Starting this month we are proud to announce that during 2010 we will be partnering with Modern Reformation Magazine on the effort to recover Scripture.

Eric Landry, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (Murrieta, California) and former executive editor of Modern Reformation has this to say on the subject, “For the first time we are devoting an entire year to Scripture: why it needs to be recovered; how we understand its divine and human authorship; how its different books were recognized as being truly God's Word; how the church relates to it; how we should interpret it; how to understand its two big words of law and gospel; and why the recovery of sola Scriptura is, finally, the church's only hope.”

Read the article.

If you’re a Modern Reformation reader, you will have received our 2010 catalog with your Jan/Feb issue packed with resources to help you recover scripture in your own life this year. If not, down load one for free here or contact us to have one sent to your home or church office today.

Join us at the Desiring God Pastors' Conference

How one church is making an impact this Advent...

“As part of the Advent season, we gave each of the children in the ministry a copy of XTB: Christmas Unpacked, and a copy of The Coming of the King Advent calendar. One mom in particular called me a couple of days later to thank me for sending the XTB: Christmas Unpacked home. She is a single mom who has struggled to find a way to impart spiritual truth to her children. She was so thankful for a tool that was easy to teach a simple truth each day in the lead up to Christmas.”

Good News! The Good Book Company 2010 Catalog is out now! 

Its packed with new material never before available in the US, some great Christmas ideas for that reader on your list and loads of helpful tools for you and your family as you let the Bible do the talking.  You can get your own personal copy 1 of 3 ways:

• Click on the link just above the "Features" section on our Home page and download a pdf version
• Order your free printed copy by visiting the on-line store and we will mail it out to you
• Pick up one at the up coming Total Church Conferences in Richmond, VA http://www.acts29network.org/event/2009-11-14-total-church-conference--richmond-va/ or Escondido, CA http://www.acts29network.org/event/2009-11-17-total-church-20-conference-i-will-build-my-church/

GBC Publisher Tim Thornborough explains why our abundance should rightfully supply the need of others and why the ‘resource rich’ West should honor the Lord with its wealth.

Turnover is Vanity, Profit is Sanity, Cash is Reality goes the age-old wisdom of the business world. For most companies that is true - because their primary aim is to make profit and cash for the owners. But not for The Good Book Company. We take seriously Jesus’ words to us that we should be seeking above all things a treasure in heaven. That's why we measure our true progress by the volume of resources that we ship to people, and which are actually a use in helping people teach and preach Christ, or understand more deeply all that He is and has done for us.

We are very conscious that God has put us in a privileged position, so we aim to do three things:

– Set the lowest possible retail price for our books and study resources, and offer significant discounts for bulk purchase.

– We pay realistic but modest salaries to all our staff.

– We aim to re-invest any profit we make in resourcing areas of ministry that could never be self-supporting.

The Western world has been 'resource rich' for years. There is a large choice of bible-study booklets and evangelistic tools available to people and churches, and no end of training opportunities to sign up for. Although the quality varies, we are still rich in these things in a way that our brothers and sisters in the wider world are not. Even worse, many parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America are flooded with poor quality cast offs from western publishers, inappropriately high level books, or by ruinous false teaching. They are crying out for basic, reliable material that teaches the Bible carefully, accurately and consistently.

That's part of the idea behind our Pray, Prepare, Preach series of simple preaching guides, which we are in the process of developing. These low-cost guides will help pastors round the world teach the Bible more clearly week by week to their congregations.

We are also involved in the costly and time-consuming business of enabling translations of key material to be published in languages and for people groups that are hungry for solid spiritual food.

And closer to home, we are working on evangelistic and discipleship resources to reach less literate sectors of our community. Our Access for All brand places the emphasis on materials that have crystal clear, simple English that is not patronizing or childish in its tone.

We seek to fund all these ministries out of our other publishing and training activities. So you can be confident that what you pay for a book or a study guide is not only an investment in your own spiritual health, but also contributes towards bringing the life-giving message of Christ to many others.

So how does a series, complete with workbooks (both Leader and Student) and a fresh-faced, current DVD produced in England get to a church in a tourist town located on Vancouver Island?

It was presented to the church by Theresa and Gordon Phillips, two members involved in Adult Formation. Theresa and Gordon, both in their 60s, have hosted groups in their homes and have lead groups in the church, whenever it is available. Because Saint Joseph the Worker’s parishioners are so involved in the church, it is sometimes difficult to book the church basement or the office, and scheduling conflicts may occur. But, Theresa and Gordon have been offering their home since the Spring of 2009 on Wednesday evenings, and it is always available.

The format of the home meetings is similar. Beginning with some contemporary worship music from Christian musicians, the evening gets underway with song. Lyrics are provided so participants can sing. Sometimes, a group member brings his guitar and accompanies the CD that is being played, which really adds to the worship. After this, Theresa or Gordon begins with a prayer, which most often is a petition to the Lord for the gift of His wisdom in the study of His Word. In the Discipleship Explored series, the group then watches a DVD, presented by Barry Cooper. The verse being studied in the Book of Philippians is read aloud and Barry Cooper expands upon it, and applies it to every day living, citing examples that everyone can relate to. Anecdotes and explanations of the original Greek are highlights as well. Barry Cooper breathes life into the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians. It is put into context and has such relevance in our present day world. The leader goes over questions posed in the workbooks, and a group discussion ensues. Parishioners experience fellowship and learn how to live Christ-like. Paul said, “To die is gain and to live is Christ.” The Book of Philippians has many references on how Christians need to conduct themselves. As disciples of Christ, it is imperative that followers hold themselves to a higher standard than of the world.

