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Short Notes

Reviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray.

A warm welcome to yet another contribution to The Bible Speaks Today series: The Message of Malachi (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 124pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 622 4), by Peter Adam, a former Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, provides an excellent exposition and a stimulating resource for every preacher.

The Historical Character of Jesus: Canonical Insights from outside the Gospels (SPCK, London 2013; 208pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06470 0), by David M Allen, is a careful scholarly study of what we can learn of the earthly Jesus from the New Testament writings outside of the Gospels. Inevitably the material is limited, but as the author points out, even that inspires confidence in the historical Jesus, for if traditions about Jesus were merely created or constructed to suit the needs of the early church, then we might well expect to find more evidence!

The Theology of the Book of Amos (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2012; 216pp; £15.99; ISBN 978 0 521 67175 0), by the distinguished Old Testament Oxford professor, John Barton, is good accessible scholarship – any preacher embarking on a series of sermons on Amos would do well to read this book.

The first British edition of The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting ancient spiritual practices, evangelism and justice (London, SPCK 2013; 248pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06933 0), by Tony Campolo and Mary Darling, is to be welcomed, even although it is probably far too basic for most readers of this journal. The purpose of this volume is to develop a holistic model of Christianity, in which mystical spirituality is integrated with evangelism and justice. Very down-to-earth, with questions for reflection and discussion, this could be profitably used by student and young adult groups.

More Sermons on Difficult Subjects: Background information, sermon ideas, stories and thoughts to take away (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2013; 228pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 587 1), edited by John Cox, includes sermon ideas on a wide array of subjects, including abortion, astrology, censorship, embryology, fraud, Islamophobia, organ transplant, rape, superstition, travellers and gypsies, and usury. Although none of the sermons could (or should!) be preached ‘off-the-peg’, nonetheless they should be of help to ministers seeking to preach on contemporary issues.

Empowering Couples: A narrative approach to spiritual care (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2013; 144pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 6342 1), by Duane R Bidwell, brings together so-called narrative therapy, John Gottman’s research on couples, and desert spirituality, and is a useful tool for pastors engaged in couple counselling.

Society Shaped by Theology: Sociological Theology (Ashgate Contemporary Ecclesiology Series, Farnham 2013; 252pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 4094 2600 4), by Robin Gill, is the final volume in his trilogy on sociological theology. Divided into three parts – social significance, social capital, and theological virtues transposed – the individual essays range from ‘The social significance of the Honest to God debate’ to ‘Altruism among churchgoers’; from ‘Virtues in the Synoptic healing stories’ to ‘theological virtues in the public forum’. Although quite technical, this insightful volume repays study.

With Job For Everyone (SPCK, London 2013; 215p; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06317 2), John Goldingay, the British professor of Old Testament in Fuller’s School of Theology (and a former Principal of St John’s College, Nottingham), has produced yet another outstanding popular commentary, which will also bless many a preacher. This is a book to buy!

On more than one occasion I have preached on the words of Paul – “It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy” (1 Corinthians 4.2). How much richer those sermons would have been had I been able to read Paul As An Administrator of God in 1 Corinthians (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2012; 248pp; £60 hardback; ISBN 978 1 107 01862 4), by John K Goodrich. Published in the SNTS Monograph Series, it is a scholarly work – indeed, it is the kind of book a minister could benefit from on sabbatical!

Paul The Apostle: His Life and Legacy in their Roman Context (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2012; 207pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 521 75780 5), by American classicist, J Albert Harrill, examines both the life and the later legend of the Apostle Paul. Although written for undergraduates, it will be of interest to scholars, not least for the way in which the author challenges some of the established assumptions concerning Paul.

The Big Ego Trip: Finding true significance in a culture of self-esteem (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 222pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 620 0), by Glynn Harrison, a retired professor of psychiatry, is an excellent read – lively, well-informed, and full of helpful insights.

