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.

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.

Amid the crisis of authority in our modern and postmodern era, Christians need to be able to point to God's revelation in the natural world in addition to defending God's unique revelation in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ. Classical apologetics takes a two-step approach to commending the Christian picture of reality. First, arguments for the existence of God, such as those of natural theology, are employed to create common ground with people outside the household of the Christian faith and to provide intellectual support for Christians. Second, classical apologetics defends key items of Christian revelation, including the reliability of the Bible, the identity of the historical Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In Knowledge of God in the World and the Word, authors Douglas Groothuis and Andrew Shepardson provide a simple introduction to classical apologetics that also addresses the most common objections to natural theology. Readers will discover in the book an easy point of entry into understanding why Christian beliefs about Jesus are true and rational. Further, the authors apply the power of classical apologetics to Christian ministry.

This volume brings together an ecumenical team of scholars to present key theological concepts related to worship to help readers articulate their own theology of worship. Contributors explore the history of theology's impact on worship practices across the Christian tradition, highlighting themes such as creation, pneumatology, sanctification, and mission. The book includes introductions by N. T. Wright and Nicholas Wolterstorff. A forthcoming volume will address the historical foundations of worship.

This book offers a contemporary Christian explication of the word 'soul' that uses Wittgenstein and his interpreters to suggest that human intelligence and desire cannot be 'mapped into the world' that is described by science and metaphysics. It examines the Aristotelian notion of the soul as one who acts in the world, and suggests that we construct ourselves, our narratives, by our actions in history. Drawing upon the resurrection accounts of the gospels, where Jesus is presented as having been 'translated into the liturgy' it speculates that the core of the human person, his or her intelligence, can be translated into other material mediums, all the while maintaining personal identity. Reading Aquinas according to the insights of contemporary figures in Anglo-American philosophy of language, Klein argues that, ultimately, to be a soul is to be a narrative destined for Christic incorporation into the Book of Life spoken of in Revelation.

General Principles of Sacramental Theology addresses a current lacuna in English-language theological literature. Bernard Leeming's highly respected book Principles of Sacramental Theology was published more than sixty years ago. Since that time, there has been a noted decrease, especially in English-language sacramental theology, in treatments of the basic topics and principles-such as the nature of the sacraments of signs, sacramental grace, sacramental character, sacramental causality, sacramental intention, the necessity and number of the sacraments, sacramental matter and form, inter alia-which apply to all of the sacraments. Rather than deconstruct the Church's tradition, as many recent books on the sacraments do, Roger Nutt offers a vibrant presentation of these principles as a sound foundation for a renewed appreciation of each of the seven sacraments in the Christian life as the divinely willed means of communion and friendship between God and humanity. The sacraments bestow and nourish the personal communion with Jesus Christ that is the true source of human happiness. Recourse to the patrimony of Catholic wisdom, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, can help to highlight the sacraments and their significance within the plan of salvation. This book will be of use in seminary, graduate, and undergraduate courses. It is further offered as a source of hope to all those seeking deeper intimacy with God amidst the confusion, alienation, and disappointment that accompanies life in a fallen world. The sacraments play an irreplaceable role in pursuing a Universal Call to Holiness that is so central to Vatican II's teaching.

Whether we interpret Scripture or culture, it matters what we do, not just what we think or feel. How do we live with our interpretation, and how do we live it out? This book helps us understand how culture forms us as political actors, moves us aesthetically, shapes the rhythms of our lives, and connects (or disconnects) us from God and neighbors we are called to love. The goal is to be equipped to engage culture with greater fluency and fidelity in response to the triune God. This short, accessible introduction to the conversation between theology and culture offers a patient, thoughtful, and theologically attuned approach to cultural discernment. It helps us grow our interpretive skill by training our intuition and giving us a slower, more deliberate approach that accounts for as much of the complexity of culture as possible. The book explores 5 dimensions of culture--meaning, power, morality, religion, and aesthetic--and shows how each needs the others and all need theology. Each chapter includes distinctive practices for spiritual formation and practical application. Foreword by Kevin J. Vanhoozer.

Divine Heiress explores the vital role of the Virgin Mary in the cultural and religious life of Constantinople in late antiquity. It shows how she was transformed from a humble Jewish maiden into a divine figure and supernatural protector of Constantinople. Vasiliki Limberis examines the cult of Mary in the context of the religious culture of the Mediterranean world and the imperial Christianity of the Roman Empire. The author looks at all the evidence for the cult but pays particular attention to the early hymns to the virgin. These hymns preserved the strong indigenous goddess traditions of Demeter/Persephone, Isis, Hecate and Athena. By studying them the author places the cult of Mary in its historical and cultural context.

The Hammond's book for ministering to children, a valuable tool for parents to learn how to set their children free from spiritual bondages. Learn the basics of how to effectively minister deliverance to children.

