Book reviews in 2019

Farron is honest about his personal and political shortcomings, writes in a readable, quirky style, and raises some important issues

A Bombshell in the Baptistery

This in many ways is a helpful guide, but it's not the last word on my father, writes Paul Beasley-Murray

Bathsheba Survives by Sara M. Koenig

A comprehensive overview of how, throughout history, Christians have read all 76 verses of Bathsheba’s narrative in every way imaginable

Be Afraid by Joseph Haward

Makes links with theology and the horror genre - and a master-class in interpreting film through a Gospel lens

Breakthrough into Recovery

I felt there were really two books here - but I very much hope it helps those struggling with addictions

Can science explain everything?

John Lennox's latest is well worth buying, reading and then lending to friends who think that God and science don’t mix

Celtic Lent – 40 days of devotions to Easter

A Lent book with a different slant: be prepared to be challenged by the teaching of Celtic Christians

Dementia from the Inside

A compelling account from a doctor and Baptist minister's daughter diagnosed with early onset dementia

Every Job a Parable by John Van Sloten

Shows how it is possible to ‘reimagine’ (by seeing jobs as ‘parables’) the actual work as part of God’s intention for individuals and for the world

Everyday conversations with Matthew by John Holdsworth

Holdsworth brings the situations of ordinary readers into conversation with scholarship to help make the text accessible

Finding Our Voice by Jeannie Kendall

The gift for making connections is essential for effective preaching and pastoral care. This has it in spades

George Whitefield by Nigel Scotland

Well researched biography of this truly remarkable preacher, described here as the first Transatlantic Revivalist

Haunted by Christ by Richard Harries

Short essays offering a brief introduction to 20 writers followed by analysis of faith themes that have gripped them

How to Pray by Pete Greig

A gem of a book which examines different kinds of prayer, as well as addressing unanswered prayer

Illuminated Scripture Journal - Romans

For those who have not yet embarked on journaling, this book focusing on Romans might be a good way in

Jesus said, ‘I am’ by Andrea Skevington

Positive book that explores the 'I am' sayings of Jesus, and will help attentive readers in their life of faith

John on - reflections on an unusual Gospel by Terry Young

Baptist church member Terry Young has written two useful books for exploring John's gospel

Jonah and the Bony-Finned Asteroid Fish

Transports the Jonah story from the Bible to a science fiction mode. Well told if scarcely believable at times

Leading a Church to Maturity in Love

Impressively wise and original book on church leadership: its advice resonated closely with my experience as a minister

Learn: Children and Young People

Encourages churches to think about the place of children/young people using an intergenerational model

Learn: Pastoral Care (Church of Scotland)

An important and helpful book on a much neglected subject which will benefit both 'carer’ and ‘cared for'

Learning activities for growing churches

An excellent compendium of exercises from the Church of Scotland Mission and Discipleship Council

Melodies of a New Monasticism

Craig Gardiner's scholarly but readable work which draws on Bonhoeffer and Iona will inform and challenge

Missional Conversations – theory and praxis

Collection of thoughtful essays representing current thinking and practice on a range of missional topics

Missions by Andy Johnson

Biblical and highly practical, a wonderful resource for churches thinking about their role in God’s mission

Most popular book reviews in 2018

These were the top five most clicked book reviews in The Baptist Times in 2018

On the Lookout by N. Micklem

A quest for the historical Jesus which focuses not on what is questionable, but what is certain

Peter Enns: The Bible tells me so and The Sin of Certainty

Trust in God casts out fear and cultivates a life of trust that flourishes regardless of how certain we feel

Phoebe: A Story By Paula Gooder

‘An experiment in historical imagination’, part novel and part academic study, which both entertains and informs in the world of early Roman Christianity

Postcards from the Land of Grief by Richard Littledale

Carries a real air of authority and integrity from a man who knows how it feels to have loved and lost

Praying the Way by Terry Hinks

Prayers around various passages in the four Gospels; if your church uses liturgical language you will like this a lot

Re-thinking Children’s Work in Churches

Set of essays which provide a great opportunity to step back and reflect on the what, how and why of being with and working with children

Really Useful Guides: Psalms and Colossians

BRF's Really Useful Guides follow the trend towards smaller, shorter books - and are genuinely useful

Rhythms of Faithfulness and John Colwell

Much to reflect on, stimulate and enjoy in this collection of essays in honor of Baptist theologian John E Colwell

Richard Dawkins, C.S. Lewis and the Meaning of Life by Alister McGrath

Excellent apologetics from McGrath - but does apologetics need to be different in our fake news age?

Sabbath Rest by Mark Scarlata

A great book for anyone looking to explore the biblical background of sabbath alongside the tension of what it means to live it out in the world today

Shadow Doctor: The past awaits

The second book in Adrian Plass's series is a page-turning read that documents very real and messy relationships

Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster

'One of the great classics of modern spirituality, newly reissued. I would recommend it without hesitation'

The Bible and Disability: A Commentary

Important set of essays that encourage us to read the Bible through the lens of a disability hermeneutic

The Birth of Jesus and The Miracles of Jesus

Reprint of books published in 2013 and 2014; but the re-tellings reinforce a cosy fiction

The Church and the Future of Welfare

'The most helpful and important book published on Christian social action in the last 20 years'

The Contemplative Response by Ian Cowley

Recommended for anyone who finds themselves ‘too busy’, and doesn't know what to do about it

The Forerunner Cry by William Porter

Well-written and focused on Jesus, but has a flawed understanding of Revelation, writes Spurgeon's tutor and author

The Lost Message of Paul by Steve Chalke

An exploration of a reading that we are saved not by our faith in Christ, but the faith of Christ

The Making of Us by Sheridan Voysey

Not a self-help manual of answers, but a window which can increase self-understanding

The Word’s Out: David Male, Paul Weston

A warm, enthusiastic presentation of ‘principles and strategies for effective evangelism today’

The badly behaved Bible - Nick Page

As ever Page writes well, but there are weaknesses in some of the interpretations he presents

Truth and the Church in a Secular Age

A collection of essays which addresses a post-truth culture - we dare not avoid its challenge

Wake Up to Advent by John Sentamu

The Archbishop of York's Advent book features 25 meditations which stimulate the reader to find their own voice rather than ‘the preacher’s’

Walking to Jerusalem by Justin Butcher

Butcher is an astute guide to the exhausting dilemmas that swirl around the three faiths and two peoples in Jerusalem

We Need To Talk about Race by Ben Lindsay

Explores how we might create more inclusive church communities; recommended reading for all Baptists

What Are They Doing Down There? By Paul Kerensa

Paul Kerensa's little gem will provide great material for sermons, and should be prescribed on the NHS

Wrestling with Old Testament violence

Comprehensive introduction for those new to the questions it explores; new insights for those familiar with the subject

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