First published in 2010 as a hardback, Who Chose the Gospels? Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy (Oxford University Press 2012; 295pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 19 964029 4), by C E Hill, Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, is essentially a work of apologetics written to counter Dan Brown of The Da Vinci Code fame, as well as other way-out American commentators. Here we have careful, accessible, conservative scholarship at its best.

There is a season: celebrating the church year with children (SPCK, London 2013; 182pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06911 8), by Margaret Prichard Houston, Families Pastor at St George’s, Campden Hill, London, is an excellent resource. It has ideas for Harvest; All Saints/All Souls; Christmas; Epiphany; Ash Wednesday; Easter; and Pentecost. One limitation is that it is produced primarily for Anglican churches.

A Short History of Global Evangelicalism (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2012; 306pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 521 74650 2), by Mark Hutchinson and John Wolffe, is a fascinating overview. However, perhaps inevitably, it relies a good deal on secondary sources, even for the final chapter on the 1970s–2010.

Lamentations Down Through The Centuries: Wiley-Blackwell Bible Commentaries (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford  2013; 217pp; £55 hardback; ISBN 978 0 831 21978 1), by Paul M Joyce and Diana Lipton, is a superb guide to the way in which Lamentations has been interpreted down through the centuries. Every preacher could benefit from this horizon-broadening commentary.

Formation of the Bible: The story of the church’s canon (Hendrickson. Peabody, Massachusetts 2012; 178pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 59856 838 7. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) by Lee Martin McDonald, formerly of Acadia Divinity School, Nova Scotia, has been written in the first place for lay people, but it would also serve as an undergraduate textbook. This is a great example of the academy serving the wider church, and is to be warmly welcomed.

Christian History: An Introduction (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2013; 374pp; £22.99; ISBN 978 1 118 33780 6), by Alister McGrath, is an excellent survey for the reader with little or no knowledge of church history. Every chapter ends with helpful pointers for further reading.

In a new series entitled Christian Belief for Everyone, Alister McGrath has written an excellent little book for ordinary churchgoers on Faith and the Creeds (SPCK, London 2013; 154pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06833 3). Four more volumes by the author are expected in this series!

Yet another book by Alister McGrath is The Intellectual World of C S Lewis (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2013; 191pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 470 67279 2), which contains a series of eight previously unpublished scholarly essays on the context in which Lewis wrote. These essays cover the philosophical context of Oxford in the 1920s; the concept of myth in Lewis’ thought; his metaphors of light, sun and sight; his argument from desire; his religious identity; and also his standing as a theologian. Any serious student of Lewis will be delighted with this volume.

The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further adventures of a New Christian (SPCK, London 2013 – English edition; 310pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06995 8) and The Last Word and the Word After That (SPCK, London 2013; 302pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06997 2) are the second and third parts of Brian McLaren’s ‘creative non-fiction’ trilogy in which the characters converse on key issues of the faith. The second part focuses on matters such issues as evolution and evangelism, death and the meaning of life, while the third part deals with hell and the grace of God. No doubt this narrative approach to faith-issues will appeal to many, but not to everyone!

Jesus a Gospel (Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York 2013; 150pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 62698 014 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Henri Nouwen, is a collection of previously published reflections on the Scriptures, brought together and edited by Michael O’Laughlin. This devotional re-telling of the Gospel story is to be savoured slowly, rather than read at one sitting.

Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need To Know (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 175pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 609 5), by J J Packer, focusses on eight issues: faith, doctrine, Christian unity, repentance, the church, the Holy Spirit, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper – but from a distinctively Anglican point of view within a North American context. For a wider audience it therefore has limited value.

Mapping the Origins Debate: Six Models of the Beginning of Everything (IVP, Nottingham 2012; 237pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 616 3), by Gerald Rau, provides a useful guide for high-school students and college students to six models of origins. One model - naturalistic evolution - has no room for God, while the other five – non-teleological evolution, planned evolution, directed evolution, old-earth creation, and young-earth creation – do. As he rightly says in the preface, this book “demonstrates how our religious and philosophical presuppositions, rather than the evidence, dictate our preference”!

