Apologetics – The Parish Trust

Why Jesus?

Rev. Dean Aaron Roberts — Thu, 26 May 2022 08:12:08 +0000

Who is Jesus? Why is he relevant today? This booklet is a concise, easy to read study of the very real questions people may have about Jesus. Learn about the historical basis for the Christian faith, who Jesus was and what difference it makes if his claims were true or not. Why Jesus? is designed to be given to all guests attending an Alpha, or church services and events. This expanded edition includes content from Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in One Year, an ideal companion to reading the Bible.

God and the Pandemic

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 08:55:46 +0000

What are we supposed to think about the coronavirus crisis? Some people think they know: ‘This is a sign of the End,’ they say. ‘It’s all predicted in the book of Revelation.’ Others disagree but are equally clear: ‘This is a call to repent. God is judging the world and through this disease he’s telling us to change.’ Some join in the chorus of blame and condemnation: ‘It’s the fault of the Chinese, the government, the World Health Organization. . .’ Tom Wright examines these reactions to the virus and finds them wanting. Instead, he invites you to consider a different way of seeing and responding – a way that draws on the teachings and examples of scripture, and above all on the way of living, thinking and praying revealed to us by Jesus.

Searching Issues: Tough Questions, Straight Answers

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 20:16:51 +0000

As we begin to think more deeply about the meaning of life, it's not long before we come across tough questions that deserve careful consideration. This book explores and discusses seven common objections to the Christian faith, including: – Why does God allow suffering? – What about other religions? – Is there a conflict between science and Christianity? Drawing on several years of talking through these issues with people looking for answers, Nicky Gumbel offers clear, accessible and reasoned responses to the questions that surround faith and Christianity in the modern world. He goes beyond the logic of each question and applies it to a wider understanding of God's identity and our own identity, with practical suggestions for dealing with these issues in everyday life. 'Gumbel's combination of humour, anecdote, metaphysics, quotations from the Bible and complex theology are both persuasive and compelling.' – The Observer

Where is God in a Coronavirus World?

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:59:50 +0000

We are living through a unique, era-defining period. Many of our old certainties have gone, whatever our view of the world and whatever our beliefs. The coronavirus pandemic and its effects are perplexing and unsettling for all of us. How do we begin to think it through and cope with it? In this short yet profound book, Oxford mathematics professor John Lennox examines the coronavirus in light of various belief systems and shows how the Christian worldview not only helps us to make sense of it, but also offers us a sure and certain hope to cling to. Here's why John Lennox wrote the book: "This book consists of my reflections on what we are experiencing right now. I started writing it a week ago, and things have changed quickly since then and no doubt will do again…I would invite you, the reader, to view the book like this: we are sitting in a coffee shop (if only we could!) and you have asked me the question on the book cover. I put down my coffee cup and attempt to give you an honest answer. What follows is what I would try to say in order to convey some comfort, support and hope."

Unbelievable?

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 10:08:45 +0000

No one likes to be told they are wrong; but is that any reason not to listen? Seeking to burst the 'Christian bubble' that many believers find comfort in, Justin Brierley began to invite atheists, sceptics and non-believers onto Premier Christian Radio to unpack and understand the so-called 'unbelievables' of the Christian faith. Now, over ten years later, Premier's Unbelievable? podcast continues to captivate hundreds of thousands of listeners and has even spawned its own annual conference. But how has ten years in the atheist-argument-firing-line affected the presenter's faith? Taking the best from conversations with Richard Dawkins and many more, Unbelievable? the book, invites readers to look behind the scenes at how ten years of talking with atheists, sceptics and non-believers has stirred, shaken but ultimately strengthened Justin's own belief in the not-so-unbelievable Christian faith. This book invites readers to unpack some of the most common objections to Christianity, equipping them to respond to sceptics and better understand the reason for their faith.

God behaving Badly

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 10:08:37 +0000

God has a bad reputation. Many think of God as wrathful and angry, smiting people right and left for no apparent reason. The Old Testament in particular seems at times to portray God as capricious and malevolent, wiping out armies and nations, punishing enemies with extreme prejudice. But wait. The story is more complicated than that. Alongside troubling passages of God's punishment and judgment are pictures of God's love, forgiveness, goodness and slowness to anger. How do we make sense of the seeming contradiction? Can God be trusted or not? David Lamb unpacks the complexity of the Old Testament to explore the character of God. He provides historical and cultural background to shed light on problematic passages and to bring underlying themes to the fore. Without minimising the sometimes harsh realities of the biblical record, Lamb assembles an overall portrait that gives coherence to our understanding of God in both the Old and New Testaments.