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Short Notes

Reviewed by Paul Beasley-Murray and Alun Brookfield.

Praying for the Dawn (Wild Goose, Glasgow 2000; 192pp; £13.50; ISBN 978 1 901557 26 8) is a welcome re-release of this splendid compendium of prayer, worship and practical resources for a ministry of healing. Warmly commended.

In Paul in Syria: The Background to Galatians (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2014; 246pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 853 6), Paul Barnett argues that the immediate background to Galatians were the fourteen years Paul spent ‘in the regions of Syria and Cilicia’. It was during this period that Paul came to understand that the Damascus call meant a more intentional approach to Gentiles who were outside the orbit of the synagogues and it was then that he developed his apologetic exegesis justifying the circumcision-free inclusion of Gentiles. The author certainly brings to life Paul’s letter to Galatians, and therefore is much to be commended. 

Living Reconciliation (SPCK, London 2014; 170pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 97226 2), by Phil Groves and Angharad Parry Jones, draws on stories from the Continuing ‘Indaba’ process in the Anglican Communion. The authors argue that “Living Reconciliation does not mean putting aside our beliefs. It means something more threatening; it means recognising that the person you believe to be completely wrong on some issue of significance is on a journey with Christ and you”.  Although intended as a group resource, with questions at the end of each chapter, sadly I find it difficult to believe that it will appeal greatly to the average parish church – and to non-Anglicans even less so.

The Touch of the Sacred: the practice, theology, and tradition of Christian worship (English edition: Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2014; 266pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6915 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Gerrit Immink, rector and professor of homiletics at the Protestant Theological University, Groningen, the Netherlands, proved something of a disappointment, in that, in spite of the commendations on the back cover, it fails to relate to the British scene. Not surprisingly, it is steeped in the Reformed traditions of the Continent which, though undoubtedly of interest to the scholar, do not connect with the Anglican Church, let alone with more independent forms of worship as experienced in the UK (as distinct from perhaps what may be true of some independent churches in the USA). 

Atonement as Gift: Re-imagining the Cross for the Church and the World (Paternoster, Milton Keynes 2014; 247pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84227 816 1), edited by Katie M Heffelfinger and Patrick G McGlinchey, contains ten wide-ranging essays on the implications of the Cross for society today, which were originally given as papers at a symposium held at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2011. The essay by Robin Stockitt on ‘The Cross and our captivity to shame’ is a good example of the way in which theology, evangelism and pastoral insight combine. As one unfamiliar with feminist studies, I also found helpful Elaine Storkey’s essay on ‘The Cross and the reconciliation of gender’. An unusually insightful collection of essays!

Learning with Foundations 21is a new series of booklets from Bible Reading Fellowship, each containing seven weeks of study material which is suitable for use by individuals or groups. The first two (both by Claire Musters and both 80pp and £4.99) are Jesus (ISBN 978 1 84101 692 4) and Prayer (ISBN 978 1 84101 695 5). Each includes daily readings and activities and can be used individually or in a group.

Walking Through Advent (Wild Goose, Glasgow 2014; 66pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 84952 311 0), by Jan Sutch Pickard, is an excellent resource for personal and preaching inspiration during the season of Advent. Full of beautiful reflections, ideas and prayers.

Of interest mainly to Anglo-Catholics, Table Manners: Liturgical Leadership for the Mission of the Church (SCM Press, London 2014; 199pp; £17.70 Amazon; ISBN 978 0 334 04528 1), by Simon Reynolds, is an impassioned and closely reasoned call for thoughtfulness and excellence in leadership of worship. Having suffered a lot of dire anglo-catholic services, I fully support the author’s plea!

Pastoral Pointers, volumes 1 and 2 (Kevin Mayhew Publishing, Stowmarket 2014; 105pp; £12.99 each; ISBN 978 1 84867 697 8 and 978 1 84867 664 0) should be on every pastor’s bookshelf, providing an instant reference point for guidance in dealing with a host of pastoral challenges including ageing, pornography, homelessness, cot death, fraud, prison, redundancy and debt. Plain advice and where to go for more help, all in two slim volumes. An excellent resource.

Nick Fawcett’s creativity seems to be unstoppable. Latest in his many books of prayers and other worship resources is More Short Prayers for Public Worship (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2014; 178pp; £17.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 499 8). Even if you don’t use them as printed, I guarantee they’ll provoke your own creativity in prayer.

