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Book reviews in 2019

A Better Ambition by Tim Farron   
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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Book reviews published by The Baptist Times in 2020
Book reviews in 2019
Book reviews published by The Baptist Times in 2019
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