Most current popular Christian theology books tend to focus on the defects of either fundamentalism or liberalism. The authentic ‘Good News’ gospel of Christ is currently sandwiched between these two main rival, distortive and reductive interpretations. Here, M.H. Davis suggests that neither fundamentalism nor liberalism equate with the radically challenging and empowering gospel of risk.As such, he offers a fresh slant on the current debate as to the power and scope of post-modern Christianity, and considers how these western Christian extrapolations square or do not square with the radical risk-taking nature of Christ’s incarnate ministry. The book’s purpose is to act as a catalyst to provoke people into the realisation that Christianity does not have to be an either-or choice between fundamentalism and liberalism.

In this distinctive approach to the Gospels, Robert Beck shows how each of the individual evangelists communicates his message about Jesus through the narrative structure of each gospel, specifically, how each gospel deals with conflict between Jesus and his enemies and how this conflict is resolved. He offers an important way to discover how the Bible, and the gospels in particular, treat issues of violence, force, and coercion.

Today we have greater wealth, health, opportunity, and choice than at any time in history. Yet a chorus of intellectuals and politicians laments our current condition -- as slaves to technology, coarsened by popular culture, and insecure in the face of economic change. The future, they tell us, is dangerously out of control, and unless we precisely govern the forces of change, we risk disaster. In The Future and Its Enemies, Virginia Postrel explodes the myths behind these claims. Using examples that range from medicine to fashion, she explores how progress truly occurs and demonstrates that human betterment depends not on conformity to one central vision but on creativity and decentralized, open-ended trial and error. She argues that these two opposing world-views -- "stasis" vs. "dynamism" -- are replacing "left" and "right" to define our cultural and political debate as we enter the next century. In this bold exploration of how civilizations learn, Postrel heralds a fundamental shift in the way we view politics, culture, technology, and society as we face an unknown -- and invigorating -- future.

It takes place in the year 95 CE (AD) at the home of Flavia Sabena—a cousin to Emperor Domitian—on the last night of the Festival of Saturnalia. The hostess has invited eminent Jewish-Roman historian Flavius Josephus as guest of honor to give readings from his works while they wait up all night in their annual solar vigil celebrating the Midwinter Solstice. Among the guests are P. Cornelius Tacitus, the leading voice among Roman historians, and Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the biographer of the Caesars. Opening with the “Star and Scepter” prophecy and a flashback to Isaiah, the action shifts to Josephus, who explains that what encouraged the zealot bandits who fomented this war was an ambiguous oracle of a world ruler coming out of their country that was supported by their scriptural writings. But as it turned out, the oracle foretold the elevation of Vespasian, who was proclaimed Roman Emperor while he was in Judea. For more information, you may visit www.cgweissthegospel.com

In the accounts of the early church and in the letters of the apostles to the beloved brethren, time and again there are references to people who systematically thwarted the apostles' efforts to preach the pure gospel message. As Christians we are often challenged about our beliefs. This work will release Christians who are trapped by misconceptions and who may be bound by false teaching. Such people will be liberated from the shackles of the mind, which hold them back from the full appreciation of the Spirit of God's power in their lives. This book will also serve to clarify questions of non-Christians who are curious about the conflicting ideas from groups who purport to be Christian but who cannot agree. Finally and most powerfully, this book will free people to embrace the gospel and to bask in the gift of God: eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

CBA BESTSELLER • Break free from the destructive power of guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy. Includes a six-week discussion guide. “Andy Stanley touches the right nerve at the right time.”—Shaunti Feldhahn, bestselling author of For Women Only and For Men Only Divorce. Job loss. Estrangement from family members. Broken friendships. The difficult circumstances you are dealing with today are likely being fed by one of four emotional forces that compels you to act in undesirable ways, sometimes even against your will. Andy Stanley explores each of these destructive forces—guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy—and how they infiltrate your life and damage your relationships. He says that, left unchallenged they have the power to destroy your home, your career, and your friendships. In Enemies of the Heart, Andy offers practical, biblical direction to help you fight back, to take charge of those feelings that mysteriously control you, and to restore your broken relationships. Previously released as It Came from Within

Paul’s conflict with viscous enemies, human and otherwise, led him to employ efficacious powers, charismata (charismatic powers), and controversial and sometimes illegal practices that are only coherent when placed in context of the first century Hellenistic-Roman world. These included soul and spirit transportation, possession, and exorcisms, special techniques to repel demonic attack, as well as what was considered the darkest of black magic in the ancient world—the casting of death curses, which called on Satan to infect, harm, and even kill his enemies. All of these can be recovered in striking detail using risk analysis of his undisputed writings and comparing them with contemporary sources, papyri, and documents independent of the New Testament. The results demonstrate that Paul’s letters are so much more than simply intellectual and rhetorical correspondences—they are infused with dangerous mystical and charismatic powers feared in an ancient world that was saturated with prevalent, active dark forces and multi-layered human and supernatural conflicts; of angels and demons at war; of charismata and anathemata (deadly curses); and Paul’s expectation of the hemera kuriou, “Day of the Lord,” that would defeat Satan and the curse of death via pistis (faith) in the efficacious euangelion (gospel) of agape (love).