The Lord’s Prayer:
The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught.
David Hamilton.
Hbk 176pp. ISBN 9781791021252.
Abingdon (2021).
$44.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

Pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton guides us to really know – and really pray – the Lord’s Prayer. He explores each of its rich lines and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves through its words. And he teaches us how to use it as a pattern for our own prayer life.

Most Christians know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. We pray it often, at different times and in different settings. We remember it as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. But do we really understand and appreciate the meaning and power of its words, what we ask of God each time we pray it?

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave them this prayer. He likely taught it to his followers often, not just one time. He never intended the Lord’s Prayer to be a museum piece, framed and placed on a mantel or in a display case. It was Jesus teaching God’s people, through his disciples, how to pray.

A separate Leader’s Guide and a DVD for a 6 session study are available – see below.

Click here for a
short video introduction to this study:
https://youtu.be/-nMolsgVM2k

The Lord’s Prayer DVD:
The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught.
David Hamilton.
DVD. 6 x 15-16 min sessions.
ISBN 9781791021306.
Abingdon (2021).
$76.50.
[Allow 4 weeks].

Six video sessions feature Adam Hamilton guiding participants through the study. The video sessions are approximately 15 minutes in length and, when combined with the six book chapters, make an ideal six-week group study.

The Lord’s Prayer Leader Guide:
The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught.
David Hamilton.
Pbk. 64pp. 9781791021283.
Abingdon (2021).
See sale priced copy here:
https://pgpl.co.nz/march-2022-stocktake-sale/

Witness at the Cross:
A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday.
Amy-Jill Levine.
Pbk 144pp. ISBN 9781791021122.
Abingdon Press (2021).
$41.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

Experience Holy Friday from the perspective of those who watched Jesus die:

• Mary his mother
• the Beloved Disciple from the Gospel of John
• Mary Magdalene and the other women from Galilee
• the two men, usually identified as thieves, crucified with Jesus
• the centurion and the soldiers
• Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus

Jews and Romans, friends and strangers, the powerful and the powerless, the hopeful and the despairing.

Amy-Jill Levine shows how the people at the cross each have distinct roles to play in the Gospels. For each, Jesus has a particular meaning and message, and from each, we learn how those meanings and messages cross the centuries to any who would come to the cross today.

The Leader Guide (see below) includes session outline for each of the 6 group meetings with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and a call to action.

Also see below for the accompanying DVD.

Click here for a
short video introduction to this study:
https://youtu.be/Aax_wXzQVBg

Witness at the Cross Leader Guide:
A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday.
Amy-Jill Levine.
Pbk 64pp. ISBN 9781791021146.
Abingdon Press (2021).
$36.00.
[Allow 5-6 weeks].

Witness at the Cross DVD:
A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday.
Amy-Jill Levine.
DVD. 6 x 10-12 minute sessions.
ISBN 9781791021221.
Abingdon Press (2021).
$76.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

The six-session DVD features Dr. Amy-Jill Levine guiding participants through the study. The video sessions are approximately 10-12 minutes in length and, when combined with the six book chapters, make an ideal six-week group study.

Forty Women:
Unseen women of the Bible from Eden to Easter.
Ros Clarke.
Pbk 144pp. ISBN  9781789743562.
IVP (2021).
$53.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

Exploring a different character each day to take you from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, Forty Women is an uplifting and inspirational look at what we can learn from the different women of the Bible. Looking at their lives, triumphs and failures, Ros Clark shows us how these women are examples of faith and warning against sin, whose seemingly ordinary lives connect with an extraordinary God.

The perfect Lent book for 2022, Forty Women shows us how these women’s stories cast fresh light on the Bible in unexpected ways, whilst their shared humanity reminds us of wonderful truths and promises of God’s word to His people as we prepare to celebrate the ultimate promise of the resurrection at Easter.

Forty Women can be read in small groups or individually and is an ideal read for anyone wanting to learn more about the women of the Bible and the witnesses to the resurrection, as well as for anyone looking for Biblical encouragement during Lent. Its daily devotions can easily fit into a busy schedule and will give you a new appreciation for these often overlooked Biblical figures.

Let Your Light Shine Through:
62 Fresh Sermons to Inspire Your Preaching.
2nd edition.
Philip C. Garside.
Pbk 304pp. ISBN 9781988572871.
PGPL (2022).
$35.00.
[Allow 7 days].

eBooks:
PDF, ePub & Kindle/mobi
$14.99

Order online at Payhip and download the book immediately after making payment.

Are you a new preacher who wants to build confidence in writing and delivering sermons?

Or have you been preaching for a while and are looking for new ideas and techniques to keep your sermons fresh and your congregation engaged?

These 62 creative sermons (10 of which cover Lent & Easter), written by NZ Methodist Lay Preacher Philip Garside, will provide just the input you need.

