A deeply insightful and spiritual look into the book of Ecclesiastes encourages us to cultivate the spiritual discipline of memento tempori, a temporal awareness of the Spirit's presence--indebted to a past, oriented toward the future, and faithful in the present. To gain spiritual appreciation for our mortality. To synchronize our heart-clocks with the tempo of the Spirit, which changes in the different seasons of life. Integrating popular culture, biblical exposition, and meditation.
Liturgies for Hope expresses eloquently the collective ache felt by many in modern society today - burnout, anxiety, daily stresses - and reminds us how important it is to turn our focus outwards, to each other and importantly, to our ever-loving God. Deeply uplifting, this beautiful collection of 60 comforting prayers for modern life will help readers speak to the God who knows them, supports them, and see that whatever their circumstances there is always more hope to be had.
The cartoons of David Hayward,@NakedPastor. Aggravated women disciples, Jesus hugging rainbow sheep he sketches the ridiculous, appalling, and damaging aspects of the church as well as Jesus erasing lines, embracing the excluded, and standing outside the church's walls. For those who have been battered or infuriated by the church and who long to see it change. Upending notions of who's in and who's out, Hayward's comic vision overturns false pieties and harmful dogmas in one fell swoop.
An accessible introduction to the main message of Matthew's Gospel. Highly readable, it is packed full of many compelling observations about the personality and impact of Jesus both in the first century and today. Each chapter includes discussion questions and reflection.
8 new grove books an all manner of subjects; from Preaching Beyond the Pandemic to the Atonement and Christian Development and Disciple Making.
Designed to be given away at Christmas services and events; Follow the Star: The Great Invitation is the Church of England’s campaign for Christmas 2022. It offers 12 reflections from a range of authors, each sharing a personal story inviting the reader to a new way of thinking, inspired by the Christmas story.
Vocation is often loosely defined, reserved for use in churchy sermons and ivory towers. But with a decade of experience in vocational exploration as a campus minister, Drew Tucker has developed an accessible, empowering model for reflection that centers on discovery, discernment, development, and decision making. In 4D Formation: Exploring Vocation in Community, Tucker builds on his definition of vocation as "meaningful, life-giving work for the world."
In our restless modern world, in which many seem as troubled and stressed as they have ever been, we need to make time to be still, to commune with something beyond ourselves. This book aims to help in enabling just that, offering a resource for the staging of Quiet Days or reflective events on a variety of themes and, if so wished, for those of all faiths or none.
For use in Churches, small groups, and for your own devotional time, 40 Prayers for Advent provides simple, accessible prayers for use during the Advent season. Adapted from the popular 500 Prayers series and written in everyday language, this book is the perfect resource to help mark one of the most important seasons in the Christian calendar.
The basic outline of the Christmas story is so familiar we might think we have no more to learn from it. But try looking at the Christmas story through different eyes. Through the eyes of Micah and Isaiah who foretold it; Anna and Simeon who witnessed it; and Paul and John who reflected on it. Wonder anew at this amazing story of the birth of the Son of God as a baby.
Christmas – it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Films, TV shows and commercials tell us that everything is great, everyone is happy, even the weather is obliging. But sometimes underneath all the sparkle our hearts have questions, like: Can Christmas Help Me With My Problems? Is Christmas Merely ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire’? How Can Christmas Make Me Happy Forever? Is Christmas Just Getting ‘Cool Stuff’? Why Should I Care About Baby Jesus? What Is the Magic of Christmas? And more.
The birth of a king is normally marked by lavish national celebrations, a gathering of dignitaries and great joy. But what if he is born in a cave, is surrounded by animals and his first visitors are unknown shepherds?And what if his birth day presents are obscure and seemingly useless? You may think that perhaps you have the wrong baby! The king of the universe did have an unusual arrival; the precise time, place and circumstances were pinpointed over 300 years before it happened.
At the centre of heaven is Christ, lovingly adored as the forever Lord of all. At the centre of Christmas is Christ, frail and cradled in the tender arms of a young mother. How can the two be put together? Heavenly glory and human frailty? That is the real wonder of Christmas. Pleased to Dwell is an energetic biblical introduction to Christmas. It is an invitation to ponder the Incarnation, and a God who was please to dwell with us.
Preparation for the Christmas season can often feel busy and frantic, but it doesn't have to be this way. What if we stopped and listened to the movement and unfolding of God's plan around us? Making Room in Advent is an invitation away from the chaos and into the space where God is at work. The unfolding of God's plan often happens in unlikely spaces, both in Scripture and in our own lives.
Stunning illustrations and intriguing original accounts of Jesus’ birth make this a thought-provoking and fun new way to celebrate the season as a family. The Action Bible Christmas includes: • Stories about Jesus’ birth told from the viewpoints of 25 “eyewitnesses,” including a shepherd boy, his lamb, Simeon, Mary, an angel, and a donkey • Questions to initiate family discussion about a variety of story-related topics
Bear Grylls draws on his survival experience to share the principles that have helped him overcome fear, develop a positive mindset and break through the obstacles that limit success in everyday life. With emotional health advocate Will Van Der Hart, MIND FUEL offers you practical insights to help you to increase your resilience, combat stress and live life with confidence. Topics are categorised into eight broader themes at enable you to access the material you need most.
Many live a self-inspired life. Many others live an others-inspired life. If we live a self-inspired or others-inspired life, we could underdo things. It is equally possible that we overdo things and get burnt out. A God-inspired life is not only the best way to live, but it is also the only way to live as God intends us to live. Life is a struggle. We can get confused about our purpose, passion and perception.
Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability.
Mark Vickers’ acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. While there are biographies aplenty on the 18 men and 1 woman who took up residence behind the famous black door, it is notable that that many of these works fail to reflect an important – sometimes the most important – aspect of the life of their subject.
The experience of growing up "different," coming out in a disapproving environment, having one's identity and relationships questioned or downright rejected--this shapes the faith of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer Christians in ways those outside the community cannot fully understand. LGBTQ Christians need spiritual resources that speak to the unique joys and challenges of their journey. Emily C. Heath offers 100 devotions on such topics like authenticity, coming out and relationships.
A collection of short meditations on women of faith—including saints, social reformers, and contemporary theologians.
The letter to the Hebrews presents a combination of warnings and assurances to encourage Christians to persevere in faith, hope and love. The basis for this is a profound reflection on the person and work of Christ, viewed as the fulfilment of Old Testament Scripture. David Peterson shows how the author expounds the implications of the gospel with pastoral insight and sensitivity, producing a 'word of exhortation' that reaches across the centuries to speak to our lives today.
Jesus is the Light? is a poetic exploration of Jesus' identity as the Light of the World, drawing on passages from the Gospel of John. It is written in simple, accessible language to engage children who may not be from a church background, and is brought to life with beautiful illustrations. These little booklets are ideal for sharing the light of Jesus with children in your community, especially around Halloween, a time associated with darkness.
Fellows shows us with a sharp eye how secularism has reshaped church culture, changing the way many Christians and churches live and worship without being noticed. Both provocative and practical, he challenges us to live with radical Christ-like distinctiveness - distinctiveness that requires both reformation by the church and revival by the Holy Spirit. It’s essential reading for anyone concerned about the effects of secularism on Christianity and modern church culture.