First published as a hardback in 2013 by the University of South Carolina, Caiaphas The High Priest (Fortress Press, Minneapolis 2013; 254pp; £25.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9940 6), by Adele Reinhartz, takes an unusually broad approach to her subject, for although there is a chapter on Caiaphas in the New Testament, there are chapters on Caiaphas in Early Christian Imagination, and on Caiaphas in Literature, on State, on Screen, in Historiography and in History. The result is a fascinating and informative study.

Children in the Bible: A Fresh Approach (SPCK, London 2013; 146pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06688 9), by Anne Richards, National Adviser for mission theology, alternative spiritualities and new religious movements for the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, is an unusually thought-provoking study of the Scriptures in relation to children. She argues that children are ‘worthy’ of calling, life and salvation, commissioning, healing and blessing. This would form a good text for a ministers’ group to study together!

Am I missing something?  Christianity through the eyes of a new believer (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 176pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 78078 026 9), by former News of the World reporter, Ruth Roberts, is light in style, but challenging at times in substance.

The Immortal Diamond: The Search for our True Self (SPCK, London 2013 – English edition; 2546pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07017 6), by Richard Rohr, will no doubt appeal to many. He likens the True Self to a diamond, trapped deep inside us, formed under the intense pressure of our lives, needing to be searched for, uncovered and separated from all the debris of ego that surrounds it. Perhaps I am in a small minority, but I do not appreciate Rohr’s somewhat imaginative approach to Scripture!

Following on the earlier publication of Falling Upward by Richard Rohr, SPCK have now produced Falling Upward: A Companion Journal (London, 2013; 181pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07057 2) by Richard Rohr. Intended for use by individuals and groups, this useful resource provides a blend of quotes, stories and suggestions for spiritual practices, with plenty of space for readers to write down their own thoughts.

Love Hurts: The heart of the Christian story (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 118pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 810 9), by Alan J Spence, is a deceptively simple read in which the author unpacks the Gospel message of God’s love. Preachers will find the illustrations useful.

Published in the five-volume series ‘A History of Evangelicalism’, The Global Diffusion of Evangelicalism: The Age of Billy Graham and John Stott (IVP, Nottingham 2013;  283pp; £19.99 hardback; ISBN 978 083 082585 1), by Edinburgh-based historian Brian Stanley, is a tour de force and makes for fascinating reading. Highly informative and theologically insightful, there is much to learn even for those of us who have lived through much of this period. This is a book ministers would be well advised to take away on holiday and enjoy! 

C S Lewis vs the New Atheists (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 275pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84227-770-6), by Peter Williams, seeks to apply the insights of a 20th century apologist to such 21st century atheists as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. This creative piece of theology makes for fascinating reading. 

The Rest of Life: rest, play, eating, studying, sex from a Kingdom perspective (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2012; 158pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6737 7. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by New Testament scholar, Ben Witherington III, provides a most unusual exploration of issues which few pastors tend to tackle in Sunday preaching, but with this resource would now be able to do so!

First published in 1992, The New Testament and the People of God (SPCK, London 2013; 535pp; £35; ISBN 978 0 281 06621 6) is the first volume in N T Wright’s magisterial series, Christian Origins and the Question of God. This has proved to be a key text for any serious student of the New Testament, and the reissue is thus very welcome.

New Testament Wisdom For Everyone (SPCK, London 2013; 113pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06937 8), by N T Wright, is something of a disappointment, in that it is a selection of previously published expositions of the New Testament passages. This selection is divided into five parts: the wisdom of the Spirit; the transformation of the self; the greatest of the virtues; the path of the disciple; and the renewal of the world. Nonetheless, the very ordering of the selection may provide inspiration for a series or two of sermons!

The 28th edition of Novum Testamentum Graece (ISBN 978 3 438 05155 4), the Greek New Testament produced by Nestle-Aland (German Bible Society 2012; published in the USA by Hendrikson and distributed in the UK by Alban Books of Edinburgh). Even in the ‘flexicover’, it sells at £49.99. However, for scholars – and indeed budding scholars – this is now the edition to have!

