SPCK Publishing

Luke is excited. As the only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament, he can hardly believe that God became a human, not just for Jewish boys like Peter and Paul, but for Gentiles just like him. His excitement about the Gospel is contagious, as he tells us, wide-eyed: All of this happened for you too.

Want to explore Luke, but feel like you don't have the time? Straight to the Heart of Luke is a concise and bite-size approach to Bible study, giving you nuggets of information that you can think about throughout the day.

Bible study for busy people.

Luke was so unlike the other New Testament writers that many of his contemporaries believed he wasn't qualified to write Scripture at all. But to understand the message of his gospel, we need to grasp who he was.

Luke was the only New Testament writer who was not a Jew. The apostle Paul defends him by stating explicitly that his gospel was as much Holy Scripture as the Old Testament.

Luke was an outsider to the Jewish faith that God inspired to compile an account of the life of Jesus in order to show people all around the world that what Jesus said and did him said and did for us all.

The astonishing message of Luke's gospel is that what happened to Jesus happened for you. Phil Moore helps us to understand and see God's wisdom in choosing Luke as a writer. He shows that Luke assures us that this isn't someone else's story: he came for you. We can say yes to Jesus, discovering that he can use you.

And that all this is possible because he made a way for you.

God is looking for the kind of person he can use. Thankfully, he isn't put off very easily in his search. When Samson failed, he found Samuel. When Saul failed, he found David. When David failed, he lovingly restored him and used him again. God is still looking for the kind of person he can use. This book will help you become the kind of person he is looking for.

A new series of devotional commentaries enabling people to get to grips with the Bible one bite at a time.

Focusing on key sections, Phil Moore gives a useful introduction to each book of the Bible. There will be 25 volumes in all, each containing approximately 60 readings. The tone is light and the text is full of useful application, making it a great resource for daily devotions. It is backed by substantial scholarship for those who want more. These readings from 1and 2 Samuel provide insights into some of the greatest characters of the Old Testament, notably into the life and motivations of King David.

In the warzone that Nigeria has become, Archbishop Ben Kwashi has survived three assassination attempts.

A brutal assault on his wife, Gloria, drove him to his knees - to forgive and find the strength to press on. Islamist militants have Nigeria in their sights. These are the terrorists who kidnapped hundreds of Christian schoolgirls - who have vowed to turn Africa's most populous nation into a hard-line Islamic state. Their plan is to drive the Christian minority from the north by kidnapping, bombing and attacking churches. Plateau State is on the frontline.

But holding that line against Boko Haram, and standing firm for the Gospel, is Ben Kwashi, the Anglican Archbishop of Jos.

In Jos, churches have been turned into fortresses and Archbishop Ben now conducts more funerals than weddings and baptisms put together. Yet his faith grows ever more vibrant. He has adopted scores of orphans who live in his home, including many who are HIV positive. And the challenge of his message - to live for the Gospel even in the face of terror - has never been so timely.

This book teaches the basics of the Christian faith, looking first at what Jesus himself taught, and then at what his apostles had to say. It is for anyone who wants to follow Jesus, but is not sure or would like to be reminded of the way.

In short clear steps, Dr Peter Walker takes us through the basics of enjoying Jesus' forgiveness, welcoming his Spirit and feeding on his scriptures; then explores the principles of worshipping with his people, following his teaching and trusting him with our future.

This classic of the field has been revised and is accompanied by access to an online PDF workbook and video content.

This book offers practical insights and proven strategies for fostering a flourishing church community by transforming churches through effective family and kids ministry leadership.

Changing Lives covers everything you need to know about working with children and families - the why to, the how to, the when to and the where to.

Mark Griffiths examines the history, theology and practice of children's ministry and shares the wisdom he has gained from many years' experience of leading hundreds of groups, assemblies and youth services. In practical chapters, backed with sample resources, he shows how to communicate with children in the brave new postmodern world of church, school and community.

This one stop resource covers everything from the vision for children's work to matters such as record keeping, home visits, timetables, child protection legislation and templates for lessons.

