Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life—yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life.
This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering—whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer. It is a book to buy for yourself, or to buy for a member of your church or friend. For anyone who is hurting, this book will give hope, not just for life beyond the suffering, but for life in the suffering.
Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.
Can we talk about Islam? by Review by Annabel Nixey – Equip Bookclub
Here are three reasons to read this book:
It’s short This book is short. Super short. Don’t get me wrong – it is good to read long books. But sometimes life means a short book is in order. And at 54 pages this one still packs a punch. If we gave books a value-per-page score, ‘Can we talk about Islam?’ would be 9.5/10.
It’s about Islam (and how to talk about it)
I am no expert on Islam. To be honest (to my shame) this is the first book I’ve read specifically on how to talk about Islam. And it was so clear and so helpful! In his third chapter Tony Payne summarizes the key teachings of Islam, comparing them to Christianity. For example, in Christianity, the problem is our rebellion against God (sin) and hence the solution is atonement to restore a personal relationship with God. Yet in Islam the problem is ignorance or weakness and so the solution is guidance through the prophets (particularly Muhammad) in order to enable submission to Allah. There’s also a really helpful summary of the diverse strands of Islam. It left me feeling much better equipped to avoid caricatures which depict extremist groups like ISIS as either representative of all of Islam or none of it.
It’s not just about Islam
The hidden gem of this book is chapter two – ‘Why don’t secular humanists want to talk?’ Don’t know what a secular humanist is? As Payne points out, chances are they are your neighbour, boss, dentist and cousin. Secular humanism is the air we breathe. This chapter is an incredibly helpful discussion of what secular humanism is and why secular humanists don’t want to talk about religion – because to them ‘whatever religious belief you have is a matter of personally chosen faith and values and opinion’ (p12). Payne explores and explains why they think this using a really clear illustration (involving a disappearing staircase!) which he admits to nicking from Francis Schaeffer. Well hats off to Mr Schaeffer because it’s a really helpful illustration! I read this chapter thinking – ‘that is what my friends think…ahhhh….that makes sense of why they think that’. It also was also helpful to see ways that I also can slip into a secular humanist mindset.
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The other morning I woke up while my children were still sleeping and began to pray. I started thinking about my identity. What am I? Who am I? As I settled into my prayer time I began to rejoice at the thought that I am a mother. It is part of who I am. To my children it is my name: Mom.
The modern mom doesn’t always like to be identified as a mother. We are “liberated.” We have names and identities of much greater significance. Even the Christian mommy would prefer to keep her mom identity in check. “I am a Christian first and foremost,” we might say. This is so true and so good. We are first and foremost identified as united to Christ. He has redeemed us and therefore our identities are wrapped up in his righteousness. But this doesn’t mean we have to deny the significance of being a mother as we embrace who we are in Jesus.
Maybe what we need is not to shed our mommy title, rather see the true significance of it. One great example can be found in the biblical account of Timothy. Timothy was the son of a Jewish woman who was also a believer, Eunice, and a Greek father (Acts 16:1, 2). Though we don’t seem to know much about his father, we get some crucial information about his mother.
This book is the spiritual adventure story of one woman who went from living a safe, “good-girl” faith that didn’t cost much , to realizing that God was daring her to say yes to a deeper and more authentic way. This book throws the doors wide open for any woman who has ever thought of herself as “just a mom”. Are you settling for a shiny ornamental faith? Get ready for one that’s messy, bold and courageous. Say yes to God right where you are – and stand amazed at how your life will shine.
CBD PRICE: R290.00
Adult Colouring Books: R80 each or R150 for any two
Despite the routine tasks and mundane to-do lists, motherhood is anything but insignificant. God has designed motherhood as part of his greater plan to draw people to himself. This book searches the Scriptures for the mission of God in motherhood. She opens our eyes to God’s life-giving promises intended to empower every woman as she makes disciples in her home, in her neighborhood, and around the world.
CBD PRICE: R370.35
Where you are going is not as important as who you go with. Suzie Eller shows how your faith is just that. How when you take a step away from the uncertainty, the to-do list, the busy life, the worries and excuses, you take a step toward the One who promises to delight and surprise. Who brings you deeper than you ever thought possible.
Fear, desire and guilt. Those are often the feelings Christians have about money. Jesus offers us a better way – a way of being content rather than coveting, generous rather than grasping and peaceful rather than anxious. Here are some books to help you as you consider this thought.
MONEY COUNTS
Do you have little money, lots of money or something in between? Full of common-sense advice on spending, saving and giving, this book views life and giving in the light of God’s generous grace and his promise of eternal glory.