Everyday matters – Journal (Hendrickson, Peabody, Massachusetts 2013; 208pp; £9.99 hardback; ISBN 978 1 61970 024 6. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh) is designed to accompany the Everyday Matters Bible for Women. Divided into 24 spiritual practices, it contains quotes and very brief articles, but essentially it is a book of lined pages for use as a journal.

In Quest of the Jewish Mary: The Mother of Jesus in History, Theology, and Spirituality (Orbis Books, New York 2013; 210pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 62698 004 4. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Mary Christine Athans, combines scholarship and imagination to help ordinary readers understand better our Lord’s Mother.

The Scriptures Testify about Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 187pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 628 6), edited by D A Carson, contains the written form of the plenary addresses given in April 2011 at the national conference of The Gospel Coalition, in Chicago. With the exception of the first chapter, where a more general approach is adopted, the essays contain examples of North American preachers handling a variety of Old Testament texts. A helpful book for preachers.

Why O Lord? Praying our Sorrows (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 210pp; ISBN 978 1 84227 754 6), by David Cohen, Head of Biblical Studies in a Baptist college in Western Australia, brings together biblical scholarship and pastoral concern for people going through tough times. Scholarly, yet practical, this book gives down-to-earth on praying the Psalms of lament – and not least Psalms 10, 55, 102. This is a great resource for ministers!

Published in the ‘New Studies in Biblical Theology’ series, The God who became Human: a biblical theology of incarnation (Apollos, Nottingham 2013; 202pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 800 6), by Graham Cole, currently Anglican Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, Alabama, provides an unusual approach to the incarnation.  Cole argues that the Old Testament anthropomorphic language about God’s eyes, ears, arms, hands, fingers and so forth prepared the way for the incarnation of God the Word become flesh. An interesting read!

Published in The Bible Speaks Today series, The Message of Daniel (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 169pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 801 3), by Dale Ralph Davis, a former Old Testament professor and ‘teaching elder’ in a Presbyterian church, combines scholarship with application and is a super little commentary, and is therefore a great resource for preaching. This is a book to buy!

Discover Acts: the adventures of the early church (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 203pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 903 4), by Baptist minister Stephen Gaukroger, is a very basic commentary, with questions at the end of section, which could be used with profit in small group Bible study.

Since 1989, more than 20,000 books have been published with the word ‘leadership’ in the title. One might well wonder why another book on the topic. However, Ten Virtues of Outstanding Leaders: Leadership and Character (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2013; 209pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 470 67231 0), by Ali Ginik and Ronald M Green, is different from most books on leadership, for the authors are convinced that leadership – as distinct from what they term ‘mis-leadership‘ – is an ethical enterprise: “We believe that leadership is a duty, an obligation, and a service to others” . The authors identify ten ‘chief virtues’ for leadership: deep honesty, moral courage, moral vision, compassion and care, fairness, intellectual excellence, creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity, good timing, and deep selflessness. Bad leadership, by contrast, is incompetent, rigid, intemperate, callous, corrupt, insular, and evil! Leadership is always plural. Leadership is about vision, transformation, and results. Leadership is about serving the needs and well being of the people we lead. Although not written for Christian leadership, nonetheless this is a book from which many Christian leaders could benefit.

A warm welcome to yet another great contribution to the ‘Bible Themes’ section of IVP’s tried and tested The Bible Speaks Today series, The Message of the Church (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 330pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 878 5), by Chris Green of Oak Hill Theological College, London. Expository and applied in style, Chris Green is not afraid to state his own opinions. For instance, in his commentary on 2 Corinthians 8-9, he states: “Tithing is not appropriate for Christians”! Or in his commentary on 1 Corinthians 11, he dismisses the modern custom of allowing children to the Table because of the seriousness of Paul’s injunction to ‘discern the body’. And in his commentary on Eph 4.7-16 he argues that real pastors are not in the first place called to be ‘kindly, generous and peacemakers’, but to ‘discern danger, confront it and deal with it’. This is a stimulating read – and a wonderful resource for preaching on the church. Buy it! 

