Conjoined twins dilemma...Suicide of terminally ill patient...Designer baby transplant success...Woman gives birth at sixty-six...Rarely are human dilemmas out of the news. And what medical science can do and ought to do - or ought not to do - impinges on our personal lives, families and societies.John Wyatt examines the issues surrounding the beginning and end of life against the background of current medical-ethical thought. Writing out of a deep conviction that the Bible's view of our humanness points a way forward, he suggests how Christian healthcare professionals, churches and individuals can respond to today's challenges and opportunities
Make your marriage the best it can be - look to the Maker and his instructions.
Features discussions of central topics and issues by well-known, senior scholars.
Aims to provide a challenge to evangelize the world.
Contemporary evangelical critiques by Henri Blocher, Oliver Crisp, David Gibson, Ryan Glomsrud, Paul Helm, Michael Horton, Donald Macleod, A. T. B. McGowan, Michael Ovey, Sebastian Rehnman, Mark Thompson and Garry Williams.
Hear the stories of Black British Christians in their own words.
The gospel is not a means to things other than God, but our way of savouring and enjoying him for ever.
Pop music, piercings and peers.>Urgent surgery is required to mend the gap. Resisting simplistic solutions, Jason Gardner deftly analyses the reasons for the growing generation gap, including the role of the church. He provides practical steps forward for church leaders, youthworkers and parents. Underpinning this hopeful book is an unshaking belief in Christ's burning ability to inspire a 'whole big bad beautiful mix of people to follow him, regardless of their age'.
What about those who have never heard?The debate swirls and feelings run deep. What is the fate of the unevangelized? The traditional position-that apart from an explicit faith in Jesus no one is saved-seems to have fallen out of favor with many evangelicals. Here is a passionate but irenic response to the arguments of those who believe that the unevangelized can (or might) be saved apart from knowledge of Jesus Christ.Building on the insights of others, nine scholars introduce readers, even those with little background, to the ongoing discussion. Key questions are probed and answered from a biblical, theological and historical perspective.The book's positive thrust is summed up by editors: "God is passionately engaged in gathering people to know, love and worship him from every tribe, language, people and nation. And he has called us to join him on this mission."
Talks about how Christian leadership might change in the light of new cultural conditions.
Offers an examination of a significant theme in the Old and New Testaments relevant to ministry.
Spirit beings are fascinating. They can be wicked, good, of dual nature, or non-existent. They announce, accompany, heal, injure, sway, charm, fight, tempt and judge. They can bring us closer to, or distract us from, God.In this volume, the particular focus is on how angelic and demonic concepts are overtly expressed, or are more obliquely reflected, in different religions. Specific themes covered include spiritual warfare, spirit beings and the origin of evil, angelic and demonic roles, human suffering and spiritual powers, use of talismans, sacred texts, and the practical outworking of beliefs. The contributors - all Christian scholars - mostly write as detached observers of the religious traditions they are describing. Nevertheless, they do not shy away from taking a stand on controversial issues.Here you will find a great diversity of thought, some striking thematic similarities, and a fascinating view of worlds far removed from our usual experience.The contributors are Allen Anderson, Andy Bannister, Ruth Bradby, Keith Ferdinando, Theodore Gabriel, Chris Gnanakan, Willam Kay, Bill Musk, Martin Parsons, Chris Partridge, Peter Riddell, Nigel Scotland and Amy Summers-Minette.
Many people continue to believe that only a small percentage of the New Testament accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth reflect what he really said and did. The reasons for scepticism may vary over the years, but some arguments have proved remarkably persistent - for example, the Gospels were not written by people in a position to know what Jesus was like, primitive cultures believed in miracles that we know are impossible, theological interest precludes historical accuracy, non-canonical texts disprove the stories in the Gospels, and so on. Such claims are in fact weakly supported, or have actually been disproved. However, various issues contribute to the complexity of the question of the Gospels' trustworthiness, and disagreements remain. Furthermore, confusion has been compounded by fiction promoted in popular culture, or by eccentric, unrepresentative scholarship. Since its first appearance in 1987, Craig Blomberg's response to scepticism in 'The Historical Reliability of the Gospels' has been widely appreciated. Fully revised and updated, this new edition takes account of the vast amount of relevant scholarship that has appeared over the last two decades. Ranging over a wide field - differences between parallel accounts of the same event, the striking contrast between John and the Synoptic Gospels, the theological interests of the evangelists, the miracles of Jesus, the testimony of extrabiblical sources, and critical assessment of historical methods - Professor Blomberg presents a thorough, informed engagement with the main issues in the ongoing debates. Deliberately refusing to appeal to the inspiration of the Bible or to church tradition, he convincingly demonstrates the overall historical reliability of the Gospels.