When participants meet at the church, people are divided into groups. All participants watch the DVD together. The lesson presented in the DVD has a corresponding chapter in the study book. Each group is assigned a leader who goes over the questions with his or her group. A discussion develops and sometimes participants pose their own questions to the group and leader. In the course of the evening, scripture is reviewed and the group shares their experiences. The night is concluded with a prayer.

Attendance varies depending upon the season. In the summer, there are low numbers due to people being on vacation. But, during fall, winter and spring, there have been up to 40 people in attendance.

The fellowship that results from the Bible Study renews body, mind and spirit. The series is not just for the person who is getting an introduction to Christianity, but it is also for the knowledgeable Christian who has been in the Word for several years.

The first part of the British-born series, Christianity Explored written by Rico Tice, Barry Cooper and Sam Shammas can be helpful to the new Christian, a person who is asking questions about his or her spirituality or someone who would like to get reacquainted with Scripture. There is a Preface entitled “Before We Begin”. One of the things the Preface does is place Christianity in an historical context by noting the approximate date of Jesus’s death. As well, a table provides a look at the number of surviving copies of the New Testament still in existence in comparison to other historical documents. The booklet for the student, aptly named “Study Guide” states that “over the next ten weeks, we will explore three questions that cut right to the heart of Christianity: Who was Jesus? Why did he come? What is involved in following him?” This description of the journey is an excellent overview of the entire module. By focusing on the Gospel of Mark, the shortest Gospel, the beginning series is not overwhelming for a new Christian or the person who is debating whether or not he or she would like to make a commitment to Jesus. For that particular member of the audience, the undecided person, the altar call prayer is included in two places of the Study Guide. The prayer essentially asks for forgiveness of sins and concludes with a petition to “Please send your Holy Spirit to help me follow him whatever the cost. Amen.” It first appears in Chapter 7 and at the very end of the booklet. Unlike Discipleship Explored, the Study Guide is divided into two parts, and Chapter 7, about three quarters of the way through the series. The second part is entitled “Exploring Christian Life”. It explains that this section is designed to be examined over the course of a “weekend or a day away.” One of the fundamental purposes of the series, besides getting to learn about Jesus Christ and his mission on earth, is summed up by this statement: “it’s also a great opportunity to get to know people in your group a bit better.” Fellowship with Christians remains so vital to developing faith, and the creators of the series recognize that.

The Study Guide is for personal use at home and accompanies the DVD. For leaders, there is a Leader’s Guide, which matches the questions of the Study Guide, but have them answered in great detail.

An example of a question in the Study Guide, Group Discussion 1, week 5, which looks at the story of Jesus and rich young ruler and entitled “What is Grace?” is the following: “How does Jesus expose the man’s failure to keep the first commandment? (see Deuteronomy 5:7 and Mark 10:21-22). Although Christianity Explored focuses on the Gospel of Mark, references are made to Old Testament Scripture to further emphasize a teaching.

There are many similarities to Christianity Explored and Discipleship Explored, but the latter does not have a Preface. The breakdown of Discipleship Explored is as follows: the series is divided into eight weeks and the Book of Philippians is broken down into bite-size pieces with eight significant themes to match each week. For example, Week 1 is entitled “Confident in Christ” and corresponds to Philippians 1:1-11. The final Week, Week 8 is entitled “Content in Christ” and examines mostly Philippians 4. For the Group Discussions, the series begins with the question, “Was there anything in the talk you didn’t understand, you disagree with or that you found particularly interesting?” This is an excellent entry point for discussion, and many subjects have been both illuminated and debated by group members. In the first part of the series, the message is put into perspective by looking at other scripture. On Day 2 of Week 1, participants are invited to look at 1 John 1:5-2:1. The question is “What is “walking in the light”” In this case, a clue is given to help group member with the questions: “Clue: Walking in the light apparently needs to purification of the blood of Jesus, so it can’t mean “being perfect”. Remember the chief characteristic of light is to reveal things . . .”

The DVD portion is similar in format to its sister module, but the passage being studied from the Book of Philippians is narrated and visually presented on the screen, line by line. It contains anecdotes, like Christianity Explored, and when speaking about Philippians 3:8, Barry Cooper speaks about the teaching in a garbage dump. Paul writes, “More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish . . .” (Philippians 3:8). Barry notes that Greek word for rubbish is skubalon (σκύβαλον) and has much stronger connotations than the English word “rubbish.” In fact, one of its meanings is “manure.” With presentations such as this, Discipleship Explored delves into more detail than its predecessor, Christianity Explored, and this is quite common of a companion piece, that is like a graduate version of the first series.

