SPCK Publishing

Paul's letter to the Romans is not just the longest surviving letter from the ancient world. It was also the most dangerous. Paul sent it into Nero's backyard to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and that his readers needed to surrender. Whatever the world may have told us and whatever false gospels we may have believed, it's time for all of us to wake up to Paul's message that there is a new King in town.

A series of devotional commentaries, which allow people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Phil Moore will not cover the whole of each book, but rather focuses on key sections which together form a useful introduction. There will be 25 volumes in all: each contains about 60 readings, but this may vary from book to book.

Although the tone is light, the text is full of useful application and backed by substantial scholarship.

In a world where natural disasters are increasingly impacting our lives, this insightful book brings together a variety of voices to discuss how we can respond practically and faithfully to such tragedies.

Consciously making room for the perspectives of survivors, responders, and academics, it provides a multi-layered and compassionate examination of a difficult and often underexplored subject. As we try to make sense of a seemingly chaotic world that features earthquakes, tsunamis, and pandemics, readers will find this unique conversation a truly ispiring resource for thought, prayer, and action.

We know better than to take all we see and hear at face value. We are taught to look for the story behind the story. That's what the writer of 1 and 2 Kings gave to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.

His message breathed hope into their down-and-out nation and it still breathes hope into its readers' hearts today.

Get ready for a revelation of the real meaning of history and of the power that is at work behind the headlines on the evening news. Get ready for God to catch you up into the story behind the story.

Would you recognize an angel if you saw one?

The majority of earth's inhabitants believe in Angels. Yet so few of us can claim to have seen one. Why?

Perhaps it's because in order to encounter one, we first have to learn what to look for, and how to look! We live in a world where the natural and supernatural overlap. Angels are constantly on mission from God, and constantly at work in this world. 

From the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation, Scripture is filled with hundreds of references to these wondrous creatures. In this creative work, Scot McKnight explores what the Bible says - and doesn't say - about these majestic beings. And that's deeply important, because angels are still on mission today. They express God's love, confirm His presence, and even lead humans in redemptive worship.

Don't just believe in angels. Learn how to recognise these messengers of God that are all around us and know how God might be using them to affect our lives.

Pam Rhodes is a passionate advocate for our heritage of splendid hymns.

Hymns, she explains, help us respond to God: they are "prayers in our pockets". With her warm personal touch she describes how these hymns came to be written, and considers the perceptions they contain.

This book is a treasury of fascinating detail, but it is also a source of devotion: as you consider each hymn and the story behind it you will be drawn into worship. Each reflection concludes with a short prayer.

Christians face a tough task. In a world without consensus, all truth claims are regarded dubiously.

The Gospel does not change, but what aspects should be highlighted in our rapidly changing culture? How do we speak 'into' the culture, instead of just mirroring that culture? Malcolm Duncan constructs his case around the core statements of the Apostles' Creed. If we believe in as God as Creator, what does that mean about our treatment of His creation? If we accept Christ as Saviour and Lord, in what sense are we rescued, redeemed, remade? If we accept the Holy Spirit as Guide, where are we going and what are we here for?

We face an unbelievable task: playing our part in the world's regeneration. But God has confidence in us. If we can be confident of what He has done for us, then we can also be confident of what He wants to do through us.

'Risk Takers', from Spring Harvest veteran Malcolm Duncan, challenges readers to take an Early Church attitude to living the Christian life - spirit-led and good news driven.

The book of Acts is the story of the first Christians doing church together. It wasn't systematized, ordered and disinfected. It was risky. They didn't have a clue what was coming next - but they soon learned to depend on the Spirit. They tried, often failed, and then tried again.

In his book, Malcolm re-captures God's vision for the Church and puts into the inescapable context of mission. The he highlights the common risks many stumble over including living in Gods provision, saying yes and embodying grace.

This book is an exciting invitation to Christians to take off the attitudes the modern church, of tail-gating through trough life, following the crowd and taking the easy, well-used paths. Instead Malcolm encourages and inspires readers to do the right option rather than the easy one. God is moving in our communities: our job is to discover where and join in!

Given the rapid spread of mindfulness programmes for issues as wide-ranging as depression, pain, employee engagement and character development, this book is aimed at the numerous Christians who are wondering what to make of all this.

Ultimately, it will allow questioning Christians to get to grips with mindfulness in a way that is both discerning and sympathetic. By offering background information about 'being mindful' the book will allow readers to disconnect mindfulness from the background of Buddhism in which it is frequently framed.

This then allows them to decide the extent to which they wish to learn and practice mindfulness without feeling the need to embrace Eastern philosophy in its entirety. In addition, by profiling the rich Christian tradition of mindful-like practice, it offers a distinctively Jesus-centred approach to non-judgemental awareness, and then applies this beneficially to many different areas of faith.

On putting the book down the reader will be encouraged not to be fearful of the widespread teaching of mindfulness, emboldened to discern the point at which they politely part company with Eastern meditative practices, and equipped to use all that is good in the practice of mindfulness to develop their relationship with Jesus and with others.

For most of his ministry Canon Andrew White has been involved in reconciliation.

'The kind of people I engage with are not usually very nice,' he writes. 'On the whole, nice people do not cause wars.' In Baghdad he lives daily with violence, and has conducted too many funerals. He knows what peacemaking costs. Before he left for Baghdad in 2005 Andrew was Director of the International Centre for Reconciliation in Coventry. He bases his book on Coventry's Litany of Reconciliation, which asks God's forgiveness for the hatred, greed, envy, indifference, lust and pride which corrupt our world.

Every hurt generates anger, even if we are not aware of it. Because we do not understand how common anger is to our everyday experience, we repress it instead of using it to help us.When anger is understood in its original purpose, we grasp how it may work for our benefit.

This book provides a new understanding of anger and its valuable place in our lives.

'The first third of the book describes my understanding of anger from a Biblical perspective. The second part is about practical ways to deal with anger issues in one's life. The final third of the book deals with forgiveness and how forgiveness can release us from the grip of unresolved hurt and anger in our lives.'

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.