SHORT NOTES – Paul Beasley-Murray
Rejoicing in the Year: Services celebrating the Church’s seasons (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2011; 320pp; £29.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 368 7), by David Adam, contains material drawn from some of the author’s previous books. David Adam has a special gift for writing prayers. Most of the services contain a place for candle-lighting. According to Adam: “Candle-lighting is an act of faith. It is affirming our belief that God is here with us; that God loves us and gives himself to us. Candle-lighting does not make God come to us, for God is already with us. It helps to open our hearts and minds to his coming”.
Comfort and Consolation: prayers for funerals and the bereaved (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2011; 100pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 346 5), by David Adam, Nick Fawcett, Susan Hardwick, Susan Sayers, and Ray Simpson, is wide-ranging in compass, and includes not just prayers for ministers to use, but also personal private prayers for the bereaved. A useful resource.
The Corinthian Question: why did the church oppose Paul? (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 243pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 532 6), by Paul Barnett, retired Anglican bishop of North Sydney, looks at what went wrong after Paul left Corinth. Ministers preparing to preach a series of sermons on 2 Corinthians would greatly benefit from reading this work of accessible scholarship.
Old Testament Wisdom Literature: A Theological Introduction (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 336pp; £19.99 hardback; ISBN 978 1 84474 537 1), by Craig G Bartholomew and Ryan P O’Dowd, is a lively, albeit scholarly, introduction to the books of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It is a good student text-book.
Between Naivety and Hostility: Uncovering the best Christian responses to Islam in Britain (Authentic, Milton Keynes 2011; 316pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 85078 957 4), edited by Steve Bell and Colin Chapman, is an excellent collection of eighteen essays, and required reading for any minister working in our larger cities. All contributors stress the need to build relationships of trust and respect with Muslims.
Preaching for Church Transformation (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 112pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 1062 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by American church growth ‘guru’ Bill Easum, is so set within an American church context that sadly it has little relevance to the UK. However, the title of the book does point to the important relationship between preaching and the exercise of leadership. In the words of the author, “You never have as much influence over the congregation as when you are standing in the pulpit; use that time to reshape your church for mission and growth”.
Great Christian Thinkers From the Early Church Through the Middle Ages (SPCK, London 2011; 316pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06474 8), by Joseph Ratzinger, better known as Pope Benedict XVI, consists of seventy brief portraits, first delivered as addresses to public audiences in St Peter’s Square. In a quite impressive manner these addresses combine scholarship with devotion, and seek to relate the past to the present.
First published as a hardback in 2004, Inscribing the Text: Sermons and Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2011; 222pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9827 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Anna Carter Florence, now makes a welcome re-appearance as a paperback. Here are great ideas for preaching from the Old Testament!
Brueggemann fans will be delighted that many of his previously published essays have been gathered together by Fortress Press of Minneapoliis into two volumes and are now available in new soft-back editions: The Book That Breathes New Life: Scriptural Authority and Biblical Theology (2011; 228pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 80006 983 0), and The Word That Redescribes the World: The Bible and Discipleship (2011; 237pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9829 4). Both volumes are available through Alban Books of Edinburgh. If the truth be told, these two collections will probably be of more use to students than to working ministers.
Social Work with Children and Families: Getting into Practice (Jessica Kingsley, London 3rd edition 2011; 302pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 84310 598 5), by Ian Butler and Caroline Hickman, is first and foremost a textbook for social workers. Nonetheless, ministers can gain, not least from the first half of the book, which deals with basic knowledge and skills relating to the family, parenting, and child abuse. It is a sobering fact that the UK is the worst place among all the economically developed countries in the world to be a child, and absolutely the worst in terms of family and peer relationships, behaviour and risks and subjective well-being. Sadly the index contained no reference to the church – what does that say about perceived relevance?
Six Minor Prophets: Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2011; 274pp; £70 hardback; ISBN 978 1 4051 7675 0), by Richard Coggins and Jin H Han, is part of the ‘Through the Centuries Blackwell Bible Commentaries’. Beautifully produced, it gives fascinating insights into how these Old Testament books have been interpreted down through the centuries. However, this is not just an exercise in past thought – links are made with the present. Preachers could really benefit from this careful scholarship, but alas the cost puts this book beyond the reach of working ministers.