Theresa Phillips, one of the group leaders, says that “it is an excellent series.” She goes on to explain how the series came to be presented to the members of Saint Joseph the Worker. She was shown the series at a non-denominational women’s Christian group, and thought it could be used as a “tool for adult faith formation.” She prayed about presenting it to Father William who later approved it for his parish. Theresa Phillips goes on to explain what she likes about the series. She says that it is all about “building community around the Word; we are instructed to do that. It feeds us and helps us be good disciples.”

Jesus said “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. (Matthew 28:19). The Christianity Explored series teaches students to be faithful followers of Jesus. For more information on the series, visit www.christianityexplored.org.

There is nothing like telling someone that you love about something great they can enjoy and find useful. I feel like that when I think of a resource I have found in recent days. It is printed by a company (The GoodBook Company - I love the name!) from the UK, who recently opened a base of operations in the US.

1. The Bible is OPENED, and real text is read. I appreciate and use The Big Picture Story Bible and the Jesus Storybook Bible, but there is no substitute for reading the very words of Scripture.
2. The portions of Scripture are truly “bite-size” allowing our kids to focus for a short amount of time.
3. There are interactive portions that help the Bible come alive.
4. Each day ends with a focused prayer time. It brings me joy that my son is learning a variety of things to pray for.
5. There is some continuity to the study, so that every night we are not jumping to a new unrelated story to what we looked at the day before.
6. The big story line of the Bible is always in view. It highlights the gospel themes of God’s rule, our sin, Jesus’ death, and our redemption almost every day.
7. Although we are not using a complementary resource just yet, I am also thrilled to know about the XTB (eXplore The Bible) series that is for kids (who are readers) to do their personal devotions on the same Scripture that TableTalk uses for that particular day.

I could say much more, but this resource has helped my wife and I fulfill our responsibility to teach our children to be disciples of Christ. I think I would pay 5 times what they charge, knowing the value of what it has brought to our house.

Review taken from http://ogletownbaptist.blogspot.com/2009/05/too-good-not-to-share.html

Today, the student body of Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY,  all 1000 on campus students, recieved their copies of the Good Book Company catalog packed with resources for their current and future ministries. Along with the catalogs, to help them build their personal ministry resource libraries, each seminarian received a special offer on our entire line of materials that let the Bible do the talking.  The Good Book Company is proud to support these faithful men and women as they prepare for gospel ministry.  If you would like your copy of our 2009 catalog or know someone else who would appreciate it, please contact our office.

Jesus tells us to be careful how we hear (Luke 8:18).  Yet many Christians approach the Sunday sermon with little to no game-plan for listening well.

How do you translate the gospel into real-life actions each and every day? How can we bring the sacred and secular parts of our lives together? When can frequenting the pub count as furthering the gospel?

Steve Timmis, author of Gospel Centred Church recently did a series of posts on Twitter on ‘living ordinary life with gospel intentionality’. Here they are gathered together …

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … buying from local shops.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … frequenting a local coffee shop or pub.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … playing for a local sports team.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … always tipping generously in local restaurants.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … being the kind of neighbor everyone wants to have as a neighbor.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … volunteering at a local charity shop along with a couple of others from church.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … doing ordinary things in community.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … opening your home to, and sharing your food with others.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … walking the same route to work at the same time or catching the same train each day.

Living ordinary life with gospel intentionality means … we do EVERYTHING for the sake of the gospel!

How to have a regular quiet time. An extract from Time with God.

Many people have found that setting aside a regular time each day to read and think about God’s word, and to spend time in prayer, has been the power-house of their spiritual life and growth. Explore: Time with God is designed to encourage, help and support you in this daily joy and discipline, sometimes referred to as a ‘Devotional'.

It is often a struggle to be consistent in finding a daily time to spend with God. Children, the busyness of life, special nights out, holidays, or just sheer exhaustion can all conspire to get in the way. However, there is no substitute for just getting into a good habit. There are many patterns that suit different people. And yours may change over time. Whatever you choose to do, guard your time with God jealously. If you come to it hungry to learn from the Lord, and to feed on the truth, it will be a place of nurture and growth, and a source of direction and strength for your daily life.

TIME

Find a time when you will not be disturbed, and when the cobwebs are cleared from you mind. Many people have found that the morning is the best time, as it sets you up for the day.

As C.S. Lewis said,

‘The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job of each morning consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice… letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.’

But you may not be a ‘morning person’ so last thing at night, or, if you’re free, a mid-morning break. Whatever suits you.

PLACE

Jesus says that we are not to make a great show of our religion (see Matthew 6 v 5-6), but rather pray with the door to our room shut. So, anywhere you can be quiet and private is the key, which makes your bedroom the top choice for many. Some people who commute plan to get to work a few minutes earlier and get their Bible out in an office, or some other quiet corner. Some like to sit in a favorite armchair with a cup of tea at hand. Others find sitting at a table or desk more productive. The rule is that there’s no rule – whatever works for you!

PRAYER

Although Explore helps with specific prayer ideas from the passage, you should try to develop your own lists to pray through. Perhaps you could pray each day for one family member, one friend, and a fellow believer? And how about keeping a prayer diary where you record your prayer requests, and also how God has answered them.

Often our problem is not so much ‘who to pray for’, as what to pray for them! That’s why Bible reading and prayer are inseparable. We are reminded from God’s word what is truly important, and it will shape the nature of our prayers for ourselves, the world and others.

