Bøker utgitt av Inter-Varsity Press

An exploration of the prominence and significance of the cross of Jesus in Mark's Gospel.

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.

Few things are more essential to the health of the church than clear understanding of the Bible's teaching concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Doctrine informs devotion, and this, in turn, motivates discipleship. Neglect or misunderstanding of Christology will inevitably weaken Christian character and conduct. Furthermore, the ascendancy of pluralism leads many to the view that there is nothing unique about Jesus, and the media regularly present distorted portraits of him. It is essential that the church is able to proclaim the authentic and incomparable Christ to a needy world. This stimulating volume, based on the second Affinity Theological Study Conference, offers biblical and theological explorations of the majesty and mystery of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. All the contributors are fully committed to the belief that the Jesus of the Bible is the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. These studies are intended not only to stretch and enlighten minds, but also to stir hearts and transform lives.

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.

An exposition of Matthew 5 - 7.

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!

Based on real questions from real people in the real world

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.

This book is about Genesis and how far scientific discoveries can help us to understand it. Many of us are confused about what Genesis tells us, and how (and why) to approach its ancient story of the origin of the world and mankind. We are usually equally confused about what Genesis is, and what it can and cannot tell us. If we are willing to look for truth and consider other ways of seeing the world, we can emerge from the fog. This book gives a fresh and important approach to some of the deep down questions which trouble us most about where we can from, and why we are here.

A comprehensive, in-depth biblical study of a key aspect of missionary practice.

The church has always been potentially just one generation away from extinction. But now, with a generation of under-thirty-five-year-olds turning away from institutional expressions of Christianity, churches in the West recognize that they face a challenge that is more urgent and radical than it has been for many generations.In this acclaimed study, the authors identify some of the major storm centres through which churches must navigate, not in order to return to a previously more tranquil world, but to enter an entirely new one. They look at mission, church structures, developing new leaders and mentoring, worship, spirituality and evangelism, and ask how our ministry must change in order to serve a new generation of Christians.

The mission of the apostle Paul, to proclaim the gospel to the nations, continues to be of vital relevance for the Christian church at the beginning of the twenty-first century. By Paul's own testimony, the gospel he was set apart to preach focused on Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, as the fulfilment of God's promises (Romans 1:1-13). Hence if we are to be true to the apostle, we must seek to understand his mission and message from the perspective of biblical theology. This impressive collection explores facets of such a perspective, under four broad headings: the Old Testament background to Paul's mission; New Testament studies; the wider context of the world in which Paul's message was proclaimed; and the use of that message in history and contemporary thought. These essays offer fresh and important contributions to Pauline studies, and were commissioned in honour of Peter T O'Brien (Vice Principal, Moore College, Sydney), who has made Paul's concerns his own through distinguished scholarship and personal ministry.

In this powerful and timely book, Michael Green explains the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. No other teacher ever claimed to bring God to us, no other teacher dealt radically with the problem of human wickedness, no other teacher broke the final barrier - death, and no other teacher offered to actually live within his followers.

Are the New Testament documents reliable? Can we have confidence in their record of the life and teaching of Jesus and his followers? Such questions are fundamental for anyone approaching the New Testament. F F Bruce, formerly Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester, was well qualified to answer them. This classic treatment has been revised by the author many times and reprinted regularly for more than half a century.

An exploration of the Apostle's Creed in six weekly sessions for church or home group use.

When death breaks into our lives, the great questions of human existence and destiny confront us. What is life? What is death? Is there an afterlife? Often it is only in the midst of tragedy that these issues are given much attention - but the basic orientation of Christianity is towards heavenly hope. Bruce Milne takes us on a journey through the biblical teaching about the awesome realities of heaven and hell - destinies central to our understanding of God and humanity. He begins with an examination of some key Old Testament texts, then moves on to the teaching of Jesus, and finally surveys other relevant New Testament passages. Debate continues about this area of Christian belief, but the life to come is a biblical 'fact of life', and the eternal God assures us, repeatedly and clearly, that he will meet us all in eternity.

Includes analyses of pluralism in society and diversity in the New Testament.

A fresh examination of emotion in the New Testament and in the Christian life.

Constructs an approach to social action that is shaped and inspired by the gospel.

Can Christian artists tough it out in the real world? Or can Christian art only survive when unchallenged, in the cordoned off enclave of the Christian subculture? If our music, writing, theatre, painting, artistic expression is insipid and uninspiring, how great is the God who allows it to represent him? How exciting is the life that seems to prefer drabness to colour, shallowness to complexity, security to risk?The world of the arts and media is where ideas are rehearsed and values are tested. And yet the Christian presence in that world is insignificant, and the church has not always been supportive. Are we fearful of opening ourselves to its influence, or are Christian artists too often swallowed up by the world where they seek to be salt and light?Steve Turner urges us to develop ways of being out there, of thinking rigorously but christianly, of finding a voice, of achieving an integrity in our artistic expression while maintaining a true spiritual integrity. Only then can our art naturally and inevitably speak of the hope that we have.