Group and Individual Work with Older People: A practical guide to running successful activity-based programmes (Jessica Kingsley, London 2011; 204pp; £18.99; ISBN 978 1 8490 5128 6), by Swee Hong Chia, Julie Heathcote and Jane Marie Hibberd, is not produced with church groups in mind, but many of the principles and ideas are relevant to churches working with older people. Simply written, ministers could benefit from this guide.
Going for Growth: Learning from Peter (IVP, Nottingham 2011; 157pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 546 3), by Ken Clarke, an Anglican Bishop in Ireland, grew out of Bible readings given at an International Scripture Union conference, is a warm-hearted popular approach to leadership, which could benefit lay leaders in a church.
Did Adam and Eve really exist? Who they were and why it matters (IVP, Nottingham 2011; 192pp; ISBN 978 1 84474 5258), by Old Testament professor G John Collins, is a popular, albeit thoughtful, defence of the biblical view of Adam and Eve.
Events That Worked For Us: Best Practices for Ministry with Children and Families (Abingdon, Nashville 2010; 256pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 1485 6), edited by Judy Comstock, is a very American publication, and would need a good deal of adaptation to a British setting. However, it is brimming with ideas, ranging from pre-teen sleepovers to family get-togethers, from Christians celebrations to celebrations, from Easter festivities to volunteer appreciation.
Jesus, Paul and the Gospels (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2011; 201pp; £13.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6645 5), by James D G Dunn, is a collection of three sets of lectures on Jesus and Paul given to Catholic and Jewish audiences. More of interest to young students, this book has limited appeal to working ministers.
Nick Fawcett is a Baptist minister who is now engaged full-time in a very prolific writing ministry and has some 100 books to his credit. Two recent publications include A Man Like No Other 2: Themed meditations, reflective services and quiet day outlines on the person of Jesus (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2010; 385pp; £29.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 317 5), which presents material in themed format for Year A of the Lectionary; and Light Dawns: 100 Meditations for Public Worship from Advent to Epiphany (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2011; 255pp; £21.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 376 2), which gathers together material from some of his earlier writings, for this key period of the Christian year. Both will be helpful for working ministers.
Revelation (Cascade Books, Eugene, Oregon – an imprint of Wipf and Stock, 2011; 332pp; $39; ISBN 978 1 60899 431 1), by Gordon Fee, now Professor Emeritus at Regent College, Vancouver, is part of the ‘New Covenant Commentary Series’. Although based on scholarship, this book does not seek to interact with the works of other scholars, but instead is concerned to provide straight-forward exegesis. I particularly liked the sections headed ‘Fusing the Horizons’, where Fee thoughtfully relates the world of John to the world of today.
Presence, Power and Promise: The role of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 414pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 534 0), edited by David G Firth and Paul D Wegner, is a collection of 21 essays on all aspects of the Spirit in the Old Testament (and also in Qumran). This is more a book for under-graduates, than for preachers.
As a former PhD student of Bruce, it was with great interest that I read FF Bruce: A Life – The definitive biography of a New Testament scholar (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2011; 283pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 737 9) by Tim Grass. Sadly Bruce was so painfully shy and so very private, that most of his students knew very little about him as a man. In so far as FF Bruce was a key figure in the development of evangelical Biblical scholarship in the 20th century, this highly informative account of Bruce’s life is to be welcomed.
Compelled by Joy. A lifelong passion for evangelism (IVP, Nottingham 2011; 206pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 542 5), by Michael Green, shares his passion, convictions and suggestions from a lifetime of church and university missions. For those of us of a certain age, this is heart-warming stuff, but it reflects a past generation.
Christian Apologetics: a comprehensive case for Biblical faith (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 752pp; £24.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 539 5), by American philosophy professor Douglas Groothius, is a masterful defence of the Christian faith. I particularly appreciated the chapter entitled ‘Distortions of the Christian worldview – or the God I don’t believe in’, where the author deals with issues such as anti-intellectualism, Christianity versus science, racism and slavery, sexism, homosexuality, imperialism, and ecology. Contrary to the popular American preacher Rob Bell, who claims that Christianity is so mysterious that cannot be argued for, Groothius believes that the foundation of apologetics is the very character of God, “whose nature and revelation must be affirmed and declared by the faithful in the face of multiple counterfeits”. This is not light reading, but it is a good book to work through in a study week.