The Hammonds explore such topics as:

Jesus' Ministry to children

When the womb is unsafe

Methods of deliverance for Children

A Child's imagination

Occult Infiltration in the world of a child, and more

Special cases are also covered including: Adoption, Attention Deficit Disorder / Hyperactivity Disorder, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Schizophrenia, Multiple personality disorder, Inherited curses among children, The effect of Divorce on children, Family Trauma, Childhood Sickness, Deaths, Familiar Spirits, and more.

A list of demon groupings common among children is listed as well. Learn how to help your child grow in the spirit and in health

Helping believers navigate today's media-saturated culture, Brett McCracken presents a biblical case for wisdom. Using the illustration of a Wisdom Pyramid, he points readers to more lasting and reliable sources of wisdom-not for their own glorification, but ultimately for God's.

Liberation theology has, since its beginnings over forty years ago, placed the poor at the heart of theology and revealed the ideologies underlying both society and church. Meanwhile, over this period, the progressive church appears to have stagnated and the poor of Latin America have turned increasingly to neo-Pentecostalism. 'The Poor in Liberation Theology' questions whether the effect of liberation theology is to provide a pathway to God or really to construct idols out of the poor. Combining the conceptual language of the philosophers Jean-Luc Marion and Emmanuel Levinas with the methodology of the liberation theologian Clodovis Boff, the volume outlines how liberation theology can work to ensure the poor do not become an ideological construct but remain icons of God. Drawing on a wealth of material from Latin American and Europe, the book demonstrates the continuing validity and importance of liberation theology and its further potential when engaged with contemporary philosophy.

There are few parts of Scripture over which so many battles - theological, scientific, historical, and literary - have been fought as the book of Genesis. In this classic work, Derek Kidner not only provides a verse-by-verse exegetical commentary but also lucidly handles the tough issues that Genesis raises. Focusing on the study of Genesis on its own terms, as 'a living whole,' he highlights the theological themes of the nature of God, humankind, and salvation. Kidner's clear prose and theological insight will expand readers' understanding of God's character and of humanity's nature and destiny.

This book offers a fresh and up-to-date introduction to modern Christian theology. The 'long nineteenth century' saw enormous transformations of theology, and of thought about religion, that shaped the way both Christianity and 'religion' are understood today. Muers and Higton provide a lucid guide to the development of theology since 1789, giving students a critical understanding of their own 'modern' assumptions, of the origins of the debates and the fields of study in which they are involved, and of major modern thinkers. Modern Theology: introduces the context and work of a selection of major nineteenth-century thinkers who decisively affected the shape of modern theology presents key debates and issues that have their roots in the nineteenth century but are also central to the study of twentieth- and twenty-first-century theology includes exercises and study materials that explicitly focus on the development of core academic skills. This valuable resource also contains a glossary, timeline, annotated bibliographies and illustrations.

It's time to Discover Your True Worth. Join Lindsay Roberts as she invites you to step into your God-given purpose and become all that He has called you to be. Before his death, Oral Roberts commissioned his daughter-in-law Lindsay with what he believed to be a mandate from God: Lindsay was called to help women discover who they are in Christ, establish them in their powerful identity in Him, and help them become the women God created them to be-women of true worth. Since that day, Lindsay has made it her mission to share that powerful message with women around the world. She believes that as women, we must discover who we are and what we're made of in order to move forward in all God wants us to become-in business, in the church, in our families, in our communities, and beyond. Within the pages of Discover Your True Worth, Lindsay will empower you to: Embrace God's grace to turn the pain of your past into the stepping stones of your future Welcome your God-given calling with confidence and courage Become a force for God and play a part in preparing His kingdom here on earth This book is for any woman who has ever feared, fallen, failed, prayed, hoped, loved, lost, been discouraged, risked a dream, or wondered if she matters. Are you ready to Discover Your True Worth? Praise for Discover Your True Worth: "I see the message in Discover Your True Worth as a similar handbook [to Woman, Thou Art Loosed], one that will guide women who are on the journey to becoming all that God created them to be and to making a difference in every facet of life and every sphere of influence." -Bishop T.D. Jakes, New York Times bestselling author "As a child of God, we must understand our worth. Lindsay encourages us to discover who we are, who we are made in the image of, and what our useful purpose is! So many of us, myself included, have struggled to find our place in the 'big scheme of things' because we get sidetracked by our failures and mistakes. We think there's no way God could use a broken vessel like me in His mighty work. That's what Lindsay shows us: His power is made perfect in our weakness, misfortunes, mistakes, and mishaps." -Miss Kay Robertson, matriarch of the Robertson family, author, speaker, flawed but favored

The cross of Christ goes straight to the heart of the gospel, yet Christians remain confused and divided over what it really means

"Every good giving and every perfect gift is from on high, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). This verse conveys a powerful image of God as the source and referent of all beauty. This book demonstrates how the experience of beauty is related to our inherent longing for the God who is reflected in such moments. Richly informed by Junius Johnson's expertise on Bonaventure and von Balthasar, the book offers a robust, full-orbed theology of beauty, showing how it has functioned as a theological concept from biblical times to the present day.

