Paula Gooder – författare

'This is the book I've been waiting for all my life. Paula Gooder enables the reader to engage with the Psalms in such depth, satisfying all the many hungers that are raised as the Psalms are studied, prayed and sung.' Jane Williams, McDonald Professor in Theology, St Mellitus College'Superb and refreshing - I encourage people to explore this wonderfully creative book'Jarel Robinson-Brown, theologian, author and Assistant Curate at St Botolph's-Without-Aldgate'This is a wonderful book. Paula Gooder has found a way to make the most loved psalms fresh and new with easily digestible commentary and an invitation to further exploration. It has made me a convert to Bible journalling.' The Church MouseA thoughtful guide to prayer and reflection on the Psalms with plenty of space for journalling.In this beautifully designed hardback journal, theologian Paula Gooder leads readers through fifteen favourite Psalms, offering insight and tips on how to pray and reflect on some of the most profound poetry in the Hebrew Scriptures.After a brief introduction to the history and context of each one, Paula invites readers to stand back and contemplate the Psalm as a whole, before zooming in to pick up on fascinating details and posing searching questions to deepen our understanding of God and ourselves. Paula selects some of the most well-loved Psalms for the journal, including Psalms 1, 23, 42, 88, 139, 145, 150. Lined pages face each Psalm, with space for journalling following each question.This journal would make a perfect Easter gift or to work through during Lent, either personally or as a Lent group study resource.Journalling the Psalms won 'Devotional/Gift Book of the Year' at the Christian Resources Together Awards, 2022.

Searching For Meaning introduces readers to the different methods used to interpret the New Testament. Top scholars give a short definition of a particular criticism and then Paula Gooder gives a practical example to demonstrate how that criticism can be applied to a biblical text.A very broad range of methods are introduced, from traditional criticisms such as source criticism and historical criticism tot he more modern methods such as feminist criticism and liberation criticism. Readers will understand how different meanings and emphases can be drawn out from a text depending upon the method of interpretation chosen. They will also be given the skills to start analysing and examining texts for themselves in a meaningful and insightful way.

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.

A basic and theological introduction to the role and work of a Church of England Reader, covering the full range of Reader ministry, together with a short history of reader ministry. This is a practical guide for candidates, trainees, and licensed Readers, and for all who work with them. The public ministry of the Church of England currently comprises some 27,000 licensed ministers and more than 10,000 Readers. In many parishes and benefices, it is Readers who make the local pattern of worship sustainable Sunday to Sunday.

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.

The Body and the Spirit, though, roughly speaking, being in the same place they are almost always separated from each other in Christian thought.The body is painted as something bad, frail, coarsely corporeal and ruled by "the flesh" (which is always pronounced with parental disdain, as if it were a bad influence on an otherwise good child). Whereas the Spirit is pure, lofty, and Good, and that you can only really connect with God with what is inside.But is it fair to separate 'Spirituality' from the Body?Following up 'Heaven', her bestselling and highly praised look at how we see heaven and how the Bible depicts it, Paula Gooder explores key Biblical concepts of the Body before moving on to examine what Paul taught in the New Testament. That actually we need to take a different look at what is meant by the Body.With careful scholarship, thoughtful reflection on Biblical passages, and an stylistic approach like that of 'Heaven', which The Times Literary Supplement called "a fine example of careful biblical scholarship made accessible and exciting", Body isn't just a book for the brain.Neither is it a book to feed the Spirit.It's a book for the person.The whole person.

Heaven is one of those great mysteries that somehow symbolizes what we don't know about ourselves and the world around us. At the same time it lifts our vision from the mundane realities of our lives and reminds us that beyond the daily grind of our existence there is another, unseen reality.' Paula Gooder explores the Bible's teaching on heaven and explains how it is nearer to earth than you might think. A book for all who are curious about the dwelling place of God and the angels. Intended for people looking for answers to life's biggest questions, this little book of guidance will appeal to anyone, whether believer or non-believer, looking for a quick and easy way into the topic.

The Tell-It-Together Gospel brings together a new translation of Mark's Gospel by renowned biblical scholar Paula Gooder and interactive storytelling tips from bestselling author Bob Hartman.Remaining faithful to the Bible text itself, Paula and Bob combine Mark's Gospel with fun and engaging actions to bring the text to life and make it memorable for all ages - even the very young.Clearly presented with easy-to-read text and accompanying directives for audience participation, this book is ideal for use in churches, children's groups, at home and in many other settings.

The first guide to New Testament Greek to assume no prior knowledge and prioritise quick and effective methods of learning. Contains useful pedagogical features such as Q & A exercises, a glossary of English grammatical terms and a glossary of key Greek vocabulary. This book also features a regularly updated companion web-site with exercises and revision notes - access is free for all who purchase the book. This practical textbook for undergraduate students and serving ministers is specifically designed to teach the reader about New Testament Greek, and to enrich the readers understanding of Scripture. Exploring New Testament Greek aims to cultivate a 'feel' for the Greek language and give insight into some central issues in New Testament study without a heavy investment of time and energy. Its priorities are accessibility and relevance for Bible study: it is set out in ten short chapters that encourage learning through a variety of practical exercises, and concentrates on those aspects of the language that lead directly to increased understanding of the text. Rather than overwhelming the student with tables of grammar and vocabulary, the book directs students in the use of free websites, interlinear translations and other readily-available language tools as a means of making a little knowledge go a long way. Introduction 1. Letters and Words 2. Finding Your Way Around a Sentence 3. Understanding How Greek Words Work 4. Introduction to Nouns and their Endings 5. More Noun Endings and More Pronouns6. Words that Describe 7. Simple Verbs 8. Tenses 9. Voice: Active, Passive and Middle 10. Participles and the Articular Infinitive Epilogue Checklist of Grammatical Words used in this Course Appendix: Useful tables Lexicon of Greek words. About the authors:Dr Peter Kevern is a theologian and educationalist, currently Director of Studies at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham. He has worked alongside SIL translators in Papua New Guinea, on a version of the New Testament in Siane-Lambau. Dr Paula Gooder is a lecturer at the Queens Foundation, Birmingham and is a freelance biblical lecturer and writer. She has extensive experience teaching both Greek and Hebrew at Higher education level.