SHARE

As the saying goes: expression deepens impression. So try to cultivate the habit of sharing with other believers the things you have learned from your reading. It will encourage both them and you. Using the same notes as a friend will help you encourage each other to keep going.

REMEMBER!

• It's quality not quantity that counts. Better a few minutes thinking about a few verses, than to skim through pages without absorbing anything.
• Falling behind: It’s inevitable that you will occasionally miss a day. Don’t be paralyzed by guilt. Just start again.
• It’s about developing a love relationship, not a law relationship. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that ‘doing your quiet time’ is an end in itself. The sign that your daily time with God is real is when you start to love Him more and serve more wholeheartedly.

This is an extract from Explore: Time with God - Your introduction to a regular time with God

We’re delighted that 9 Marks Ministry has added two core Good Book Company resources to their official reading list for pastors – Christianity Explained and Christianity Explored.

Both of these titles are tried-and-tested tools for evangelism that present the challenge of Jesus in a way that is non-threatening and non-assuming and we're delighted that 9 Marks has added them to a list full of materials designed to help pastors cultivate and encourage healthy church growth.

As a book publisher, we recognize with Solomon that: 'Of the making of many books there is no end, and that much studying is a weariness of the flesh.’ We don’t simply want to fill people’s bookshelves with endless titles that don’t really deserve to be read but with resources that:

• are firmly based on the foundation of the Scriptures
• promote or defend evangelical faith and belief
• help ordinary Christians to serve the Lord Jesus Christ more faithfully, skillfully and wholeheartedly

By the same token, most Christians would agree that their lives have been changed, shaped and enriched by the books that they've read and that while there are many that fill our Christian bookshops, we each need discernment to choose those we invest our time in.

The many thousands of reviews on our website will help you to discover which of our resources are most suitable for your purposes. So, don’t just take our word for it: See what others have thought and then decide for yourself!

The Discipleship Explored DVD has been nominated for Christian media award of the year!!

The awards recognize resources that have made a major impact on the Christian market over the previous 12 months and will be presented at a ceremony in London on the 12th May

Shot on location around the UK, the DVD features superb production values and a carefully-crafted script which brings an exciting new dimension to this life-changing journey through the book of Philippians.

Barry Cooper, writer and presenter of the DVD, said

I'm tremendously excited for the whole team who worked on Discipleship Explored. It was a real labor of love, and my hope is that more and more people will rediscover Philippians, with its challenge to live lives that are profoundly centered on - and satisfied in - Jesus Christ

Discipleship Explored is not only appropriate for new Christians but can also be enjoyed by anyone who wants to grow in their Christian life. The DVD can be used in conjunction with the Study Guide and Leader's Guide to create and complete this interactive course.

Christianity Explained has a new cover!!

Due to the high demand for this course, we have reprinted a new edition of Christianity Explained, especially designed for use in North America.

Christianity Explained presents the challenge of Jesus in a way that is non-threatening and concentrates on the facts concerning the person and work of Christ.

Christianity Explained is a superb tool for evangelism which I have personally used now for over 15 years.

The six short studies in Mark's Gospel are so short and engaging that anybody can be equipped to introduce someone to Jesus. I would encourage you to use it both individually and in your church.

Mark Dever, the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church.

The new edition has been updated to include:

• American spellings
• a new cover design
• American standard size paper
• several testimonies of people who have come to Christ through Christianity Explained.

The Good Book Company is going to the Gospel Coalition!

From April 21-23, 2009, you'll be able to find us meeting people, hearing the Bible faithfully expounded and soaking up the atmosphere in Chicago.

Come and visit us to browse some of our products. We'll even give you some free samples of our Good Book Guides or a copy of Christianity Explored - How to Run the Course!!

Hope to see you there!!

PART TWO of a look into how words like propitiation lose their full meaning when we exchange them for simpler (non)equivalents.

Continued from part one...

There are other, hidden dangers too. In his essay, alluringly entitled “Invitation to the Pain of Learning”, Mortimer Adler writes,

Whoever passes by what is over his head condemns his head to its present low altitude; for nothing can elevate a mind except what is over its head; and that elevation is not accomplished by capillary attraction, but only by the hard work of climbing up ropes, with sore hands and aching muscles.

The long-term effect of jettisoning difficult words is to fix ourselves myopically on our present course, unaware that beauty is beckoning us, just beyond the periphery of our vision.

The joy available to us in opening a book is that, in spreading wide the pages, we open for ourselves a new world we never knew existed. And is it surprising that, in describing this new world to us, an author will have recourse to words that are strange, unfamiliar, exotic and new?

John Piper elaborates:

Doesn't it make sense that, if we are to grow in our understanding and in our ability to reason clearly and deeply, then we must try to read those ‘great books’ which go beyond our present ability to fully comprehend?

Not only that, but when we bleed our writing of anything difficult or unfamiliar, we can actually become theologically unfaithful.

Douglas Wilson has this to say:

Simply presenting the truth of God in a computer printout fashion, without the passion, life, satire, love, and emotion found in Scripture, is a way of being unfaithful to that content.

And if that isn’t enough to persuade you, Wilson offers the real kicker. We will become boring:

Because we have pursued an ‘objective’ style of communication (having believed that this was possible), we have created a deracinated and boring form of speech.” When you knock off enough rough edges, every bit of wood looks stultifyingly the same.

