Dare to dream of a church and a world transformed by the bold celebration of transgender and gender-diverse children. The debate around transgender children rages, with some Christians being the loudest voices against loving and supporting these young people. So, now more than ever, people of faith need to be grounded in God's call to love and affirm young people in who God created them to be.

The Bible offers a beginning. But the Bible itself has become another tool of the "humane." The audaciousness of the Bible has been tamed--tamed and then co-opted. All too often the Bible is weighed against itself, allowing extreme to mitigate extreme. But that is not how the Bible works. The Bible takes a stand by pressing for one end of the extreme, sometimes even pushing the other end off stage. The Bible did so in the past because the times called for it.

Real World Faith articulates a faith that is effectively linked to our real world, the world of our bodies and of the body politic. The real world of our bodies causes us to be largely preoccupied with our health, security, dignity, and sexuality, and causes concern for food and shelter for ourselves and for our neighbors. The real world of the body politic puts us in inescapable touch with issues of money, power, weapons, policies, treaties, taxes, and trade agreements.

An excursion into the ancient spiritual practice of pilgrimage from the perspective of loss and bereavement. Jill Baker encourages others to step into the pilgrim spirit and discover more about the big, wild God who constantly calls us to follow.

Christmas and Easter, Advent and Lent, each focus on the central beliefs of Christian faith – that in the Incarnation, God comes among us, and that in the Resurrection, death is defeated and creation is renewed. In this collection of seasonal reflections, Samuel Wells unpacks the substance of these key Christian doctrines, and explores their practical implications for living as Christians in the world

What was going though Jesus’ mind as He approached Jerusalem for the last time? The Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134), sung by Jews down the ages on pilgrimages to the city, would surely have been uppermost. Shining a vivid light on His own journey to the cross, they also held promise for those who would believe in His name. Taking each of the Psalms in turn, Pilgrimage and Promise explores their significance for Jesus and considers their meaning for us today.

Noel Reilly is divorced and in debt. When questioned about the murder of his ex-partner can he overcome his despair to overcome evil forces in his town?

Martin Luther King famously declared that 'I have decided to stick with love... Hate is too great a burden to bear'. In these luminous daily readings, Arun Arora helps us consider the biblical picture of the Church as the people of God, drawn from every tribe, every tongue and every nation. Themes of racial justice, hospitality and welcome are explored alongside the stories of saints from across the globe.

Worship in the Church of England ranges from the grandeur of cathedrals, through the informality of the urban charismatic church, all the way to BCP in a village parish church. Does it have a core in comomon? This masterly study answers 'yes', and explores the relationship between national rules and local improvisation, core approaches and flexible application. Drawing on the author's long experience and wide expertise, it offers an ideal introduction and overview.

The argument for veganism is now often made on the basis of the impact of meat eating on the climate. But do these claims stand up to scrutiny? What would be the actual environmental impact of moving to plant-based food production? This compelling study, based on detailed research, assesses these claims and locates the issues aroung meat eating with wider questions of ethics, human development, justice and greed.

Curacies really matter if gifted people called by God into ordained ministry are to flourish. The church must serve them well so that they may serve Christ well. This comprehensive guide sets out the complex task of supervising a curate, and is intended as a useful resource for training incumbents, curates and diocesan officers. It reflects on changes to the Church of England's approach to curacies and gives guidelines for good practice.

The temple is a central image in Scripture - at times more obviously, and at others more implicitly. It is behind the story of creation, as well as the story of Israel, and is taken up by Jesus and the writers of the New Testament letters. What does tracing this story tell us about who Jesus is and what it means to follow him? How should we understand ourselves as a temple (dwelling) people? And what difference does this make in practice?

Hosea was the first Hebrew prophet to liken the relationship between God and Israel to a marriage - and a troubled one, at that. His picture of God as a husband scorned has captured the prophetic imagination ever since, yet is not without its challenges. This engaging introduction to Hosea explores the imagery without avoiding the difficult questions. It asks what Hosea was trying to say in his own context, with a view to hearing what he might have to say to the church today.

Lay pioneer ministry arises not from a central church initiative but from the sense of God's call on the life of lay people in a wide range of contexts. What role do they play and what can we learn from them? This study, based on interviews with lay pioneers in different contexts, explores the issues of vocation, discernment, freedom and guidance. It looks at how this ministry can thrive and how the church can thrive in attending to it.

Many have written on the 'how to's of creating new Christian congregations and forms of church but often neglect the fundamental question of why it is necessary in the first place. What is so important about church planting? Why not focus on building up existing congregations? This compelling booklet by a published expert with years of ministry experience in the field will be helpful for leaders and church study groups.

Christian revival is a controversial topic! Some rightly fear empty emotional excesses that can ultimately lead to division and loss. Others emphasize the spiritual refreshment, renewal and social transformation that can come through genuine, widespread movement of the Spirit of God. This inspiring study reflects on the sometimes neglected revival of 1857-63 and what the Church can learn from it today.