Also from the Kevin Mayhew stable comes Services for Special Occasions (244pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 518 6), an invaluable resource for a wide range of occasions, for example, bipolar disorder, grandparents, dementia, gambling, racial awareness, mothers, worry and poetry! Don’t be caught out – buy this book and mine its riches.

Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (SPCK, London 2014; 515pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07313 9), by Bonhoeffer scholar Charles Marsh, is a fascinating and moving account of the life and thought of one of the key Christian figures of the 20th century. It is an ideal book for a study week – and a great read at any time!

First published in 1991, a third edition has been issued of Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2014; 485pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 7185 5. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Daniel Migliore, an emeritus professor of systematic theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Primarily a student textbook, it covers the gamut of Christian believing. I confess that I was irritated by the section on the sacraments, where the author discusses the issue of infant baptism over against ‘adult’ baptism, failing to realise that for Baptists and others who practise believers baptism, baptism has nothing to do with age , but rather with faith.

Enriching Ministry: Pastoral Supervision in Practice (SCM, London 2014; 234pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 334 04956 2), edited by Michael Paterson and Jessica Rose, consists of a thirteen essays on various aspects of the practice of supervision. Supervision, as one of the essays reminds us, is ‘pithead time for pastors’ , a time to ‘wash off the grime’ of ministry. A book perhaps of primary interest to supervisors rather than supervisees.

Journeying with John: Hearing the voice of John’s Gospel in Years A, B, C (SPCK, London 2014; 128pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 028 107081 7), by James Woodward, Paula Gooder and Mark Pryce, completes a series of guides on ‘bringing the Gospel alive for groups and individuals’. This study book is intended to accompany the weekly preaching through the lectionary. The series’ unique slant is that it asks readers to use their imagination ‘to bring the Gospel to life’. A useful resource for small groups – provided all the members of the group actually read the chapter for the week!

Text Message (Lutterworth Press, Cambridge 2014; 262pp; £17.50; ISBN 978 0 7188 9351 4), edited by Ian Stackhouse and Oliver D Crisp, is a symposium of 14 specially commissioned essays on the importance of textual preaching in the early, historic and contemporary church. As always in such a volume, the quality is a bit patchy, but I particularly enjoyed the essay on Jonathan Edwards and the Great Awakening. There is some excellent, inspirational material here, but if you’re already convinced of the value of expounding the text of Scripture, you may prefer to borrow it rather than buy it.

First published in 1999 by Hodder & Stoughton under the title of Holy Communion for Amateurs, The Meal Jesus Gave Us (SPCK, London 2014; 86pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07296 5), by Tom Wright, is a lively and simple introduction to this meal which sadly today is marked by division. In the words of Tom Wright: “The newspaper love to get hold of scandals in the church – some wretched minister caught with his trousers down or his hand in the till – but the real scandal goes on every week whenever the Jesus-meal is a sign, not of Christian unity, but of division”. 

100% Christianity: How the Gospel Changes Everything (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 187pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 119 0), by Jago Wynne, is a lively popular exposition of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and offers preachers new ways to relating Romans to today.

Making the most of your church wedding: a gift to last a lifetime (SPCK, London 2014; 32pp; £4.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07071 8), by Ali Barrett, is a splendid booklet to give away couples wanting to get married in church. Thoughtful, informative, and creative, it can also be used by non-Anglicans too. I warmly commend it. NB: if ten copies are bought, the price reduces to £4.49!

Interpreting the General Letters: an exegetical handbook (Kregel Academic, Grand Rapids 2013; 315pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 8254 2768 8. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Herbert W Bateman IV, is essentially a technical textbook for theological students. 

The Dove, the Fig-Leaf, and the Sword: Why Christianity changes its mind about war (SPCK, London 2014; 178pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281-07224 8), by Alan Billings, is a fascinating and highly informative account of the different stances Christians have taken to war. The dove represents the renunciation of violence, the fig leaf the reluctant acceptance of necessary violence, and the sword embraces violence in a righteous cause. Towards the end of the book, Billings comments: “The further Christianity is from the centre of power, the more naïve its comments on the exercise of power are likely to be. If the Church is to contribute to public debate, it needs some first-hand acquaintance with the sorts of decisions politicians and soldiers have to make. But this requires it to continue to engage with the world of politics and participate in public debate. Here the modern Church is becoming genuinely conflicted”.

