Paula Gooder

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. This first book in the Grow Stage explores the core of Christian belief in greater depth through the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds. Its six sessions aim to equip participants with an understanding of these priceless resources for living the Christian life and for knowing God better. Session One: What are the Creeds? - Examines the reasons the Creeds were developed and the role they play in Christian life and faith. Session Two: God as Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit - Considers the profound and wonderful truth that God is Trinity: three persons in relationship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Session Three: Fully God and fully human - Looks at the unique nature of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human, and what this teaches us about God and being human. Session Four: Crucified, risen and ascended - Explores the great shadows in our lives - sin, death and hell - and the way Jesus overcomes these through his death and resurrection. Session Five: I believe in the Holy Spirit - What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit? This session looks at the Holy Spirit's role in the life of the Church. Session Six: One holy, catholic and apostolic church - Explores what it means to belong to the people of God and to declare that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. This second book in the Grow Stage explores in greater depth how Christians know and worship God. Its six sessions reveal the reasons why The Eucharist is celebrated as a memorial of Christ’s saving passion and stands at the very heart of Christian worship. Session One: Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness - Explores worship as communion with God. Session Two: This is my body broken for you - Considers the Eucharist as the pattern of all Christian worship. Session Three: He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread - Looks at the intimacy we have with God in Holy Communion and how we are transformed by the encounter. Session Four: If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come and eat with you - How can worship be seen as a sign and foretaste of heaven? Session Five: Do this to remember me - Explores how worship shapes our entire lives. Session Six: I am the bread of life - Considers the notion that the whole of life is sacramental. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

We are used to singing hymns of praise when we go to church but often we miss the hymns and poems that are there in the New Testament. This course will explore five different Songs of Praise from the New Testament, looking at what they tell us about God and Jesus but also reflecting on what they tell us about us and our faith. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) Session 2: Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) Session 3: Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) Session 4: New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) Session 5: Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, ‘art nun’, the late Sister Wendy Beckett, the multi-award winning actor, David Suchet CBE, and Editor and Publisher of the Methodist Recorder, Moira Sleight. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107069) Course Book (eBook 9781909107854) Audio Book of Interview to support Praise Him York Course (CD 9781909107847) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107830) Transcript of interview to support Praise Him York Course (Paperback 9781909107076) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107861) Book Pack (9781909107878 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107885)

We are used to singing hymns of praise when we go to church but often we miss the hymns and poems that are there in the New Testament. This course will explore five different Songs of Praise from the New Testament, looking at what they tell us about God and Jesus but also reflecting on what they tell us about us and our faith. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) Session 2: Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) Session 3: Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) Session 4: New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) Session 5: Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, ‘art nun’, the late Sister Wendy Beckett, the multi-award winning actor, David Suchet CBE, and Editor and Publisher of the Methodist Recorder, Moira Sleight. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107069) Course Book (eBook 9781909107854) Audio Book of Interview to support Praise Him York Course (CD 9781909107847) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107830) Transcript of interview to support Praise Him York Course (Paperback 9781909107076) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107861) Book Pack (9781909107878 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107885)

We are used to singing hymns of praise when we go to church but often we miss the hymns and poems that are there in the New Testament. This course will explore five different Songs of Praise from the New Testament, looking at what they tell us about God and Jesus but also reflecting on what they tell us about us and our faith. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) Session 2: Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) Session 3: Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) Session 4: New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) Session 5: Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, ‘art nun’, the late Sister Wendy Beckett, the multi-award winning actor, David Suchet CBE, and Editor and Publisher of the Methodist Recorder, Moira Sleight. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107069) Course Book (eBook 9781909107854) Audio Book of Interview to support Praise Him York Course (CD 9781909107847) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107830) Transcript of interview to support Praise Him York Course (Paperback 9781909107076) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107861) Book Pack (9781909107878 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107885)

We are used to singing hymns of praise when we go to church but often we miss the hymns and poems that are there in the New Testament. This course will explore five different Songs of Praise from the New Testament, looking at what they tell us about God and Jesus but also reflecting on what they tell us about us and our faith. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) Session 2: Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) Session 3: Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) Session 4: New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) Session 5: Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, ‘art nun’, the late Sister Wendy Beckett, the multi-award winning actor, David Suchet CBE, and Editor and Publisher of the Methodist Recorder, Moira Sleight. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107069) Course Book (eBook 9781909107854) Audio Book of Interview to support Praise Him York Course (CD 9781909107847) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107830) Transcript of interview to support Praise Him York Course (Paperback 9781909107076) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107861) Book Pack (9781909107878 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107885)

Journey to the Empty Tomb is the first in a new series from bestselling author Paula Gooder that opens up the best of biblical scholarship. It focuses on the events leading up to the first Easter – the Gospel accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus that are at the very heart of the Christian faith. Beginning with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ending at the empty tomb, Paula uses her extensive knowledge of the world of the New Testament, its language and culture, to reveal fresh and startling insights and to open up hidden depths in these familiar stories. Accessible and informed, it is aimed at all who wish to gain a fuller understanding of the Bible's key themes and subjects. It is rooted in the conviction that greater understanding leads to deeper devotion, and will be invaluable for preachers, worship and study group leaders looking for fresh inspiration at a key time in the church's year.

