If theology doesn't stretch our minds, it probably won't stretch our lives. In Café Theology, Michael Lloyd invites us to travel on a journey from Creation to New Creation, visiting the Fall, the Incarnation, Resurrection and Ascension, and stopping off at the Trinity and the Church. Michael's inimitable gift for mixing insightful theology with unflinching honesty and a fantastic sense of humour offers an enriching view of life and the Life-Giver. You don't have to be a professor to understand this book - it's written for anyone who wants to explore theology more deeply, with a study guide to help think through each topic. Readers will be refreshed and encouraged as this distinctive book makes theology applicable to our ordinary lives.

In Cafe Theology, Mike invites us to grab a cappuccino and travel with him on a mind-stretching journey from Creation to New Creation, offering a rich and human view of life and the Life-Giver. Whether you have been on the Christian Journey your whole life, you are just starting out or haven't even bought a ticket, this extraordinary book is applicable to our ordinary lives, longings and in Mike's words 'our feeble and frustrated fumblings after an understanding of who we are and what we are here for.

What do We Believe? Why Does it Matter? provides a general introduction to the basic beliefs of Christian theology; together with their significance for Christian worship, living and thinking, and the intellectual problems they raise.

In celebration of Alister E. McGrath's sixty-fifth birthday in 2018, this Festschrift aims to highlight him as a lauded scholar, who exemplifies an interface of science, theology, and religion. It comprises works by McGrath's theological allies and colleagues from diverse ecclesial homes including Graham Ward, Oliver Crisp, Tony Lane, Sung Wook Chung, Randall Zachman, Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Jonathan Wilson, Jeffrey P. Greenman, Robert Kolb, Sister Benedicta Ward, Michael Lloyd, Bethany Sollereder, and Patrick Franklin. Critical but appreciative is the posture with which these contributors engage the wide range of McGrath's own scholarly pursuits and publications. This volume, edited by Dennis Ngien, covers these themes that are central to the life and witness of the church: atonement, Christology, Trinity, eschatology, mission, Reformation, science, nature, culture, evangelism, and theodicy--there is much to ponder and reap here. Readers will join with the contributors and pay tribute to McGrath who has risen to a life of significance as a scientist turned theologian, professor, author, Christian apologist, and churchman.

Death remains a difficult topic to address openly, left to professionals in hospitals and hospices. Talking About Death aims to equip ministers and pastoral carers to enable individuals and families to say and do the important things on their minds. It includes: Learning How To Die: How the medicalisation of death has affected thinking around death; the role of Christian faith. Talking about death positively: exploring the string feelings around death; how theories of loss can be helpful. Christian Approaches to Talking About Death and Dying Societal Attitudes To Talking About Death And Dying What is to be gained by talking about death and Dying Practical examples and stories Contemplating our own death – resources for end of life conversations

The story of Alpha is of major significance for understanding the place of religious faith in the modern world, but that story has never been told - until now. Since its launch in 1993, the Alpha movement has evolved from 'supper party evangelism' in the Kensington suburbs into a global brand of Christian outreach. Today, over a million people attend Alpha every year, but the history of its rise to popularity has never been documented. What caused such spiritual renewal in an age of scepticism? And what propelled Alpha into a phenomenon that is recognised across the globe? Alpha is far more than an introductory course to Christianity. At the core of its brand identity is a 'repackaging' of the Christian message for contemporary audiences. Innovation and cultural adaptability are built into Alpha's DNA, one of the chief reasons for its longevity and influence. Nimbly utilising the multimedia and digital revolutions, it has contextualised into cultures and languages across the planet. And led by charismatic, savvy individuals, it has attracted people from across the social spectrum, making waves in national media. Andrew Atherstone leaves no stone unturned as he presents this fascinating history. With exclusive access to original archives, Atherstone recounts the miraculous stories of HTB's early years, the first full account of Nicky Gumbel's conversion, and the strategic decisions that launched Alpha onto the global stage of Christian influence. With sharp historical analysis, Andrew Atherstone uncovers the story of Christian resurgence in our contemporary age.