Mark's gospel reveals the exhilarating highs and lows of what it would have felt like to be one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Mark listened to Peter as he preached the story of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, then he wrote it down. Mark wants the reader to experience what it was like for Peter and his friends when Jesus called them to leave their old lives behind and step into His story.

Mark 1:1 to 7:23 is set in Galilee and it recounts the early days after Peter was invited to play a part in the Messiah's story. Mark 7:24 to 9:29 is set amongst the pagans and it chronicles Peter's growing realisation that what is happening in Israel is the world's story. Mark 9:30 to 10:52 takes place on the road to Jerusalem and charts Peter's growing awareness that it is going to be a costly story. Mark 11 to 15 records the week leading up to Jesus' death and marvels at the fact that this is a surprising story. Mark 16 is the grand finale of the gospel, describing Peter's mixture of fear and delight as he finds Jesus' tomb empty and realises that he has been called to continue an unfinished story.

Straight to the Heart of Mark is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

This book celebrates a God who does not let the grass grow under our feet, who can still provide plenty of challenges in life and open new doors into unexpected projects and ventures - even when the starting point is an unexpected bereavement.

Going beyond simply addressing bereavement, this book walks the reader through the first steps of travelling through life alone. It is both anecdotal and reflective. In part it focuses on some of the author's various travels as a vehicle for personal discovery, and with this there is a wider range of reflections on different aspects of learning to flourish on one's own.

Jo writes: "This book draws on my journal writings and my reflections and is themed around the things that I have learned in the last few years of learning to 'travel solo', and my experiences of doing quite a lot of travelling both at home and abroad. So I have found the metaphor of 'journeying' to be a useful peg on which to hang this 'story', and it is anecdotal with theological reflections.

Various new doors and opportunities have opened up to me, and by sharing them I hope that other people in similar situations will be encouraged to recognise, appreciate and grasp the opportunities that are on offer in their lives. It is an assertion that God does not abandon us, but remains as active in our lives as we allow him to be."

This book is based on the author's own experience of wrestling with depression, and her story carries the book along.

Using this structure she discusses the stigma associated with depression. She talks of the importance of correct diagnosis, and the challenges of day to day survival. She takes an honest look at the temptation to suicide, and how depression affects one's prayer life and relationship to God. Where are the sources of comfort and healing?

Jo Swinney considers biblical characters subject to depression, and argues for the importance of sharing stories. Finally she asks, what does her depression teach her?

Trained as a midwife, Chrissie Chapman went to Burundi in the nineties to open a maternity clinic and dispensary in a rural area of the country. She had been there just three years when a coup was declared, and the country descended into a state of civil war. It lasted for thirteen long years.

During that time, God directed her to work with the orphans and widows. She started a centre for abandoned babies and traumatised children and saw the Lord performing remarkable miracles in the lives of people who had lost everything. Chrissie adopted three children herself, and has raised more than fifty others to young adulthood.

Again and again she hs witnessed miracles of protection and provision. When the war started, Chrissie, her adopted children, and the health staff were living in a rural location on top of a mountain, in a healing centre, with maternity clinic and dispensary. Every night there was gunfire, and every day people would come seeking refuge.

One night, she and David Ndarahutse, the mission director, were sitting praying amid the fighting, when David said, 'Chrissie, look up.' There were dozens of angels standing on top of the walls of the healing centre.

That was the night the angels came. 'From that moment on,' Chrissie records, 'I have never experienced or felt fear for my life.' Today Chrissie divides her time between Burundi, where she continues to care for the teenagers in her charge, and England, Canada and America, where she speaks widely about the faithfulness and power of God.

In Dog Psalms the reader can use a dog’s attributes to speak to God.

In 2020 Britain marks the 25th anniversary of Racial Justice Sunday.

This movement was established at a time when the UK was having to face up to both overt and subversive forms of racism, characterised by the tragic killing of black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, in Eltham in 1993. This murder, and other racist attacks, gave mainstream visibility to the struggle of many Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people to obtain equality and justice.

