In this addition to the acclaimed The Church and Postmodern Culture series, leading practical theologian Christian Scharen examines the relationship between theology and its social context. He engages with social theorist Pierre Bourdieu to offer helpful theoretical and theological grounding to those who want to reflect critically on the faith and practice of the church, particularly for those undertaking ministry internships or fieldwork assignments. As Scharen helps a wide array of readers to understand the social context of doing theology, he articulates a vision for the church's involvement with what God is doing in the world and provides concrete examples of churches living out God's mission.

Theology and Climate Change examines Progressive Dominion Theology (PDT) as a primary cultural driver of anthropogenic climate change. PDT is a distinctive and Western form of Christian theology out of which the modern scientific revolution and technological modernity arises. Basic attitudes to nature, to instrumental power over nature, and to an understanding of humanity's relationship with nature are a function of the deep theological preconditions of Western modernity. Much of what we like about Western modernity is indebted to PDT at the same time that this tacit cultural theology is propelling us towards climate disaster. This text argues that the urgent need to change the fundamental operational assumptions of our way of life is now very hard for us to do, because secular modernity is now largely unaware of its tacit theological commitments. Modern consumer society, including the global economy that supports this way of life, could not have the operational signatures it currently has without its distinctive theological origin and its ongoing submerged theological assumptions. Some forms of Christian theology are now acutely aware of this dynamic and are determined to change the modern life-world, from first assumptions up, in order to avert climate disaster. At the same time that other forms of Christian theology - aligned with pragmatic fossil fuel interests - advance climate change skepticism and overtly uphold PDT. Theology is, in fact, crucially integral with the politics of climate change, but this is not often understood in anything more than simplistic and polemically expedient ways in environmental and policy contexts. This text aims to dis-imbed climate change politics from polarized and unfruitful slinging-matches between conservatives and progressives of all or no religious commitments. This fascinating volume is a must read for those with an interest in environmental policy concerns and in culturally embedded first-order belief commitments.

This introductory textbook presents Christian philosophical and theological approaches to ethics. Combining their expertise in philosophy and theology, the authors explain the beliefs, values, and practices of various Christian ethical viewpoints, addressing biblical teachings as well as traditional ethical theories that contribute to informed moral decision-making. Each chapter begins with Words to Watch and includes a relevant case study on a vexing ethical issue, such as caring for the environment, human sexuality, abortion, capital punishment, war, and euthanasia. End-of-chapter reflection questions, illustrations, and additional information tables are also included.

Named One of Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022, Englewood Review of Books Congregations often seek to combat the crisis of decline by using innovation to produce new resources. But leading practical theologian Andrew Root shows that the church's crisis is not in the loss of resources; it's in the loss of life--and that life can only return when we remain open to God's encountering presence. This book addresses the practical form the church must take in a secular age. Root uses two stories to frame the book: one about a church whose building becomes a pub and the other about Karl Barth. Root argues that Barth should be understood as a pastor with a deep practical theology that can help church leaders today. Churches and the Crisis of Decline pushes the church to be a waiting community that recognizes that the only way for it to find life is to stop seeing the church as the star of its own story. Instead of resisting decline, congregations must remain open to divine action. Root offers a rich vision for the church's future that moves away from an obsession with relevance and resources and toward the living God. This is the fourth book in Root's Ministry in a Secular Age series.

Hell is a popular topic in the marketplace today. But what about hell interests people most? Which questions are they REALLY asking? Through the numerous book tours and media interviews he has conducted with his New York Times best-selling 2006 release, 23 Minutes in Hell, Bill Wiese has listened to the top questions asked by both readers and the media and conclusively addresses then in his follow-up book, Hell. Formatted similar to Randy Alcorn's Heaven, this book includes stories and experiences from others with who he has talked, biblical information and teaching, and specific Scripture passages related to the topic. It will provide a response to recent media quoting pastors and church leaders worldwide who are not teaching that hell is a real place of torment.

Originally published many years ago, this outstanding book, now revised, is still fresh and challenging us today. It tells the story of a group of children - mostly street beggars and orphans - living in Adullam Rescue Mission in Yunan Province, China, under the care of missionaries H.A. Baker and his wife. These children experienced an immense and incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit - so great that they literally 'experienced heaven' through visions, were aware of the prescence of angels, and were able to describe in great detail what they saw. The result of these intense experiences of God was a fervent passion for worship, the Word of God, and prayer.

This book sets out in short compass what seems to me to be the permanent essentials of Christianity, viewed as both a belief system and a way of life ... Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness. It should therefore be presented in a way that brings awareness of the divine presence. Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory.' - J. I Packer Packer's classic summary covers nearly one hundred subjects, from a Reformed perspective. Brief, easy-to-understand chapters offer precise descriptions without sacrificing depth. The four main sections present God revealed as Creator, Redeemer, Lord of grace, and Lord of destiny.