CBD PRICE: R115.00
CBD PRICE: R60.00
FAMILY MONEY MATTERS
How we manage our family finances is an important issue. As Christians our lives should demonstrate different values from those of the world around us. How should we plan financially for the future? Should we ever get into debt? This thoroughly practical book addresses these matters.
CHRISTIANS IN AN AGE OF WEALTH
This book addresses the tough questions about the place and purpose of wealth and material possessions in a Christian’s life. Blomberg suggests that the sharing of goods and possessions is the key safeguard against both greed and covertness and expands of the concept of giving generously, even sacrificially to those in more need.
CBD PRICE: R275.00
CBD PRICE: R165.00
THE TREASURE PRINCIPLE
95% of Christians have never come to terms with a biblical perspective on their material possessions. God has entrusted His wealth to us and called upon us to manage and invest His money. When Jesus told His followers to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” they discovered an astounding secret: how joyful giving brings God maximum glory and his children maximum pleasure. This book introduces us to a revolution in material freedom and radical generosity.
HEALTH, WEALTH & HAPPINESS
46% of self-identifying Christians believe that God will make them rich if they have enough faith. Radio & TV proclaim this type of gospel daily – the gospel of prosperity. It teaches that God wants to fulfill our every desire for health, wealth and happiness and all it takes is sufficient faith. Is this the gospel? Or is it just a feel good, self-centered appeal to our materialistic impulses that omits the message of Jesus and the cross?
A homicide detective investigates the claims of the Gospels : Author: J. Warner Wallace
For the first thirty-five years of his life, J. Warner Wallace was a devout atheist. After all, how can you believe a claim made about an event in the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence? Then Wallace realised something. Christianity was a lot like the cold cases he solved as a homicide detective – it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. When Wallace applied his skills as an expert detective to the assertions of the New Testament, he came to a startling realisation – the case for Christianity was as convincing as any cold case he had ever worked as a detective, with evidence, eyewitnesses and records to solve.
This book includes gripping stories from the author’s career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom. Wallace also uses illustrations to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity.
Warner is a unique apologetic that speaks to a readers’ intense interest in detective stories, and inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity.
It has been five hundred years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s theses called for the reform of the church and served as the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. Its impact is still felt today. Today we learn about 5 truths that shaped the Christian Life.
How is the Reformation still relevant today? As political pressure mounts, morality drifts with today’s culture, and evangelicalism becomes more and more refined in a post-Christian world, it’s even more important to hold the convictions of the great Reformation closer than ever. In short, the solas point us to vibrant Christian community as well as personal identity in Christ.
This Bible study examines the five core truths that came from the Reformation, now referred to as the solas. Group members will explore these essential convictions of the faith and emerge more immersed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The solas include:
Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone)
Sola gratia (by grace alone)
Sola fide (through faith alone)
Solus Christus (through Christ alone)
Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone)
As you’ll see in this study, the solas are more than cold Latin terms that academics throw around in church-history books. The five solas, like the Reformation itself, are intensely practical. They were the DNA of the Reformation and are still the DNA of the church today. They are grounded in a real-life, everyday following of Jesus. They’re the most important, basic scriptural truths you can ever believe. We stand on the shoulders of Christians in the past, and knowing where we came from will help us keep moving forward with passion and biblical clarity.
Echoes of the Reformation Leader Kit contains aBible Study Book, 1 DVD with a promotional video and another DVD with six 15- to 20-minute video sessions featuring authors Kevin DeYoung, Al Mohler, and Trevin Wax. These panel discussions introduce the topic, overview historical significance, explore the theological meanings of the solas, and include illustrations for applying these key transformative truths.
BIBLE STUDY KIT: R910.00STUDY BOOKS: Available Soon
Journeys have provided rich material for writers over the centuries; from Homer’s Odyssey, to Tolkein’s The Hobbit (or, There and Back Again), to de Botton’s The Art of Travel. Journeys are both the reality and the metaphor for the human life. It is no surprise then that Tom Wright begins his book (which is really a series of lectures) by describing two types of journeys. He is, in fact, quoting someone else (Dr Jonathon Sacks) when he does this, identifying the GPS type of journey, where we are given directions to where we are going; or the ant journey, where we follow each other aimlessly, ending in catastrophe.
Wright’s question at the beginning of the book is, “Will the church, and the world, do the satellite-navigation thing or the ant thing?” (2) He examines this question in terms of three challenges: Gnosticism, imperialism and postmodernism. These challenges, while considered from a contemporary viewpoint, are shown by Wright to, in fact, have been challenges that the world and the Church have faced since the Gospel was first proclaimed.
