reveal how it influences their lives, both on and off the pitch.

The book offers a range of information and insights into strictly football matters, while also exploring the way these players have 'crossed the line' into a relationship with Jesus, and showing how God is actively at work in professional football today.

We live in an increasingly fatherless society. Fatherless children are far more likely to be criminals or victims.

In January 2009 Mark quit as the senior leader of a successful and progressive Anglican congregation, to found a ministry called The Father's House, dedicated to taking the Father's love to the fatherless.

'The task of the family of God is to take the Father's love to the fatherless. To do this, those who are already members of God's family need to have their father wounds healed. This book will help those with hearts broken by their earthly fathers to find in their Heavenly Father the love of all loves.'

In Part 1, Mark describes the different ways in which fathers can hurt their children.

In Part 2, he goes deeper, defining the wound as 'the orphan heart' and describing the main symptoms of this condition in peoples' lives.

In Part 3, he shows how Christians can find true healing through experiencing the Spirit of adoption.

'Be encouraged by Bishop Emma's advice and inspired by her wisdom and humour.' JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Counting things is very much on the table at the moment. But what is the theology around notions of ambition and success? Why do they sit so uncomfortably in a Christian context? After all, growth is not the preserve of big business when viewed through the lens of the story of God and his people. So, we need to ask, what is right about ambition for the Christian leader? And what were Jesus' views?

Inevitably (because everything interesting is paradoxical), success and failure are close bedfellows. The single most successful event in the history of humankind - the victory of love over sin and death - looked very much like one man, naked, shamed and abandoned by most of his followers, hanging on a cross.

If we keep a vision of the Kingdom of God at the centre of all we do, we cannot go far wrong. This lively and liberating book includes a brilliant take on Jesus' teaching in 'The Beatitudes for Ambitious Leaders'. Here Emma Ineson describes key spiritual dispositions that will enable us - whether in the church or living out our vocation elsewhere - to do just that.

Completely revised and expanded edition of the first volume in the 'Discovering' series.

This introduction to the interpretation of Matthew aims to encourage in-depth study of the text, and genuine grappling with the theological and historical questions raised, by providing a 'map' to the Gospel as a whole, and to key interpreters and interpretative debates.

It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text- and readercentred), as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of interpreting the text.

In particular, this new introduction reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.

Within a few decades of the death of Jesus of Nazareth, there emerged within the infant church five literary and theological geniuses: Paul and the writers of the Gospels.

No works of literature have been subjected to such close, persistent scrutiny by so many over the centuries. Yet the Gospels continue not only to fascinate, challenge and inspire, but to reveal new treasures and throw up fresh problems.

Much depends on the questions we ask of them and the level of curiosity and honesty we bring to this task. For while the Gospels represent four magnificent attempts to come to terms with Jesus and the God he revealed, we cannot be surprised when they fail. We should, however, be astonished that they take us so far into Truth - then point even further on.

In this glorious book, Trevor Dennis urges us to follow some of those pointers, to investigate where they lead in the search for the bright gospel beyond the Gospels. We will find ourselves in territory that is sometimes disturbing and sometimes heartening... But never less than truly exhilarating.

This is a book about who God is and who we are in light of that. What we think about ourselves governs what we do. If we think we are powerless then we will behave that way. If we believe we are weak we will be weak; if we believe we have no gifts we will not use our gifting.

When we believe the wrong things about ourselves it stops us from stepping into the person we were created to be. The Bible tells us that in Jesus we are "a new creation" and yet sometimes we still wear the clothes of the old creation.

But what if we knew what God knows about us? When we know what God knows about us we will do the things He knows we can do.

Our potential is limitless...

Why do some people seem to throw themselves into every opportunity, bouncing back from every setback? Is this irrepressible spirit just for the hyper-motivated? How do the rest of us live courageously, relate authentically and develop resilience?

Popular speaker and author Cathy Madavan deploys her trademark humour and down-to-earth wisdom to identify twelve ways we can become irrepressible.

How do you discover your irrepressible purpose?
How do you respond when disasters strike?
How do you become a person of influence?
How do you build a tribe of friends, but still keep healthy boundaries?
How do your habits develop resilience, capacity and flexibility?

This is your invitation to irrepressible living. These principles are your tools for building a courageous, resilient and fulfilling life.

Cathy Madavan lives on England's south coast with her husband Mark, and has been teaching about resilience, relationships and purpose for over 20 years.