Jesus and the Gospels (Apollos, Nottingham 2nd edition 2014) and From Pentecost to Patmos: Acts – Revelation (Apollos, Nottingham 2014; 577pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 138 1), by Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary, Colorado, together form an excellent introduction to the New Testament, written particularly with the needs of students in mind. IVP are to be congratulated on publishing these volumes at such a reasonable price.

Reconciliation: the journey of a lifetime (SPCK, London 2014; 156pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07026 8), by Brian Castle, Bishop of Tonbridge, proved to be a good read. The author is concerned for reconciliation at every level – not just within the church, but also in the wider world.  His central concern is to see what it means for Christian life and witness to put reconciliation at the heart of who we are and what we do. I particularly appreciated his comments on the relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation: “While it is possible to have forgiveness without reconciliation, it is impossible to have reconciliation without forgiveness … Forgiveness means that a relationship can continue regardless of any wrong perpetrated. The relationship after the wrong committed and forgiven may not be the same as it was before (it may even be stronger), but as a result of forgiveness, it will continue”.

Journalling the Bible: 40 writing exercises (BRF, Abingdon 2014; 156pp; £7.99; ISBN 978 1 84101 730 5), by Corin Child, is a highly imaginative resource for individuals, but also for groups, whether home groups or perhaps even older young people.

All About Drugs and Young People: essential information and advice for parents and professionals (Jessica Kingsley, London 2014; 304pp; £16.99; ISBN 978 1 84905 427 0), by Julian Cohen, is a superbly produced guide. Simply and clearly written, this excellent book says all that needs to be said about drugs.

The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas: Paul’s Mars Hill Experience for our Pluralistic World (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 197pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 128 2), by philosopher Paul Copan and New Testament scholar, Kenneth D Litwak, is a stimulating study of Paul in Athens, but disappointingly has few new insights as to how we can reach today’s market-place of religious beliefs. Their main suggestion is that thoughtful Christians in a church might create and lead “a philosophical discussion group in their community once a month, attracting thoughtful New Agers, atheists, skeptics, Hindus and Muslims”. I question the feasibility of lumping together people from such different backgrounds. This might work on an American campus, but it would not work in your average local church here in the UK.  

80 Creative Prayer Ideas: A resource for church and group use (BRF, Abingdon 2014; 192pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 84101 688 7), by Claire Daniel, is a useful resource which will probably appeal to younger people in church. It’s a book to lend to youth leaders who are struggling to find a fresh approach to helping others to pray.

Taking God at His Word (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 188pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 122 0), by Kevin DeYoung of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, is a popular defence of the Bible for lay leaders in the church. At times it is over-simplistic – one example is the chapter headed ‘Christ’s Unbreakable Bible’. IVP could do better.

First published in 1995 by Hamish and Hamilton, and then by Penguin in 1997, SPCK have produced a new edition of Angels and Men (SPCK, London 2014; 374pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07230 9) at the same time as publishing Acts and Omissions (SPCK, London 2014; 318pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07234 7). Both are by Catherine Fox, wife of the current dean of Liverpool Cathedral. Catherine Fox is a great story-teller; she writes beautifully and keeps the reader in suspense. Both books would make wonderful Christmas presents for ministers’ spouses! 

The Guilt Book: A path to grace and freedom (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 208pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 78359  116 9), by Will van der Hart, pastoral chaplain to HTB, London, and Rob  Waller, consultant psychiatrist working for the NHS in Scotland, is a work-book for people suffering from the torment of distorted guilt – ‘false guilt’ as the book calls it. This could be an excellent pastoral tool. And what a great price too!

Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today (Kregel Academic, Grand Rapids 2013; 313pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 0 8254 4264 3. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Joseph Hellerman, is a remarkable book.  Hellerman has already established his academic credential by writing a Cambridge University Press monograph, Reconstructing Honour in Roman Philippi. In a much more popular style, he now applies his learning to the American church scene, and the result is a devastating critique of the all-powerful ‘corporate’ model of the senior pastor. He writes: “No individual has a corner on the truth. We all know this in theory. Yet the way we implement the senior pastor model too often results in one person’s vision and teaching style determining the practical realities of day-to-day ministry in the local church. The model works marginally well, if the pastor happens to be an emotionally healthy person who opens up his life to a handful of other persons in the congregation. Unfortunately this kind of relational maturity is less and less common among young seminarians preparing for the ministry”. Toward the end of his hard-hitting book he says: “The corporate approach to congregational life has led all too often to an insecure, narcissistic leader acquiring unilateral authority over the rest of the community, enabled by a church board whose metrics for ministerial success does nothing to curb the unhealthy behaviour of their gifted but relationally challenged leader. The systemic weaknesses of what we might call ‘corporate ecclesiology’ have converged to open the door to the abuse of power and authority by numbers of persons in vocational Christian service”. This is a book every senior minister or team rector needs to read!

With the Clouds of Heaven: The book of Daniel in biblical theology (Apollos, Nottingham 2014; 263pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 136 4), by Jim Hamilton of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, is a solid piece of accessible biblical scholarship, probably of more interest to students than to preachers.

Reinventing Liberal Christianity (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2013; 332pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6840 4), by Theo Hobson, a British systematic theologian and journalist working in New York, who argues that we need to encourage Christian culture within the liberal state, but do away with the reductionism which in the end abandons Christianity for humanism. What is needed, the author says, is a discriminating rediscovery of liberal faith and cultic ritual.

First published in English in 1962, Pastoral Liturgy (Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2014. 430pp; £16.99; ISBN 928 0 87061 287 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Joseph A Jungmann, has been reissued in a series of ‘Christian Classics’, with the blurb on the front cover, ‘an invaluable work that helped shape the reforms of Vatican II’. Maybe Roman Catholic priests will find this of great interest, but the reality is that its concerns do not forget your average Protestant pastor!

First published in 1987, Jeremiah (IVP, Nottingham, reprinted 2014; 176pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 143 5), by the late Derek Kidner, has been re-issued in the ‘Kidner Classic Commentaries’ series. I have fond memories of the author as a quiet, cultured, scholarly Anglican clergyman, who, when I was at Cambridge, was warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge. First published in The Bible Speaks Today series and then replaced by a much larger volume by Chris Wright, it is a thoughtful and personally enriching commentary.

Preaching Matters: Encountering the Living God (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 187pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 149 7), by Jonathan Lamb, the CEO of Keswick Ministries, underlines the importance of expository preaching. His argument is summed up as follows: “The only true form of preaching is biblical preaching. And by biblical preaching, we mean preaching that places the Bible at the centre, exposing the Bible’s force and power. In almost all situations, I would even want to go a step further: biblical preaching is preaching that expounds a Bible passage. Of course, there is an important place within the church’s diet for thematic or topical preaching, but this too is usually best developed through the careful explanation of a main passage, supplemented by other biblical material”.

Christianity on Trial: A top lawyer examines the evidence (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 230pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 146 6), by American lawyer Tom Lanier, is a well-written popular defence of Christian believing, and as such is a good book to lend to people wanting to explore the Christian faith.

Deuteronomy: the prophets and the life of the church (Mosaic Press, Preston, Victoria, Australia 2013; 204pp; £18.99; ISBN 978 1 7432 4022 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Jason Lecureux, Blair Wilgus and James Estep, is a Festschrift in honour of recently retired Old Testament professor Gary Hall. The thirteen essays cover a blend of biblical and church related topics, which in turn show something of the relevance of the Old Testament to today. 

Eucharistic Epicleses, Ancient and Modern: Speaking of the Spirit in Eucharistic Prayer (Alcuin Club, SPCK 2014; 302pp; £20; ISBN 978 0 281 07155 5), by Anne McGowan, is a work of scholarship which no doubt will interest the more liturgically-minded minister. Perspectives from Pentecostal and Charismatic theologies have not been ignored; account too has been taken of feminist, liberationist, ecological, global, and inter-faith concerns.

Being a Curate: Stories of what it’s really like (SPCK, London 2014; 151pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07096 1), by Jonathon [sic] Ross-McNairn and Sonia Baron, consists of over 10 stories of what is like to be a curate; and then contributions on ‘what makes a good curate and a successful curacy?’; the relationship between training incumbent and curate;  ‘the transition  from curate to incumbent’; and ‘dealing with thorny issues’. This is a great book for those considering ordination within the Church of England, and I warmly commend it.