Wright states from the beginning that he is using a Trinitarian framework to consider the three challenges which he has outlined. In short a Trinitarian framework seeks to examine an issue through the relationship of the Godhead (such as we saw in the Balswick’s The Family), with particular focus on how Christ reveals the Father and the Holy Spirit. Wright is clear to point out that the Trinitarian framework was not imposed, but came about through biblical exegesis (4). This is certainly the preferred method of scholarship, as described by Gerald Bray in his essay ‘The Trinity: Where do we go from here?’ in Always Reforming (ed. ATB McGowan).
This book is quite short, and, as a result, raises more questions than Wright has room to answer, and there are certainly some difficulties with engaging deeply when much is assumed. However, in this it is important to remember two things. Firstly, that the book is based upon three lectures given at Harvard University in 2006. Thus being tied to a particular audience and context, and as the Noble lectures were founded “to arouse in young people, and primarily in the students of that great university, the joy of service for Christ and humanity, especially in the ministry of the Christian Church” (as quoted by Wright in the Preface, xii), they have specific purpose. And secondly, that given the book’s brevity we need to be generous to Wright in our judgements. I must admit that there were times in my reading that I wondered if he had wandered into having an over-realised eschatology, but this was more to do with my haphazard reading over a period of time; it is much clearer when read in one sitting.
I hope, as we look through each of the challenges which Wright outlines over the coming weeks, that we would be able to see how the Gospel of Christ is our story, our journey. And that, as we walk the life of faith in Him, we would be challenged to confront our own views on creation and new creation, power and authority, truth and justice.
CBD PRICE: R175.00 EQUIP PRICE: R120.00 (valid until 13th May 2017)
These disposable plastic communion cups are recyclable ,and are designed to fit standard cup trays. They come in quantities of 100, 500 or 1000 cups. (Juice not included).
PRICE: From R70 – R300
Pre-Filled Fellowship Cup
The Fellowship Cup is a uniquely designed cup that offers a bread wafer and a serving of grape juice. These cups require no refrigeration and come with a 12 month freshness guarantee. Available in boxes of 6, 100, 250 and 500 cups.
Price for 500 cups: R1525.00
Communion Filler Bottle
This bottle has a screw top & non-drip spout. The bottle’s capacity is 450mls, which holds enough juice to fill 70-75 communion cups.
Price: R180.00
Communion Serving Tray
This elegant serving tray is crafted in durable stainless steel, and designed to hold 40 plastic or glass communion cups.
Price: R860.00
Communion bread and wafers are also available for backorder.
We are facing one of the greatest crises in the history of religion. Truth is being cast aside in the name of tolerance and cultural relativism, all under the guise of a New Spirituality. Having become accustomed to abundance and the bliss of multiple choices, we now have a spiritual supermarket before us from which we may select whatever form of spirituality we desire. But tragically we often choose without knowing how to make a distinction between truth and falsehood.
Contemporary Christians and the spiritually interested in particular need to know why the New Spirituality ideas, presented by popular celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra attract, and how Jesus alone provides a guide through this perplexing welter of beliefs, lifestyles, hopes and aspirations.
In this brilliant and compelling critique of the dangers of the New Spirituality, Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias applies some vigorous therapy to counter this assault on rational thought and shows why the uniqueness of Jesus matters. It is a compelling argument for anyone looking for the truth about the New Spirituality and who Jesus really is. And more importantly why it should matter.
The Bible reveals some things to us that are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). We recognize some of these things in our experience, but when we try to define or explain their essential nature or how they actually work, we find ourselves utterly perplexed.
Take, for instance, the Trinity. Relating to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is, in many ways, much easier experienced than explained. A child can believe in, interact with, and trust the triune God, but the combined power of the greatest theological minds of the past two millennia have not been able to explain triune mechanics. We know it works, but we don’t know how.
Or consider the coexistence of God’s universal, absolute sovereignty (John 1:1–3; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 1:3) and human personal accountability for our moral choices (Matthew 12:36; Romans 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 9:14–23). We know this reality by experience. We can all point to God’s sovereign interventions in our lives that go way beyond appealing to our wills, and yet we know instinctively that we are not machines, and that we are responsible for our moral choices. We know it works, but we don’t know how.
Some find such mysteries troubling, wondering if the realities are so hard to understand because they’re not just conundrums, but contradictions. Some scholars consider such mysteries to simply be esoteric religious nonsense. They encourage folks to place their faith in more concrete and certain things, like discoveries in the physical sciences.
Interestingly enough, though, the deeper scientists have delved into the nature of nature — in an effort to comprehend how physical reality works at its fundamental levels — they too have found themselves utterly perplexed.
“The deeper scientists have delved into the nature of nature, the more mysteries they have discovered.”
Hurt is real. But so is hope.
Admiring what Science cannot explain. By