Finally, if the Bible itself had been subjected to an editorial policy of pruning every tricky word or concept, it would never have made it past the first focus group. The Apostle Peter, commenting on Paul’s letters, does not apologize for the steep learning curve:

There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:16). Peter’s solution is not to censure the writer for using big words. Instead, he urges us to wrestle with them.

An acquaintance of mine has recently been having fun teaching new words to his two year-old daughter. When his friends were over for dinner, he pointed at his shoulder and asked her, “What part of the body is this, Emily?” and she replied, “Clavicle! Clavicle!!!”. His friends were slack-jawed. The reason for her apparently supernatural linguistic ability is simply this: a two-year old can learn and say “clavicle” just as easily is she can learn and say “collarbone”. It’s still only three syllables, after all. So why not use and teach the more evocative, specific term? It's good to use and teach the vernacular as well, but - in terms of the capacity of the human mind - there’s absolutely no reason not to use and teach the accurate, technical, anatomical one. In fact, there’s every reason to do so.

Well, that’s all for now. I really must prosvonit my dad.

Barry Cooper has written course material for Christianity Explored, as well as training and speaking. He is the presenter of the Discipleship Explored DVD, launched in October 2008. He is currently on sabbatical in Chicago working towards an MA in Christian Studies.

PART ONE of a look into how words like propitiation lose their full meaning when we exchange them for simpler (non)equivalents.

Some words are hard to translate. There is just no simple equivalent in the English language.

Consider, for example, the word “prozvonit”. In Czech and Slovak this beautiful word means: “to call another person’s mobile phone, allowing it to ring only once, thus provoking the other person to return the call, and saving the caller from having to spend any money.”

Honestly, how have the British coped so long without being able to concisely communicate the sentiment so elegantly embodied by that single word “prozvonit”? It’s no wonder we lost the Empire.

And what about “hilasterion”? This beautiful Greek word means: “the satisfaction or appeasement which makes it possible for a just God to forgive sinners”. For a while, there was no equivalent in the English language. So, about 700 years ago, we decided to invent one: “propitiation”.

But sometimes words fall out of favor. In a winsome desire to make the meaning of the word more accessible to more people, we swapped the difficult word “propitiation" for simpler words like “atoning sacrifice” or simply “sacrifice”.

However, as it turns out, the simpler words we substituted were not strong enough to bear the weight borne by the original word. (If they were, of course, we wouldn’t have needed to invent a new one in the first place.) And so, as our substitute words quiver and buckle, they fumble and drop the muscular and frankly terrifying resonance of “propitiation”: the idea that we are sinners in the hands of a justly angry God; that God’s wrath must be appeased if we are to escape an eternity in hell; that God in his unfathomable love sent his only Son Jesus Christ who willingly paid the price for our sin so that we wouldn’t have to. 1 John 4:10 expresses it with stunning economy: God “loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Unfortunately, the word “sacrifice”, though more readily understood by more people, just cannot bear the depth and breadth of meaning carried by the word “propitiation”. And so, over time, we lose more than just the alienating, old-fashioned, overly technical word itself. We lose the meaning too. And in losing the meaning, we lose the implicit warning. As words fall out of favor, so too do the concepts attached to them, as surely as a millstone carries whatever is attached to it to the bottom of the ocean.

The reason I bring all this up is because, as a writer, I am sometimes asked by editors to make the words I use as simple as possible. After all, we want to reach as many as possible, while alienating as few as possible. There is some good sense in this, obviously. Language should be a bridge, not a fence.

But is it always true that simple words make sturdy bridges? Isn’t there a danger that, in our eagerness to communicate, we end up using simple words that do not actually convey what we want them to mean? We may have made a bridge, but is it taking people to the right place?

To be continued...

Barry Cooper has written course material for Christianity Explored, as well as training and speaking. He is the presenter of the Discipleship Explored DVD, launched in October 2008. He is currently on sabbatical in Chicago working towards an MA in Christian Studies.

Tim Chester, series editor of the Good Book Guide series, Bible teacher and church planter, explains why – when it comes to reading God’s word – there’s no one conclusive formula…

Reading and interpreting God’s word isn’t a neat process. My thoughts go off in all sorts of directions. While we should teach people key hermeneutical principles, we can’t give a step-by-step procedure. So I teach Bible interpretation by doing it with people.

What’s more, I’ve found that I learn so much more when I look at a passage with other people. It’s great. Time and again we gain an understanding of the text I would never have got to on my own. So many people think by talking ideas through with people. It seems crazy that our dominant model is someone sitting alone at a desk with a pile of books!

I have also begun using this model to some extent in our meetings. It’s a bit harder because people come with very different levels of understanding. I always do plenty of preparation and come with a clear idea of where I want to get to so it’s not quite the same. But I avoid going through a list of questions and instead invite people to interact with the text together.

What kind of questions do I use?

I don’t really have a one-size fits-all formula but I would usually start with something like:

• ‘What in the passage do you find striking?’
• ‘What in the passage do you find confusing?’