Race for Justice brings together a collection of voices on this vital issue from across the Christian denominations. Each contributor to this volume serves as their particular denomination’s racial justice, equalities, diversity or inclusion officers. Equipped with frontline experience in the fight against racism, they each give their perspective on the successes and failures of race relations over the last quarter of a century, as well as addressing contemporary challenges and their hopes for the future.

Atheists assert that the natural world has no meaning or purpose. Dr Denis Alexander, Emeritus Director of The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion at St. Edmunds College, Cambridge, draws a different conclusion.

Not only do recent evolutionary biological data appear inconsistent with the claim that the world is purposeless, but the Christian doctrine of creation has provided and continues to provide both context and stimulus for the study of the natural world. Christians started biology!

However, is a belief in an omnipotent, benign Creator consistent with a world of pain and suffering? From a lifetime's study in the biological sciences, Denis Alexander believes that whilst the cost of existence is extremely high, it can nonetheless be squared with the idea of a God of love whose ultimate purposes for humankind render that cost more comprehensible.

Jesus called his followers first and foremost to become disciples. Sadly a great many of those who have made a profession of faith fall by the wayside and never become true disciples, because they have never been carefully nurtured.

This short course by evangelist Michael Green is designed to help people move from decision to discipleship. Used across four continents, it is a wonderfully effective resource that works for both small groups and individuals.

This book will guide those who have recently come to faith and those seeking faith in how to become a disciple of Jesus. It will point the way to fruitfulness and life!

The intention of this book is to teach Christians how to use the Bible to live well.

It has eight sections - living faithfully, distinctively, emotionally, imaginatively, discerningly, purposefully, infectiously and hopefully. Each provides an introduction to a different kind of literature within the Bible and follows with questions for discussion and five days of daily readings.

'Amazing story and highly recommended for church libraries.' Church Libraries

The remarkable true story of renowned Chinese Christian Brother Yun.

This is the gripping story of how God took a young, half-starved boy from a poor village in Henan province and placed him on the front line for Jesus, in the face of impossible odds. Instead of focusing on the many miracles or experiences of suffering, however, Yun turns his gaze to and centers his story on the character and beauty of Jesus. Interspersed with his personal account are contributions from his wife, Deling, made mostly during her husband's frequent periods of imprisonment.

This dramatic autobiography of one of China's dedicated, courageous, and intensely persecuted house church leaders is a watershed book that will turn the reader to prayer and praise. It deserves comparison with past classics such as Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand, or the Life of Watchman Nee.

Few of us are superheroes. Most of us are plain ordinary. In spite of this fact God continues to throw the impossible in our direction and, invariably, we shout back 'I can't!' Yet we discover this is the best background against which God can 'do immeasurably more than we can even ask or think' as the apostle Paul put it.

'When We Can't, God Can' sets side by side the stories of men and women from both the biblical narrative and today who said 'I can't', only to go on to accomplish great things for the God who declares his strength to be made perfect in weakness.

Catherine's particular gift is to encourage, and to provide connections between the experience of biblical characters and life today.

Dangerously Alive tells the epic and adventurous biography of Simon Guillebaud and his 10 years of being a front-line evangelist in Burundi - one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

In 1999 Simon went to Burundi with a team of evangelistic, which he pulled together to reach the youths of the streets. Several colleagues died and God honoured their efforts. Hundreds found faith and miracles became almost a daily occurrence.

Simon tells us in the book how he did not expect to survive, however God had other plans. A lady that Simon met called Lizzie was willing to share his tough life: they now have three children.

During his time in Burundi Simon was determined to construct the best conference centre there, which was built without incurring debts or paying bribes.

Simon states -
'The book combines prayer letters, diary entries and reflections from ten years in a war zone, from very humble beginnings to a massively fruitful ministry. It covers witchcraft, miracles, evangelism, Islam, orphans, street kids, aids, business for mission, and stories of triumphant faith in the midst of hideous suffering. It includes dark times and disillusionments. It's real, vulnerable and raw.'

In today's world, where Christian believers are facing increased levels of persecution, we need to understand why Peter calls the Gospel the "living hope" that overcomes.

In a world where false teaching is often accepted and encouraged, we need to understand why Jude "felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."