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. How can we build our lives on the teaching and example of Jesus? The Beatitudes are probably the most important, subversive and revolutionary text in the Bible. In order to follow Jesus and live the Christian life, we need to enter into the challenging but beautiful world of the Beatitudes and that is what this exciting course is all about. Session One: Living with Openness to God - Looks at what it means to live with openness to God and to the world. Session Two: Thirsting for what is right - What does it mean to live with obedience to God and with a desire to put things right in the world as God intends? Session Three: Living Transparently - Exploring what it means to be transparent in all we do and are, looking at how we show others the mercy God gives to us. Session Four: Peacemaking - What does it mean to be a peacemaker after the example of Christ and what is the cost of this witness? Session Five: Living as Citizens of God’s Kingdom - Looks at what Jesus meant by the kingdom and how we can live as its citizens. Session Six: Foundations - Explores what it means to build our lives on the teaching and example of Jesus, as we have seen in the Beatitudes All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. How should Christians behave and how should we live? The Commandments are one of the foundations of the Christian faith. They teach us how we should aim to live as individuals and as a community. These six sessions explore the ways in which Jesus interprets the Commandments for his disciples and expands their meaning. Session One: Priorities - Looks at Jesus’ summary of the law as the foundation for the way a disciple is called to live. Session Two: Reverence - Explores the vital importance of reverence and worship for God and the danger of making idols of what we love. Session Three: Rest - This session further explores the theme of reverence in the third commandment and the linked theme of rest and the Sabbath in the rhythm of our lives. Session Four: Respect - Focussing on the honour shown within the family and respect for the sanctity of life, this session explores the theme of respect. Session Five: Righteousness - Looks at the commandments about adultery and theft and their implications for our daily lives. Session Six: Reliability - What are the dangers of dishonesty and covetousness? This session looks at the damage they may cause. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. How do Christians know and worship God? The Lord’s Prayer uses one of the greatest Christian prayers to reveal more about what God is like. Over six sessions, it uses each powerful line of the Lord’s Prayer as a gateway to the Christian gospel. Session One: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name - Explores the Christian belief that, through prayer, Jesus invites us into a relationship with God as our Father. Session Two: Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven - Unpacks the idea of the kingdom of God, which is central to Jesus’ teaching and being a Christian disciple. Session Three: Give us today our daily bread - How does God feed his people, and what does it means to pray the words: ‘Give us this day our daily bread’? Session Four: Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us - Looks at the central place of forgiveness in the Christian life: both receiving God’s forgiveness and forgiving others. Session Five: Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil - Considers our strengths and weaknesses, exploring this plea to God for help and protection. Session Six: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen - How praise and worship begins and ends Christian prayer, and draws everything together. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

Pilgrim is a major new teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. A Christian course for the twenty-first century, Pilgrim offers an approach of participation, not persuasion. Enquirers are encouraged to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. Believing that the Christian faith is primarily about relationship, Pilgrim aims to lay a foundation for a lifetime of learning more about God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ and what it means to be his disciple. Assuming little or no knowledge of the Christian faith, Pilgrim can be used at any point on the journey of discipleship and by every tradition in the Church of England. Pilgrim is made up of two parts: Follow and Grow. Each consists of four short courses and a leaders’ guide. Follow introduces the Christian faith for complete beginners, while Grow aims to develop a deeper level of discipleship in those who have turned to Christ. Each short course contains six-sessions, supported by online audio-visual resources. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection. The Leaders’ Guide explains the aims and approach of Pilgrim and offers advice and support for running the sessions.