What is a 'thorn'? Pablo Martinez knows all too well first-hand. For more than twenty-five years he has suffered with a rare eye disease. Others have experienced traumatic loss, too terrible for words. Pablo meets these people all the time through his work.Pablo identifies five traits of a thorn. It is; painful; limiting; humiliating; prolonged; something to fight against.In the New Testament, Paul shared his experience of a thorn (2 Corinthians 12:7 - 10). God chose not to remove it in spite of his pleading.In the context of our salvation, Jesus suffered more than any person has ever suffered. God's identification with human tragedy is perfectly expressed in the name Emmanuel: God with us.Humbly and wisely, Pablo guides us beyond the 'why' of suffering to a place of hope.
How should we live as dual citizens: citizens both of the kingdom of God and of our nation? How much should we involve ourselves in society and public life?Many of us find integrated, whole-life discipleship very difficult. It is easier to live, not so much a double life as a dualistic one, where faith is a personal matter with little impact on work and other spheres of life.Graham Cray shows that there are profound gospel reasons for taking seriously both our national life and our call to be Christian citizens. A nation's social health is a matter of Christian action and concern because it matters to God.
Builder, fool, ambassador, athlete, parent, pilot, scum, shepherd: the apostle Paul uses rich imagery when he discusses what it means to be a Christian leader. Derek Tidball believes these images have important lessons and fresh insights for pastors and others in church leadership today. At a time when such people struggle under increasing pressure to 'produce results' and 'perform up to standard', what is needed is a different way of looking at leadership. Builders and Fools provides that. By explaining and drawing out the implications of Paul's imagery, it helps us focus on what really matters, on what God wants leaders to do and how he wants them to be.
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!
Get to grips with issues facing teenage girls: self-image, the pull of the in-crowd, puberty, boys, sex, regrets and godly ambition
(Extract from) Chapter 11 Rock bottom`Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.'(John 14:27 Nkjv)It was the morning of Sunday 21 July 1991, a warm summer's day. The wind-battered hilltop was today pleasantly bathed with a sunny glow. I was living in a Buddhist monastery, north of London, England. In bad weather it often felt like a bleak place, dotted with the wooden huts in which we lived. The huts had a temporary look about them, built above the ground, which seemed to encourage nasty gusts of chilled air to blow underneath. The trees and shrubs we had planted in the field were still very young, but were beginning to add a bit more greenery to the surroundings. We hadn't had the meal yet, but I wasn't hungry that day. I had other things on my mind. I was one of the few ordained members of the community left at the temple. Nearly everyone, including the lay people and guests staying with us, had departed early in the morning to attend an ordination ceremony at our other monastery in the south of England. This was one of the highlights of the year, our biggest ceremonial event - the one day when suitable men and women could take the higher ordination. I had relished seeing new people ordain. It was exciting and full of meaning for me. Ordinarily I would not have missed it. But this year I didn't want to be there. I had asked for permission not to go. I had lived in a Buddhist temple for eight years, most of that time in England as a nun (although I spent the first six months in a forest temple in Thailand before ordaining). I had taken two ordinations, initially as a novice and then as a Buddhist nun (known as a ten-precept nun). I was searching deeply for truth, and had strongly believed that Buddhism could take me there. I had given up everything that was necessary to follow the Buddhist way. Some people may consider it an extreme way to live. The life of a Buddhist nun was strict and disciplined. It involved many ascetic practices which had the aim of giving up the pleasures of the world in search for truth. They were designed to simplify life and help us detach from earthly things. Living like this was often very tiring, but it had become normal for me and very much part of me. We slept little, ate only one meal a day and experienced much sensory deprivation. We didn't listen to the radio or television, and so at some level were cut off from the world. I was known for my strong faith in Buddhism and hadn't ever really doubted the purpose of living like this. Until now. Something had changed dramatically. I had begun seriously to doubt Buddhism. This had never happened before and I was inwardly shaken and somewhat bewildered as a result, none of which I liked. I wanted and needed to be sure. I didn't know what was happening to me or where the strong persistent faith that I once had was disappearing to: it felt like sand slipping out of my fingers. Today I was at a peak of confusion and inner turmoil. I don't know where I was when I made the decision to go out of the temple. Suddenly I found myself, with my shaven head and dark brown robe, running down to the traditional Anglican church in the nearby village. It was totally spontaneous. I didn't know who or what I would find there. I just found myself tearing out of the monastery and rushing down the hill. I was aware as I went that I had asked no-one's permission to leave. This was more urgent than etiquette! I just fled. My head was in a spin. I thought, `I've got to talk to somebody,I've got to understand what's happening to me.' I felt deep down that someone in the church would have the answer, but I had no idea who or why. ...
Crossing the divide and embracing diversity is at the very heart of God's plan and purpose for his church. Owen Hylton defines sin as the greatest problem of humankind, separating us from God and setting us at odds with one another. As new creations in Jesus, we can confidently and joyfully celebrate our oneness, whatever our color, status, gender, or nationality.
Darwin, Creation and the Fall explores how Christian doctrine of humanity relates to Charles Darwin's account of human evolution.
Prenumerera på vårt nyhetsbrev för att få fantastiska erbjudanden och inspiration för din nästa läsning.
Genom att registrera dig accepterar du vår personuppgiftspolicy.