In today's world, where the commentators seem to agree that the Church will soon succumb to its enemies, we need to understand what made John so sure that the Church would "overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

These letters could not be more relevant to our generation.

Their message could not be more urgent.

Allow them to show us how the Church can survive and thrive in our day. The Gospel always triumphs...Straight to the Heart of Peter, John and Jude is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time.

Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

More than any other book in the Old Testament, Isaiah reveals the depth of God's character, the depth of the Gospel and the depth of God's great plan for world history.

Isaiah wants us to know that God is holier than we think (Isaiah 1-12), and to warn us that God is sterner than we think (Isaiah 13-35).

And yet, he also wants to reassure us that God is stronger than we think (Isaiah 40-55), and to call us to action because God is closer than we think (Isaiah 56-66). Isaiah wants his prophecies to kill off our small-minded ideas about God: He wants to open our eyes to the Holy One of Israel; to stretch our minds and blow our senses with the reality of God. Isaiah has good news: God is far bigger than we think.

Straight to the Heart of Isaiah is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time.

Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

An illustrated years' worth of dog stories with reflections on aspects of God's character, together with verses of Scripture to encourage, inform and possibly even amuse.

It might be that a line from a reflection will lead you towards a deeper concept. It might be that a thought provides a timely contemplation for the day, relevant to your circumstances and concerns. Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that their company enhances your life. Anyone who has walked day by day in the company of the Almighty knows that His presence transforms your life.

Stephen Poxon combines these truths, reflecting day by day on how the dogs he has known speak to him of some aspect of God's nature. A walk with a dog can easily become a walk with your God too. As a dog devotee who tries to follow God these readings bring reminders of His love. As the seasons change and experiences vary between good, bad and indifferent, our relationship with a loving Heavenly Father remains a rewarding constant.

True Scientists, True Faith: Leading scientist reveal the harmony between their science and heir faith.

Some atheistic campaigners continue to stress that science and faith are incompatible. This is simply untrue, as the distinguished contributors to this volume demonstrate.

Scientists from a variety of different disciplines have provided their own accounts of how their science and their personal faith intersect .They come from a range of Christian backgrounds, but all are orthodox believers.

Contributors include:

• Joan Centrella, NASA
• Francis Collins, Human Genome Project
• Bob White, Professor of Geophysics, University of Cambridge
• Alister McGrath, Professor of Theology, King's College London, and molecular biologist
• Wilson Poon, Professor of Physics, University of Edinburgh

This new edition also includes five contributions from distinguished younger scientists.

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 been under fire many times while taking aid to war victims in Armenia, Sudan and Indonesia. 

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."

Using the book of James as a road map, this multi-authored work will lead you on an adventure along the narrow road of discipleship. Only the Brave brings both challenge and excitement, while offering plenty of practical tips along the way!

The five authors - Lisa Holmes, Krish Kandiah, Sim Dendy, Cathy Madavan, and Cris Rogers - each explore a chapter of James using these key themes: Face it; Live it; Tame it; Lose it; Finish it. They consider how we can use our heads, hearts, and hands to answer the challenge James, and ultimately Jesus himself, laid down. It takes courage to go beyond simply believing in Jesus: to live him, love him, and share him.

Only the Brave urges us not to play it safe, but to live a life of abundance based on the example Jesus lived out on earth. Only the brave will change the world, and this book will inspire anyone who reads it to do just that.

Christians today are becoming more and more interested in studying the roots of their faith and the development of the church.

Finally there is an accessible but authoritative series every Christian can turn The Monarch History of the Church. Readers will not merely learn the basics but also examines much-ignored themes, such as the role of popular religion, women, and the history of the Bible.

In volume one, The Birth of the Church, Ivor J. Davidson helps readers explores the first 300 years of church history using the most recent biblical research and historical scholarship. This highly readable series also examines recurring problems of the church, like its relationship with the state, other religions, and secularism.

The Monarch History of the Church is an eight-volume series by world-renowned historians and theologians.

Each volume offers an even-handed, comprehensive and readable assessment of the main strands of Christianity within its period.

