365 daily readings and conversation starters for your family. The NIV Once-A-Day At the Table Family Devotional helps you discuss the principles and promises in the Bible as you enjoy a meal together. With 365 daily readings to help you start conversations with your family around the dinner table, it's perfect for the family who wants to make time to center their lives on God's Word. This devotional book suggests topics for conversation and then gives you a brief Scripture passage and a devotion to read together. Features: Scripture text from the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Devotional readings designed for family discussion Questions to consider together as you discuss the day's topic Closing prayers 10-point type size

Where we spend most of our time - at home, at work, in the neighbourhood - matters to God and to his mission in and for the world. Far from restricting our faith to the 'personal' sphere, disengaged from everyday living, Scripture encourages us to take the Lord of life into the whole of life. Whole Life Whole Bible is written from the conviction that God's word illuminates every part of existence, enabling us to see differently and live differently - from Monday to Sunday, in public as well as in private. A walk through the unfolding story of the Bible in 50 readings and reflections shows how our lives are bound up with, and shaped by, God's plan to restore a broken universe. That big story forms our minds, fuels our imaginations and fashions our daily life ad we live in God's world, in the light of God's word, wherever we are.

The inspiration for this series of reflections initially came from Tim O Brien's collection of short stories reflecting on his time in Vietnam called "The Things They Carried". In these stories we don't just hear about the physical things that the soldiers carry, but also their terrors and dreams.The author has taken this idea and applied it to the 'Passion', focussing on the things that Jesus carried: not just the cross itself, but the crown of thorns he was forced to wear, the seamless robe that was taken from him, the other burdens that we laid upon him, and also the hopes and fears that he carried in his heart and that are reflected in the different passion narratives.The idea was further developed for the 2006 Good Friday 'Three Hours' service at St Paul's Cathedral and it is these reflections that have now been expanded and developed into this book.Suitable for Lenten study, either for groups or individuals, the engagingly written meditations will have a life beyond Lent and will bear repeated reading.

N T Wright offers reflections on the Sunday readings in the Revised Common Lectionary for Year B. This book brings together his widely read columns in the Church Times, and also contains new pieces, to cover all the Sundays and major festivals. Scholarship, history and insights into the world and language of the Bible are woven together to give a deeper understanding of the Word of the Lord. This book will be invaluable to anyone who wants to gather their thoughts in preparation for Sunday worship, or for regular Bible study throughout the year.

A retelling of the biblical story of Ruth.

The Bible presents the ultimate adventure - God's incredible, personal journey to the human race, which he loves with an amazing love, despite its repeated rejection of him. The story culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ, the incarnate God, in the events we celebrate every Christmas. This book of readings for Advent and Christmas shows how Jesus has come to take us home to God, no matter what our starting point. However lost or losing it we may feel, however confused or confounded, injured by life or broken by circumstances, here is God's astonishing invitation to join him for the rest of our journey, from here to eternity. When we embark on the road of life with him, we discover we never walk alone. The Incredible Journey contains Bible readings and reflections for every day from 1 December - 6 January.

Money. Fame. Relationships. Knowledge. Having all these things-or even one-would make you happy, right? Well, maybe for a second. At least that's what King Solomon learned-and he tried all those things on a HUGE scale and still wasn't content. In fact, chasing those ideas and getting what he wanted actually made him more depressed. So what are we supposed to do if the wisest man in history couldn't make those things work? Thankfully, Solomon left us a whole book of his trials and errors. Maybe you've looked at other people's lives and thought, "If only I had that, my life would be perfect." The problem is, those same people are asking the same question when they come across someone else. Even the wisest man in the world, Solomon, struggled with it. In Living a Life that Matters, author and "wisdom expert" Mark Matlock unpacks Solomon's big "If only" questions on happiness in the book of Ecclesiastes to connect his timeless questions to yours, and explores what really makes a perfect life. Living a Life That Matters lets you gaze over Solomon's shoulder as he indulges every pleasure, exercises every power, and emerges with a radical conclusion about how to live. You'll also find ways that his search for meaning connects with yours today and how your story can connect with your friends' as they seek meaning in the world. Living a Life that Matters: makes the book of Ecclesiastes relevant to teens' lives-and also easy to understand contains contemporary examples from pop culture and everyday life explores what it means to live in the world today, as well as the real issue of depression and its effects