A warm welcome to Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Commentary (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2011; 804pp; £40.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 8028 2609 1), by Arland J Hultgren, is a superb modern academic commentary for pastors. It really is worth the price.
First published in 1987, Prayers for Peace (SPCK, London, reissued in 2011; 116pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06448 9), edited by Basil Hume and Robert Runcie, is an anthology of readings and prayers, and as such is a useful resource. It deserves to be reprinted in the SPCK ‘Classics’ series.
Exorcism and Deliverance: Multi-Disciplinary Studies (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2011; 269pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 680 8), edited by William K Kay and Robin Parry, is a major scholarly contribution to the study of a form of ministry almost unknown among today’s main-line Western churches, and yet which was a major part of the ministry of Jesus (indeed, according to Graham Twelftree, it was the corner stone or Jesus’ ministry) and which remains a major part of church life in other parts of the world. The twelve main studies look at exorcism in the Old and New Testaments; exorcism in the early church and in the 20th century; exorcism in world Pentecostalism and in pop culture; as also anthropological, psychological, philosophical, and theological perspectives; the final chapter offers a practical-theological case study of demonology and deliverance.
Worship and Mission After Christendom (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2009; 291pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 681 5), by Alan and Eleanor Kreider, reads more like a set of lectures rather than a book. Very much committed to ‘multi-voice’ worship as found in 1 Corinthians 14, they argue that even larger churches should follow this model, and suggest that ministers should make their services less controlled and pre-planned. I am not convinced!
Spirituality and Personhood in Dementia (Jessica Kingsley, London 2011; 224pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 84905 154 5), edited by retired Methodist minister Albert Jewell, is a superb collection of 18 wide-ranging and sometimes very challenging essays on dementia from which eventually some 30% of us will suffer. Although in some ways a specialist book, it would benefit any pastor.
Understanding the Times: New Testament Studies in the 21st Century (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 400pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 540 1), edited by Andrew Jo Koestenberger and Robert W Yarbrough, is a collection of 12 essays in honour of the American New Testament scholar, Don Carson. Divided into three sections, part I contains essays giving an overview of New Testament studies and ancillary disciplines; part 2 looks at special topics in New Testament studies (e.g. justification in Galatians or The language of baptism), while part 3 contains an overview of New Testament studies around the world. Frankly, there is little here for the working minister.
Anni’s Cancer Companion: An A-Z On Treatments, Therapies, And Healing (Singing Dragon, Jessica Kingsley, London 2011; 315pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84819 067 2), by Anni Matthews, who on being diagnosed with cancer became a dedicated spokesperson for cancer sufferers, is billed as offering help and advice “to cancer sufferers and all who care for them”. It is also an excellent and highly informative non-technical guide for ministers.
Grief, Loss and Pain in Churches: A handbook for understanding and advising in a Christian context (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2011; 414pp; £34.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 3755), by Bill Merrington, currently the Anglican lead chaplain at Bournemouth University, seeks to cover almost every possible form of loss within a church context, ranging from death to divorce, from suicide to murder, from a minister leaving a church to drawing up a system for support and supervision. There is little new for seasoned ministers, but ministerial students and indeed the newly ordained could greatly profit from the practical wisdom the book contains.
For those who are desperate for inspiration, then no doubt The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2012 (Abingdon, Nashville 2011; 425pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 4267 1018 6. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by David N Mosser, will come in useful. It includes sermons and worship aids, prayers, and a CD with full text search and navigation aids.
The Blackwell Companion to Religion and Violence (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2011; 615pp; £110 hardback; ISBN 978 1 4051 9131 9), edited by Andrew Murphy, is yet another splendid contribution to the ‘Blackwell Companions on Religion’. Beautifully produced, the 45 essays are divided into five parts: 1. ‘Religion’ and ‘Violence’: defining terms, defining relationships; 2. Disciplinary Perspectives; 3. Traditions & Movements, Concepts & Themes; 4. Case Studies; 5. Future Prospects – Beyond Violence? Extraordinarily wide-ranging, this is a great book to dip into, but sadly the price will ensure that it largely remains a library book.
Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice (Routledge, Hove 2011; 442pp; £28.99; ISBN 978 0 415 88481 5), edited by Robert Neimeyer, Darcy L Harris, Howard R Winokuer and Gordon F Thornton, is a collection of 31 scholarly essays, with sections on current conceptualizations of the grief response; contexts of grief; challenges in bereavement; specific populations; specialized therapeutic modalities; and grief in a global perspective. Subjects range from pet loss to grief after terrorism; from bereavement rituals to suicide bereavement. This is an authoritative and readable guide to all interested in bereavement studies.
Petals of Prayer - Reflections and resources for dementia suffers and their carers (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2011; 116pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 329 8), by Siobhan O’Keeffe, is a wonderful resource, especially for carers. The final section is intensely practical, and includes a list of ‘ten Christmas survival tips for families coping with dementia’. This is a book to recommend to people with loved ones suffering from dementia.
The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor (IVP, Nottingham 2011; 124pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 541 8), by John Piper and D A Carson, is a revised and expanded version of talks given in 2009. Somewhat light in content, if the truth be told, this book will probably appeal essentially to fans of the two authors!
Faith and Work – a Parish Perspective: Developing ministry to Christians at Work (Industrial Christian Fellowship; 15pp; £1.50 including p&p from ICF Anne Wright, PO Box 414, Horley Surrey RH6 8WL. No date or ISBN number given, but see ICF’s stimulating web-site: wws.icf-online.org), by Julian Reindorp, the recently retired Rector of Richmond and a former member of the board of Ministry Today, is a really super booklet, reflecting a life-time’s commitment of relating faith to the world of work within the context of a local church. Written by a working minister who has put his ideas into practice over many years, it contains ten ways for local congregations to equip Christians at work. This is a booklet every minister should read!
First published in 1989, An Aspect of Fear: A Journey from Anxiety to Peace (Darton, Longman and Todd, London, 2nd edition 2011; 111pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 232 52869 5), by Grace Sheppard, the wife of David Sheppard, the former Bishop of Liverpool, tells the story of the author’s struggles with agoraphobia and anxiety. A great pastoral tool in the sense of being a good book to lend to fellow sufferers.
The Cambridge Companion to the Trinity (Cambridge University Press, 2011; 417pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 521 70113 6), edited by Peter C Phan, consists of 23 essays by a wide range of scholars. In addition to an introduction, the book is divided into five parts: retrieving the sources; renewing the tradition; contemporary theologians; in dialogue with other religions; and systematic connections. This is an excellent introduction to recent developments in Trinitarian scholarship.
Ageing and Older Adult Mental Health: Issues and Implications for Practice (Routledge, London 2011; 277pp; £21.99; ISBN 978 0 415 58290 2), edited by Patrick Ryan and Barry Coughlan, consists of 16 articles on such issues as ageing and dementia, elder abuse, depression and ageing, and how older adults are key to the success of future generations. Although a specialist book, there is much from which ministers could benefit.
Troubled Water: Living with Myeloma (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2010; 44pp; £6.99; ISBN 978 1 8486 7304 5), by David Schofield, a retired Anglican priest, is an intensely personal and practical account of one man’s experience of living with myeloma, a cancer that attacks the plasma cells of the bone marrow. This is a book to commend to fellow-sufferers.
Supervision as Transformation: A Passion for Learning (Jessica Kingsley, London 2011; 224pp; £17.99; ISBN 978 1 84905 200 9), edited by Robin Shohet, is a collection of eleven essays demonstrating how supervision vital supervision can be for the learning journey. Although none of the essays are of direct relevance to ministers, the underlying challenge for ministers is how much richer ministry could become if supervision were to become the norm for us.
The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s account of God’s unfolding plan (Apollos, Nottingham 2011; 232pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 535 7), by Alan J Thompson, a Bible college lecturer in New South Wales, is one of the latest contributions to the ‘New Studies in Biblical Theology’. The aim of the book is to offer a biblical-theological framework for interpreting Acts – a very worth task, but sadly offering precious few new insights for the preacher.