From a brutal and impoverished background in Reading, England, Tom Hamblin became a believer as a teenager before serving as a missionary in the Far East.

He and his wife Edna spent more than a decade leading expeditions into the heart of Borneo. Gradually they become convinced that the Lord was calling them to minister in the Arabic peninsula: in particular, to carry in thousands of Bibles in Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.

They conveyed shipment after shipment into this region, never losing a copy and surmounting all restrictions. Customs guards turned a blind eye. Tom distributed Bibles very simply: walking around with a bag and waiting for people to ask him what he was doing!

The Islamic world is widely regarded as closed to the gospel, but this is untrue. Tom discovered an extensive network of believers - very few churches, but many clandestine meetings for worship - and a huge hunger for truth.

The book of Job is one of the oldest surviving pieces of writing in human history. It also deals with two of the biggest questions that humans have asked throughout history - what is God like, and why does he allow such suffering in the world?

Allow Phil to take you on a journey through the book of Job to discover insights that have shaped the way that people have viewed God and viewed humanity for over 3,000 years.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible.

Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

"To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to remain a child always," claimed the Roman orator Cicero. Perhaps that's why Genesis is one of the most loved and hated books ever written.

Genesis - the name is simply the Greek word for "Origins" - is the God-inspired history of the world from its inception, and right from the outset it was always controversial.
God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life.

If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship.

Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

Daily readings with Scripture verses and prayers, based on the life and ministry of Catherine Booth, wife of General Booth and co-founder of The Salvation Army, often called "The mother of The Salvation Army".

An ardent temperance campaigner, she and William developed together the firm convictions about salvation and poverty that led to the formation of the Army. Catherine Booth was eloquent and compelling in speech, and articulate and devastatingly logical in writing.

At first, Catherine and her husband had shared a ministry as travelling evangelists, but then she came into great demand as a preacher in her own right, especially among the well-to-do. Although it was virtually unknown at that point for women to speak in public, and despite her nervousness, she developed a considerable preaching ministry.

Catherine was both a woman and a fine preacher, a magnetic combination that attracted large numbers to hear her. This book of daily readings introduces us to Catherine's heart and convictions. Here we find the passion, urgency, thought and humanity which drove her on. Each devotional will take one page of the format above. Catherine's succinct, direct style is ideally suited to this form.

"Hymns are prayers in our pockets", writes Pam Rhodes, expressing how hymns help us to respond to God.

Pam brings together reflections on some of her favourite hymns. Drawing on her experience of presenting Songs of Praise and sharing the stories of hymn writers past and present, she helps us to make use of their words in expressing our joys and sorrows to God, and finding hope and inspiration in them. Whatever our circumstances, these hymns turn us again to the God who created, knows and sustains us with that "love so amazing" described in the immortal words of hymn writer Isaac Watts.

Gifted - women in leadership.

You would be mistaken if you thought this book was just for women.

It looks at the history of women in church life and leadership, at egalitarianism and complementarism and says - women are leaders and so are men, what can we learn from each other ? It's looks at different leadership styles, gifts and skills. And it's also includes other women's stories from Margaret Sentamu and Christy Wimber to a Vicky Thompson and Bev Murrill. There are other contributors.

This book describes how a new understanding of dementia is leading to better care, helping to maintain the personality of the sufferer. It also offers practical, day to day advice from a hands-on perspective, using a narrative structure.

It follows the story of an older couple, Linda and Frank. Frank develops dementia. The story covers the first, early signs and the development of the disease; the couple's struggle to manage and find help, the wife's failing health and the search for a suitable care home, and life after Frank goes to live in the home.

An index at the back of the book allows readers to look up help on specific topics.

Throughout, the narrative keeps a clear Christian perspective. For example, Linda finds that singing familiar hymns as she dusts around the house not only helps her feel better, but lifts Frank's spirits, too, and he will sometimes join in. Each chapter concludes with a short section of devotions for carers and sufferers.

Here are 500 prayers for every occasion. Prayers for relationships; for problems; for saying thank you; for crying out in anger or pain; for times of spiritual dryness; for times of starting again.

