Reviews

CD-ROM

Helpful but expensive

The Essential IVP Reference Collection (IVP, £99.99 - for Pentium PC, Windows 3.1 upwards)

Most of us prepare talks, sermons, house group studies, Sunday School material and more on PCs these days, so it can be very handy to have your favourite commentaries, Bible translations and reference books instantly available at the click of a mouse.

At least, that's the principle IVP have worked on for their CD-Rom collection of many of their most popular reference books. Here's what you get:

The New Bible Commentary
The New Bible Dictionary
The New Dictionary of Theology
The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology
The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
The Dictionaries of Jesus and the Gospels, Paul and his Letters, New Testament Background, and Later New Testament
The New Bible Atlas
The Bible Background Commentaries to the Old and New Testaments
Hard Sayings of the Bible
Plus an Authorised Version Bible

It's a hefty package - hence the hefty price - and it's easy to switch between books onscreen thanks to the intuitive Logos Library System. There's certainly a wealth of resource material here, and if you were thinking of getting all the books, you'd certainly save money by buying this instead.

The problem, I suspect, for UK buyers is that while this package may include several volumes they would consider 'must-haves', there are plenty more they wouldn't consider indispensable. Many leaders like to use a wide range of commentaries and reference books - few would see this as comprehensive.

Add to that the fact that if you want a more modern Bible translation (eg NIV, Good News, The Message and others), you have to pay more to 'unlock' the versions stored on the CD.

In summary, if you're an IVP resources fan and love to work on screen whenever you can, you'll lap this up. But I suspect for many the price may just be too high, and the shortcomings too many to tempt them.

Russ Bravo, Director, CFN

BOOKS

Reliable resource

Sorted, by David Wilson (Agape £5.99)

DAVID Wilson’s Sorted offers “steps for getting your Christian life the right way up”. Wilson writes with enthusiasm and successfully avoids religious jargon. He includes many stories about witnessing to students and his main target audience is presumably young people who have recently come to faith.

The book provides helpful insights into the importance of forgiveness and the need for every believer to be filled with the Spirit. Nothing new here, but Wilson provides endless everyday illustrations, some of which are sure to lodge in the imagination.

As a helpful corrective to some recent publications and preaching, Wilson’s book is shot through with Bible quotations and expresses his infectious conviction that every Christian is called to be an effective witness, taking a part in world mission and not being afraid to witness among friends and in the workplace. Fortunately, Wilson avoids leaving his readers feeling guilty – he’s a good inspirer of others, reassuring us that every Christian is able to contribute usefully to the fulfilment of the Great Commission.

As to omissions, Wilson’s book emphasises many traditional evangelical priorities – not a bad thing in an era when they are easily neglected – but fails to develop many other aspects of biblical faith. For example, there’s nothing to speak of on the local church as a community of love, nor on the power of Communion as a means of meditating upon the cross, resurrection and Christ’s saving love.

It’s not, then, a comprehensive book of discipleship, but if you want a healthy commendation of evangelical activism, Sorted is a reliable resource.

Rob Warner is an author, speaker and leader of Kairos, church from scratch in Wimbledon

Make an informed choice

Anyone For Alpha? Evangelism in a Post-Christian Society, by Stephen Hunt (Dartman-Longman and Todd £7.95)

THE growth of the Alpha course in the last decade has been phenomenal – it appears to be an effective way to communicate the timeless faith to a postmodern world – or that is what the press releases are always saying!

Is Alpha the best thing since sliced bread, or is it for all its ‘success’ a deeply flawed concept? Is the course too orientated to the middle classes? Is Alpha a quick fix theology? Does the high profile of Nicky Gumbel create a personality cult? Is Alpha a simplistic form of indoctrination thinly disguised as an opportunity to explore real Christianity? Does Alpha present a lop-sided view of Christianity? These are the types of questions that Stephen Hunt explores with skill in this book.

The author writes as an agnostic sociologist rather than as a theologian and this approach contributes to a fresh look at Alpha. Stephen Hunt has no axe to grind; his conclusions are based on thorough research and shrewd observations.

This is not a negative book, yet it does pose questions about the style and content of the Alpha course. I hear that Nicky Gumbel reads everything that is written about Alpha. That is healthy, all of us need to learn how to critically evaluate the trends and movements that shape the Christian world.

If you are thinking about using Alpha and are not sure – or if you are a seasoned Alpha exponent, here is a book that will inform your choice as to whether you use it or how to use it wisely.

