The story of how a poor Welsh chapel facing imminent closure has been transformed into a thriving community.Learn from the principles shared in this book to help your church grow and be encouraged by this modern revival story that has captivated the hearts of many Christians around the world.“The story of the work at Noddfa Church so far is about sacrifice, love of people and God’s Glory above all things. It is a testimony to God’s power seen in those who take Him at His word. Read this and be encouraged” Philip Swann, Pastoral Director, Evangelical Movement of Wales.“In the midst of darkness, God lights a flame at Noddfa Church that brings hope to a desperate world.” Mihai Dumitrascu, Pastor, Biserica Crestina Emanuel, Galați, România.“Noddfa Church is a jewel. A powerful home-town revival story that endures.” Rhys Stenner, Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia USA.“What is happening at Noddfa Church is what “East Meets West” in Korea has been praying for. God is at work and is bringing His perfect purposes to pass in the lives of the brothers and sisters at Noddfa Church”Sam Koh, Pastor, Sarang Church, Seoul, South Korea"God is using Noddfa Church to make himself known in poor communities across Wales."Christ Street, Chairman, Welsh Leadership Forum"'What God can do with a little oil' strengthens faith in our Lord's promise that 'His power is made perfect in weakness' Ponder anew what the almighty God can do."James Allan, Chairman, Association of Evangelical Churches of Wales“Amidst the spiritual darkness that envelopes the once blessed South Wales Valleys, the Lord has lit a gospel flame at Noddfa Church.”Trevor Archer Chiar of the Sychar Gospel Fund and former Director of the FIEC“What God has and is doing at Noddfa Church is a powerful reminder that the gospel still works.”Andy Pitt, Pastor, Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Wales"I have been deeply moved, challenged and inspired by the ministry of John Funnell and the story of Noddfa. Preach Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and an old world of glory and wonder that has almost gone will be reborn."Marcus Nelson, Vicar, St Marks, Gabalfa Cardiff Read more

The Bible Speaks Today Whole Bible set covers every book of the Old and New Testaments across 55 volumes. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world. Read more

A companion series to the acclaimed Word Biblical CommentaryFinding the great themes of the books of the Bible is essential to the study of God's Word and to the preaching and teaching of its truths. These themes and ideas are often like precious gems: they lie beneath the surface and can only be discovered with some difficulty. While commentaries are useful for helping readers understand the content of a verse or chapter, they are not usually designed to help the reader to trace important subjects systematically within a given book a Scripture.The Word Biblical Themes series helps readers discover the important themes of a book of the Bible. This series distills the theological essence of a given book of Scripture and serves it up in ways that enrich the preaching, teaching, worship, and discipleship of God's people. Volumes in this series:Are written by top biblical scholarsFeature authors who wrote on the same book of the Bible for the Word Biblical Commentary seriesDistill deep and focused study on a biblical book into the most important themes and practical applications of themGive readers an ability to see the "big picture" of a book of the Bible by understanding what topics and concerns were most important to the biblical writersHelp address pressing issues in the church today by showing readers see how the biblical writers approached similar issues in their dayAre ideal for sermon preparation and for other teaching in the church Word Biblical Themes are an ideal resource for any reader who has used and benefited from the Word Biblical Commentary series, and will help pastors, bible teachers, and students as they seek to understand and apply God’s word to their ministry and learning. Read more

A bestselling author and leading expert on the Catholic priesthood, Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti forges a renewed theology of priestly blessing, encouraging his brother priests to embrace the habit of blessing people, objects, and events. In this provocative and inspirational book he shows how the blessing is integral to the identity of priests and crucial to the spiritual wellbeing of all the faithful.Msgr. Stephen Rossetti fears that many priests shy away from blessing people and objects because of a lack of awareness of the rich tradition of Church blessings and a deficit in training for this important pastoral practice. In The Priestly Blessing, Rossetti urges priests to boldly and frequently embrace this ancient practice because of their unique calling.Rossetti traces the history of blessing in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He also explores the various types of blessing, such as praise of God, the invocation of special benefit from God, and being consecrated to God.The Priestly Blessing also helps priests reflect on what saints and mystics have taught about blessing as a vital activity of the Church, and outlines connections between Catholic sacramental theology, the practice of priestly blessing, and the Catholic understanding of creation that helps make sense of priests blessing objects and animals. Read more