MYSTICISM / CHRISTIAN STUDIES "Catches the tone and spirit of St. John and this gospel's profound coherence with other traditions, particularly the Hindu tradition in India and of course the Bhagavad Gita." --Father Thomas Berry, coauthor of The Universe Story "A dazzlingly brilliant spiritual and cross-cultural study of the most mystical of the books of the Bible, the Gospel of John. Few will finish this book unchanged, either intellectually or spiritually." --Robert Ellwood, author of The Cross and the Grail "Shows the benefits that cross-cultural perspectives can bring, helping readers to see with the heart as well as the head. . . . The best study of St. John's Gospel that I have found." --James George, Parabola The Gospel of John differs notably from the other canonical gospels in its overall point of view concerning Jesus Christ and his mission on earth: It is much more cosmological in scale and mystical in nature and has long been considered more esoteric. In The Gospel of John in the Light of Indian Mysticism Ravi Ravindra explores this scripture--which he considers one of the world's great spiritual texts--from a Hindu perspective, taking us into the heart of St. John's words. His commentary on the verses in the gospel eloquently and convincingly reveals the interconnectedness of all faiths and the growing need in today's world for interfaith dialogue. For those concerned with the emergence of a universal spirituality, Ravindra provides a source of light, a translucent pool of wisdom that offers from its depths an immense and lasting spiritual vision. Born and educated in India before moving to Canada, RAVI RAVINDRA holds master's degrees in technology, physics, and philosophyand a Ph.D. in physics. He was the founding director of the Threshold Award for Integrative Knowledge and is currently professor emeritus at Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he served as professor and chair of comparative religion and adjunct professor of physics. His other books include Science and the Sacred, Krishnamurti: Two Birds on One Tree, Yoga and the Teaching of Krishna, and Whispers from the Other Shore. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Tracing the path of Saint Paul, Peter Walker offers an expert exploration of various biblical sites and their contemporary counterparts

Drawing mainly on Luke's account in Acts, as well as on Paul's own letters, Peter Walker reconstructs Paul's wide-ranging travels, detailing some of the most important sites of the early church. We begin in Damascus, then follow Paul on his first and second "missionary journeys," then trace his final visit to Jerusalem and Caesarea, and eventually arrive in Rome. Each chapter focuses on a particular site and includes a section on Paul's story within that location, a list of key dates which give readers an overview of significant events associated with that place, and an exploration of the location as a visitor might encounter it today. Readers are transported to the rugged "Cilician Gates" of southern Turkey, the marketplaces of Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus, the bleak expanses of ancient Galatia, and the wintry, wind-swept shores of Malta.

In this excellent commentary, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi offers in-depth discussion of the theology and symbolism of Leviticus. Its laws express the vast distance between sinful people and a holy God, and enable us to appreciate the grace of God in Christ.

An expert Bible teacher unpacks key passages from Romans.

This is the omnibus volume of the best-selling Food for the Journey series. It contains the best teaching from the most-well known speakers from over the years at the Keswick Convention. These readings will teach, inspire and encourage from across the whole canon of scripture. The books and speakers include:- Michael Baughan - 2 Timothy Alec Motyer - 1 Thessalonians Simon Manchester - John 14-17 Stuart Briscoe - James Alistair Begg - Ruth Liam Goligher - Ezekiel Charles Price - Hebrews Paul Mallard - Revelation Jonathan Lamb - Habukkuk John Stott - Romans 5-8 Chris Wright - Numbers Steve Brady - Colossians

After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior's voice and begin listening for what He was saying. So, with pen in hand, she embarked on a journey that forever changed her-and many others around the world. In Jesus Always, Sarah recounts the words and Scriptures that Jesus has laid on her heart to help her growth in faith and lead a joy-filled existence. She relates how leading a quiet life since writing Jesus Calling has helped her find little treasures that brighten her day-treasures she now shares with readers in the pages of her book.In Leading a Joy-Filled Life, participants will be guided through eight sessions of study that explore what the Bible has to say about expressing gratitude to God in all situations, finding joy even in the mundane aspects of life, and adopting a mindset focused on the eternal blessings that God has promised for those who serve Him. They will discover, as Paul wrote, how to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).Each eight-session study includes readings from Jesus Always, selected Scripture and study questions, and daily reflection questions, and is designed for use in personal, small group, or classroom settings.

A much-sought-after retreat director, D'Arcy helps readers discover the hidden God within themselves by sharing insights from her personal journey. "A New Set of Eyes" provides readers with a series of parables, meditations, and directives that are designed to awaken the mind to the presence of God, free the soul from its cherished idols, and infuse the emotions with their birthright of joy.

Enfolded in Love is a selection of readings from The Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich rendered in modern English. It can either be read straight through as a presentation of the great themes of a remarkable mystic, or taken page by page as a basis for daily prayer and meditation over a period of two months. First purblished in 1980, Enfolded in Love has sold more than 120,000 copies and has become an established classic as interest in Julian of Norwich has grown. Enfolded in Love is both a perfect introduction for newcomers to Julian and an ideal resource for her devotees. This book is part of the acclaimed Enfloded in Love series of books which presents selections from the spiritual classics in a form suitable for daily reading and meditation.

Meet ordinary people who exemplify the upside-down values of Jesus' Beatitudes. "Why me?" is the cry I hear most often in my work as a hospice chaplain. I'm not a theologian, but through my encounters with people who are elderly, disabled, dying, and bereaved - and through my own quest for peace - Jesus' teachings known as the Beatitudes have become essential. They describe the attributes of God's people: God is with those who suffer, those beaten down by life and rejected by the world. Whether you consider yourself a Christian or not, you too can be encouraged by these words: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Broken but Blessed is a journey through the lives of ordinary people who exemplify these values, which flip the priorities of modern society on their head. Perhaps you, like one of these people, are up against insurmountable odds, battling illness or devastated by loss. You may have been rejected, betrayed, or abused. Whatever you are facing, these people will accompany you, showing how suffering can be transformed into blessing and how, even in our own brokenness, we can become a blessing to others.