I often use those questions at the beginning of a study even if I’ve got a series of passage-specific questions. Doing so reveals how people are responding to the passage which means I at least know the starting point from which we need to work. But it can also mean people start out on the journey to the message of the passage which affirms their ability to handle the text.

One aim I always have when reading the Bible with people is to give them the confidence to read the Bible for themselves.

Another important question is ‘why?'

• ‘Why does it say this?’
• ‘Why here?’
• ‘Why does it say it in this way?’

I think people often miss this out. But it is key to getting to the heart of a passage and a key step in understanding its implications for us. It’s also a straightforward question for people to engage with.

Application (or, so what?)

In terms of application, one thing I have started doing is asking when we might use the passage or retell the story. For example, I was looking at Thomas in John 20 recently and ended by asking, ‘When might you retell this story of Thomas?’ The two main responses that we played around with were, as you might expect:

(1) A sceptical person in the context of evangelism. (The disciples weren’t gullible, some were sceptics like you, but they were persuaded by what they saw.)

(2) A Christian who is fearful. (The worst-case scenario is death, but death is no longer the last word, so Jesus can say, ‘Peace be with you’.)

In conversation people identified specific individuals in both categories.

We have often started a Bible study with some fictional (or semi-fictional) cameos of individuals with questions or issues. We discuss how we might respond. Then we study the Bible passage. And finally we return to the case studies to see how the passage speaks to those scenarios. Not only does this help application, but it creates at the beginning an expectation that this passage is going to have something relevant to say to real life.’

A Christianity Explored course leader, Jonathan Thomas, explains why, despite having run the course ten times or more, it has never become boring…

Once again we are going through Christianity Explored in our church, and once again I am so encouraged by and confident of the material. Last weekend I went and spoke at a Christianity Explored training day and again I was reminded how clear and deliberate the course is. I love the course for a number of reasons:

1. Christianity Explored believes in the sovereignty of God

• Despair when someone doesn’t become a Christian.
• Pride when someone does become a Christian.

2. Christianity Explored let’s a Gospel tell the gospel

I love the fact that we just walk through the Gospel of Mark and let it speak for itself. Indeed, the hope of CE is that people will meet the living Jesus as He walks off the pages of Mark.

3. Christianity Explored is heavy on integrity

This course does not hide stuff, over-emphasise stuff, or distort the gospel in any way. I love the fact that you can be 100% confident that you are telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

4. Christianity Explored is based within relationship

Meals, small group discussion and 1-1 friendships are vital parts of the course. People don’t just come, sit and listen. Relationship is a key.

5. Christianity Explored is a creative course

The DVD’s are great (if a little cheesy at points!). But more than that, the talks are full of passionate logic, challenging sayings, and good illustrations.

6. Christianity Explored goes through the pain barrier

Although I never want to do this in my flesh, I do believe that we need to do it. That is, we need to be honest about that which the Bible is honest about: the severity of Sin, the reality of judgment, and the physical nature of hell.

7. Christianity Explored makes sure that Jesus is the hero of every week

Hallelujah! I LOVE the fact that this course is not based on a personality other than Christ. I hate sitting in an ‘evangelistic’ event where you come out thinking the speaker is brilliant. This course constantly points to Jesus, and always shows how He is our saviour and Lord.

8. Christianity Explored understands that how people enter the faith is how they carry on

If we use the Bible sparingly and ignore painful truths when we are sharing the gospel with someone, that is how they will act when they are saved (this is taught and caught behaviour). In this course people are shown clearly the importance of Scripture and a desire to believe all that it teaches – no matter how painful.

9. Christianity Explored gives clear opportunities for people to become Christians

Although I am weary of ‘come up the front and give…’, I do think it is important to challenge people to respond to the gospel. I believe the course has got this just right. And that people are asked to respond to the true gospel.

10. Christianity Explored reminds me of the gospel

You’d think that doing the course nearly 10 times I would get bored of it. Actually, each time I am reminded of how sinful I am and how loved I am in the gospel. No matter how many times I hear it or say it, I cannot help but be encouraged by the phrase (stolen from Tim Keller apparently),’I am more wicked than I ever thought, but more loved than I ever dreamt.’

Find Out More

Responsibility. In today’s culture it’s become something of a dirty word. It’s tainted with the ‘spectres’ of answerability, obligation, loss of freedom, and even blame. But it’s also something we value (and even expect) from those we trust.

The lead article in the March issue of Youthwork magazine (a monthly UK publication for Christian youthworkers) asks the question: Where does the responsibility lie for young people’s spiritual growth – with youthworkers, the young people themselves or God? It’s a stimulating article which raises some interesting questions, especially about the overlap between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. It looks at the role of the youthworker, the wider church and the young people, and considers how they can all ‘team with God’ in the spiritual nurture of young people.

But one omission particularly struck me. This four-page article makes no mention of parents. Not even once.

Compare that with these quotes from Ian Fry, the director of the Youth & Children’s Work course at Oak Hill Theological College in North London:

God says that the prime responsibility for the spiritual nurture of children and adolescents lies with parents.

Christian youth work involves partnering with parents. The notion that young people are ‘handed over’ by parents for the children’s and youth leaders to evangelise and nurture ‘in church’ must be resisted. At the very least, youth workers are to supplement what parents are modelling and teaching in the home. At the very best, youth leaders gifted by God to teach adolescents will be rendering vital assistance to parents in their God-given responsibility.

