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Short Notes

Reviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray.

Romans (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville 2010; 244pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 664 23438 6. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Paul Achtemeier, is yet another reprint in the Interpretation commentary series and is a great resource for preachers.

First published by Inspire in 2007, Resourcing Renewal: Shaping Churches for the Emerging Future (Epworth, London 2010; 268pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 7162 0688 2), by Martyn Atkins, currently General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Great Britain, sees renewal primarily in terms of ‘Fresh expressions’ as distinct from what the author terms “inherited church revamped and done well”. Maybe within the Methodist denomination there is little hope for inherited churches. However, I have yet to be convinced that ‘Fresh Expressions’ is the most effective medium for making disciples. This, of course, is not to say that ‘inherited churches’ do not have to undergo radical change!

First published in 1950, Verdict on Jesus; A new statement of evidence (SPCK, 5th edition London 2010; 296pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06227 0), by Leslie Badham has been updated by the addition of three new chapters:  ‘The reasonableness of belief in a creator God in the 21st century’, by Paul Badham, the author’s son; ‘Current trends in Historical Jesus research’, by Kathy Ehrensperger; and ‘Jesus in the world’s religions’, by Gregory A Barker. A little dated, nonetheless it is a helpful resource for apologetic preaching.

First published in 1989, The Bible in Politics: How to read the Bible politically (SPCK, London 2nd edition 2010; 166pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06115 0), by Richard Bauckham, has a new introduction, dealing with pressing contemporary concerns such as globalization and climate change.  For anybody wanting to relate the world of politics with the Bible, this is essential reading.

First published in 1966, Early Christian Worship: a basic introduction to ideas and practice (SPCK, London 2nd edition 2010; 104pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06345 1), by Paul F Bradshaw, has been lightly revised and will continue to be a useful student textbook. My one criticism is that the author contrasts ‘adult baptism’ with infant baptism, whereas in fact the contrast should be between believers’ baptism and infant baptism!

The Money Mentor: Getting to grips with our finances (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 182pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 490 9), by Ash Carter, a former accountant currently training for Christian ministry, is a very practical guide to money management. I particularly appreciated that four pages were devoted to teaching children how to manage money.

Child Development for Child Care and Protection Workers (Jessica Kingsley, London, 2nd edition 2010; 281pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 840905 068), by Brigid Daniel, Sally Wassell and Robbie Gilligan, has become a classic text for practitioners in child care and protection. Although written primarily for social workers, ministers too can benefit from this summary of current thinking on child development.

For the Parish: A Critique of Fresh Expressions (SCM Press, London 2010; 251pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04365 2), by Andrew Davison and Alison Milbank, is a strongly-argued critique of Fresh Expressions. According to the authors, “while the aim of engaging with our contemporary context is admirable, it is done... on the basis of a defective methodology, an inadequate theology, and by accepting the very choice-led individualism from which Christianity should liberate us”. Alas, from the perspective of a Nonconformist, the counter-argument is not at all convincing. Essentially, the authors are not so much defending the so-called ‘inherited’ model of church, but rather the Anglican parish system. Although I personally believe Fresh Expressions has its limitations, this critique fails to hit the mark.

For anybody wanting to preach from the Old Testament, Lo and Behold!   The power of Old Testament storytelling (SPCK, London 2010; 164pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 0673 4), by Trevor Dennis, will prove to be a great resource.  These studies on Old Testament incidents are entertaining and illuminating.

Leaders Learning to Listen (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2010; 131pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 232 52736 0), by Chris Edmondson, Bishop of Bolton and a former Warden of Lee Abbey, is an ideal book for ministers to take away on a ‘sabbatical’ day - if not a sabbatical week. Activists - note, this is a book to be read slowly!

Malcolm Muggeridge - Time and Eternity: Uncollected Writings (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2010; 237pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 232 52808 4), edited and with an introduction by Nicholas Flynn, contains articles and letters written throughout the author’s life. The title of the book is taken from the final essay, which ends: “Serving our mortal sentence (in the most literal sense, doing time) we look out through the prison bars at eternity, looking forward to the day when the great gates of time will open and we shall be released”. Those of us who remember Muggeridge will no doubt read the book with great interest - for others, it will be just extraordinarily dated.

Early Christian Thinkers: The lives and legacies of twelve key figures (SPCK, London 2010; 203pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06098 6), edited by Paul Foster, introduces the following early theologians: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tatian, Theophilus of Antioch, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Perpetua, Origen, Hioppolytus, Cyprian, Gregory Thaumaturgos, and Eusebius. An ideal book for students of early church history!

Church and Countryside: Insights from Rural Theology (SCM Press, London 2010; 140pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04203 7), by Tim Gibson, seeks to be a primer in rural theology - it deals with such issues as food and farming, landscape and leisure.  From a Nonconformist perspective, the frustrating aspect of this book is that it fails to engage with any other form of church save that of the Church of England. From a missiological perspective too it is a disappointing book - the underlying assumption is essentially that the parish church will continue as it always has done.