First published in the USA in 1992, over the intervening years The Women’s Bible Commentary (SPCK, London, 3rd edition 2014; 648pp; £40; ISBN 978 0 281 0729-00), edited by Carol A Newsom, Sharon H Ringe and Jacqueline E Lapsley, has been revised and expanded over the years to take account of advances in feminist hermeneutics over the past two decades. Some might well query the need for a commentary produced just by women, but the reality is that each of us interprets Scripture within our own context. £40, however, for a paperback is a bit steep!  

Apostle of the Last Days: the life, letters and theology of Paul (Kregel Academic, Grand Rapids, 2013; 320pp; £14.99; ISBN 978 0 8254 3892 9. Available in the UK through Alban Books), by C Marvin Pate, is a student text-book devoted to the theme of Paul’s eschatology with a particular focus on the way in which Paul’s apocalyptic construct of Christianity involved removing geographical and ethical barriers to the Gospel.

Beginning Again on the Christian Journey (SPCK, London 2014; 122pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07256 9), by John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford, who has written this helpful book for people on the edge of the Christian faith, just inside or just outside; as also for Christians who are in need of beginning again on the Christian journey. Although the book could just be read, it could also be used as the text for a six-week course.

As its very title suggests, Evangelical Versus Liturgical: Defying a Dichotomy (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids 2014; 149pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 0 8028 6991 3), by Melanie Ross, is of North American origin and therefore addresses a context very different from that of the UK. As a generalisation, evangelicals have adopted a frontier ‘ordo’, with its threefold shape of preliminary songs that ‘soften up’ an audience, a fervent sermon, and an altar calls for new converts, and the effective marginalisation of the Eucharist. By contrast, churches with a liturgical tradition have a fourfold order rooted in the four primary symbols of word, bath, table and prayer. The author argues for greater respect and understanding of these two worship traditions – and from her involvement with two churches in particular shows that there can be a ‘middle way‘.

Simply God: recovering the classical Trinity (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 140pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 78359 104 6), by Peter Sanlon, Vicar of St Marks, Tunbridge Wells, is a wide-ranging examination of the doctrine of the Trinity, combining academic competence with pastoral application. This is a really good book!

Steel Angels:  the personal qualities of a priest (SPCK, London 2014; 144pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07222 4), by Magdalen Smith, Director of Ordinands in the Anglican Diocese of Chester, is a lively description of the role of Anglican clergy today. The image of ‘steel angels’ is taken from Antony Gormley’s ‘Angel of the North’, which becomes a symbol for the resilience of clergy – “resilience suggests the ability to keep going, to keep bouncing back, to keep believing against the odds”.

Warfare in the Old Testament: The organisation, weapons and tactics of Ancient Near Eastern Armies (Kregel, Grand Rapids 2013; 328pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 8254 3655 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), by Boyd Seevers, is a fine work of accessible scholarship beautifully produced and well written. It will interest not just military men!

The Cross of Christ (IVP, Nottingham, 2nd edition with study guide first published in1989; this printing 2014; 460pp; £17.99 hardback; ISBN 978 1 84474 155 7), by the much missed John Stott, has yet again been reprinted. It is a magnificent work from which every preacher would benefit and needs to be on the shelf of every preacher!

First published in 1995, The Post Evangelical (SPCK, London, reprinted 2014; 125pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07309 2), by David Tomlinson, once a house church leader and now an Anglican vicar, has been republished in the SPCK Classics series, with a new preface. In the preface the author states: “The post-evangelical impulse… demonstrates that to remain true to a tradition we must come to terms with its changing cultural context to discover an authentic expression of that tradition…The journey of faith always raises a conversation between inherited beliefs and contemporary sensibilities. In order to remain vital and relevant, Christianity must be a part of the changing patterns of history, as well as being true to its originating source”. I believe that Tomlinson is right, but for many the debate still continues.

Stress: the Path to Peace (IVP, Nottingham 2014; 190pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 1 7835 9152 7), by Simon Vibert, Vice-Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, is a helpful look at stress and ways Christians can cope with stress. He singles out five particular ‘Christian’ stresses: i) the task that God has given us impossible; ii) evangelical ministry is task-oriented;  iii) God calls for perfection;  iv) the Christian leader is to be above reproach; and v) leaders like to be in control. It seems to me, however, that he fails to deal with the particular stress factors faced by many pastors such as time, scapegoating, false image, poor pay, loneliness, powerlessness, the endless task, and often few quantifiable results.