You can read the whole of Ian’s article, and ten others by children’s and youth workers in the UK, in FAQs: Biblical answers to youth and children’s leaders questions.

Here at The Good Book Company we aim to provide resources that will support parents in their spiritual responsibility. In particular, Table Talk is designed to help parents to explore a little bit of the Bible each day with their children as part of family devotions. Table Talk is also linked with XTB – Bible-reading notes for 7-11s – so that children can learn to read the Bible for themselves. Our hope is that these resources will be a help and support to parents as they seek to bring their children up to know and love the Lord.

Alison Mitchell, Children’s Editor, The Good Book Company

It was with some trepidation that we decided to open our US website, and to make available our range of evangelistic material and resources for ministry and Christian growth.

After all, I thought, what need do our brothers and sisters in North America have for our humble offerings?

We had an African Christian doctor visit our church for a few years ago. He was studying at London's School of Tropical Medicine before returning to an impoverished part of Uganda where he ran a huge hospital with very little help or resources. This bright and humble guy simply shone with the radiance of Jesus. But it was in his final interview at the front as we said goodbye that I really sat up and took notice.

'What do you find different about the UK?' he was asked.

His reply had us all in stitches as he described how he attempted to shake hands and introduce himself to every other commuter in his train carriage at Wimbledon station. A Ugandan practise that he very soon realised was not welcome at 8.00am on a rainy Monday.

But when he talked about the differences between Christians, the church grew silent with shame.

'You do not talk about heaven' he said. 'In Uganda, we have nothing. We sit and talk about the glories and riches of Christ all the time. Here you have everything, and you are silent about the treasure that is yours in eternity.'

The outsider was able to spot something that was sadly lacking from our own Christian lives with a clarity that we were blinded to.

Ever since then, I have greeted outsiders at church with more interest - and not just because Jesus commands us to. I discovered the importance of the outsider who is able to see into our situation more clearly than we can, because they bring fresh eyes and different cultural values to bear on what we just think of as 'normal'. I ask them eagerly at the end of services: 'What did you think was weird about the way we do things?' I am often rewarded by an insightful and sometimes powerful critique of what we do together, and how it excludes outsiders. Happily, I am also often reminded of the things that we are succeeding at as well!

To return to the question I posed above, what need do our brothers and sisters in North America have for our humble offerings? Surely they have their own resource providers in abundance - people who are far better equipped to create culturally relevant and Biblically faithful resources?

Well, of course, you do. But what we discovered in travelling and talking to pastors and believers is that you wrestle with many of the same issues as we do in the UK. How do you reach out to people and a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christian things? How do you explain the gospel to people who do not have the basic understanding of who God is? How do you argue for truth with people who are doubtful that there is any such thing as truth.

And here we find we may at something of an advantage. One thing Britain has been consistently better at than the USA and Canada is Unbelief!

While North American churches bewail the declining membership figures, to below 40%, we can, less than proudly, say we did that 50 years ago! Evangelicals have been working to reach out to a post-Christian society in Britain for decades and many of our resources in evangelism and discipleship are the fruit of that labour. Sometimes the outsider can see some things clearer than you see them yourself.

I hope you find something to interest you on our site. We will be adding new products over the next few months, so please come back to see if there is any way we can help. We offer these ministry resources not with any sense that they are better or more appropriate than other, home grown, things out there. But humbly and respectfully praying that they may be of use to you as you seek to serve Christ, to grow in Him, and to reach out to those who are lost and dying without Him.

Tim Thornborough

Publishing Director

James (UK Marketing Director) recently returned from the Desiring God Pastor's conference. Buzzing with encouragement, stories, and action points, he shares some thoughts and highlights from his trip to the US.

3 Highlights…

The Talks
They were all focussed on commending Christ and it was brilliant to be reminded of where the power lies when we are sharing the gospel. Not in ourselves – our eloquence, skill or even boldness – but in the name of Jesus.

And they were passionate. You could see in Mark Dever not just a knowledge of how to do evangelism, but a passion and love for the people he is reaching out to which bubbles up as unbridled joy at the thought of those who have passed from death to life. I was challenged afresh to pray for and share Christ with those who don’t yet know him.

The Singing
The music at Desiring God is always good, but this year it was AWESOME! The band were fantastic, especially the drummer who was loving it, and when we got to the end of the last verse – ‘Bold I approach the eternal throne’ etc. – the roof was coming off. Spine-tingling stuff!

The Superbowl
I was in town on my birthday which just happened to be Superbowl night, so Brad (US Ministry Director) and I went out to an All-American bar to watch the game. I still can’t pretend I understand the rules, but as a spectacle, it is hard to beat. And I had to admit that the final, game-winning touchdown was a great moment.

2 conversations that stand out…

Three guys from Downtown LA were really excited about using Christianity Explored in their ministry. They had already built good relationships with some of the young men down there but were looking for a way to present the gospel to them that was clear and contemporary but faithful. They loved the idea of using Mark’s Gospel and walking the guys through it so they could see Jesus for themselves. It was a reminder to me of how the Bible can cut through all race, cultural and class barriers.

