Mere Christianity by
In the classic Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the most important writer of the 20th century, explores the common ground upon which all of those of Christian faith stand together. Bringing together Lewis' legendary broadcast talks during World War Two from his three previous books The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear this powerful apologetic for the Christian faith.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by
The best-selling rack edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now has a movie still cover and an eight-page movie still insert! "Excellent for Homeschool Use"
The Screwtape Letters by
This engaging correspondence between two devils is one of Lewis's most brilliant imaginative creations and has sold millions of copies worldwide A TIMELESS CLASSIC ON 'HELL'S LATEST NOVELTIES AND HEAVEN'S UNANSWERABLE ANSWER'. Screwtape is an experienced devil. His nephew Wormwood is just at the start of his demonic career, and has been assigned to secure the damnation of a young man who has just become a Christian. In this humorous exchange, C.S. Lewis delves into moral questions about good v. evil, temptation, repentance and grace. Through this wonderful tale, the reader emerges with a better knowledge of what it means to live a good, honest life. “If wit and wisdom, style and scholarship are requisites to passage through the pearly gates, Mr. Lewis will be among the angels.” The New Yorker
Finding God in the Shack by
The Shack has touched millions of readers with its portrayal of a compassionate God in the face of great evil. Many have identified with the main character's Great Sadness, the terrible burden of grief that often accompanies and follows a deep loss, for the Great Sadness is part of the human condition. And it compels us to ask, Where is God? Who is God?Roger Olson, who has faced his own Great Sadness, finds a good deal of comfort in this much beloved, story as have so many others. Some may ask, however, Is God really like that? Is that really how God responds to evil? Can God be trusted?Olson also views The Shack with a theologian's eye and finds much sound truth. He delves into many of the significant issues raised by the book such as forgiving those who have done us great evil, how God acts in the world, how God is three persons in one and what difference this makes to us. While he offers his own criticisms of the book, he largely finds the truth about God in The Shack.
Discovering the Parables by
Long before there were printing presses, copy machines, and email, societies used storytelling to convey beliefs, history, and traditions. This practice preceded the ministry of Jesus and continues today in many cultures. But Jesus was a master of storytelling. His words provide many with guidelines and a road map for living. Using familiar imagery found in nature and other recognizable sources, he engaged his listeners with lessons that confronted every aspect of their lives, providing the tools for self-examination and change. Speaking in parables, however, sometimes caused confusion for his listeners, and readers today may wonder what exactly he meant, and how his words apply to everyday life. This book looks at each of Jesus's parables, explaining the key points, the central themes, and the meanings we can take away from the stories. By considering each parable in depth, the author helps readers come to a better understanding of the teachings of Jesus and what they mean for our lives.
Masterplots II by
Masterplots II: Christian Literature captures the breadth of Christian literature - both fiction and nonfiction - by selecting more than 500 of the greatest and most representative works identified with the genre. At the core of this work are the fiction and nonfiction ""classics"" to which most students and general readers - Christian or secular - will be exposed at some time in their lives, from Saint Augustine's ""Confessions to John"" Bunyan's ""Pilgrim's Progress"" to C. S. Lewis' ""Screwtape Letters"". Many titles represent the ""boom"" in Christian literature of the past three decades, from the ""Left Behind"" series to ""The Da Vinci Code"". While several of the titles were not written exclusively for a Christian audience, all works covered in these volumes have been taught or analyzed from a Christian perspective. The bulk of the titles in our list, however, overtly emphasize the Christian experience. In many cases, these works were written expressly for the purpose of addressing Christian concerns or simply providing a good ""Christian read."" The scope is broad not only generically but also temporally and geographically, with works by authors as diverse as Gustavo Gutierrez, Immaculee Ilibagiza, J. N. Mugambi, and Fumitaka Matsuoka and dates of publication ranging from Christian times to the 21st century. Titles in all the major genres are included: drama, from Everyman to Jesus Christ, Superstar; poetry, from ""The Dream of the Rood"" to Mark Jarman's ""Questions for Ecclesiastes""; and the best of Christian genre fiction, including romance, mystery, and science fiction, as well as literary fiction. We have contemporary and often controversial blockbusters such as C.S. Lewis' ""Chronicles of Narnia"" and Rick Warren's ""The Purpose-Driven Life"". The best-seller status of both testifies to the growing revival of interest in the genre of Christian literature. The set is arranged alphabetically by title, and each essay (averaging approximately 1,600 words, or 4-5 pages) is divided into sections in a predictable format that allows easy access to text discussions: Title: Title of the work (when originally not in English, the title best known in English publication); Author: Name by which the author is best known, followed in parentheses by years of birth and death; First published: Year in which the original work first appeared, plus any original foreign-language title; Edition Used: For classic works and translations; Genre: Drama, nonfiction, novel, novella, poetry, or short fiction; Subgenres: Each title's subgenre or subgenres are listed, from Adventure and Allegory to Theology and Thriller; Core Issues: Lists key subjects of particular importance in the Christian experience; Abstract: This key paragraph highlights the work's content and Christian significance in a capsule summary; and, Principal Characters: Lists the major characters. It also includes Overview: Detailed summary of and commentary on the work's content (the meat of the essay); Christian Themes: Examines critically the issues of the work in the Christian context; Sources for Further Study: Offers a listing of readily available secondary reference material on the work and its author. Bibliographical notes appear for each source; and, Contributor Byline: The scholar or expert who wrote the entry.