For most Christians today, there is no message of Leviticus, for Leviticus goes unread. Yet Leviticus was the first priority in Jewish instruction of the law of Moses. Jesus and his hearers knew Leviticus well and took its teachings to heart. The documentary hypothesis that reigned supreme over Pentateuchal studies for most of the twentieth century undercut the internal coherence of Leviticus that swayed the Jews of the New Testament period, speculating that rather than originating with Moses, Leviticus was the nostalgic revisionist history of Judaic reformers in exile. But more recently, such theories have fallen from favor, and Leviticus is being reconsidered for its historical representation of the ancient and foundational era of the Jews. Derek Tidball explores the picture in Leviticus of Israel being brought together under the law of Moses. Here is a definitive presentation of what life as the people of God was to be like: the civic, cultic, religious, moral, legal, family and ritual expectations of the covenant community. In accessible prose, Tidball reveals the message brought to the Jews by Leviticus in their day, making room for us to grasp its message to us in our day.

Meditating on the Psalms offers spiritual insights into 52 of the bestloved Psalms with an original translation and a devotional commentary. The discussion of each Psalm ends with a related Christian prayer, either from the tradition or written by the author, John Eaton, himself. There is also an introduction that explains the background to the Psalms -- who wrote them and why -- and their importance throughout the ages. No one is more qualified to write on the Psalms than John Eaton. He is a distinguished scholar, now retired, and has spent a lifetime studying the Psalms. His pastoral work and his concern for the environment and ecology give him great sympathy for the wide-ranging material found in the Psalms. The Psalms are widely regarded as some of the greatest poetry ever written. Meditating on the Psalms makes them accessible to readers of all ages and all denominations and will be widely welcomed as a useful aid to prayer.

Does the church have a future? Across the generations troubled Christians have often asked this question. Even as early as the end of the first century the future of the church hung in the balance. False teaching, internal division and persecution were rife. Emperor Domitian had exiled the apostle John, probably in his 90s, on the island of Patmos. You can imagine John, pacing up and down the island at night, looking across the sea to the cities on the shore, wondering, `Does the church have a future?' Into this situation the Lord comes and makes these glorious revelations. He gives John this vision and tells him to write to the seven churches of Asia Minor, in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, in what is now called Turkey. To each of these churches Jesus says, `I know... I know your hopes and dreams, your faults and failings, your joys and sorrows, your temptations and frustrations.' Jesus knew each church, and so he could speak wisely and truthfully into each circumstance. He said some hard things to shake the believers out of their apathy. He also spoke words of comfort. The letter ends by pointing the believers to heaven, a reminder that despite their present struggles, ultimately they are on the victory side. Today the church still faces internal division, opposition and persecution. It is understandable that some believers ask, `Does the church have a future?' The answer is the same as it always has been. Absolutely.

Who is in control? The sustained threat from rogue states, international terrorism, religious extremists, and moral confusion arising from liberal views of all kinds begs the question: what is happening to our world? Is no-one in control? This is a deep vulnerability that many people express. And not simply in global events. Our own personal world often seems out of control as we reel from suffering, family tragedies and unanswered prayers. The prophet Habakkuk knew that God was in control but, like us, his personal experience seemed to contradict this and he wrestled with the tension. This book is a dialogue between the prophet and God. Habakkuk confronts God with his confusion and, in doing so, he expresses the voice of the godly in Judah and he speaks for us. We join in the journey from 'why?' to worship.

An overview of the key themes and messages of the book of Luke are offered in this Bible study, "Luke: The Good News of God's Mercy." The overriding message of the book of Luke, that God has acted through Jesus Christ to meet our deepest needs, encourages us to welcome God's actions throughout our lives and, in turn, to go out and offer God's mercy to the world around us.
A Guided Discovery of the Bible
The Bible invites us to explore God's word and reflect on how we might respond to it. To do this, we need guidance and the right tools for discovery. The Six Weeks with the Bible series of Bible discussion guides offers both in a concise six-week format. Whether focusing on a specific biblical book or exploring a theme that runs throughout the Bible, these practical guides in this series provide meaningful insights that explain Scripture while helping readers make connections to their own lives. Each guide- is faithful to Church teaching and is guided by sound biblical scholarship
- presents the insights of Church fathers and saints
- includes questions for discussion and reflection
- delivers information in a reader-friendly format
- gives suggestions for prayer that help readers respond to God's word
- appeals to beginners as well as to advanced students of the Bible
By reading Scripture, reflecting on its deeper meanings, and incorporating it into our daily life, we can grow not only in our understanding of God's word, but also in our relationship with God.