The Essential Guide to Life after Bereavement (Jessica Kingsley, London 2013; 175pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 1 84905 335 8), by Judy Carole Kauffmann and Mary Jordan, is written for “anyone who needs an emotional ‘satellite navigation’ tool to guide them through the new landscape that has opened up without warning in front of them”. Full of good common-sense, it will no doubt prove helpful to many newly bereaved people. However, it lacks the faith dimension and thus from a Christian perspective is not as helpful as it might be.

Overcoming Masculine Depression: The Pain behind the Mask (Routledge, London 2nd edition 2013; 207pp; £29.99; ISBN 978 0 415 63752 7), by John R Lynch and Christopher Kilmartin, is both a self-help and professional book. The central premise is that much depression in men is misunderstood and misdiagnosed. For many men, sadness, fear and despair find distorted expression in immature, selfish or cruel behaviours that disguise their emotional pain to others and even to themselves. Although not written from a religious perspective, it provides a helpful way of understanding the anti-social behaviour of so many men.

Yet again congratulations to Wiley Blackwell on yet another excellent ‘companion’ – this time The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the Anglican Communion (Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford 2013; 753pp; £120; ISBN 978 0 470 65634 1), edited by Ian Markham, Barney Hawkins, Justyn Terry and Leslie Steffensen. The 65 essays are divided into four parts: History; Structures of the communion; Provinces; and Themes. Although the section on the different provinces is by far and away the longest, probably of most interest will be the final section, where topics dealt with range from ecumenical relations to preaching, from spirituality to women, from human sexuality to GAFCON (the Global Anglican Future Conference). Sadly, the price of this authoritative reference book will mean that it will be largely bought by libraries.

First published in 2007, Handbook of Thanatology: The essential body of knowledge for the study of death, dying and bereavement (Routledge, London, and the North American ‘Association for Death and Counselling’, 2nd edition 2013; 520pp; £59.99; ISBN 978 0 415 63055 9), edited by David K Meagher and David E Balk, is a weighty tome in every sense of the word. The 59 chapters cover all kinds of aspects of death, dying and bereavement. Although not a specifically Christian book, there are chapters on religion and spirituality with reference to end-of-life care; loss grief and mourning; traumatic death; and death education. Although essentially a library book, this is a fascinating resource for ministers.

Fans of Jim Packer will be delighted with Engaging the Written Word of God (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 331pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 1 59856 961 2) which consists of a collection of essays previously published in journals and books. Divided into three sections, Packer deals with 1. God’s Inerrant Word; 2. Interpreting the Word; and 3. Preaching the Word.

A very warm welcome to The New Cambridge History of the Bible I: From The Beginnings to 600 (Cambridge University Press, 2013; 979pp; £125 hardback; ISBN 978 0 521 85938 7), edited by James Carleton Paget and Joachim Schaper. The 37 essays are divided into five parts: 1. Languages, Writing Systems and Book Production; 2. The Hebrew Bible and Old Testaments; 3. The New Testament; 4. Biblical Versions other than the Hebrew and the Greek; 5. The reception of the Bible in the post-New Testament period. Beautifully produced, the scholarship is for the most part quite accessible. Although some of the essays deal with specialist issues – such as the translation of the Bible into Coptic or varieties of Greek in the Septuagint and the New Testament, others are of great interest to the ordinary reader, such as writing and book production in the ancient world or the ‘apocryphal’ New Testament. Sadly the price of this magnificent volume means that for the most part it will be bought by libraries!