"At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD" (Genesis 4:26 ESV). From this first mention of prayer in the Bible, right through to the end, when the church prays "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20), prayer is intimately linked with the gospel?God's promised and provided solution to the problem of human rebellion against him and its consequences. After defining prayer simply as "calling on the name of the Lord," Gary Millar follows the contours of the Bible's teaching on prayer. His conviction is that even careful readers can often overlook significant material because it is deeply embedded in narrative or poetic passages where the main emphases lie elsewhere. Millar's initial focus is on how "calling on the name of the Lord" to deliver on his covenantal promises is the foundation for all that the Old Testament says about prayer. Moving to the New Testament, he shows how this is redefined by Jesus himself, and how, after his death and resurrection, the apostles understood "praying in the name of Jesus" to be the equivalent new covenant expression. Throughout the Bible, prayer is to be primarily understood as asking God to deliver on what he has already promised?as Calvin expressed it, "through the gospel our hearts are trained to call on God's name" (Institutes 3.20.1). This New Studies in Biblical Theology volume concludes his valuable study with an afterword offering pointers to application to the life of the church today. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

The church of Jesus Christ is in crisis. Congregations are splitting and decreasing in size. Marriages are crumbling. Biblical intelligence is on the decline. Where is the power? Where are the miracles? What has happened to today's church? Author Tim Brown argues that we have forgotten that our duty to share the mission of Jesus Christ-to defeat the adversary who rules this world. Today, too many churches refuse to mention the devil or teach about the reality of Satan. The result is a weak and anemic church that struggles to convert doubters, rescue those in crisis, or witness the deliverance of oppressed souls in the clutches of the devil.

This brief, accessible book offers a unique approach to the theme of the kingdom of God and to biblical theology. Sigurd Grindheim explains the whole Bible's teaching on the kingdom of God, discussing its implications for the Christian, the church, and politics. Grindheim shows what it means that God rules on earth, how his rule is established through the work of Christ, and how this rule is embodied by the church today, offering a new vision for the church's role in the kingdom: putting God's gifts to work.

First published in 1907, this text provides a scientific treatment of New England theology and American dogmatic history. Frank Hugh Foster analyses the eighteenth-century rise of the school of New England theology, which became the dominant school of thought in New England congregationalism and, as argued by Foster, a world phenomenon . The chapters arise from readings of the various distinguished views of such contemporaries as Jonathan Edwards, Joseph Bellamy and Samuel Hopkins, placing them within the historical and theological context in which they developed. A fascinating and detailed title, this reissue will be of value to students of theology and Church history with a particular interest in the development of American religious thought. "

This book traces the history of the Annunciation, exploring the deep and lasting impact of the event on the Western imagination. Waller explores the Annunciation from its appearance in Luke's Gospel, to its rise to prominence in religious doctrine and popular culture, and its gradual decline in importance during the Enlightenment.

In A Divine Revelation of Angels, Mary Baxter describes dreams, visions, and revelations of angels that God has given her. Explore the fascinating dynamics of angelic beings, including their appearance, their assigned functions and roles, and how they operate, not only in the heavenly realms, but also in our lives here on earth. Discover the difference between good angels and bad angels (demons) and their activities so you can distinguish angels of light from angels of darkness. Learn how God’s holy angels are magnificent beings who are His messengers and warriors sent to assist, sustain, protect, and deliver us through the power of Christ.

Many people wonder why they can’t overcome sins and temptations, and why they experience recurring problems in their health, finances, and relationships. A Divine Revelation of Deliverance exposes these schemes of Satan. Through the Scriptures, visions of warfare, and personal encounters with evil spiritual forces, Mary K. Baxter has discovered powerful truths to help you overcome your fear of the enemy, recognize and conquer satanic traps, experience victory over sins and failures, be free from unexplained attacks, and intercede for the deliverance of others. This is a war that must be fought with the supernatural power and weapons of God.

Quickly Find and Understand Key Theological Terms Christianity is a faith built upon the Word and understood through words, both written and spoken, handed down for centuries. But many of the terms used in both the Scriptures and theological writings are unfamiliar or misunderstood. For the Christian desiring a more clear and robust understanding of these terms, this book offers concise definitions of six hundred of the most significant words at the heart of the Christian faith, including terms related to: * doctrine (e.g., the atonement, the church) * biblical concepts (e.g., Messiah, Son of Man) * church practices (e.g., anointing of the sick, immersion) * philosophical concepts (e.g., a priori, compatibilism) * people (e.g., Thomas Aquinas, John Wesley) * councils (e.g., Councils of Nicea I and II, Council of Trent) * movements (e.g., Protestantism, Pentecostalism) * documents (e.g., the Chalcedonian Creed, Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy) * and more Students of the Bible, college and seminary students, and anyone who desires to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith will find this an indispensable resource.

