Demy, 9 x 6in, 229 x 152mm, Pages are in excellent condition with very minor damage to the spine and front cover

Unlocking the Bible's mysteries.

Plass is a man of not inconsiderable stature. As one of the church's best-loved raconteurs, the gentle giant who used to smoke 60 a day and still gets depressed (despite, and sometimes because of, his faith) has a way of pulling down the pillars of Christian subculture like a modern-day Samson.

Nowadays, it's no good trying to force an A-Z of Christianity down an agnostic's throat like a spoonful of medicine; for starters most of us, Christian or no, don't consider the church best placed to be writing the prescriptions anymore. But what about Jesus? Surely we can't blame him for everything done in his name?

Plass thinks not, hence the title of—and the reason behind—this book, more of an after-dinner chat than theological treatise. "I follow Jesus because he's less narrow and boring about salvation than an awful lot of his followers," he suggests. In this collection of laugh-out-loud witticisms, stories and anecdotes, he explains movingly why he remains proud to call himself a follower.

For believers, he offers encouragement and challenge; for sceptics, an oft-compelling personal account of struggle and joy. "I follow Jesus because he offers hope for the future," he explains—reason enough, surely, for anyone to give faith a chance. Most important, Plass is disarmingly honest. In closing, he admits: "I follow Jesus for reasons that are almost impossible to explain". In a Christian world of ready-made answers, that alone is enough to shake the foundations. —Brian Draper

This is the fourth in a range of books which set out to help 7-11s see individual books of the Bible as a whole, rather than as fragmented pieces of a jigsaw which never quite fits together. In this title, we find that John was always close to Jesus. He watched. He listened carefully. He talked to witnesses. For many years he examined the evidence. Others may have helped him to write it down, but here we have the book that tells us who Jesus is, where he came from, why he came and what he meant by the things he said. Together with Toby and Trish we become detectives, finding out what all this has to do with us! This page-by-page introduction to John's Gospel picks out the key stories; includes key verses, focused one-point comments and illustrations on every page; and has "Things to do" pages as breakpoints in the readings.

Augustine's Confessions is one of the most influential and most innovative works of Latin literature. Written in the author's early forties in the last years of the fourth century A.D. and during his first years as a bishop, they reflect on his life and on the activity of remembering and interpreting a life. Books I-IV are concerned with infancy and learning to talk, schooldays, sexual desire and adolescent rebellion, intense friendships and intellectual exploration. Augustine evolves and analyses his past with all the resources of the reading which shaped his mind: Virgil and Cicero, Neoplatonism and the Bible. This volume, which aims to be usable by students who are new to Augustine, alerts readers to the verbal echoes and allusions of Augustine's brilliant and varied Latin, and explains his theological and philosophical questioning of what God is and what it is to be human. The edition is intended for use by students and scholars of Latin literature, theology and Church history.

While Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang have enjoyed the kind of success most cartoon characters can only dream about—becoming pop culture icons of the highest order and entering the global consciousness practically as family members—Robert Short's The Gospel According to Peanuts also has found a place in the hearts of many readers, with sales now totaling more than ten million copies. This anniversary edition features a new cover, a new interior design, and a new foreword by Martin E. Marty. Whether coming to the book for the first time or taking a second look, a delightful experience awaits in this modern-day guide to the Christian faith, fully illustrated with Peanuts.

In the labyrinth of life, we need practical and clear directions for making wise, Christ-honoring decisions. Which way do we go at the crossroads — left, right, straight, or backtrack? What instructions does God offer to guide us along the way? The book of James offers a wonderfully practical collection of wisdom. Do you need to build perseverance? Overcome destructive desires? Build confidence as a follower of Christ? James gives clear guidance. Do you need instruction on using your words for good, and growing as a person of prayer? James has the answers. Dig into this book, and learn how to choose wise paths through life's maze.

Today, some people think of the church as a powerless institution made of ancient traditions and stuffy buildings. They're wrong! The church is the new community of God's people. It's filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. And it has as much to say to the world today as it did two thousand years ago. In Acts, you will discover that God wants to do a fresh work among his people by the power of the Holy Spirit. You will find the pathway to authentic community. You will learn how to grow as a worshiper. And you will deepen your passion to invite others into the fellowship of Christ-followers we call the church. Sound exciting? Let's rediscover church together!