Published in the ‘New Studies in Biblical Theology Series’, Paul and the Law: keeping the commandments of God (Apollos, Nottingham 2013; 249pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 891 4), by Brian Rosner, the Principal of Ridley Melbourne Mission and Ministry College, is a well-written study of Paul’s complex attitude to the Law. The author argues that Paul undertakes a polemical re-evaluation of the Law of Moses, which involves not only its repudiation as law-covenant and its replacement by other things, but also its wholehearted re-appropriation as prophecy (with reference to the gospel) and as wisdom (for Christian living).

Myth Busted! 145 Myths about Christianity Debunked (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2013; 361pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 826 0), by Jeffrey Burton Russell, is well written, full of all kinds of information, and is a useful resource for preachers and also for students wanting to explore or defend the Christian faith.

I wish Jesus hadn’t said that… but I am really glad he did! (IVP, Leicester 2013; 156pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 872 3), by Steve Timmis, is a popular exposition of some of the sayings of Jesus. Some ministers might find the book a useful resource for a series of sermons!

Sex and Money: empty pleasures, satisfying grace (IVP, Nottingham 2013; 220pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 1 84474 842 6), by Paul David Tripp of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas, is a discursive examination of the misuse of sex and money – with the emphasis on the former. This is more a book for young students than for ministers.

Fortress Press of Minneapolis, continue to add to their scholarly Texts@contexts series. 2013 publications in this series include Leviticus and Numbers (264pp; £32.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 8006 9936 9), edited by Athalya Brunner and Archie Chi Chung Lee; Joshua and Judges (333pp; £32.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9937 6), edited by Athalya Brenner and Gale A Yee; Matthew (351pp; £32.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 8006 9934 5), edited by Nicole Wilkinson Duran and James Grimshaw; and 1 & 2 Corinthians (200pp; £32.99 hardback; ISBN 978 0 8006 9935 2), edited by Yung Suk Kim. Each of these volumes is made up of a series of essays dealing with a wide variety of issues. 

The Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries will appeal to readers of Ministry Today. Here, along with biblical exposition, the commentators suggest a range of possibilities to preachers on how they might preach from the Biblical text. For this reason, this is a good series to collect. So, a warm welcome to Matthew (Minneapolis 2013; 284pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9871 3), by O Wesley Allen; and Acts of the Apostles (Minneapolis 2013; 232pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 8006 9872 0), by Roland J Allen – both authors are professors of preaching!

A most helpful guide to the debate on gays and lesbians is provided by the Church of Scotland’s Theological Commission on Same-Sex Relationships and the Ministry (Aps Group, Edinburgh 2013; 193pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 85759 008 4). Here the arguments for conservatives and revisionists are carefully marshalled.

Recent booklets from Grove of Cambridge, all £3.95 and 28 pages, include:

The Gospel Message Today: Language That Connects In Communicating The Gospel (Evangelism 100, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 848 8), by Laurence Singlehurst, is a thought-provoking read and would make an excellent discussion starter, not just for a minister’s group, but also for a session with deacons, elders, or other lay leaders. 

Pioneer Youth Ministry (Youth 29, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 851 8), by Jo Dolby and Richard Passmore, explores non-traditional forms of youth work targeted on the young people who are most marginalized from church and society.

Church Merger: When Two Become One (Pastoral 132, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 850 1), by Andy Griffiths, tells the story of two Anglican churches coming together with a view to releasing more energy for mission – a thoughtful read.

Leading in Demanding Times (Leadership 11, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 853 2), by father and son Peter and Graham Shaw, identifies the attitudes, approach, actions, and awareness of risks which every leader needs. I liked the sentence: “Essential to thriving is having good companions who will encourage, support, and challenge you”.

Mission Partnerships:  parishes working together in mission (Pastoral 133, 2013; ISBN 976 1 85174 859 4), by Martyn Snow, provides a theological justification for Church of England parishes to work together.

Journey into Youth Work: discovering your call to work with young people (Youth 30, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 860 0), by Chris Curtis, Andy Wilson and Kenny Wilson, is an excellent guide to young people considering becoming youth workers – identifying not just the costs of ministry (‘the greatest pressure of all is the pressure to succeed’), but also the adventure of ministry.  