Since the days of the early church, Christians have wrestled with the relationship between law and gospel. If, as the apostle Paul says, salvation is by grace and the law cannot save, what relevance does the law have for Christians today?By revisiting the Marrow Controversy―a famous but largely forgotten eighteenth-century debate related to the proper relationship between God’s grace and our works―Sinclair B. Ferguson sheds light on this central issue and why it still matters today. In doing so, he explains how our understanding of the relationship between law and gospel determines our approach to evangelism, our pursuit of sanctification, and even our understanding of God himself.Ferguson shows us that the antidote to the poison of legalism on the one hand and antinomianism on the other is one and the same: the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ, in whom we are simultaneously justified by faith, freed for good works, and assured of salvation. Read more

In The Widening Circle, Graham Tomlin explores an exhilarating new approach to priesthood. The author suggests that ‘Priest’ is much more than a term to describe certain Christian ministers – it is a vital category for understanding God’s way of blessing his world. This world was made for joy: the joy of God and the joy of Creation. But to know that joy, the world needs the divine blessing that is focused in Jesus Christ, the only true High Priest. His priestly ministry consists of mediating between God and the world, perfecting that very creation, and then offering this perfected creation back to the God from whom it came. Yet this very ministry is enacted through others. As we explore how this priesthood of Christ has an impact on everyday life, we discover that the human race is chosen to play a priestly role between God and Creation. The Church is then called out to be a kingdom of priests, enabling humanity to fulfil its divine calling. And, finally, the minister himself or herself – experiencing as Christ did, both strands of priestly reality, the mundane and the heavenly, the routine and the remarkable, the normal and the numinous – is called to enable the rest of the Church to play its distinct part. In each case, the part is the means by which the whole becomes all that it is intended to be, in an ever widening circle of divine blessing, so that the world might know the joy for which it was created. Read more

The biblical queen Esther is one of Scripture's most fascinating persons, and the drama of the book bearing her name is clearly captured in this superb commentary. Carol Bechtel expertly explores the historical settings, literary structures, and theological themes that emerge in the book of Esther.Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry. Read more

This volume studies the biblical book of Judges, which focuses on the period in Israel's history when the nation was ruled by a series of judges. The book describes the progressive deterioration of the nation as a result of the violence and idolatry of the people. Yet the nation also encountered the astounding graciousness of the God who remained faithful to them.Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry. Read more

A longstanding annual favourite continues under its new editorship bringing a wide variety of preaching voices together to offer a resource for preaching at the principal and the second service every Sunday of the coming year, plus on principal feast days and seasonal services. Ideal for preachers in all churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary, it also includes sermons for holy days, major saints’ days and special occasions such as Mothering Sunday, harvest, rogation and Christmas services. If preparation time is short, the sermons are complete and can be used as they are, but they will also act as a framework for creating your own sermon texts. It also includes: - an introductory essay for preachers - all-age talks for special occasions - hymn suggestions throughout the year - an index of topics and names A boon for hard-pressed clergy, readers and local preachers everywhere. Read more

Frederick Buechner has long been a kindred spirit to those who find elements of doubt as constant companions on their journey of faith. He is a passionate writer and preacher who can alter lives with a simple phrase. Buechner's words, both written and spoken, have the power to revolutionize and revitalize belief and faith. He reveals the presence of God in the midst of daily life. He faces and embraces difficult questions and doubt as essential components of our lives, rather than as enemies that destroy us. "Listen to your life!" is his clarion call. This theme pervades this definitive collection of sermons, delivered throughout Buechner's lifetime. Presented chronologically, they provide a clear picture of the development of his theology and thinking. Reflecting Buechner's exquisite gift for storytelling and his compassionate pastor's heart, Secrets in the Dark will inspire laughter, hope, and bring great solace. Turn the pages and rediscover what it means to be thoughtful about faith. See why this renowned writer has been quoted in countless pulpits and beloved by Americans for generations. Read more

In his clear and readable style Walter Brueggemann presents Genesis as a single book set within the context of the whole of biblical revelation. He sees his task as bringing the text close to the faith and ministry of the church. He interprets Genesis as a proclamation of God's decisive dealing with creation rather than as history of myth. Brueggemann's impressive perspective illuminates the study of the first book of the Bible.Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry. Read more

After its first, successful and award winning book series of homilies and reflections for the three liturgical cycles, Clear Faith Publishing is thrilled to complete this second series with this final installment. So, once again, some of the finest homilists come together to build a new compilation of homilies and reflections, for Cycle A of the Liturgical Year. A Prisoner and You Visited Me breaks open the Sunday and Feast Day readings in order to provide insight, warmth, humor and spiritual food for the reader. Under the moniker Homilists for the Homeless, the gift of these preachers makes it possible for proceeds from the sale of every book to go toward charities that serve and support those who live on the margins. Read more