Exodus and Leviticus for Everyone (SPCK, London 2010; 198pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06126 6) and Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone (SPCK, London 2010; 206pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06127 3), by John Goldingay, are two more excellent commentaries in this most welcome series. Preachers and church members alike will benefit from this mixture of personal anecdote and exegesis.

Saint Peter: The Underestimated Apostle (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 161pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 2718 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Martin Helen, formerly Professor of New Testament and early Judaism at the University of Tubingen, consists of two separate studies on Peter, the first entitled ‘Peter the Rock, Paul, and the Gospel Tradition’; and the second ‘ The Family of Peter and Other Apostolic Families’.  Both studies are great examples of the best of German New Testament scholarship - although footnotes abound, the actual text is quite accessible.

John Henry Newman: Meditations and Devotions (Darton, Longman and Todd, London 2010; 109pp; £10.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 232 52801 5), edited and with a brief introduction by Ian Ker of St Benet’s Hall, Oxford, will no doubt appeal to Newman devotees, but its Catholic devotion combined with its dated language will probably not attract many readers of Ministry Today.

The Didache: A Window on the earliest Christians (SPCK, London 2010; 185pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 281 05953 9), by Thomas O’Loughlin, is a highly readable and stimulating commentary on one of the earliest Christian writings. I particularly appreciated the final chapter - ‘The challenge of the Didache’ - where the author seeks to draw lessons for today’s churches.

A recent contribution to the Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary is Lamentations (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2010; 260pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 2714 2. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Robin A Parry, who skilfully explores how Lamentations can function as Christian Scripture. A thoughtful and scholarly, albeit accessible, commentary on a neglected Old Testament book.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary continues to grow apace: Joshua (Apollos, Nottingham 2010; 454pp; £24.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 477 0), by Pekka M A  Pitkanen, contains not just a thorough exegesis of the text, but also an exposition of the theological message. Any serious preacher will be glad to have this work of accessible scholarship.

Jesus in the Temple (SPCK, London 2010; 223pp; £17.99; ISBN 978 0 281 05872 3), by Norman Perrin, currently a NT professor at Wheaton College, Illinois, reviews Jesus’ relationship to the Jerusalem temple as also the early Christian community’s idea that Jesus is the new temple, of which his followers are a part. This is an unusually enlightening and creative approach to Jesus as a counter-revolutionary.

Practical Skills for Ministry (SCM, London 2010; 197pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04359 1), by Andrew Pratt, an experienced Methodist minister, is a simple basic guide for people training for ministry, and as such is to be welcomed.  

Growing Old: A Journey of Self-Discovery (Routledge, London 2010; 218pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 415 54566 2), by Danielle Quinodoz, a Swiss psychoanalyst, is a fascinating reflection on old age. One of her key arguments is the growing old does not mean simply ageing; it has to do with the way in which we put on the years. In her view the work of growing old consists of an attempt to take stock of the whole of our internal life-history, in order to relate the end of our life to the overall path we are following - only in this way can we truly prepare for death.  In a context where most churches simply entertain their older people, this is a challenging read. 

Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 72pp: £10.99; ISBN 978 1 426 70694 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by archaeologists Leen and Kathleen Ritmeyer, is a simple, albeit quite detailed guide, to 1st century Jerusalem.  It is probably of most interest to people visiting Jerusalem.

The Good and Beautiful Community: Following the Spirit, Extending Grace, Demonstrating Love (Hodder and Stoughton, London 2010; 237pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 8308 3533 1), by James Bryan Smith, is part of a Christian formation (‘apprentice’)  trilogy and is intended for use in small groups, but in an English context is perhaps better fitted for personal reflection.

Revisiting the Empty Tomb: The Early History of Easter (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2010; 267pp; £20.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 8006 9701 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books), by Daniel Smith, argues that the accounts of the empty tomb owe their origin to the belief that Jesus, like Elijah, Enoch, and other heroes, was assumed and therefore ‘not seen’.   This is very much a book for New Testament scholars, and is hard going - and from my perspective unconvincing. 

Making Friends, Making Disciples: Growing your church through authentic relationships (Judson, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; 161pp; $16; ISBN 978 0 8170 1645 6), by Lee Spitzer, provides a great resource for a sermon on friendship. Significantly the author views friendship as a “spiritual disciple, because it is something we can choose to practise rather than just letting it happen”.

The Future of Preaching (SCM Press, London 2010; 226pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04362 1), edited by Geoffrey Stevenson, consists of 15 essays on such diverse topics as ‘preaching in the Roman Catholic ecclesial context’ to ‘charismatic utterance: preaching as prophecy’; from the ‘sermon form in a digital future’ to ‘the preacher’s inner life’. Of most interest to me was the opening essay by Roger Standing on ‘Homiletics in contemporary British culture’ which, among other things, makes the point that talk of the death of the ‘monologue’ is premature: he draws attention to the popularity of after-dinner speakers - the UK’s largest agency for after-dinner speakers has over 6000 people on its books! He also draws attention to stand-up comedians as examples of compelling communicators. However, as he notes, it is not enough for preaching to be entertaining or inspiring - it needs to transform, enliven, and convert.