They can be used for worship together, and for worship alone. They can open up new possibilities, and help to bring a bad day to a better close.

The 500 prayers will be split into thematic sections, including:

- Seasonal (Including: Christmas, Easter, Pentecost)
- Thanksgiving;
- Praise and worship; School (including exams, bullying, relationship with teachers)
- Relationships (including friendships, sex, and boyfriend/girlfriend)
- Justice (including prayers about the environment, poverty etc)
- Knowing God (including prayers for spiritual gifts)
- Pain and problems (including bereavement and illness).

The prayers themselves will be numbered but continually varied - featuring a mix of ancient prayers (approx 20%), and prayers written by the author and by young people. They are written in a variety of styles, and are preceded by a short introduction where necessary. An extensive index is included alongside features to help young people in developing a prayer life.

In September 2013 Tony Collins took advantage of a long-overdue sabbatical to walk the 490 miles of the Camino, from the French border to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain.

For decades he had helped to provide the evangelical churches of the world with reading material.

Now he was deliberately stepping out of his comfort zone: a pilgrimage, carrying his pack, through a land whose language he did not speak, into a religious culture far removed from his own, in search of sources of reverence.

He would not walk alone: the Way has many adherents, well over 200,000 completing their Camino during that year. He had expected the Way to be arduous, and so it proved. But he had not expected so bracing an internal journey, his battered soul laid down for examination, past errors offered up for scrutiny. Nor had he expected such moments of intense spiritual encounter; nor so many precious friendships. He discovered, above all, as have many before him, that the Road leaves an indelible mark.

The 'couples culture' is everywhere: church family events, valentine’s day, cinema, popular music and even supermarket offers. Being single can often mean you are singled-out. But Kate wants to encourage Christians, holding singleness up as a unique opportunity for holiness, personal development and Christian living.

In her book, Kate tackles the common challenges many face when reconciling their relational choices:

- Issues of Identity: church roles, social invitations and being whole without an 'other half'
- Finance: learning to live alone when it's cheaper to live with others
- Sexual Pressure: staying pure, in thinking as well as action
- Friendship: how to be 'just friends' with the opposite sex
- Calling: when the cost of obedience is to stay single
- Divorce or Bereavement: learning to be single again

"When we are sold out for God," she says, "then life will be the very best that it can be - whether married or single, with children or without - because we will be on our way to becoming who we were created to be."

Some gay Christians have sought healing. Others have turned away from a conservative interpretation of the biblical texts. Others have remained celibate and invested their lives in Christian service. All have found that their sexual orientation has strongly influenced who they perceive themselves to be, and how others perceive them.

Jeanette believes that to identify herself as 'gay' does not do justice to what God has been doing in her life. As a Christian you can be identified by the fact that you belong to Christ.

Allowing God to dismantle your false identity permits you to live out of your authentic self. As you grow in Christ you are able to perceive true goodness and health; you rid yourself of old habits of thinking; you learn to recognise what is holding others back; and discover new areas of ministry. You do not have to accept the labels that the world - and the church - attach to you.

Jeanette's book is in four parts: Identity; Surrender; Abiding; and Fruitfulness.

The 'Vicar of Baghdad' encounters daily tragedy.

What happened to his faith when a young girl in his congregation died, after much hope and prayer?

He has met the best and worst: articulate, agreeable imams and rabbis; Christian venality and dishonesty. What has kept him willing to see the best? Every time he returns to Iraq he may be saying goodbye to his family for the last time. What do they think?

He suffers from MS. How does he remain cheerful despite his physical weakness, and its progression? What does he say to God, alone in his study, late at night? He has been caught up in momentous events.

Can he see the hand of God? Looking ahead, can he be optimistic about the future? Where are his sources of spiritual energy? He solicits prayer: why?

'Not everything God calls us to do is painless,' he comments. 'Much of my work is simply about showing love to the unlovely.'

We all have tough questions we would like to ask Jesus. Most of us assume we will never get an answer. But Jesus welcomes people's questions.