Good to Grow: Building a missional church in the 21st century – one church’s story (Authentic, Milton Keynes 2011; 203pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 86024 812 2), by Steve Tibbert with Val Taylor, tells the story of how King’s Church, Catford, a former Baptist church, but now part of the New Frontiers’ Network, over 15 years grew from 200 to over 1,200. Although few, if any, readers of Ministry Today will be able to identify with this church, nonetheless there are lessons to be learnt for pastors wanting to see their church grow. I was, for instance, interested to discover that every visitor is contacted on a Tuesday evening with a view to beginning the process of integration: “Research shows that if a first-time visitor to your church gives you their contact information, and is followed up within 24 hours, they are 86% more likely to return. Leave any contact until the end of the week and that percentage drops to less than 25%”.
In Christ, in Colossae: Sociological Perspective on Colossians (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2011; 208pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 736 2), by Derek J Tidball, is a careful sociological study of Colossians, which no doubt will appeal to academics, but frankly provides very little for the preacher.
The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries are in the process of being revised. One of the most recent books in the new series is Deuteronomy (IVP, Nottingham 2011; 333pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 533 3), by Edward J Woods of Melbourne, Australia, is a thoughtful non-technical work from which any would-be Bible student could benefit. As is the case with all the volumes in the series, each section is structure under three headings: Context, Comment and Meaning.
The New Testament for Everyone (SPCK, London 2011; 570pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06426 7), translated by Tom Wright, has been drawn together from the translations of Scripture from his For Everyone commentaries. Although it will not take the place of the present range of standard Bible translations, it will prove a helpful aid to personal Bible reading.
Luke (SPCK, London 2011; 144pp; £4.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06505 9), by Tom Wright with Patty Bell, is the latest For Everyone Bible Study Guide. With questions and prayer suggestions, this is guide is a boon for home groups.
Simple Faith is a series of short simple booklets for Christians, which ministers could usefully recommend or lend. Published in 2011 by Darton, Longman and Todd, and priced at £4.99 for 64pp, subjects covered include Friends (ISBN 978 0 232 52860 2), by Clare Catford; and Faith (ISBN 978 0 232 52794 0), by Margaret Silf.
The Readers Edition of The UBS Greek New Testament (German Bible Society; also Hendrickson, Peabody, Mass. 2011; 716pp; £32.99 hardback; ISBN 978 3 438 05153 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) with Textual Notes compiled by Florian Voss, and a Running Greek-English Dictionary compiled by Barclay M Newman, is an ideal Greek text for those ministers wanting to keep reading the New Testament in Greek, but are not scholars.
Recent booklets published by Grove of Cambridge, all 28 pages in length and priced at £3.95, include:
Growing Churches through House for Duty Ministry (Evangelism 94, 2011; ISBN 978 1 85174 793 1), by Ken Hobbs, which tells the heart-warming and indeed challenging story of the way in which the country parish of Albury in Surrey was transformed under the ministry of a non-stipendiary minister (non-Anglicans note that ‘house for duty’ means living in a church house with expenses paid, but no salary, in return for ministry on Sundays and two days mid-week).
Embracing Chaos: Leadership Insights from Complexity Theory (Leadership 4, 2011; ISBN 978 1 85174 791 7), by Tim Harle, an associate consultant at Bristol Business School and a lay canon of Bristol Cathedral, is a frustrating read for a Nonconformist, because some of the author’s basic insights have unconsciously long been present in the non-hierarchical Baptist and Congregational way of doing church!
The Church and the Deaf Community: A Liberation Perspective from a Linguistic-Cultural Minority (Pastoral 126, 2011; ISBN 978 1 85174 796 2), by Bob Shrine, is highly illuminating, not least because the concern of the author is not with those who have a hearing impairment (roughly 16% of the population), but rather the relatively small number (0.1%) of the population who use British Sign Language as a first or preferred language, and who view themselves not primarily as people with a disability, but as a linguistic-cultural minority, with their own language, culture and sense of identity.
You are reading Issue 54 of Ministry Today, published in February 2012.
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