Steven Croft

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. The Bible is one of the most influential books in the world. This third book in the Grow Stage explores the Bible: what it is, where it comes from, how we should read it, and how it can help us grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Session One: What is the Bible? - Looks at a ‘way in’ to reading the Bible, thinking particularly about how to recognize what kind of writing the Bible is. Session Two: The Bible as Breath - Reflects on what it means to say that the Bible is the breath of God. Session Three: The Bible as a stream of living water - Explores how the Bible nourishes us. Session Four: The Bible as a lamp - Looks at the Bible as something that enlightens and informs us as Christians. Session Five: The Bible as a two-edged sword - Explores what it means to say that the Bible is living and active. Session Six: Daily bread - Considers how we can make Bible-reading a part of our regular life and prayer. 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 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.

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.

Oxford Student Texts offer an accessible route into the study of texts for A Level including line-by-line notes, and detailed sections covering key themes, issues and contexts. This edition focuses on selected poems by Thomas Hardy.

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 Acts is the most exciting and dramatic book in the New Testament. Throughout Christian history, men and women have returned to the book of Acts to find their faith and ministry renewed and rekindled. Missionary Journeys, Missionary Church offers the reader an opportunity to take a detailed look at the book of Acts, chapters 13-20. Written in a clear and engaging style, the series combines sound and orthodox Christian theology with good educational practice on the one hand, and a commitment to equip the whole church for mission on the other. The Emmaus Bible Resources series offers readers the opportunity to dig deeper into the Bible and grow in Christian life, faith and service. Finding a middle ground between daily Bible notes and weighty commentaries, the series contains versatile material designed for use by individuals, small groups or as part of a sermon series.

Contact is a practical, hands-on booklet that helps churches make the most of their connections with those outside the church. Most churches find that setting-up a course for non-churchgoers to explore Christianity is not the most difficult task – getting them to come is the real test. Here´s where Contact steps in. Contact builds on insights from recent research and case studies and provides helpful advice for churches on: making contact with those outside the church making the most of existing contacts, such as occasional attendees, toddler groups connecting with people´s spirituality how to set up a nurture group encouraging your church to be involved in evangelism and outreach This second edition builds upon the experience of those who have used the Emmaus material since it was first published and also the considerable amount of statistical research which has been done in recent years.

In The Art of Tentmaking an illustrious line up of international contributors from Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Lutheran traditions, share their insights on essential aspects of liturgy and liturgical renewal including: · Paul Bradshaw on the history of Christian worship · Rosalind Brown on participation and the priesthood of all believers · Stephen Cottrell on sacramental spirituality · Steven Croft on simplicity in the liturgy · Carol Doran on the renewal of church music · Martyn Percy on openness and inclusivity · and many more. This book will appeal to all who practice presidency in Christian worship, and have responsibilities for shaping Christian assembly: architects, artists, musicians, as well as clergy and all with focal roles.

This user-friendly handbook is essential reading for all embarking on a course of training for Christian ministry, lay or ordained. Designed to reduce the fear factor and you make the most of your study and training, it covers: How we learn best; Work/life balance; Knowing God better; Studying the Bible; Worship and prayer; Knowing yourself better; What is theological reflection; Vocations, gifts and ministry.

How to Live is a personal companion for your journey of faith. Whether you are a new Christian setting out, or a weary traveller in need of refreshment, it offers an inspiring guide to the essentials of the Christian life. With wisdom, honesty and humour, it explores the inward and outward journeys that being a Christian involves: Prayer Reading the Bible Worship Relating faith to daily life Sharing your faith Seeking God’s kingdom Living as a Christian means being open to a lifelong journey of discovery, change and growth. Let How to Live be your guide to this amazing adventure. An ideal gift for new Christians, confirmation candidates, and those completing an Emmaus or Alpha course. Previously published as Travelling Well.

Experiencing God's Love is a short study guide that aims to deepen our understanding and first-hand experience of living a life of faith. It explores five biblical images of the ways in which our lives are changed by walking with Christ: Being securely rooted in prayer and scriptures Cleansed through baptism, confession and forgiveness Enlightened through worship, mission and growth in holiness Tended through care for one another and the world Welcomed in the Eucharist and in the fellowship of the Church Each chapter explores one of these images in the Psalms and the Gospels, and in popular culture, supported by YouTube clips and free online audio introductions to each session. Opening and closing worship, discussion starters, questions, and a leader's guide are all included making this ideal for Lent groups or as a Christian discipleship course at any time of year.

The great mystery of the human condition and God's action to save us is too vast to be contained in a single image or one kind of language. The Bible uses a kaleidoscope of word pictures of human life and God's intervention in it. Exploring God's Mercy is a short course for small groups that focuses on five classic images of the Christian gospel which are woven through scripture and the Christian tradition: Lost and finding the way Trapped and set free Sick in soul and healed In turmoil and being at peace Barren and becoming fruitful Each chapter explores one of these images through stories, popular culture, biblical material and Christian tradition, supported by YouTube clips and further film suggestions. Discussion starters, questions, prayers and a leader's guide are included making this ideal for Lent groups or as an introductory course to the Christian faith at any time of the year.

In Ministry in Three Dimensions, Steven Croft outlines the challenges - greater geographical and social mobility, and older, smaller congregations, for example - that todayâ??s society presents to the churches, explaining that models of mission and ministry which were once perfectly adequate no longer work in this new situation.

Packed with codes, secrets, biblical parallels, and reminding us of the real meaning of Christmas, this enthralling and touching tale can be read on many levels, and will be loved by adults and children alike. When Alice's Uncle Sam brings home a mysterious calendar that's short on chocolate but big on surprises, she is thrown into an Advent she never dreamed of. Codes arrive by text message and open the doors in the calendar, drawing Alice and Sam into fantastical new worlds. Accompanied by famous figures from the Bible, they explore the great themes of Advent and Christianity and find themselves maturing, changing and questioning. Life in their own world will never be quite the same again.

The Lord is Risen takes a detailed look at a unique period in the history of the Christian faith - the story of Jesus´ resurrection. Written in a clear and engaging style, the series combines sound and orthodox Christian theology with good educational practice on the one hand, and a commitment to equip the whole church for mission on the other. The Emmaus Bible Resources series offers readers the opportunity to dig deeper into the Bible and grow in Christian life, faith and service. Finding a middle ground between daily Bible notes and weighty commentaries, the series contains versatile material designed for use by individuals, small groups or as part of a sermon series.