New Hope Presbytery Resource Center
New Books  - Week of June 29, 2008

Book, bath, table, and time

"A long overdue transformation of youth ministry. Drawing on the experience of the Duke Youth Academy, Edie develops a practical theological blue print for embracing the encounter of Christian tradition and the world of adolescents in the church's ministry with youth. With Christian worship as the generative context for its purposes, standards, and forms, Edie exposes—with humor and powerful stories—the trivialization of both theology and adolescence in much contemporary youth ministry and describes how congregations might practice instead their baptismal vocation fully inclusive of youth.

The Life of Jesus for Today

 "With insight, clarity, honesty, and fairness, Ron Allen provides a helpful perspective on recent study of the historical Jesus and describes his own view of Jesus' life and message. Discussion starters at the end of each chapter will help church school classes and other groups without specialized theological education better picture the life of Jesus as they read the four New Testament Gospels and evaluate the images of
him found in the noncanonical Gospels."
 

Opening Ourselves to Grace
explores the basic practices of Christian faith and life from a Wesleyan tradition.

Opening Ourselves to Grace contains both a DVD and a

• CD-ROM with video content and written resources, including:
• A four-chapter video presentation on Wesley's understanding of spiritual practice;
• A six-week Bible study based on the video presentations;
• A discussion guide for group leaders;
• Additional resources for leaders and participants.

Through this video and Bible study, you will experience the historic spiritual disciplines—perhaps for the first time—and you will grow in your love of God and neighbor.

Fasting

 "It is easy in this world of fast food, fast living and fast spirituality to forget that we are holistic creations who need to cease from our striving and spend some time fasting from the things that keep us enslaved.

Lynne Baab has created a book that can help us explore our appetites, discover the history behind 'the fast,' and learn how to abstain and seek God."

The Rhythm of Discipleship

In this brief and accessible volume, Luther Ivory engagingly reflects on how to live the call to discipleship as an individual and as a community. Drawing on his own unique life experiences and on those of other Christians such as John Calvin and Martin Luther King Jr., Ivory argues that we cannot live a Christian life without first belonging to a community.

Using the foundational concept of call and response, he demonstrates how each of us have our own unique call front God, and that all together, our calls guide us to help establish righteousness in the world. The Rhythm of Discipleship is an earnest call for Christians and those committed to social justice to live "a life of engaged piety, which links reverence to God to a sustained effort to confront the injustices of society.

 Ministry Greenhouse

A great internship experience places a student in an environment where God can work through him or her to develop calling, character, and competencies. Ministry Greenhouse shows students, their supervisors, and the congregations and other organizations they serve how they can create just such an environment. George Hillman explores the meaning of "call," identifies the ingredients of a successful internship, discusses strategies for establishing goals for an internship, and offers guidance for reflecting on learning.

Leading From the Table

"Paul Galbreath joyously and insightfully leads us back to our Lord's table, to reclaim the prayer over bread and wine as the pattern for our lives and our actions"

"In these pages, congregations and pastors will find concrete help for understanding the rich meanings of the central prayer at the holy table, and for enacting the connections between this table and the search for justice and peace in our world"

"Rich in examples promoting our twenty-first-century passion for social justice, Galbreath's worship commentary will excite many church worshippers and planners"

"Paul Galbreath offers us a remarkable reflection on how Eucharistic praying shapes our ethical engagement with the world."

"Galbreath invites readers to wake up and pay attention to the ways that Eucharist forms and shapes us. The words and actions at the table matter; they imprint in our bodies a way of being"
 

The Apostles' Creed

By reading this book you have embarked upon a disciplined study of the creed over the next forty days. The daily readings that follow are designed for individual study and reflection. Perhaps you observe a regular devotional time during your day; these readings could provide content for that important time.

For those who wish to reflect on these readings in a group setting, a small group study guide is offered on pages 57-80 of this book.