Everymans Talmud - Abraham Cohen

The talmudic writing where the collected wisdom of the Rabbis over many generations as they sought to interpret the Word of God for their context. This book is a handy tool where the distilled wisdom of the Talmud is put into an accessible form by Cohen. It's not the kind of book you pick up and read from cover to cover, but is a helpful reference work to better understand the culture of Jesus time. 

Worth having if you like to get some information of the Jewish context in which Jesus lives. If you like trashy novels - this is NOT the book for you.  If you are really interested in understanding the Bible and the context of the Bible this is a great little number. Available at Loot.co.za for R190

No holds barred: Wrestling with God in prayer - Mark D Roberts

Mark Roberts is a Presbyterian minister who writes a number of papers and books. In this excellent work he helps us understand some of the dynamics of prayer. Using mostly the psalms, Roberts unpacks what it means to wrestle with God in prayer - from prayers of thanksgiving and praise to the cry for help and the begging for mercy prayers that where part of Davids life. It is a book that will help you slow down and re-connect with Jesus

A good read! And this book is available at loot.co.za for R130

What do Jewish People Think about Jesus? by Michael L. Brown

... and other questions Christians ask about Jewish beliefs, practices and history.
Author Michael L. Brown Ph.D.
www.icnministries.org

This is a wonderful guide for those who have Jewish friends or want to understand the Jews. Michael Brown is the best scholar amongst Messianic Jews today. He answers the most common 60 questions which he has heard Christians pose of Jewish beliefs about Jesus, Judaism, Jewish practice, the Jewish people, their history, the Law of Moses and contemporary Christians, Rabbi Yeshua (Jesus to us!) and gives us insights help us understand our Jewish boss, Jesus, better.

Available from Scripture Union Bookshop, Rondebosch 021-689-8334 for about R170.00

Prayer - Does it make any difference? - by Philip Yancey

Do you struggle with prayer? So do others....
Philip Yancey probes the very heartbeat—the most fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding aspect—of our relationship with God: prayer. What is prayer? Does it change God’s mind or ours—or both? This book is an invitation to communicate with God the Father who invites us into an eternal partnership through prayer.
Visit his website: www.philipyancey.com

Sermon on the Mount - Lloyd-Jones

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

I have many favourite books... but this is very close to the top as it is a study of my own favourite passages of the Bible. (Gary)

This is what others say about this book:
A spiritual classic, this detailed and comprehensive study by one of the greatest expository preachers of our time explains Christ's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and incisively applies it to the Christian life. With characteristic vigor and emotional vitality Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents a brilliant and detailed exposition of one of the best known but most frequently misunderstood passages of Scripture. Here is a comprehensive and exhaustive study of our Lord's words as recorded in Matthew chapters five, six and seven.

This beautiful portion of the Sermon on the Mount is carefully analyzed, its contents outlined and thoughtfully arranged, and vastly rich and abundant truths are gleaned for your spiritual nurture. The author brought a wealth of devoted study as well as a profound spiritual appreciation to the work of interpreting this greatest address of our delightful experience in meditation. It presents depth of thought in simple language and beauty of style and contains a veritable thesaurus of spiritual truths drawn from the entire Bible.

ESV study Bible

All Christians need a bible, sadly not all seem to have one. Further to that most Christians should have a quality study bible with a lot of additional infromation that makes reading the bible more interesting and informative. 

Most of the english translations are pretty good and most people these days in South Africa anyhow will use the NIV translation. The ESV (English Standard Version) is a good literal translation of the Bible and now there is a new study version of it that is very highly regarded by some really good scholars. 

You can view information and some some sample pages from it at http://www.esvstudybible.org/#features. When you purchase the print version you also get access to an online version with further information. The ESV Study Bible is availble in South Africa from Loot.co.za. If you are looking for a good quality study bible and are prepared to try a different translation, this one is highly recommended.

40 Facinating Conversion Stories - compiled by Samuel Fisk

All believers have a story to tell, a story of forgiveness and grace, a story of how God's provision in Jesus Christ met the deepest needs of a human heart.

Conversion is "a radical change, a transformation, a turning around, . . . . a conscious act, not an event passively experienced. For the Christian, the changed life of the converted is the outward expression of a changed hear." (from The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church).

The stories in this compilation by Samuel Fisk portray the personal, life-changing experiences behind the definition.

For many of the persons presented in this volume, conversion was only the beginning of many years of dedicated Christian service and, for some, widespread fame and recognition by their contemporaries. The focus of Forty Fascinating Conversion Stories, however, is upon the actual circumstances and decisions that resulted in a changed heart.