Pilgrim is a teaching and discipleship resource that will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. It offers an approach of participation, not persuasion, encouraging enquirers to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. What do Christians believe? Turning to Christ examines the heart of the Christian faith through the six questions asked at baptism. Over six sessions it aims to help participants discover their own answers to these questions. Session One: Do you turn to Christ? Explores the attraction of Jesus Christ. What happened when people met him? What would happen if you did? Session Two: Do you believe and trust in God the Father? What do Christians believe about God? This session uses the Old Testament to look at how God is like a Father. Session Three: Do you believe in his Son Jesus Christ? Looks in more detail at who Christians believe Jesus is, and what Jesus’ baptism reveals about his identity. Session Four: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? Uses the story of Pentecost to show how Christians believe the Holy Spirit makes Jesus present today. Session Five: Do you repent of your sins? Looks at what Christians call sin: that inbuilt tendency to get things wrong and God’s great desire to put things right. Session Six: Do you renounce evil? Explores the reality of evil, and how the Christian faith invites us to set the moral compass of our lives. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, supported by online audio-visual resources.

The Book of Enoch was known and valued by the earliest Christians and sheds light on many concepts found in the New Testament, such as angels and demons, future judgment, the Messiah and the Messianic Kingdom, the title 'Son of Man' and the resurrection. This edition of R. H. Charles's classic translation includes a substantial new introduction by Paula Gooder, in which she writes: 'Despite the many exciting and revolutionary archaeological finds during the 20th century, 1 Enoch remains one of the most important texts of its kind. It is a broad anthology of apocalyptic traditions about the biblical character Enoch, some easier to read and comprehend than others. It arose out of its context. This was a context riven by the harsh experience of conflict, violence and fear for the future, as the wars between rival Greek generals gave way first to the oppression of the Seleucid Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), then the disillusionment of Hasmonean rule followed by Roman invasion and further oppression. 'It arose out of this context but spoke very clearly into and beyond it too, reminding its readers in many different generations that the world around them was not all there was, that judgement would come and the righteous would be rewarded. It also reflected a view of the world shared by the majority, if not all, of the New Testament writers. This was a world in which the things of heaven continually shaped the things of earth, in which angels revealed secrets and in which God cared and intervened for his people. 1 Enoch is thus worth reading in its own right, but it is also vitally important for the many ways in which it illuminates the world, language and theology of the New Testament.'

A valuable resource for clergy and those looking to study the words from the Eucharist this book tackles the questions and meanings behind the language of Common Worship. Popular author Paula Gooder and liturgical expert Michael Perham come together to bring wisdom and insight to the words so familiar to many. The book takes the shape of the texts as they are found in Common Worship and includes brief reflections on each section.

From the language of Shakespeare to the US presidential campaign trail, the Bible’s influence is all around us. It is the most-printed book of all time, yet, upon reading it, we are met not by one work but by many: a complex mix of history and parable, law and prophecy. In this authoritative and impartial introduction, Paula Gooder ably guides the reader in how to approach this multifaceted text, and explores its enduring influence on Western culture, from Renaissance art to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Featuring textboxes focussing on key details, Gooder provides an illuminating framework for understanding the Bible and shares her infectious enthusiasm for the topic. Covering its origins, content and interpretation, this wide-ranging primer will be of invaluable benefit to those of any and no faith alike.

The bestselling writer Paula Gooder continues her exploration of the Christian year, with its different seasons and moods, and the varying messages they convey. Here, she explores the longest period of the liturgical year, ordinary time - 33 weeks where no great dramas occur. We live in a culture that revels in the special, the extraordinary, the new, the unusual. This can relegate ordinary life to a bland ‘in between-ness’ as we look for the next excitement or novelty. This is a tendency that affects the church as much as wider culture as it seeks new ways of doing the familiar old things and reinventing itself. Yet, ’the ordinary’ is the very essence of life. The point of special occasions is not to lift us out of humdrum existence but to embed us more powerfully in ordinary, day to day life. We need to learn how to live ordinary life in an extraordinary way. This book explores how to do this through reflections on 33 biblical texts reflecting on how God breaks into everyday life, transforming it into the most extraordinary existence possible.

This is a book to accompany the readings in year B of the Lectionary. It aims to help individuals and groups to understand and use Mark's Gospel. There are two other books that will follow this one: Journeying with Luke in Year C and Journeying with Matthew in Year A. This book's unique slant is that it asks readers to use their imagination 'to bring the Gospel to life'. It asks readers to visualize themselves in the scenes that Mark describes in order see Mark's Gospel in a fresh and exciting way. Journeying with Mark is a fantastic resource for anyone following lectionary year B.

For all who are curious about the dwelling place of God and the angels, this book explores the Bible's teaching on heaven and explains how it is nearer to earth than you might think. Paula Gooder considers the ways in which the Bible sees heaven and earth connecting, and explores all the major strands of belief about life after death, including the role of paradise, and what happens between death and resurrection. She shows how the biblical writers see heaven and earth as closely connected, so that what happens in heaven affects events on earth and vice versa.