A pastor from Chile came to speak to me whose congregation had paid for him to fly up to the conference for some refreshment and fellowship. It turned out that not only does he use Table Talk with his kids every day (I didn’t know our Bible notes had made it all the way to Santiago) but that he also attends the same church I used to attend when I lived there. Small world. And really encouraging that both his kids, and the church, are flourishing.

1 thing they have in America that I wish they had here…

Heated Walkways!
It hit -18C while I was there but it didn’t matter because all the major downtown buildings have heated walkways connecting them so you never have to go outside. Genius!
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...meanwhile back in the office...


James' temporary replacement holds his own during negotiations with author and Publishing Director, Tim Thornborough.

If you’ve visited this site before then you’ll already have seen a couple of blog posts which explain a little about who we are and what we’re doing on your side of the Atlantic.

We’ve been graciously recommended by some bloggers you might know including Tim Challies and Justin Taylor and since our launch – during the Desiring God conference – we’ve been thinking a little bit about how we’d like our blog to serve, interest, and even amuse you, as we begin to partner with you!

While we promote and distribute gospel-centered resources that we hope will serve you in your various ministries, we’re not just a bookshop. In fact, we’re not EVEN a bookshop in the traditional sense. Yes – we sell books - but everyone who works for The Good Book Company is dedicated to serving the local and wider church by using the different skills that God has given them. And as for our writers, the resources they produce are the result of years of hard work, dedicated service, ministry experience, and thorough testing.

So with all this out-on-the-ground experience in the heads and hearts of our staff we hope that our blog will eventually contain pieces that will inspire and encourage you in your work for the Lord Jesus. Whether you’re a small-group Bible study leader or a pastor leading a church of thousands we hope you’ll check in regularly to see what’s new, or just to browse the thoughts and opinions of those who share your heart for our needy world.

To give you a contined understanding of where the Good Book Company is coming from, we've interviewed popular author and series editor, Tim Chester, about the thinking behind the creation of the Good Book Guide range, and why it’s so important that we don’t see Bible study as an end in itself.

How did the idea for the series initially come about?

Tim: In a nutshell, we felt there was a need for something that was simple to use, but still took the Bible text seriously, so the Good Book Guides have less text and more questions.

Underlying the Good Book Guides are some convictions about the Bible. We don’t believe the Bible is open to a variety of interpretations. The meaning of a Bible passage is determined by the human and divine authors. It’s not determined by the reader. We need to ask ‘What does this passage mean?’ not ‘What does this passage mean to you?’

We also believe the Bible is God’s Word for us today. That means studying the Bible must lead to action. Bible study isn’t an end in itself. It’s about knowing and serving God better. The value of Good Book Guides is not whether they lead to good Bible studies, but whether they lead to Bibleshaped lives.

What do you think are the main features of Good Book Guides?

Tim: Each study starts with a ‘talkabout’ question that opens up the topic. There’s usually no right or wrong answer to this question. This means anyone can answer the question which gets people into the swing of contributing.

Then the main chunk of the study is the ‘investigate’ section. These get people into the text. That’s the key thing. The important thing is good questions that open up discussion.

When it comes to application we have a combination of ‘apply’ questions for group discussion and ‘getting personal’ boxes for individual reflection. We also include some ideas for prayer because we want groups to get in the habit of praying in response to God’s word.

Why do you think they are so popular?

Tim: I hope people appreciate their biblical faithfulness and incisive application. But I suspect people also like them because they’re easy to use. The leader’s notes provide a summary of the key issues in the passage and guidance on questions. They’re fairly comprehensive so I hope they give leaders confidence even if they don’t see themselves as gifted Bible teachers.

What do you think sets them apart from other Bible studies?

Tim: One thing is the ‘Why?’ question. A lot of people approach the Bible asking two questions: ‘What did it say then?’ and ‘What does it say today? But there’s a key question that belongs in the middle: the ‘Why?’ question. Why did the author say this? Why did he say it to these people? Why does he say it in this way? If we don’t ask the ‘Why?’ questions then we usually end up drawing rather random parallels between the situation then and now. Only by asking why it was written then can we really understand how it applies to us today.

Some Bible studies take the Bible seriously but are somewhat heavy. Others are easy to use but don’t push groups towards a real engagement with the Bible. I want the Good Book Guides to be both: easy to use and interacting seriously with the God’s word.

As well as being series editor of the Good Book Guides, Tim Chester is part of the Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, England, and is the author of a number of books including The Gospel-Centered Church.

Welcome to The Good Book Company's new website in North America!

After 20 years developing quality, practical materials for gospel work, resources that have been a help to UK Christians and churches as they grow and reach out to others, we thought it was about time we shared some of what we have learned with our brethren across the pond.

We specialize in selling and promoting solid daily reading material for all ages. Whether you are 8 or 80, The Good Book Company has material to help you grow and mature in your faith. We are also committed to helping you dig deeply into God’s Word. Thus, we have developed a robust line of Bible study guides we have titled the Good Book Guide series.

Our resources do not compromise on the essentials of the historic Biblical faith and at the same time are accessible and practical for the times in which we are living. Change is upon us, isn’t it time you change the way you study and interact with the Word of God? Let The Good Book Company be a resource for you on the journey...