Book review | Rhythms of Faith
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This is a book which is refreshingly adaptable in its approach to guiding the reader to understand their pilgrimage through the Christian year.
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Our Preach Christian book reviews build a reading list for preachers and leaders.
Each detailed review is based on a thorough reading, and provides an excellent introduction to the text and its usefulness for students, preachers and church leaders.
Book review | Giver of Life by Jane Williams
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Jane Williams’ book Giver of Life explores how and why and where the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Nicene Creed and the Spirit’s position as part of the Holy Trinity. Read this book review by Preach magazine’s editor Tanya Stead.
Read Morebook Review | Don’t Forget We’re Here Forever
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Writer and freelance journalist Lamorna Ash was impacted strongly when two of her friends – previously performing as stand-up comedians – began training as Church of England priests. It prompted a year-long exploration of Christianity, and why any young person might be attracted to the faith.
Read MoreBook Review | Loving Yourself by Richard Frost
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This is a book review on Richard Frost’s book Loving Yourself. This book is short and full of unique and helpful insight into the verse in Mark 12:31 which says, ‘The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
Read MoreBook Review | Normal, Imperfect Heroes by James Grier with Liz Grier
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Anyone seeking to follow Jesus and worried about failure will find the book encouraging. A sentence in the conclusion nicely sums up the main idea behind the book that ‘God is less worried about what you do with him than that you have a relationship with him’.
Read MoreCHARACTER AND VIRTUE IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION and CHARACTER AND VIRTUE IN PRACTICE
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It is aimed at those searching for answers, whether in formal training groups or as individuals. The workbook includes a facilitators guide for leaders – this is both useful and worthwhile in a range of settings.
Read MoreBeyond Dispute: Rediscovering the Jewish Art of Constructive Disagreement
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Disagreement is inevitable in any community, including the Church. But how we handle it can either build up or break down the body of Christ. This review explores insights from a Jewish tradition known for its rich, respectful approach to debate. Could there be something to learn from this ancient art of constructive disagreement — even for Christian leaders today?
Read MoreJune Book of the month: How to be (un)successful
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The book – which is immensely readable – starts with simple obedience: success, in God’s eyes, is knowing what he is asking us to do, and doing it. Whatever it may be. Whatever the outcome is. Then Portal considers the importance of relationships, of truly seeing people, not chasing results.
Read MoreMay Book of the month: The rest is worship
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The Rest Is Worship explores how we can rest to the glory of God, and how our times of worship can be places where we are restored and renewed by him. It is written for anyone who wants to delve into how "being still" can help us to "know God", and how we can reject the rush and hurry of our contemporary world (and our contemporary church).
Read MoreMay Book of the month: Practicing the way by John Mark Comer
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We are all being formed into something and being discipled by something or someone, the question is what are we allowing to form us? In this book review, Andy offers his opinion on John Mark Comer’s book, Practicing the way.
Read MoreApril Book of the month: The Longest Week by Nick Page
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Though this book was published 15 years ago, Ali suggests it remains both relevant and highly readable today. Explore the historical facts surrounding the final days before Jesus' death that first Easter.
Read MoreBOOK OF THE MONTH: The church, the far right and the claim to Christianity | Edited by Helen Paynter and Maria Power
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The book’s back cover explains that it ‘examines the church’s response to the rise of far-right thinking in UK society and explores how it can respond more effectively’. A book review my Martyn Whittock for Preach magazine.
Read MoreBOOK OF THE MONTH: Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times by Elizabeth Oldfield
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A book review for Elizabeth Oldfield’s Fully Alive. ‘An insightful commendation of Christianity, written with an easy, yet polished style, that speaks to a generation that has found the faith wanting, without actually considering it.‘ by Peter Crumpler
Read MoreBOOK OF THE MONTH: Before The Night Comes: One mans fight for the girls of Brazil's 'exploitation highway'
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The book is very well written, as one would expect from a journalist, and its aim is to attract support for what Matt’s charity, Menindanca, is doing, and not to convert. I recommend it as a good read, an inspiring story, and insight into what people can do if it matters enough to them that something should be done.
Read MoreHow to Preach: Times, Seasons, Texts and Contexts by Samuel Wells
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I found myself being drawn into the sermons and learning much from them. Reading this book is both instructional and devotional, so it’s best not to be read through it at a canter, but to savour each address and learn from it.
Read MoreBOOK OF THE MONTH: Wounded I Sing: From Advent to Christmas with George Herbst
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Arranged into four, six days a week short chapters, with commentary, to cover the Advent season, each prefaced by an outstanding poem, this beneficial study manual will immerse you in the buoyant, baptismal waters of an elevated poet of the senses, and literary surgeon of the soul.
Read MoreThe Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear
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As Wear puts it, ‘we have allowed [political] parties to become brands and sources of identity.’ These ‘identities’ have divided churches, families and communities. With the USA facing another polarised presidential election in November, the need to address this situation is pressing.
Read MoreBOOK OF THE MONTH: No Neutral Ground
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In 2009, Londoner Pete Portal moved to Cape Town, to start working with and living alongside drug dealers and violent criminals. A thriving and beautiful city, Cape Town also has one of the highest crime rates in the world, and much of that crime is committed in Manenberg, the area to which Pete moved. Only by living there, he believes, can he and those with him truly reach their neighbours, and the book has quite a lot of reflections on what Christianity should look like, as well as what it often looks like.
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence: A Guide for the Perplexed by Simon Cross
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This short book invites us on a journey in to the complex present reality of Artificial Intelligence. Its remit is broad and covers technological, philosophical/theological and practical overviews for the intended reader, a Christian looking to understand the ethical landscape in this area.
Read MoreBeing Human: A New Lens for our Cultural Conversations by Jo Frost & Peter Lynas
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This book is a guide to anyone who wishes to share the biblical vision of what it is to be human. It is difficult, however, to determine to whom the book is aimed. Parts of it will resonate with individuals seeking to live their lives according to their personal vision and experience of biblical teaching but, for others, it is how they live in a multi-cultural society.
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