Andrew Mathieson – författare

It was the first book to ever be printed. It remains one of the most popular of all time, with whole societies of people professing to live their lives according to its pages – but can the Bible actually be trusted? Does it have any substance or is it just some nice ideas? Isn’t it full of contradictions, and can it really have anything to say in the 21st century? The fourth title of the First Steps series by 9Marks explores these questions and more, showing that the Bible is not only still relevant, it is powerful!

AN INTERACTIVE GUIDE AND INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – WARTS AND ALL!The First Steps series provides an innovative and engaging guide to the Christian Life for people who are just starting out on it, perhaps with no Church background or previous information whatsoever. Possibly excited and nervous at the same time. Each of the ten titles uses everyday language to clearly explain some of the key areas people need to grasp, but commonly struggle with. A unique feature is that you are introduced to a person in each book, who we see trying this out in real life situations. You can almost imagine being there with them.These ten titles can be followed step–by–step as a path, or in the order that seems most relevant to where you are right now.   God – Is He Out There?War – Why Did Life Just Get Harder?Voices – Who Am I Listening To?Bible – Can We Trust It?Believe – What Should I Know?Character – How Do I Change?Training – How Do I Grow As A Christian?Church – Do I Have To Go?Relationships – How Do I Make Things Right?Service – How Do I Give Back? Each book will grab your attention using six symbols that run throughout each one. A person experiencing what’s in the book, before you have to.Illustrations that really bring it to life.Stop signs to ensure you’ve grasped it.Key Bible verses to give you confidence in what you’ve read.One significant and relevant Bible verse to easily remember and hold onto.A brief summary of what you’ve just covered, before going any further. Let’s jump in and take a look at what’s instore for us. GOD – IS HE OUT THERE?Probably the best title to start with as we need to be sure that God exists in the first place, discover who He is and what He’s like, and how this affects me, my life and my world.WAR – WHY DID LIFE JUST GET HARDER?As with anything that is new, we may come up against unexpected problems that risk throwing us off course. Being aware of this is key, and also knowing that anything this amazing is worth fighting for, combined with the surprising news is we’re not left to do this on our own! VOICES – WHO AM I LISTENING TO?We’re bombarded with messages demanding our attention and it can be difficult to know who to listen to, or what is the best decision to make. God is well aware of this and has provided loads of clarity. BIBLE – CAN WE TRUST IT?The Bible may have all the answers we’re looking for, but if we don’t trust it, we’re not going to believe it. How can we be sure it’s true and trustworthy?  BELIEVE – WHAT SHOULD I KNOW?Nobody understands the whole Bible right away – so what are some of the key truths we need to grasp, to get started?  CHARACTER – HOW DO I CHANGE?None of us wants to be a hypocrite, so how can my character match who I say I am?  TRAINING – HOW DO I GROW AS A CHRISTIAN?This looks at the wonderful opportunities we get, to grow and mature as a Christian, at just the right time and pace.  CHURCH – DO I HAVE TO GO?Here comes a tricky issue! Love it or dread it, it is home for the Christian on this planet. Let’s blow away some myths and false expectations, so we can really feel at home there. RELATIONSHIPS – HOW DO I MAKE THINGS RIGHT?How do we deal, as different people now, with all the various relationships we have? How can we heal broken ones, protect all the ones that are good, and accept that some will always be difficult? SERVICE – HOW DO I GIVE BACK?We’re told its good to give back, but what does that actually mean and how do we do it? Especially when we have to serve people we have a problem with.  SUITABLE FOR:People Exploring For ThemselvesOne–To–One MentoringSmall Group DiscussionsTraining Courses