John Woods is pastor of Lancing Christian Centre in Sussex

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		CD-ROM Helpful but expensive The Essential IVP Reference Collection (IVP, £99.99 - for Pentium PC, Windows 3.1 upwards) Most of us prepare talks, sermons, house group studies, Sunday School material and more on PCs these days, so it can be very handy to have your favourite commentaries, Bible translations and reference books instantly available at the click of a mouse. At least, that's the principle IVP have worked on for their CD-Rom collection of many of their most popular reference books. Here's what you get: The New Bible Commentary The New Bible Dictionary The New Dictionary of Theology The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery The Dictionaries of Jesus and the Gospels, Paul and his Letters, New Testament Background, and Later New Testament The New Bible Atlas The Bible Background Commentaries to the Old and New Testaments Hard Sayings of the Bible Plus an Authorised Version Bible It's a hefty package - hence the hefty price - and it's easy to switch between books onscreen thanks to the intuitive Logos Library System. There's certainly a wealth of resource material here, and if you were thinking of getting all the books, you'd certainly save money by buying this instead. The problem, I suspect, for UK buyers is that while this package may include several volumes they would consider 'must-haves', there are plenty more they wouldn't consider indispensable. Many leaders like to use a wide range of commentaries and reference books - few would see this as comprehensive. Add to that the fact that if you want a more modern Bible translation (eg NIV, Good News, The Message and others), you have to pay more to 'unlock' the versions stored on the CD. In summary, if you're an IVP resources fan and love to work on screen whenever you can, you'll lap this up. But I suspect for many the price may just be too high, and the shortcomings too many to tempt them. Russ Bravo, Director, CFN BOOKS Reliable resource Sorted, by David Wilson (Agape £5.99) DAVID Wilson’s Sorted offers “steps for getting your Christian life the right way up”. Wilson writes with enthusiasm and successfully avoids religious jargon. He includes many stories about witnessing to students and his main target audience is presumably young people who have recently come to faith. The book provides helpful insights into the importance of forgiveness and the need for every believer to be filled with the Spirit. Nothing new here, but Wilson provides endless everyday illustrations, some of which are sure to lodge in the imagination. As a helpful corrective to some recent publications and preaching, Wilson’s book is shot through with Bible quotations and expresses his infectious conviction that every Christian is called to be an effective witness, taking a part in world mission and not being afraid to witness among friends and in the workplace. Fortunately, Wilson avoids leaving his readers feeling guilty – he’s a good inspirer of others, reassuring us that every Christian is able to contribute usefully to the fulfilment of the Great Commission. As to omissions, Wilson’s book emphasises many traditional evangelical priorities – not a bad thing in an era when they are easily neglected – but fails to develop many other aspects of biblical faith. For example, there’s nothing to speak of on the local church as a community of love, nor on the power of Communion as a means of meditating upon the cross, resurrection and Christ’s saving love. It’s not, then, a comprehensive book of discipleship, but if you want a healthy commendation of evangelical activism, Sorted is a reliable resource. Rob Warner is an author, speaker and leader of Kairos, church from scratch in Wimbledon Make an informed choice Anyone For Alpha? Evangelism in a Post-Christian Society, by Stephen Hunt (Dartman-Longman and Todd £7.95) THE growth of the Alpha course in the last decade has been phenomenal – it appears to be an effective way to communicate the timeless faith to a postmodern world – or that is what the press releases are always saying! Is Alpha the best thing since sliced bread, or is it for all its ‘success’ a deeply flawed concept? Is the course too orientated to the middle classes? Is Alpha a quick fix theology? Does the high profile of Nicky Gumbel create a personality cult? Is Alpha a simplistic form of indoctrination thinly disguised as an opportunity to explore real Christianity? Does Alpha present a lop-sided view of Christianity? These are the types of questions that Stephen Hunt explores with skill in this book. The author writes as an agnostic sociologist rather than as a theologian and this approach contributes to a fresh look at Alpha. Stephen Hunt has no axe to grind; his conclusions are based on thorough research and shrewd observations. This is not a negative book, yet it does pose questions about the style and content of the Alpha course. I hear that Nicky Gumbel reads everything that is written about Alpha. That is healthy, all of us need to learn how to critically evaluate the trends and movements that shape the Christian world. If you are thinking about using Alpha and are not sure – or if you are a seasoned Alpha exponent, here is a book that will inform your choice as to whether you use it or how to use it wisely. John Woods is pastor of Lancing Christian Centre in Sussex © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.