The Leader and the Family: Being effective in ministry without family losing out (Leadership 12, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 862 4), by Katherine Hill, UK Director of Care for the Family and leader of the family ministry at Christ Church, Clifton, is a useful survey of the issues involved, but it suffers from the fact that the author has never experienced the pressures of actually leading a church!

Starting, Assessing and Sustaining Pioneering Mission (Evangelism 101, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 857 0), by Steve Hollinghurst, who has had over 20 years experience of pioneering mission, contains much practical wisdom and is a ‘must’, not just for church planters, but also for leaders of churches sponsoring ‘fresh expressions’ of church.  

Recent ‘Cambridge Companions’ include:

 The Cambridge Companion to Black Theology (CUP, Cambridge 2012; 333pp; £18.99; ISBN 978 0 521 70569 1), edited by Dwight H Hopkins and Edward P Antonio.

The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism (CUP, Cambridge 2012; 390pp:; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 521 68227 5), edited by Amy Hollywood and Patricia Z Beckman.

The Cambridge Companion to New Religious Movements (CUP, Cambridge 2012; 330pp; £18.99; ISBN 978 0 521 14565 7), edited by Olav Hammer and Mikael Rothstein.  

Each of these companions are made up of wide-ranging essays, all accessible to the non-specialist

OUP have a wonderful Oxford Handbooks series, which aims to offer an authoritative and state-of-the-art survey of current thinking and research in a particular area. Recent ‘Handbooks’ include The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology (Oxford, 2013; 632pp; £95 hardback; ISBN 978 0 19 955693 9), edited by Russell R Manning, where thirty eight essays are divided into five parts featuring historical perspectives, theological perspectives, philosophical perspectives, scientific perspectives, and perspectives from the arts. It’s a veritable treasure trove of fascinating insights. Equally comprehensive is The Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology (Oxford, 2010; 524pp; £95 hardback; ISBN 978 0 19 536944 1), edited by Gerald R McDermott, which contains thirty two essays. After an introductory essay on ‘What is an evangelical?’, the essays are divided into six sections which deal with the Bible and theological method; theological foundation; theology of salvation; theology of church; theology of mission; and theological approaches to contemporary life. This final section is of particular interest, since it looks at areas such as politics, economics, the arts, science, sexuality, race, gender, and the vulnerable – abortion and disability. The Oxford Handbook of Theology and Modern European Thought (Oxford, 2013; 699pp; £95; ISBN 978 0 19 960199 8), edited by Nicholas Adams, George Pattison and Graham Ward, is made up of thirty one interdisciplinary essays divided into six parts: identity; the human condition; the age of revolution; the world (both natural and technological); ways of knowing; and finally theology. The broad-ranging essays grapple with such major thinkers as Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Schleiermacher, as also Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, Barth, Rahner, Tillich, Derrida and Wittgenstein, and in doing so provide an in-depth introduction to key ideas and movements. The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Violence (Oxford 2013; 653pp; £95 hardback; ISBN 978 0 19 975999 6), edited by Mark Juergensmeyer, Margo Kitts, and Michael Jerryson, is made up of forty wide-ranging essays, which give an overview of violence in a variety of religious contexts, and which are divided into four main parts: overview of religious traditions; patterns and themes; analytic approaches; and new directions. These volumes are not cheap, but they are beautifully printed and are terrifically stimulating.

OUP have over 300 ‘Very Short Introductions’ to a host of disciplines. A number are of particular interest to Christians, including the following three recent publications:

The Devil (Oxford, 2012; 121pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 0 19 958099 6) by Darren Oldridge; Martyrdom (Oxford 2012; 141pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 0 19 958523 6) by Jolyon Mitchell; and Spirituality (Oxford 2012; 133pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 0 19 958875 6). All three are excellent examples of accessible scholarship, are well-indexed, and live up to the publisher’s claim of providing ‘stimulating ways in to new subjects’. Small in size, they would fit into a jacket pocket and would make an excellent companion for a journey.