Included in this collection are the dramatic conversion stories of evangelist "Gypsy" Smith, African missionary David Livingstone, American evangelist and Bible school founder Dwight L. Moody, the author of Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan, founder of the Navigators Dawson Trotman and many others.

A real joy.

The Seven Festivals of The Messiah by Edward Chumney

Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, Booths

One of the most fascinating and yet probably one of the least understood topics in the Bible is that of the feasts found in Leviticus 23. This book, step by step, examines each festival for the foundational truths God wants us to learn through them. These festivals prophetically speak of the first and second comings of Jesus (Yeshua), as well as to provide tremendous insight into the Christian life and our personal relationship with God. This book will even answer the question for Jews, "Is Jesus (Yeshua) the long awaited Messiah (Mashiach) of Israel?"

The Throne, The Lamb and The Dragon by Paul Spilsbury

A Reader's Guide to the Book of Revelation

Paul Spilsbury has studied Revelation in the company of its best interpreters, those who have taken the time to enter the minds of the first-century Christians for whom it was originally written. And what has he found? Within the central images of a throne, a lamb and a dragon lies the answer. The gospel clearly proclaimed. The glory of God awesomely illumined. The work of Christ memorably embodied. The nature of evil hauntingly disclosed.

Here is a guide that will help us hear Revelation speak, once again inspiring grateful worship and calling us to costly discipleship.

Easy reading, deep subject - 150 page paperback. Available from Scripture Union Bookshop 021-689-8334

NT Wright - Surprised by Hope

Bishop Wright is an outstanding and highly regarded New Testament scholar who is well renowned for his books. This book is no exception. 

It is an brilliant work on the nature of Christian hope. He rethinks heaven, resurrection and the church's mission. Effectively he argues that there are two common models of looking at life:

1. All is going to pot and we're waiting for heaven

2. Human progress will make all things better and heaven is here

Wright pushes for a third, biblical option that there is a combination of both models inherent in the minds of the writers of the New Testament. This model is a 'now' and 'then' interpretation of our hope. Our hope is that Jesus is working here and now for the good of this world and he is working towards the new heaven and earth as spoken of in Revelation. 

It is an easy read for a theology work, it is firmly grounded in a solid interpretation of Scripture and is profoundly Christ centered. A really good read.

Rob Bell - Velvet Elvis

Rob Bell is one of the leading voices in the emerging church movement altough he would never label himself as such. This book is worth reading and is quite challenging at a number of levels. There is a challenge to narrow simplistic doctrine and instead Rob emraces a broader more flexible doctrine. Whilst I understand where he comes from I fear that the door may be opened to doctrinal laxness leading to errors in the faith of the church. 

I enjoyed the book. It is written in

Rob's

broken

style.

It is in fact more oratory in style. Don't expect deep theology, but rather a challenging, enjoyable and worthwile read.

Mark Driscoll - Confessions of a reformission rev.

Mark Driscoll is the senior pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle (not to be confused with Rob Bells church of the same name in Grand Rapids Michigan)

In this book Mark Driscoll outlines the start of this fledgling church and some of the challenges that he faces as a young and very inexperienced minister. The book is interesting, and at points hilarious. Mark's arrogance is evident most of the way through the book, but that aside it is an interesting read into the lilfe of a pastor in a unique context.

Worth reading for those going into ministry in some form.

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Something to complement the sermon series by Brent…
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This book brings together Lewis’s legendary broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to ‘explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times’.
It is a collection of scintillating brilliance which remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader; and confirms C.S. Lewis’s reputation as one of the leading Christian writers and thinkers of our age.
You will find it at a Christian bookstore or Exclusive Books.

Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur

What to read...
Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur.
How God shaped women of the Bible and what He wants to do with you. You will be challenged and motivated by this personal look into the lives of some of the Bible’s most faithful women. Celebrated for their courage, vision, hospitality and spiritual giftedness, it’s no wonder women were so important to God’s plan revealed in the Old and New Testaments.
Gary Bonney has a copy of this book. Interested? Talk to him.

The Counselor (The Holy Spirit) by A. W. Tozer

What to read…
The Counselor (The Holy Spirit) by A.W. Tozer.

About A.W. Tozer “ A 20th century prophet” they called him, even in his own lifetime. This short 165 page book records 10 of his sermons on the Holy Spirit.

Straight talk and very relevant today.

“If a sermon can be compared to light, then A.W. Tozer released a laser beam from the pulpit, a beam that penetrated your heart.”
Jacques Jansen has the PVFC copy of this book. Interested? Talk to him.

Our church -

Protea Valley Family Church

www.pvfc.org.za