This book takes your fifteen toughest questions and sees what happens when Jesus places himself right where we want him to answer them. There are no excuses and no evasiveness. Just honest answers.

In 30AD, Jesus of Nazareth looked to have been an utter failure. If you don't understand that, then you will miss the message of the book of Acts. It is a record of survival through adversity, triumph against all odds, and victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. It is the story of a group of ordinary people who turned the tide of history through the power of their extraordinary God.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you to read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries.

Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship too. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible with fresh eyes. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

This story of a mother's journey heartache, loss and total reliance on the grace of God is told with remarkable honesty as disappointment turns to devastation, anger and finally to peace and acceptance.

Not just one, but two, of Catherine's three children are born with multiple disabilities. With her pastor husband, they had two daughters who were genetically damaged. Despite faithfully nursing them until they died at the ages of 13 and 10, the girls never developed the ability to recognise their parents.

In time Catherine came to view her family tragedy from a different perspective. In this heartfelt retelling, she shows us the delights as well as the sorrows of her family life; we get to stand Under the Rainbow with her as she experiences the promises of God, which eventually lead to acceptance and freedom.

This book will make you laugh, and it may make you cry, but ultimately it will reveal to you a God who always keeps His promises. More than an autobiography, the book takes a glimpse at issues such as friendship; helping children grieve, and turning pain into gain. It will make you laugh, and it may make you cry, but ultimately it will reveal to you a God who always keeps His promises.

Fresh From the Word: The Bible for a Change will inspire your reading of the Bible in a changing world.

Bringing together top theologians and biblical scholars, creative writers from around the world, cutting-edge church leaders, activists for peace and justice and a range of others, Fresh From the Word offers 365 sets of notes, prayers and suggestions for action on biblical themes. This fresh approach to Bible reading is aimed at new readers of the Bible from across the church, as well as anyone seeking a faithful, creative and challenging conversation with the Bible every day of the year.

Contributors this year include:

• Theologian and pastoral counsellor in Samoa / Alesana Fosi Pala’amo / on a new heaven and a new earth
• New Testament scholar / Catrin Harland-Davis / on love for one another
• Aid and development worker / Mark Mitchell / on rain, storm and sunshine
• Chaplain of Sheffield United FC / Delroy Hall / on facing the darkness
• Entrepreneur, author and speaker / Bola Iduoze / on readings from Luke

The idea that God is interested in us as individuals is an unfamiliar concept to many, while rejection has become a fact of life.

This book encourages the reader to embrace the truth of a personal God; one with whom we do not need to struggle to gain recognition, who intervenes and acts on our behalf. A God who knows our name!

Each of the six chapters contains two sections, dealing with situations of rejection. Each tells the story of an individual from the Bible narrative, explaining how God stepped in to change their situation, thus revealing how important they were to Him. The second, connecting story, tells of a present day individual in similar circumstances and how God also positively intervened in their lives.

These are true stories, using carefully researched material for authenticity and accuracy. The stories are told with remarkable power and conviction.

“Whether you are new to the Christian faith, or have been a believer for many years, this book will inspire and equip you to return to the heart of discipleship. I found myself equipped by this message, to make big changes in lots of small, simple, practical ways that anyone can do.”

Pete Greig, International Director 24–7 Prayer, Senior Pastor Emmaus Rd, Guildford

Life, God, and faith contain endless “Terra Incognita”, or uncharted territory, just waiting to be discovered. You were made to believe, think, and act with a Newlandic spirit, and to live in a Newlandic way. Regardless of whether you greet new things with enthusiasm or a hint of scepticism, God is Newlandic. He wants to lead you to wide open spaces, to break down barriers that limit you, to broaden your horizons. Boppi identifies four Newlandic territories: our image of God, our own hearts, our relationships, and our interaction with the world. As we let go of fear and begin to apply God’s Newlandic principles, we will begin to see a breathtaking panorama.

Bob Hartman's bumper collection of Bible stories is drawn from both the Old and New Testaments.

There are stories for individual and group performances, stories for the major Christian festivals, stories for a variety of age groups. Each story is followed by discussion questions to encourage the audience to delve deeper into each tale.