Sermons work well when you are honest about your theology, draw meaning from the Bible readings for the day and relate them in a clear, logical way to your congregation. People will respond to personal stories in your sermons, and you will find that you develop your own style of preaching over time.

Memorable sermons and services can be created by offering physical objects for the congregation to interact with, e.g. at prayer stations around the church, or waving flax leaves at the start of a Passion Sunday service and folding them into palm crosses later, during the sermon slot.

If you read widely, listen to new music, look at new art, stay up-to-date with the politics of the day  and generally take in what is happening in your local community, you will never be short of imaginative ideas to fill your sermons. Keep adding to your creative toolbox. Try something new. Your congregation will thank you.

And always remember that your sermons need to tell the Good News of God’s love for us shown by the life, teaching and example of Jesus Christ.

The book includes indexes of Scripture readings and of People & Themes, and a Bibliography of key books, recordings and other sources referred to in the sermons.

The book is supported by free online PowerPoints, images & photos, video clips, and audio recordings of many of the sermons — see https://pgpl.co.nz/sermons/

Hope and the Nearness of God:
The 2022 Lent Book.
Teresa White.
Pbk 224pp. ISBN 9781472984197.
Bloomsbury Continuum (2022).

See sale priced copies here:
https://pgpl.co.nz/march-2022-stocktake-sale/

In these days of pandemic, war and political turbulence, hope can seem to be in short supply. But hope is one of the theological virtues and it is far more profound than mere optimism. Today, pessimism and despair seem all too prevalent. What can we do about the poor and starving, about those who seem to be locked in interminable conflict and families weighed down by the consequences of breakdown?

Sister Teresa White’s book is an antidote to all this, and it is written with beautiful simplicity and directness.

There is no hiding behind complicated or technical language. In one of the most forceful chapters in the book, the author shows how hope breeds courage and courage breeds hope. But hope is not a matter of wishful thinking. Drawing on St Augustine, the author shows moreover that hope has two essential components. Not just courage but anger as well. The expression of our anger can lead to greater clarity with our discernment and spiritual perception. Hope too can lead us to understand God’s solidarity with us in times of sorrow and struggle.

Teresa White in this Lent Book draws on inspiration from writers as diverse as Julian of Norwich and Karl Rahner, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and Henri Nouwen, but throughout the book there is strong scriptural underpinning which the author uses to great effect.

Saturday Faith.
Charles Ensminger.
Pbk 94pp. ISBN 9781666707182.
Wipf & Stock (2021).
$36.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

Saturday Faith deals with the times between Friday and Sunday which, in Christian parlance, are associated with Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Yet, what can be said about the time between the loss of one hope and the emergence of something new?

 “Saturday Faith presents an intriguing theological and philosophical argument for embracing hopelessness as part of Christian faith rather than antithetical to faith itself. Ensminger invites us along an unusual biblical journey, coupled with Fowler’s stages of faith, to illustrate how hopelessness is essential for theological maturation. Living in liminal ‘Holy Saturday’ space, where hope becomes past tense and the future is not yet visible, is essential for authentic Christian faith development toward ‘Resurrection Sunday.’” Lisa Withrow, leadership coach and consultant

“…a wise and compassionate pastor reframes doubt and hopelessness from symptoms of lost faith to important stages on the journey toward wholeness and Christian maturity. Drawing on rich biblical and theological images and themes, Ensminger insightfully and gracefully challenges us to confront our ‘dark nights of the soul’ as preludes to renewed hope and greater growth in Christian discipleship. Individuals and groups will find this book to be a valuable contribution to their continuing faith development.” Kenneth L. Carder, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Duke Divinity School

Cries for a Lost Homeland:
Reflections on Jesus’ sayings from the cross.
Guli Francis-Dehqani.
Pbk 96pp. ISBN 9781786223838.
Canterbury Press (2021).
$41. 00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

Drawing on the riches of Persian culture and her own dramatic experience of loss of a homeland, Guli Francis-Dehqani offers memorable and perceptive reflections on Jesus’ seven final sayings from the cross, opening up for Western readers fresh and arresting insights from a Middle Eastern perspective.

Francis-Dehqani was born in Isfahan, Iran, to a family who were part of the tiny Anglican Church established by 19th century missionaries. Her father, a Muslim convert, became the first indigenous Persian bishop. As the Islamic Revolution of 1979 swept across the country, church properties were raided, confiscated or closed down. Her father was briefly imprisoned before surviving an attack on his life, which injured his wife.

Soon after, whilst he was out of the country for meetings, Guli’s 24 year-old brother, Bahram, a university teacher in Tehran, was murdered. No one was ever brought to justice and the family were advised to leave Iran. Guli was 14. They eventually settled in England with refugee status.

Unrevealed Until Its Season:
A Lenten Journey with Hymns.
James C. Howell.
Pbk 192pp. ISBN 9780835819732.
Upper Room (2021).