First published in 1882, this edition of The Greek New Testament by B F Westcott and F J A Hort (Hendrickson, Peabody, Massachusetts, 2013; £23.99; ISBN 978 1 61970 263 9) has an expanded dictionary. Frankly this edition of the New Testament is more of historical interest rather than of relevance to the ordinary minister, who would be well advised to use the Nestle-Aland edition of the Greek text.

A Reader’s Lexicon of the Apostolic Fathers (Kregel, Grand Rapids Michigan 2013; 250pp; £23.99; ISBN 978 08254 3949 0. Available in the UK through Alban Books of Edinburgh), edited by Daniel Wallace, Brittany Burnette, and Terri Moore, is a beautifully produced tool for those wanting to read the early church Fathers in their original Greek!

The Song of Songs: a contemplative guide (SPCK, London 2014; 144pp; £12.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06690 2), by Graeme Watson, is a remarkable guide for those wanting to meditate on God’s passionate love for his world. Scholarly, thoughtful, stimulating, creative – these are some of the adjectives which come to mind. It needs to be read slowly. It would for an excellent start to the day for a study week or a sabbatical.

Jesus the Storyteller (SPCK, London 2014; 211pp; £19.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06437 3), by Stephen I Wright of Spurgeon’s College, London, is a splendid introduction to the parables of Jesus – scholarship and application are helpfully brought together. In many ways the author is a modern Jeremias!

Annie Heppenstall has suffered much of her life from fibroids, benign tumours in the womb. Eventually, it became necessary for her to undergo surgery for the removal of the growths. As a result of this journey, she wrote Hiding in God: Reflecting on Personal Health Concerns through Prayer (Kevin Mayhew, Stowmarket 2012; 172pp; £11.99; ISBN 978 1 84867 519 3), in which she invites anyone who is faced with serious health issues to use prayer as a means of addressing the anxieties. After a short description of her personal journey, she offers 35 meditations on a wide range of reactions to health problems, and ten additional biblical meditations. This is a beautiful book and is commended as a prayer resource, perhaps for lending to someone who is struggling with the anxieties of illness

Creation, Power and Truth: the gospel in a world of cultural confusion (SPCK, London 2013; 110pp; £9.99; ISBN 978 0 281 06987 3), by Tom Wright, the incredibly prolific New Testament research professor at St Andrew’s, is based on the Noble Lectures given at Harvard in 2006, and is a devastating critique of today’s neo-gnosticism, neo-imperialism and post-modernity. A stretching, but enriching read.

Arthur’s Call: a journey of faith in the face of severe learning disability (SPCK, London 2014; 164pp; £10.99; ISBN 978 0 281 07045 9), by Frances Young, a retired Methodist minister and theologian, tells the moving story of a journey of faith inspired by caring for a profoundly disabled son for 45 years. Part of the story has already seen the light of day in her earlier book, Face to Face (1985, enlarged in 1990), but Arthur’s Call brings further reflection. In the first instance, this is a book for other parents faced with the challenge of having to care for a severely disabled child, but it is also a book for those caring for such parents. The concluding final page, where the author reflects on Arthur as a ‘prophetic sign’, should be of interest to all ministers: “He reveals to us, so-called ‘normal’ people, something about who we truly are: we are vulnerable creatures, and it is when our vulnerability shows up our dependence on one another that true community is discovered and the fruits of the Spirit can mature; he summons us to deeper self-knowledge and true humility in the presence of the God who transcends all human language and conceptuality, offering a model of patient wonder at the most ordinary everyday familiar things – of contemplative appreciation.”

