STORYTELLING:
Sharing the gospel with passion and power by Martin Goldsmith (5 stars out of 5)
Who doesn’t love a good story? Young or old, faith or none, stories transcend space and time, while influencing culture across the globe. Stories can change a person and it is nothing new to want to make Bible stories come alive. Our Sunday school teachers’ earliest attempts at biblical exposition have long since been forgotten, but the simple stories they told remain vividly in our memories. Unconsciously, these stories work to stimulate imagination and communicate deep truths in a moving and powerful way. Jesus told stories.
In a world where individuals are often hostile to the good news, telling stories is an ideal way to communicate the pursuing love of Christ today. Stories are Gods instrument for speaking into our lives. Drawing upon a wealth of experience, Martin Goldsmith shares some thoughts about the power of storytelling. Full of gripping stories from a lifetime of sharing the gospel, this book will challenge and compel you to do likewise. Furthermore it begs the question of why pastors of this day and age rarely major on stories.
If you are looking to reawaken your passion in sharing this powerful gospel we carry then look no further. Change your story today.
Ed Wyeth is a lead coach on the Spear course at St Pauls Hammersmith.
LIVING WITHOUT WORRY
How to replace anxiety with peace by Timothy Lane (3 stars out of 5)
In Living without worry, Timothy Lane unpacks the topic of worry from a biblical perspective, explaining the nature and effects of worry before examining its roots.
It’s clear that Lane has pastoral experience in his field, having previously written about PTSD. He references scripture throughout and examines certain instances in the lives of Jonah, Isaiah and Paul.
As the book progresses, Lane continues to set the issues of worry in an eternal perspective with some strong teaching on heaven and hell. He goes on to explain the work of the Spirit in effecting change before leading the reader in a guided meditation. He concludes by encouraging obedience, trust in God’s love and faithfulness and keeping a kingdom perspective.
While there are many helpful points, Lane’s style is occasionally preachy and his cultural references are somewhat outdated. The questions at the end of each chapter are helpful in grounding his message but the book and its applications are aimed at adults more than young people. There’s some good stuff in there, but the style and illustrations could use some work.
Joy Wright is a church youth worker in Guildford, Surrey.
Speak, Brother
Speak, Brother
This debut offering from Speak, Brother is a warm, indie-folk EP, rich in authenticity, which will get you thinking in the quieter moments of life. This four track effort provides heaps of joy as well as the space and opportunity for a deeper understanding of things. Personally, my friends and I used it to write our university essays to.
The songs are raw, which sets this three-piece band apart from the rest. The lyrics reflect the honest and real manner in which they sing. It’s not about the big band and roaring crowd with these guys; they’re reflecting on those points in all our lives when we stop, think and reflect about what life is really about.
Of course, I can’t escape the fact that they are extremely similar to Mumford and Sons, and Rend Collective; but having said that, they
bring a fresh and back-to-basics vibe to an already established scene. My favourite song is ‘Two Bands of Gold’, which tells the story of a couple in their journey of marriage and commitment. The beautifully fragile essence of the song is something that should not be missed.
Overall, I do not think I can express how highly I rate this EP: five stars are not enough!
Katie Smith is a history and communication and society student in Nottingham.