The quest for meaning and purpose dwells within all of us. Jesus insisted that its fulfillment lay in a relationship with him. But what does that relationship look like—really? Apprentice calls spiritual pilgrims, both Christians and non-Christians, to exchange the shallow diversions of secular and religious culture for the pursuit of our true desires. In a book of refreshing honesty, great heart, and rich creativity, Steve Chalke guides us into an apprenticeship with the master teacher, Jesus. Embarking on a relational journey that engages us on every level, we walk with Jesus in an organic, whole-life learning experience, exploring ten areas foundational to the meaning and depth we crave. Apprentice encourages us to ask our most probing questions, embrace our doubts, and learn why we are driven to belong. Combining story and parable with thoughtful commentary, we discover the ancient art and discipline of apprenticeship— living lives stamped with the character, presence, and impact of Jesus.

The delay of the Parousia—the second coming of Christ—has vexed Christians since the final decades of the first century. This volume offers a critical, constructive, and interdisciplinary solution to that dilemma. The argument is grounded in Christian tradition while remaining fully engaged with the critical insights and methodological approaches of twenty-first-century scholars. The authors argue that the deferral of Christ’s prophesied return follows logically from the conditional nature of ancient predictive prophecy: Jesus has not come again because God’s people have not yet responded sufficiently to Christ’s call for holy and godly action. God, in patient mercy, remains committed to cooperating with humans to bring about the consummation of history with Jesus’ return. Collaboratively written by an interdisciplinary and ecumenical team of scholars, the argument draws on expertise in biblical studies, systematics, and historical theology to fuse critical biblical exegesis with a powerful theological paradigm that generates an apophatic and constructive Christian eschatology. The authors, however, have done more than tackle a daunting theological problem: as the group traverses issues from higher criticism through doctrine and into liturgy and ethics, they present an innovative approach for how to do Christian theology in the twenty-first-century academy.

When you hear a riveting story, does it thrill your heart and stir your soul? Do you hunger for truth and goodness? Do you secretly relate to Belle’s delight in the library in Beauty and the Beast? If so, you may be on your way to being a book girl. Books were always Sarah Clarkson’s delight. Raised in the company of the lively Anne of Green Gables, the brave Pevensie children of Narnia, and the wise Austen heroines, she discovered reading early on as a daily gift, a way of encountering the world in all its wonder. But what she came to realize as an adult was just how powerfully books had shaped her as a woman to live a story within that world, to be a lifelong learner, to grasp hope in struggle, and to create and act with courage. She’s convinced that books can do the same for you. Join Sarah in exploring the reading life as a gift and an adventure, one meant to enrich, broaden, and delight you in each season of your life as a woman. In Book Girl, you’ll discover: how reading can strengthen your spiritual life and deepen your faith, why a journey through classic literature might be just what you need (and where to begin), how stories form your sense of identity, how Sarah’s parents raised her to be a reader—and what you can do to cultivate a love of reading in the growing readers around you, and 20+ annotated book lists, including some old favorites and many new discoveries. Whether you’ve long considered yourself a reader or have dreams of becoming one, Book Girl will draw you into the life-giving journey of becoming a woman who reads and lives well.

Fifteen-year-old Aki Simon has a theory. And it's mostly about sex. No, it isn't that kind of theory. Aki already knows she's bisexual—even if, until now, it's mostly been in the hypothetical sense. Aki has dated only guys so far, and her best friend, Lori, is the only person who knows she likes girls, too. Actually, Aki's theory is that she's got only one shot at living an interesting life—and that means she's got to stop sitting around and thinking so much. It's time for her to actually do something. Or at least try. So when Aki and Lori set off on a church youth-group trip to a small Mexican town for the summer and Aki meets Christa—slightly older, far more experienced—it seems her theory is prime for the testing. But it's not going to be easy. For one thing, how exactly do two girls have sex, anyway? And more important, how can you tell if you're in love? It's going to be a summer of testing theories—and the result may just be love.