Incorporating Bob's three books - Telling the Bible, Telling the Gospel and Anyone Can Tell a Bible Story - this extensive resource includes extensive notes on story-telling, essential for any performer. Discover why Bob is in such demand in this entertaining and insightful collection.

A Guide to Growing Up is an engaging, clear, and helpful guide for young people that shines God's light into the topics of puberty, bodies and sex.

It is profoundly positive; about sex, about self, about faith, about relationships, love, boundaries, pleasure, choices - about all the sorts of things that could possibly matter when it comes to growing up. Full of distinctive illustrations that grab the attention, conversations with young people and detailed chapters on hot topics, such as masturbation and same-sex attraction; A Guide to Growing Up is an invaluable tool to support parents in talking to their children, and an essential guide in any young person's journey - a guide they can go back to time and again.

Jeremiah and Ezekiel are among the most neglected treasures of the Bible.

They knew that what they said would be unpopular - both then and now - but they also knew that it was God's Word and the only remedy for the problems that were facing the people of God. As a result, Christians today can still discover what God says to a Church in trouble. The truth isn't always popular, but Jeremiah and Ezekiel show us that it's glorious.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore’s devotional commentaries. Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

The last book of the Bible is not primarily about weird beasts, strange allegories, or encoded detail about the final years of Planet Earth. It's a book which focuses on one great fact which trumps all others throughout the whole of AD history. It's a simple fact, but a fact which changes everything: God is on the Throne of the universe, and he is working out his strategies from the control-room of Heaven.

God inspired the Bible for a reason. He wants you to read it and let it change your life. If you are willing to take this challenge seriously, then you will love Phil Moore's devotional commentaries.

Their bite-sized chapters are punchy and relevant, yet crammed with fascinating scholarship too. Welcome to a new way of reading the Bible with fresh eyes. Welcome to the Straight to the Heart series.

Have you ever felt the call of God to go into all the world?

David and Rosemary Harley did, and through simple obedience to that call they were able to have a worldwide impact on the spread of the Gospel. Together in Mission tells their story of leaving the UK to become full-time missionaries in Africa, and via several unexpected events helping to run All Nations College and latterly lead OMF International. Their story is in many ways a remarkable one, but the heart of this book is to inspire anyone and everyone to answer the call of God on their lives and see where it might lead them. It also highlights the continued need for the global Church to work together for the sake of the gospel.

Want a concise and reliable way to share some of the deeper truths of Easter? One Life shows just how revolutionary Jesus sacrifice is in a way that shows just why it is so important.

A great Easter resource for evangelism, One Life can be shared with those looking to learn about the greatest sacrifice ever offered.

This punchy and challenging book aims to provide us with a deeper understanding of Jesus himself. Phil Moore, explains six aspects of Jesus' life and what it means for us: He became flesh; He lived among us; He died a violent death; He rose from the dead; He sat down in heaven; He is coming back.

The biggest question facing all of us is this: Is God for me? The world around us says no, but One Life trumps this with a resounding yes. As one ancient theologian put it, "God became what he was not so that we might become what he is." God has shown us that he is for us by doing something truly astonishing. He has become one of us.

• Do you feel riddled with questions about faith?
• Answering the tough problems of freedom and faith, this book is a thorough deep-dive into doubt
• You'll become assured and confident when discussing determinism

Determined to Believe is written for those who are interested in or even troubled by questions about God's sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility.

John Lennox writes in the spirit of helping people to get to grips with the biblical treatment of this issue for themselves. In this comprehensive review of the topic of theological determinism, Lennox seeks firstly to define the problem, looking at the concepts of freedom, the different kinds of determinism, and the moral problems these pose. He then equips the reader with biblical teaching on the topic and explores the spectrum of theological opinion on it.

Following this Lennox delves deeper into the Gospels and then investigates what we can learn regarding determinism and responsibility from Paul's discussion in Romans on God's dealings with Israel. Finally Lennox tackles the issue of Christian assurance.

This nuanced and detailed study challenges some of the widely held assumptions in the area of theological determinism and brings a fresh perspective to the debate.