For most young people in the care system, the preferred option is a long-term placement with a foster or kinship carer. But a lack of suitable carers mens that many young people may suffer multiple moves before the last resort of residential care. This powerful study puts forward the argument that Christians, and especially those with youth work experience, are ideally placed to foster young people.

Small groups continue to be a vital part of church life - and potentially an important aid to growing in our discipleship. But are we clear about their purpose? What is the role of the group leader? And what resources are available for groups? This excellent resource draws on the authors' experience and research, and both asks helpful questions and offers useful answers relating to the dynamics of small groups.

Justin Martyr is a key figure in the development of Christian thought about the person of Jesus—not as someone we would now call ‘orthodox,’ but as part of what we might call ‘proto-orthodoxy.’ His thinking about Jesus as messiah, teacher and especially as ‘logos’ did important work in considering how we could understand the person of Jesus as of cosmic significance and being divine in the context of Jewish monotheism.

Reflecting on lived experience, this book explores a Christian vision for embracing racial diversity in our schools that moves beyond the tokenistic—one which celebrates racial difference as part of God’s intention in creation and considers why and how we can embrace racial diversity in our schools in a way that values and celebrates difference. It is a vision of transformation that results from the encounter with the ‘other’ and leads to lasting culture change and the flourishing of all.

Created in partnership with RE:Quest, this fantastic new Bible was developed using the ideas and feedback of parents, teachers and children ensuring it provides a brilliant Bible reading experience for a child. Adopting an educational tone, it is perfect for use in schools and churches. The colourful interactions and beautiful illustrations will keep a child engaged as they delve into the text.

Published in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, this beautifully illustrated book will be treasured by people all over the world who admired her for the grace and wisdom she demonstrated throughout her reign, and for the faith that she held so dearly

You probably don't need to be told that the demands of modern living are taking their toll on our wellbeing. You likely feel it. And yet, some of us feel as though we're the only ones who are weary, overwhelmed or anxious so we don't talk about it and try and pretend that it's not happening. The truth is that we're far from alone; we all have days where life feels too much, and we've all had times when we're desperate to know that brighter days are ahead.

Nowadays it seems like everyone wants to be successful, but how many of us actually feel it? We may know that true success is found in following the one who made us. And yet, in our increasingly polarised and comparison-rife world, many of us find our hearts yearning for an ever-elusive 'success': in money and power, in influence and accolades. It is time for us to remember that success is attainable - not in what we have but how we live.

Every day we face a choice: to give into fear or meet it with faith? From health concerns to comparison-rife social media, the world offers us plenty of reasons to live in fear. And yet, God offers us countless reasons to live life to the full, facing cowardice and stepping forward with courage. This book of 365 daily devotionals invites you to feast on God's word in bite-sized chunks, helping you to cultivate new rhythms and patterns to help you live out biblical truth in your day-to-day lives.

Throughout her celebrated career, Mary Oliver touched countless readers with her brilliantly crafted verse, expounding on her love for the physical world and the powerful bonds between all living things. Devotions is a stunning, definitive and carefully curated collection featuring work from over fifty years of writing - from Oliver's very first book of poetry, No Voyage and Other Poems, published in 1963 at the age of 28, through to her last collection, Felicity, published in 2015.

The Good News of Jesus says that we are saved by grace but for Monique Thomas the gravity of this message didn't sink in until over six years after she first became a Christian. Throughout her time at Bible college, she soon learnt that much of what she had learnt from church culture simply added an extra layer of pressure to that already placed on her by society: do more, strive more, be more. This book is for every person who desperately needs to understand the real Gospel: God has grace for

The Nazareth Community, based at London's St Martin in the Fields, is a contemplative community patterned on monastic life, founded by Richard Carter in 2018. Richard has written a monthly spiritual letter to the Community since its inception. His letters are collected here, encouraging readers to live out a simple rule of life, to reflect, pray and live with compassion despite the challenges of modern life. Rich in biblical reflection, poetic meditation and practical guidance.

There is a growing realisation across the mainstream church that our recent practice in connecting with children, young people and families no longer works in the 21st century. Many churches and church leaders are searching for new ways to engage younger generations. The aim is to create an 'intergenerational church' and in practice this occurs when a congregation intentionally combines the generations together in mutual serving, sharing, or learning within the core activities of the church.

How did we lose goodness, kindness, and beauty? And more important, how do we get them back into our lives? These are the two questions crying out in our streets, homes, churches, and from deep within our souls. In Good and Beautiful and Kind, Pastor and author Rich Villodas reveals how… • These three essentials are stolen by sin, powers and principalities, and trauma. • We can get them back through contemplative prayer, humility, and the cultivation of calm presence.

