ALPHA BOOKS – serie

Jesus Christ makes life profoundly worth living.This is Paul's message in his letter to the Philippians, in which he encourages the church he planted in Philippi to go on pursuing their new identity in Christ. In an engaging and accessible way, Nicky Gumbel places this key letter of the New Testament in context, explaining its audience and its writer, before unpacking why and how Christians can live with a new purpose, confidence and joy. He uses plenty of choice anecdotes to help us understand how Paul's message applies to us today, and how living for Jesus is living life to the full. Ideal for people new to studying the Bible, this book will help the reader understand the exciting implications of being a Christian.

The Bible has been described both as a manual for life and a love letter from God himself. But how should we read it? Where do we start? How is the Bible relevant to everyday life?Nicky Gumbel has selected thirty fascinating extracts from the Old and New Testaments to introduce reading the Bible and spending time with God. For each day, there is a passage from the Bible accompanied by an explanation of the passage, practical comments relating the Bible to your own life, and suggestions for what to pray in light of the passage. Ideal for those on an Alpha course and others who are interested in exploring the Bible, this book will teach you over thirty days how to get to know God through what he says in the Bible.'God has given us the extraordinary privilege of knowing him. I hope that by the end of 30 Days you will want to make spending time with God a lifelong habit.' - Nicky Gumbel

As we begin to think more deeply about the meaning of life, it's not long before we come across tough questions that deserve careful consideration. This book explores and discusses seven common objections to the Christian faith, including:- Why does God allow suffering?- What about other religions?- Is there a conflict between science and Christianity?Drawing on years of discussing these issues with people looking for answers, Nicky Gumbel offers clear, accessible and reasoned responses to the questions that surround faith and Christianity in the modern world. He goes beyond the logic of each question and applies it to a wider understanding of God's identity and our own identity, with practical suggestions for dealing with these issues in everyday life.'Gumbel's combination of humour, anecdote, metaphysics, quotations from the Bible and complex theology are both persuasive and compelling.' - The Observer

Fascinating stories, anecdotes and illustrations from one of its most inspirational practitioners. In short, pithy paragraphs, Sandy Millar talks about the life of Jesus, God's call to intimacy, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the teachings of the Bible. Compiled and edited by Mark Elsdon-Dew from transcripts of his sermons and writings, Sandy Millar's teaching will heartily encourage anyone with a love for life and Jesus.'Instead of a massy tome of controversial divinity we have a delightful and unoppressive simplicity which nevertheless packs a Christian punch.' - Rt Rev. Rt Hon. Lord Richard ChartresCover artwork from Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy, creator of The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse - the 2019 Waterstones Book of the Year.

'What Alpha offers, and what is attracting thousands of people, is permission, rare in secular culture, to discuss the big questions of life and death and their meaning.' - The Guardian'Alpha makes Christianity relevant to modern life.' - The ExpressIn this international bestseller, Alpha pioneer Nicky Gumbel addresses some of the foundational questions of life that challenge us all: why am I here? Is there more to life than this? How can I make the most of the rest of my life?Answering step-by-step some of the key questions that lie at the heart of the Christian faith, his intelligent, well-researched and informed approach makes this a sympathetic, fascinating and immensely readable introduction to Jesus Christ.'Alpha was the best thing I ever did. It helped answer some huge questions and to find a simple, empowering faith in my life.' - Bear Grylls

What does living as a Christian really look like? What changes do I need to make to the way I live my life? How does Jesus want me to live?The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' teaching on how to conduct our lives. While his original audience was a crowd of first-century Jews, his words are astutely relevant to 21st century living, particularly as modern Western cultural trends are increasingly at odds with Jesus' teaching. Laid out to follow the structure of Matthew 5-7, each chapter delves into the topics raised in these verses, including:- Dealing with anger- Handling conflict and criticism- Managing money- Sex, marriage and divorce- The secret of true happinessWith his familiar mix of wisdom and humour, Nicky Gumbel explains Jesus' teaching and presents practical ways to apply it so Christians can follow Jesus in every aspect of their lives.

'What distinguishes Alpha from other initiatives is the easy going, relaxed feel of the proceedings - that and its astonishing success.' - The TimesTelling Others imparts the vision, excitement and challenge of Alpha, with a practical guide to running a successful course. Perfect as a resource for churches, the book details the principles and structure of Alpha, tips on hosting small groups and giving talks, and guidance on pastoral care. A series of appendices provides suggestions for practicalities such as administration and running daytime and workplace courses, and advice on avoiding common mistakes and pitfalls. The chapters are interspersed with testimonies, written in their own words, from people whose lives have been changed by God through Alpha.

'We believe that healthy families are at the heart of a functioning society. We developed our courses and wrote The Marriage Book and The Parenting Book because the church has the opportunity to offer support to people at a practical, grassroots level. Every family strengthened makes a difference to a child and to our nation.'Drawing on their own experience of bringing up four children, and having talked to thousands of parents over the years on their parenting courses, Nicky and Sila Lee bring fresh insights and time-tested values to the task of parenting. The book covers the following areas:- Understanding how families work- Meeting our children's needs- Building character through setting boundaries- Helping our children make good choices- Passing on our believes and valuesFull of valuable advice and practical tips, The Parenting Book is a tool to come back to again and again.

Why should we get married? How do we stay married?How do we resolve conflict?What's the key to good sex?Can we stay happily married to one person for the whole of our lives?In this book, Nicky and Sila Lee distil the wisdom and advice they have gleaned from more than forty years of married life, and from their experiences of talking to and helping many other couples. While based on Christian principles for putting love at the centre of a marriage, Nicky and Sila's advice will benefit any couple regardless of their beliefs. They show how we can not only stay married, but make the most of our marriage, covering topics such as:· Staying connected· Effective communication· Parents and in-laws· Conflict and forgiveness· Sex and expressions of loveThe Marriage Book provides practical advice for any married or engaged couple who want to build a strong and lasting marriage, while also offering insights for single people who are interested in gaining a realistic and hopeful view of marriage.'While reading this book, you may feel that the Lees' marriage is 'too good to be true', but having observed it for over forty three years, let me assure you that it's entirely true and inspires us to aim for the very best.' Nicky Gumbel

Is it possible for a life to change?In their own compelling words, fifteen men from all walks of life tell the stories of their lives and how they have been transformed, often in dramatic circumstances, by an encounter with God. Some have overcome years of crime and extreme violence, others have seen their addictions disappear. Every story is gripping and inspirational.This is a book for anyone interested in whether God is there - and what he can do.