More than any other part of the Old Testament, the book of Psalms reveals to us the intimacy possible between God and humanity. As songs and prayers of praise and lament, the psalms are unsurpassed in their variety, depth and range. They encompass the whole breadth of human emotion: hatred and love, despair and joy, resentment and gratitude, fear of abandonment and deep trust. They encourage us to be honest and thorough in our dealings with God, and they teach us how to praise him, seek him and rest in him. Using personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

\["For those seeking a deeper connection with God", "Helps you feel God's presence in every direction", "You will find peace knowing you are embraced by God"\]

Encompassing God invites you to experience the depths of God's love through prayers and meditations.

David Adam

Cover

Title page

Dedication

Imprint

Epigraph

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The prayer of seven directions

God in the beginning

God in the midst of life

God in all that has been

God in the end of all things

God above all

God upholding all

God within me

God within others

God within all creation

God encompassing all

__David Adam has spent a lifetime exploring the depths of God's love, and this richly contemplative collection of new prayers and meditations draws us very near to the heart of the Trinity.__

Based on 'the prayer of seven directions', Encompassing God seeks to increase our awareness of being held by God.

We are nurtured at every moment of our existence in the encompassing love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Whatever we might be facing, we can trust that God is before us and behind us. He is on our right and on our left; above us, beneath us - and gloriously alive within.

The Provocative Church offers a liberating understanding of evangelism as a corporate activity, in which all the gifts needed to enact the life of the Kingdom - to stir people into asking, 'What does this mean?' - are spread throughout the whole Church. It encourages the development of a theology of conversion.

Sometimes Christians assume that people 'out there' are eager to listen to what the Church has to offer. But why should those we try to evangelize want to hear the gospel? Surely people will only be intrigued by Christian life and community when they see something provocative or attractive. Then they will want to know what's going on. The Provocative Church offers a liberating understanding of evangelism as a corporate activity, in which all the gifts needed to enact the life of the Kingdom - to stir people into asking, 'What does this mean?' - are spread throughout the whole Church. It encourages the development of a theology of conversion that sees beyond 'becoming a Christian' to bring each individual life increasingly under the rule of God.

'The Provocative Church is one of the best, most honest, most theologically grounded and therefore most practically helpful books on evangelism to have come out in recent years.' Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford

The Revd Dr Graham Tomlin is Dean of St Mellitus College and Principal of St Paul's Theological Centre, Holy Trinity Brompton, London. He served in a parish in Exeter before becoming Chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford in 1989 and Vice-Principal of Wycliffe Hall in 1998. His new book Priest is scheduled for publication in June 2014.

\["Want to broaden your understanding of evangelism?","Graham Tomlin shows how the Church can draw others in","Find a new way to reach out into the world around you"\]

Take evangelism beyond one-on-one and see it as a corporate Church activity with Graham Tomlin's bestselling guide to becoming a people that draws others to Christ.

Sometimes Christians assume that people 'out there' are eager to listen to what the Church has to offer. But why should those we try to evangelize want to hear the gospel? Surely people will only be intrigued by Christian life and community when they see something provocative or attractive. Then they will want to know what's going on. The Provocative Church offers a liberating understanding of evangelism as a corporate activity, in which all the gifts needed to enact the life of the kingdom - to stir people into asking, 'What does this mean?' - are spread throughout the whole Church. It encourages the development of a theology of conversion that sees beyond 'becoming a Christian' to bring each individual life increasingly under the rule of God. 'The Provocative Church is about an evangelism that begins with the kingdom, not the Church. Graham Tomlin helps us see that the New Testament, while not saying much about evangelism itself, does have an awful lot to say about new life in Christ. The work of the Church is to demonstrate what this new life looks like. This in turn will provoke a response, and it is in the dialogue that follows that real evangelism takes place. \[This volume\] is one of the best, most honest, most theologically grounded and therefore most practically helpful books on evangelism to have come out in recent years.' Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford 'A refreshingly honest book from a theologian who clearly knows that most of society doesn't think the way the church does, and wants to do something about it.' Church of England Newspaper

\["For Christians wanting to share faith in a modern way", "Challenges assumptions about why people engage with church", "You will learn to inspire curiosity about the gospel"\]

The Provocative Church explores a fresh approach to evangelism.

The Good Book Stall

 "Inviting people to come under the rule of God" is how Graham Tomlin defines evangelism. The Church's role is "to remind the rest of the world of God's rule and Christ's lordship in Christ", and to do so through Christians' words as well as their lives. Read Chapter 3 to get a good idea of what the ‘Kingdom' or ‘Rule' of God is.   
  
Tomlin recognises that evangelism is unfashionable, but this stimulating and practical book, now in its fourth reprint, opens up the many ways of becoming an evangelistic church. The whole congregation could profitably study this  
book, but the author is specifically concerned with leaders, who are important if the church is going to become truly evangelistic. I heartily recommend "The Provocative Church".

The Provocative Church

Encompassing God

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