The Biblical Refiguration series published by the Oxford University Press offers new perspectives on the textual, cultural and interpretative contexts of particular biblical characters. Two titles in this series are Sense and Stigma in the Gospels: Depictions of Sensory-Disabled Characters (Oxford, 2013; 195pp; £50 hardback; ISBN 978 0 19 959008 7), by Louise J Lawrence; and Joseph of Arimathea: A Study in Reception History (Oxford 2014; 193pp; £50 hardback; ISBN 978 0 19 969591 1), by William John Lyons. Both authors succeed in adopting quite novel interpretations of the biblical text. The former study engages with disability studies and sensory anthropology, so that the ‘disabled’ Gospel characters are recast as individuals employing differing strategies to destabilize the stigma upon them. The latter sharply distinguishes between the various depictions of Joseph of Arimathea in the Gospels, and then looks at the differing ways in which Joseph has been understood right up to this present day. I confess that I had never realised that Joseph is the patron saint of undertakers! Both studies are hard-going, and I confess that I was not always convinced by the exegesis offered. The hard-back editions are probably beyond the range of readers of Ministry Today. However, it should be noted that paper-back editions retail at £18.99.

Darton, Longman and Todd have begun to develop resources for the ‘Inclusive Church’. I would imagine that every reader of Ministry Today would welcome Inclusive Church’s statement of belief: “We believe in inclusive church – church which does not discriminate, on any level, on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, race or sexuality. We believe in church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ”. But what does this mean in practice? In this regard the following two publications are warmly welcome.  Disability (London 2014; 112pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 232 53065 0): here are stories of people who have felt excluded from church because of their disability, as also a lengthy essay by John Hull, a blind academic, on the theology of disability. Mental Health (London 2014; 112pp; £8.99; ISBN 978 0 232 53066 7): here too are stories of people who have felt excluded by church because of their mental health along with a lengthy essay by John Vainier and John Swinton on a theology of mental health. Both books contain a resource section, with addresses, websites and practical advice; and both books have a useful index.

Recent booklets from Grove of Cambridge, all 28pp long and costing £3.95, include:

I heard it through the Grapevine: developing a social mission project within the local church (Evangelism 105, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 893 8), by Stephen Kuhrt, vicar of Christ Church, New Malden, who tells the story, warts and all, of a lunch club developed for those  on the margins of society. 

Give It a Year: helping young people make the most of a Year Out (Youth 34, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 896 9), by Peter White, is full of practical advice. 

Church Buildings for People: reimagining church buildings as nourishing places (Pastoral 137, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 895 2), by Nigel Walter, a Cambridge architect, is a most helpful and lively guide to re-thinking the use of space in our churches – every minister should have a copy!

Don’t Lose Heart: St Paul’s Advice for Maintaining Morale under Pressure (Leadership 16, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 899 0), by Graham Archer, Directory of Ministry for CPAS, addresses the challenge ministers face of not simply motivating their congregations, but also finding a way of keeping themselves positive, motivated and in good heart – an encouraging read!  

Food Distribution and Mission: Linking Evangelism in Word and Deed (Evangelism 106, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 902 7), by Simon Cartwright, who writes in practical terms of how churches can “bring together the Great Commission for evangelism with God’s heart that there be no poor people among us”.

Spirit-shaped Youth Ministry: Youth Work Inspired and Informed by the Spirit (Youth Series 33, 2013; ISBN 978 1 85174 887 7), by Jo Whitehead of St John’s College, Nottingham, offers some reflections around how theological perspectives on the Spirit might inform ministry to young people. 

Using Measurement Well: Encouraging a Culture of Human Flourishing (Leadership Series 15, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 890 7), by Paul Valler provides principles for applying measurement – interesting but not directly helpful!  

One of the most fascinating Grove booklets I have read for a long time is City of Angels: Blessing your community by hosting an angel festival (Evangelism Series 104, 2014; ISBN 978 1 85174 884 6), by Mark Tanner and Nicola David, which tells the story of how Holy Trinity Church, Ripon, hosted an Angel Festival to bless the city and start a conversation asking what messages God might have for us today. I could see the booklet being a great discussion-starter for a ministers’ meeting – or indeed for an away-day of a local church. I loved  statements such as “We should be known as a people who throw good parties and know how to laugh until it hurts”; “we should have a standing item on our church agendas: how can we bless our community this month”; “people are fascinated by the spiritual, but they are not very interested in church, because often we are immensely dull and we are not perceived as spiritual”; and “angels appear to offer the perfect combination of the benefits of a religion without the disadvantages of complex demands on belief, behaviour, guilt or any form of ‘discipleship’”. Fresh thinking abounds. If I were still in pastoral charge, I would buy 20 copies of this booklet and circulate it around my church to see how we might be able to help people notice that God is still speaking today.