See sale priced copy here:
https://pgpl.co.nz/march-2022-stocktake-sale/

Howell believes in the power of song to teach spiritual truths. He takes us on a 40-day journey through well-loved hymns. This meaningful Lenten devotional guide for individuals and small groups, is also a valuable resource and perfect gift for musicians as they prepare for worship, and for ministers as they lead worship.

Weekly themes include:

• Praising God
• Hymns About Jesus
• Hymns of Forgiveness
• Hymns of Vision
• Hymns of Beauty
• Hymns of Holy Week, and
• Hymns of Easter.

Howell ponders phrases from old and new hymns, such as: Be Thou My Vision, Hymn of Promise, All Creatures of Our God and King, For Everyone Born, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Lift High the Cross, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

Sharing the Easter Story:
From reading to living the gospel.
Sally Welch.
Pbk 224pp. ISBN 9781800390980.
Bible Reading Fellowship (2021).

See sale priced copies here:
https://pgpl.co.nz/march-2022-stocktake-sale/

Join Sally Welch in exploring two questions: what is the Easter story really about, and how do we share it?

Through each week of Lent, she examines a different aspect of the Easter story:

• Repenting
• Forgiving
• Hoping
• Trusting
• Sacrificing
• Loving and changing.

Within each week, the days are focused on what we need to do in order to share the story: listening, understanding, reflecting, living, telling, sharing, and becoming.

Each day offers a Bible passage, followed by a reflection, questions and a prayer. Suggestions for group study and creative prayer activities are also included.

“Sally has a wonderful gift of bringing the biblical text alive by connecting its stories and images to contemporary examples we are familiar with and perhaps experience ourselves. The result is fresh insight into God’s great overarching story and an invitation to participate in it ourselves.” Elizabeth Hoare, director of spiritual formation and pastoral care, Wycliffe Hall.

​​
The Hour is Come:
The Passion in real time.
Andrew Nunn.
Pbk 208pp. ISBN 9781786223968.
Canterbury Press (2021).
$46.00.
[Allow 3-4 weeks].

The gospel accounts change when we come to the final days of Jesus’ life and for the first time, we are given precise timings when things happen: ‘It was night’, ‘the next morning,’ ‘it was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him,’ ‘it was noon,’ ‘it was three o’clock in the afternoon.’

The Hour is Come enables readers to enter into the experience of Jesus, his disciples and all the other players in the Passion narrative by using ‘real time’ to immerse us in the story.

Ideal for daily reading during Lent, Holy Week and Easter, the book offers scripture reflections and prayers that trace the journey to and beyond the cross. It begins on Mothering Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, with a reminder that Jesus’ journey to the cross began in infancy. The pace is slow at the beginning but during the great ‘Three Days’ from Maundy Thursday evening until Easter Day, the story unfolds hour by hour as it happens. Then the pace slows again as we move through Easter’s 50 days to Pentecost.

This presentation reveals a God so intimately involved with human life that the ticking clock becomes part of how we know Jesus.

Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection:
Simple Ways to Create Meaning for the Season.
Traci Smith.
Pbk 144pp. ISBN 9780827211414.
Chalice Press (2022).

See sale priced copies here:
https://pgpl.co.nz/march-2022-stocktake-sale/

How do you share the deep mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection with children?

Parents, guardians, teachers, and ministers will find dozens of fun and easy practices for celebrating the Easter season with our kids.

The practices and seasonal prayers are grouped into chapters titled:

• Ash Wednesday
• Symbols
• Lenten Prayers
• Lenten Refraining
• Lenten Acts of Service
• Holy Week
• Easter Vigil and Easter Day, and
• The Season of Resurrection.

Smith also offers theological notes guiding parents on addressing the violence of the crucifixion and the meaning of Jesus’ death.

Embracing Justice:
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2022.
Isabelle Hamley.
Pbk 224pp. ISBN 9780281086542.
SPCK (2021).
$37.50.
[Allow 4 weeks].

What is justice? It’s a question we encounter everywhere in life and that over the last years has increasingly demanded an answer.

Hamley invites us on an exhilarating journey through Scripture to discover how we, as churches, communities, and individual Christians, can seek and practice justice even when enmeshed in such a fractured world.

Full of practical encouragement, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2022 brilliantly weaves together biblical texts, diverse voices, contemporary stories, and personal and group meditations to reveal liberating and imaginative ways in which me may grow in discipleship – and more fully reflect the justice, mercy, and compassion of Christ in our lives.

This is essential reading for anyone interested in the issues of justice – from climate and economic justice to gender and racial equality – that are increasingly at the forefront of global consciousness, and the role that Christians and the Church must play in them.

Suitable for use both as a single study for individuals and for small groups to prepare for Easter, Embracing Justice will encourage, inform, and motivate anyone looking for Christian books about justice. It will help you understand justice from a biblical perspective and inspire you to seek it in every aspect of your life.