In Chapter 1 Paula Gooder discusses the problems of interpreting this text and looks at the major debates of its past interpreters. The most popular modern approach is to compare it with other texts of ascent in the Judaeo-Christian tradition, yet even a brief examination of these texts indicate that differences are present. In the remainder of the book Gooder evaluates the extent and significance of these differences. Part One consists of a detailed consideration of a range of texts which superficially seem closest to 2 Corinthians 12. Chapter 2 presents a history of scholarship on heavenly ascent. Chapters 3 to 8 each examine a text of ascent from a different period and background in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Chapter 9 draws out the points of similarity between these texts. Part Two considers the text of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 in the light of the findings of Part One. In the detailed examination of the Pauline ascent in chapter 10, the extent of the differences between this text and the texts examined in Part One becomes clear. Chapter 11 proposes a new interpretation of the account of ascent, arguing that it reports a failed ascent into heaven.The chapter shows that this interpretation makes sense not only of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 itself but also of chapters 10-13 which surround it. The account is one more example of weakness from the apostle in which he proves that weakness, not strength, is the sign of a true apostle.

The Pentateuch (or the Torah) consists of the first five books of the Bible and is a foundational scripture for millions of people, both Jews and Christians. This book addresses the need for a clear and accessible introduction for those beginning Bible study. It presents and analyses key themes such as creation and the flood, exodus and liberation, covenant and land, and law and faith. These are explored in their ancient context and from the standpoint of contemporary concerns such as liberation theology, gender issues and ecology. Paula Gooder is Tutor is Biblical Studies at The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham and a freelance writer and lecturer.

The Pentateuch (or the Torah) consists of the first five books of the Bible and is a foundational scripture for millions of people, both Jews and Christians. In this book Paula Gooder and Brad Anderson provide a clear and accessible introduction for those beginning Bible study. Key themes such as creation and the flood, exodus and liberation, as well as covenant and law are presented and analyzed. These themes are explored in their ancient context and from the standpoint of contemporary concerns such as liberation theology, gender issues and ecology.For this new edition introductory sections on the five books of the Pentateuch have been expanded and supplemented, while recent developments in the quest for the origins of the Pentateuch have also been updated. A new chapter on academic approaches to the study of the Pentateuch has been added, along with a section on the 'afterlife' of the Pentateuch which focuses on its place in the history of interpretation, as well as in the arts and culture. Reading lists and references have been updated throughout to take account of the most recent scholarship.

The Pentateuch (or the Torah) consists of the first five books of the Bible and is a foundational scripture for millions of people, both Jews and Christians. In this book Paula Gooder and Brad Anderson provide a clear and accessible introduction for those beginning Bible study. Key themes such as creation and the flood, exodus and liberation, as well as covenant and law are presented and analyzed. These themes are explored in their ancient context and from the standpoint of contemporary concerns such as liberation theology, gender issues and ecology.For this new edition introductory sections on the five books of the Pentateuch have been expanded and supplemented, while recent developments in the quest for the origins of the Pentateuch have also been updated. A new chapter on academic approaches to the study of the Pentateuch has been added, along with a section on the 'afterlife' of the Pentateuch which focuses on its place in the history of interpretation, as well as in the arts and culture. Reading lists and references have been updated throughout to take account of the most recent scholarship.

Found in Common Worship: Times and Seasons, The Way of the Cross is a series of scripture-based devotions for personal or group use in Lent and Holy Week. Similar in intent to the traditional Stations of the Cross, it focuses wholly on the biblical narrative of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.This seasonal companion provides the sequence of fifteen meditations appears in full, including opening and concluding prayers. Each is accompanied by three short reflections from different perspectives by three of today's very best spiritual writers:- Paula Gooder offers reflections on the scriptural narratives;- Stephen Cottrell considers the story from the perspective of personal discipleship;- Philip North explores the story's challenge to mission and witness.

When faced with times of crisis or challenge, many people turn to self-help for support. But what about Christians - how can we find strength not merely in self-help but in God's help?A Way through the Wilderness is a five-session course which explores God's promise to comfort his people as they struggle through life's wildernesses. With extensive guidance for leaders as well as for group members, this is an inspiring choice for house, cell and Lent groups.

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.

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 resourcefrom the Church of England. It will help enquirers and new Christians explorewhat it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ.A Christian course for the twenty-first century, Pilgrimoffers an approach of participation, not persuasion. Enquirers are encouragedto practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer,exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of theChristian faith. Believing that the Christian faith is primarily aboutrelationship, Pilgrim aims to lay a foundation for a lifetime of learning moreabout 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 atany point on the journey of discipleship and by every tradition in the Churchof England.Pilgrim is made up of two parts: Follow and Grow. Eachconsists of four short courses and a leaders’ guide. Follow introduces theChristian faith for complete beginners, while Grow aims to develop a deeperlevel of discipleship in those who have turned to Christ. Each short course contains six-sessions, supported byonline audio-visual resources. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer,reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modernwriter, 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. 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 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 BeatitudesAll 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. 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.