Gospel-Centered Theology for Today Evangelical Theology, Second Edition helps today's readers understand and practice the doctrines of the Christian faith by presenting a gospel-centered theology that is accessible, rigorous, and balanced. According author Michael Bird the gospel is the fulcrum of Christian doctrine; the gospel is where God meets us and where we introduce the world to God. And as such, an authentically evangelical theology is the working out of the gospel in the various doctrines of Christian theology. The text helps readers learn the essentials of Christian theology through several key features, including: A "What to Take Home" section at end of every part that gives readers a run-down on all the important things they need to know. Tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion to help reinforce key ideas and concepts A "Comic Belief" section, since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, so that readers enjoy their learning experience through some theological humor added for good measure. Now in its second edition, Evangelical Theology has proven itself in classrooms around the world as a resource that helps readers not only understand the vital doctrines of Christian theology but one that shows them how the gospel should shape how they think, pray, preach, teach, and minister in the world.

Presenting a fundamental re-thinking of Asian theology, this book focuses on theological indigenization in Asia in light of the postcolonial theory of resistance advanced by Homi K. Bhabha, among others. Two types of anti-colonialist resistance within Asian theologies are identified and interrogated. The first is nationalistic in kind, operating from a theological language that is binaristic and oppositional. The second is illustrated by that which was mounted by the three Chinese Christian thinkers whose indigenous theologies are analysed in this book as case studies. This second kind, postcolonial in its character, is characterized by collaboration rather than antagonistic binarism. In spite of much dissimilarity between these two kinds of resistance, the book argues that they are similarly anti-colonialist, and both can be equally valid in resisting colonial forces. Given that the binarism and antagonism imbedded in the Asian theological movement are historically contingent, and that the sole reliance on this resistance has made the movement self-ensnaring, the book suggests that the Asian theological movement widen its choice of colonial-resistant strategies. Drawing attention to the otherwise subtle politics of the Asian theological indigenization discourse, this book addresses the relationship between postcolonialism and Asia contextual theology, and is of interest to students and scholars of Asian Religion and Philosophy.

A comprehensive study of the rise, development and use of credal formulaines in the creative centuries of the Church's history.

This textbook offers a fresh approach to modern theology by approaching the field thematically, covering classic topics in Christian theology over the last two hundred years. The editors, leading authorities on the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century theology, have assembled a respected team of international scholars to offer substantive treatment of important doctrines and key debates in modern theology. Contributors include Kevin Vanhoozer, John Webster, Veli-Matti Karkkainen, and Michael Horton. The volume enables readers to trace how key doctrinal questions were discussed, where the main debates lie, and how ideas developed. Topics covered include the Trinity, divine attributes, creation, the atonement, ethics, practical theology, and ecclesiology.

Olli-Pekka Vainio, a leading expert in science and theology, explores questions concerning the place and significance of humans in the cosmos. Vainio introduces cosmology from a "state of the question" perspective, examining the history of the idea in dialogue with C. S. Lewis. This work, which is related to a NASA-funded project on astrobiology, ties into the ongoing debate on the relationship between Christian theism and scientific worldview and shows what the stakes are for religion and theology in the rise of modern science.

Burning pyres, nuns on the run, stirring courage, comic relief. The story of the Protestant Reformation is a gripping tale, packed with drama. It was set in motion on 31 October 1517 when Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg. What motivated the Reformers? And what were they really like? In this lively, accessible and informative introduction, Michael Reeves brings to life the colourful characters of the Reformation, unpacks their ideas, and shows the profound and personal relevance of Reformation thinking for today.

This introductory textbook establishes theatrical improvisation as a model for Christian ethics, helping Christians embody their faith in the practices of discipleship. Clearly, accessibly, and creatively written, it has been well received as a text for courses in Christian ethics. The repackaged edition has updated language and recent relevant resources, and it includes a new afterword by Wesley Vander Lugt and Benjamin D. Wayman that explores the reception and ongoing significance of the text.

This expanded edition of Guardini's classic work includes the original text of The End of the Modern World, as well as the entirety of its explicit sequel, Power and Responsibility, in which Guardini analyzes modern man's conception of himself in the world and examines nature and use of power. The principle of individual responsibility weaves both works into a seamless, comprehensive, and compelling moral statement.