Contemplative photography is a form of visio divina (‘divine seeing’), in which people are invited to look at images with ‘the eyes of their heart’ (Ephesians 1:18). Like lectio divina, it encourages people to slow down and pause, in order to appreciate their photos more fully. Letting Photos Speak is a step-by-step introduction to visio divina that will help readers apply the process to selections from their own photos, and to create their own ‘Book of Hours’ – a personal visual prayer book

The Comfort of Jesus in the Grief of Losing a Child. It takes long, satisfying looks at truths and stories from the Bible, helping you to know and be comforted by God the Father as he walks with you through your darkest seasons. The authors write with honesty, experience and compassion to encourage those who are crushed in spirit to lean heavily on Jesus. They give lots of practical advice on processing and praying through grief as well as clarity on some of the difficult questions raised

An introduction and practical instruction for a living contemplative practice today; including an overview of mysticism, its various types in Christian tradition, spiritual and prayer practices, and influential mystics through the millennia. It offers an embodied understanding of the mystic life with a diverse range of voices and perspectives. It also addresses embodied mysticism, contemplation and social justice, and the ongoing relevance of Jesus's message of radical equality and inclusivity..

Holy Fear is not a topic you'll hear much about these days. But if you want to build a faith that stands strong through troubled times, you cannot afford to ignore this book. In The Awe of God, John Bevere invites you to take a fresh look at what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is designed to be read slowly and intentionally. At the end of each of the 42 chapters are five tools to help you deepen your understanding and apply what the Spirit of God is teaching you

Marianne is a maternity coach, she combines her coaching with her Christian faith to produce uplifting and encouraging bible-based videos for mums in the early years. Now this much enjoyed collection is available for you in a book. Mums Chat addresses 15 common early years challenges with kindness, brave personal sharing and humour plus biblical back-up and practical suggestions to help you through your woes and your lows as your baby grows

Anna Townsend invites you to meet twelve women from Nepal whose lives have been transformed by God. Among them is Kopisha, whose infant daughter died due to the neglect of her own family, Suki, the mother of a human trafficking victim, and Maria, forced to marry her rapist. Poignant, shocking, but ultimately inspirational, you will be encouraged to see how God is at work in these women, changing their lives and giving them a more hopeful future.

The debut book in Katie Piper's UnSeen series, which sheds light on untold stories of unwavering hope that deserve to be heard. The UnSeen empowers readers to own their stories and know they deserve to be seen. Against all odds looks at fashion model Ellie Goldstein's astounding journey as she overcomes adversity and makes history by becoming the first supermodel with Down Syndrome to represent prestigious brands, such as Gucci and Adidas, in major campaigns around the world.

This devotional is a chance to take your family on a journey through the story of prayer in the Bible. It is based on the popular storybook by Laura Wifler, co-founder of Risen Motherhood, which explores prayer: from the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve talked with God face to face, through Old Testament examples and the teaching of Jesus, all the way to the promise of the new creation, where we’ll dwell with God for ever.

A three-session Sunday School curriculum, based on the best-selling book The Christmas Promise. Includes a family-service outline. This three-session Sunday School curriculum is based on the best-selling storybook The Christmas Promise and shows children what God promised centuries before the first Christmas: a unique forever rescuing King (King Jesus) and joy for all who live under his loving rule. Featuring age-differentiated lesson plans for 3-5s, 5-8s, and 8-12s

This year-long reading plan with Engage Bible-reading notes is the second in the series. In this volume, older teenagers will enjoy meeting key characters and authors from the Bible. A one-year reading plan with Engage Bible-reading notes, meeting key characters and authors from the Bible. Ideal for older teenagers. Volume 2 of Engage 365 meets many characters from the Old Testament, including Joshua, the judges, Ruth, Job, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, and Daniel

Ripped from his home and exiled to Babylon, Daniel stayed faithful to God in a faithless world. Through a series of letters, Andy Lamberton imagines how a mentor might have encouraged Daniel to stand firm despite the pressures he faced. We too are far from home, citizens of heaven living in a foreign land. And just like Daniel, we need wisdom and encouragement to help us press on. Letters for Exiles brings Daniel’s experience to life as his mentor, Abel, disciples and equips him ― and us

A positive and biblical vision of what it means to be a man In a world where masculinity is often associated with toxicity, what does it mean to "be a man"? In a straightforward and empathetic way, Matt Fuller gets beyond cultural confusion and stereotypes as he examines what the Bible says is distinctive about being a man. He outlines a positive vision of biblical masculinity and shows what that might look like in real life today.

New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer guides you through 40 promises in the Bible so that no matter what problem you face, you have God's ultimate wisdom to overcome it! Everyone has problems. They may be issues in our relationships, finances, mental and emotional health, physical sickness, and the list goes on. But throughout more than 45 years of studying God's Word, she has learned how to find the answer for every problem you face in the Bible, and she wants to share it with you.

Restoration is one of the basic building-blocks to Christian growth: it affects the way we relate to God, to ourselves, and to others. When we allow God to restore us, shape us and refine us into the people we were made to be, we can enjoy His presence more fully, live more freely, and reflect His image more closely. Drawing on the work of a close friend and counsellor, Ruth Miller, who died in 2013, Image Bearers has been inspired by Ruth's significant ministry

What will the world will be like in a year's time? What changes will we have seen, what global events will be fresh in our thoughts? What highs and lows will we have encountered, what surprises will we have had that bring unexpected joy? And in the midst of all those things, how will we make sense of it all? That's where Fresh from The Word comes in! This edition tells the whole story of the Bible, so we have a framework in which to better understand each part.