This volume by a respected theologian offers fresh consideration of the work of famous fourth-century church father Athanasius, giving specific attention to his use of Scripture, his deployment of metaphysical categories, and the intersection between the two. Peter Leithart not only introduces Athanasius and his biblical theology but also puts Athanasius into dialogue with contemporary theologians.
This volume launches the series Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality. Edited by Hans Boersma and Matthew Levering, the series critically recovers patristic exegesis and interpretation for contemporary theology and spirituality. Each volume covers a specific church father and illuminates the exegesis that undergirds the Nicene tradition. The series contributes to the growing area of theological interpretation and will appeal to both evangelical and Catholic readers.

This brief, humorous introduction to theology by noted educator and author Don McKim will provide seminarians, college students, and general readers with a fun way to learn the basics. The book covers the key movements, thinkers, definitions, and questions of theology in a lighthearted way. Includes illustrations by Ron Hill.

In recent decades, the church and academy have witnessed intense debates concerning the concept of penal substitution to describe Christ's atoning sacrifice. Some claim it promotes violence, glorifies suffering and death, and amounts to divine child abuse. Others argue it plays a pivotal role in classical Christian doctrine. Here world-renowned New Testament scholar Simon Gathercole offers an exegetical and historical defense of the traditional substitutionary view of the atonement. He provides critical analyses of various interpretations of the atonement and places New Testament teaching in its Old Testament and Greco-Roman contexts, demonstrating that the interpretation of atonement in the Pauline corpus must include substitution.

Wayne Grudem believes that 'theology is meant to be lived and prayed and sung' - but before this can happen, it must be understood. The most widely-used text of the last 25 years in its discipline, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem has been thoroughly revised and expanded (all 57 chapters) for the first time, while retaining the features that have made it the standard in its field: clear explanations, an emphasis on each doctrine's scriptural basis, and practical applications to daily life. Part of the brilliance of Systematic Theology over the years has been its simplicity and ease of use. Each chapter follows the same structure. First, there is discussion of the doctrine being considered, such as justification or the Trinity or the deity of Christ. An explanation of where that doctrine is supported in the Bible and possible objections follow. Personal application and key terms to know for personal growth are then provided. Chapters also include a scripture memory passage, references to other literature on the topic, and suggested hymns and worship songs. With several hundred pages of new content, this new edition now includes the following distinctive features, including: Updated, fuller analysis of several recent controversies within evangelicalism, including the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son in the Trinity, the question of God's atemporal eternity, the role of women in the church, "seeker-sensitive" churches, miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and contemporary worship music. New, thoughtful critiques of open theism, the "new perspective on Paul," Molinism (or "middle knowledge"), "Free Grace" theology, and the preterist view of Christ's second coming Completely revised, stronger chapter on the clarity of Scripture Completely revised, stronger chapter on creation and evolution (including a longer critique of theistic evolution) Completely updated bibliographies All Scripture quotations updated from RSV to ESV A contemporary worship song added at the end of each chapter (while retaining the traditional hymns as well) Wayne Grudem's warm, pastoral and practical approach to systematic theology has been widely appreciated. He demonstrates on page after page how important biblical doctrine is both for the spiritual health of the individual and for the well-being of the church at large.

How do we know God? Can we know God as he is in himself? These longstanding questions have been addressed by Christian theologians throughout the church's history. Some, such as Thomas Aquinas, have argued that we know God through both natural and supernatural revelation, while others, especially Karl Barth, have argued that we know God only on the basis of the incarnation. Contemporary discussions of these issues sometimes give the impression that we have to choose between a speculative doctrine of God driven by natural theology or metaphysics and a Christ-centred doctrine of God driven by God's work in the history of salvation. In this volume in the Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture series, Steven J. Duby casts a vision for integrating natural theology, the incarnation and metaphysics in a Christian description of God in himself. In addition to reasoning from Holy Scripture, Duby incorporates insights from the catholic theological tradition, including patristic and medieval authors and also the Reformed orthodox.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth ... And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem ... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man."' (Revelation 21:1-3, ESV). In this comprehensive study, Gregory Beale argues that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the end-time reality that God's presence, formerly limited to the Holy of Holies, was to be extended throughout the whole cosmos. Hence, John's vision in Revelation 21 is best understood as picturing the new heavens and earth as the eschatological temple. Professor Beale's stimulating exposition traces the theme of the tabernacle and temple along the Bible's story-line, also illuminating many texts and closely related themes. He shows how the significance and symbolism of the temple can be better understood in the light of contrasts to and similarities with Ancient Near Eastern assumptions, and offers new insights into the meaning of the temple in both Old and New Testaments.