In this book, the preaching of the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland, in its formative years, is contrasted with the mostly placid preaching of the 18th century. The early ministers of the Free Church were men who understood the importance of gospel preaching. Many of them had once been unconverted ministers. They had come to faith in Jesus Christ after they were ordained. These men understood the danger of assuming themselves to be Christian for reasons other than the work of God in regeneration. Their main aim in preaching became the glory of God in the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ. Read more

This longstanding annual favourite brings a wide variety of preaching voices together to offer a resource for preaching at the principal and the second service (for which preaching resources are scarce) every Sunday of the coming year, plus on principal feast days and seasonal services. Ideal for preachers wherever the 3-year lectionary is used, it also includes sermons for holy days, major saints’ days and special occasions such as Mothering Sunday, harvest, rogation and Christmas services. Hymn suggestions are provided throughout. It also includes an introductory essay to help build preachers’ skills and confidence, this year by Mark Oakley . If preparation time is short, the sermons are complete and can be used as they are, but they will also act as a springboard or framework for creating your own sermon texts. A boon for hard-pressed clergy, readers and local preachers everywhere. Read more

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context.To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections:Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context.Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible.Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved.This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written. Read more

One of the most effective and influential Christian teachers of this century reveals how all teachers -- from parents to Sunday school leaders, from pastors to professors -- can make the most of their priceless opportunity to inspire, to instruct, and to permanently impact lives for the kingdom of God. Based on seven proven, easy-to-grasp laws any teacher can apply, Howard Hendricks's classic teaching manual is a must-read for anyone who wants to teach with power and passion, excitement and excellence. Read more

This commentary clearly presents the episodes in the book of Joshua as the people of Israel face the challenges of entering into the land of promise. Both the historical and theological meanings of the book are presented throughout this most helpful commentary.Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the Bible in the church. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry. Read more

With more than 400,000 copies sold, this bestselling textbook on biblical preaching is a contemporary classic in the field. It offers students, pastors, and Bible teachers expert guidance in the development and delivery of expository sermons. This new edition provides resources, methods, and advice for new generations of students and pastors. It has been revised and updated throughout by Scott Wenig, professor of applied theology and Haddon W. Robinson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Denver Seminary. Wenig adds a step to the preaching method that has been widely accepted and utilized by Robinson’s former students. The book also includes a foreword by Torrey Robinson. “[An] outstanding introduction to the task of preparing and presenting biblical sermons. Robinson’s ‘Big Idea’ preaching has shaped the thinking of thousands of expository preachers and been the major influence on many of those who teach preaching in today’s classrooms.”—Preaching Read more

This longstanding annual favourite brings a wide variety of preaching voices together to offer a resource for preaching at the principal and the second service (for which preaching resources are scarce) every Sunday of the coming year, plus on principal feast days and seasonal services. Ideal for preachers wherever the 3-year lectionary is used, it also includes sermons for holy days, major saints’ days and special occasions such as Mothering Sunday, harvest, rogation and Christmas services. Hymn suggestions are provided throughout. It also includes an introductory essay to help build preachers’ skills and confidence, this year by Mark Oakley . If preparation time is short, the sermons are complete and can be used as they are, but they will also act as a springboard or framework for creating your own sermon texts. A boon for hard-pressed clergy, readers and local preachers everywhere. Read more

Continuing a Gold Medallion Award-winning legacy, the completely revised Expositor's Bible Commentary puts world-class biblical scholarship in your hands.A staple for students, teachers, and pastors worldwide, The Expositor's Bible Commentary (EBC) offers comprehensive yet succinct commentary from scholars committed to the authority of the Holy Scriptures. The EBC uses the New International Version of the Bible, but the contributors work from the original Hebrew and Greek languages and refer to other translations when useful.Each section of the commentary includes:An introduction: background information, a short bibliography, and an outlineAn overview of Scripture to illuminate the big pictureThe complete NIV textExtensive commentaryNotes on textual questions, key words, and conceptsReflections to give expanded thoughts on important issuesThe series features 56 contributors, who:Believe in the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the BibleHave demonstrated proficiency in the biblical book that is their specialtyAre committed to the church and the pastoral dimension of biblical interpretationRepresent geographical and denominational diversityUse a balanced and respectful approach toward marked differences of opinionWrite from an evangelical viewpointFor insightful exposition, thoughtful discussion, and ease of use―look no further than The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Read more