Preaching the Incarnation (Westminster John Knox, Louisville 2010; 229pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 664 23280 1. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Peter K Stevenson and Stephen I Wright, both teachers at London’s Spurgeon’s College, is a great book for ministers committed to expository preaching. Each of the ten chapters exegetes a key passage of Scripture, which is then followed by a sermon, which in turn is followed by a commentary on the sermon. Noted preachers such as Thomas Long, Rowan Williams and William Willimon contribute a sermon. This is a book every preacher should buy! My one sadness is that this book was not published in the UK.

Two more ‘For Everyone Bible Study Guides’ by Tom Wright have appeared: Acts (SPCK, London 2010; 128pp; £4.99; ISBN 978 0 281 063802) and Hebrews (SPCK, London 2010; 80pp; £4.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06739 6). These little books are excellent for leaders of small groups.

Alive to the Word: A practical theology of preaching for the whole church (SCM Press, London 2010. 204pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04201 3), by Stephen Wright, is a wide-ranging examination of Christian preaching. It looks at such issues as the function of preaching; patterns and practices for preaching; ethical guidance for preaching; and insights from sociology and psychology. Each section ends with questions for the local church: for example, “In what ways does preaching help to form the identity of your congregation? Are these ways healthy? Does there seem to be a healthy relationship between preachers and hearers? Can anything be done to make it healthier?’ Unfortunately only a few people in most churches could cope with this kind of book; it would, however, be a useful text-book for trainee preachers, not least for those engaged in church-based training.

The Soul Survivor NIV Bible in One Year (Hodder and Stoughton, London 2010; £14.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 340 99611 9) provides dated daily readings from the Old Testament and the New Testament together with a Psalm with a view to enabling the reader to read the whole Bible in one year. A worthy aim, but sadly totally unrealistic for most Christian young people today!

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851-1921) was a highly prolific Reformed theologian and apologist at Princeton University. In The Theology of B B Warfield: A Systematic Survey (Apollos, Nottingham 2010; 624pp; £24.99 hardback; ISBN 978 1 84474 482 4), Fred G Zaspel offers a lively summary of Warfield’s writings. 

IVP’s ‘The Bible Speaks Today’ series has a three fold aim of expounding the biblical text with accuracy, relating it to contemporary life, and being readable. Two recent contributions include: The Message of Ezra and Haggai (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 186pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 479 4), by Robert Fyall, currently Senior Tutor in Ministry for the Cornhill Training Course, Scotland;  and The Message of Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 303pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 438 1), by Gordon Bridger, a former Principal of Oak Hill College, London. Both are worthy contributions to this excellent series, and will be most useful to preachers in particular!

The IVP New Testament Series is North American in inspiration and is more academic than ‘the Bible Speaks Today’ series. It sets out to offer sound biblical exposition for those in pastoral leadership. Recent contributions in this series are John (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 526pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 454 1), by Rodney Whitacre, professor of biblical studies at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania; Romans (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 447pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 456 5), by Grant Osborne, NT professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois; and 1-2 Thessalonians (IVP, Nottingham 2010; 279pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 463 3), by G K  Beale, NT professor at Wheaton College, Illinois. This combination of scholarship and application is remarkable value for money.

 

Recent booklets from Grove of Cambridge (all 28pp in length and costing £3.95 unless otherwise stated) include:

Multiethnic Church: A Case Study of an Anglican Diocese (Pastoral 122, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 760 3), by Delbert Sandiford, shows how the Diocese of Southwark has sought to address the challenge of integrating black and minority groups into previously white churches: between the church attendance surveys of 1998 & 2005, white membership fell by 19%, while BME membership increased by 19%.  This booklet will no doubt be of interest to diocesan officials, but frankly has little new to say to local churches.  

Thinking Biblically About Sex (Youth 19, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 761 0), by Steve Emery-Wright, looks at teenage sexual activity today - in the UK the 2005 average age for first intercourse (‘sexual debut’) was approx 16.6 years old. He argues that churches best face up to the challenge of youth sex by (i) making possible a supportive peer community; (ii) providing clear, positive messages of sexuality coupled with unconditional love; and (iii) equipping parents and adults who care for young people with information and skills. 

Reading Gospel Stories in Today’s world (Biblical 56, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 759 7), by Stephen Wright, looks at the way in which we can encounter the Gospel stories afresh as good news - a very straightforward study. 

Walking In Another’s Shoes: ethical perspectives on the experience of those seeking asylum (Ethics 158, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 762 7), by Ruth Worsley and Karen Rooms, goes beyond the question ‘How can we help?’, and asks, ‘What can we learn from the person seeking sanctuary?’. 

Church Schools in a Multi-Faith Community (Education 4, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 763 4), by Peter French, is essentially a study of three contrasting schools. 

Discerning Leadership: Co-operating with the Go-Between God (Leadership 1, 2010; ISBN 978 1 85174 764 1), by Graham Cray, emphasises the need for leaders to listen to the voice of God’s Spirit, both in the church and in the wider community. I found the heading to Cray’s introduction somewhat sobering: “How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans”.