Reviews
Man of God: this real-life story of a literal saint is a little too holy
Starring Mickey Rourke, Man of God tells the true story of Saint Nektarios of Aegina, exiled unjustly, convicted without trial and slandered without cause. The film is a fascinating insight into the Greek Orthodox Church, says Giles Gough, even if the dialogue could do with some work
Limitless leadership podcast: Practical conversations on youth ministry
Launched in 2016, the Limitless Leadership Podcast, hosted by Elim’s Tim Alford, is a series of conversations covering key youth ministry topics with a variety of top practitioners, thinkers and specialists.
This meticulously researched biography of a 19th century preacher will have limited appeal
Baptist Wriothesley Noel, the largely-forgotten minister at St John’s Proprietary Chapel, London, was a popular preacher who drew large crowds.
Ruler of kings: A full frontal-attack on secularism
Joseph Boot gives the proverbial boot to secular humanism in the public square
Justin Welby's new book calls the Church to peacemaking
A new book from the Archbishop of Canterbury is always going to be a notable event. Previous holders of this office have published somewhat impenetrable books, so it is a pleasant surprise to find Archbishop Justin’s prose to be approachable and perspicuous.
Repackaging Christianity: How Alpha conquered the world
A new book charts the unexpected growth of the Alpha Course from humble beginnings in one London church to a worldwide phenomenon. Here's our 5/5 review
Read more from Premier Christianity
Better than half price!
Join the Premier Christianity community as you can now get 6 months for just £9.99 – better than half price! You'll get full access to as many articles as you can possibly read on this website, PLUS print issues delivered to your door* AND the digital magazine app on your devices
*Print magazine UK only. Great deals on international subscriptions also available
Redeeming Love: A beautiful retelling of Hosea…but you might miss the message
Jennie Pollock reviews one of the most hotly anticipated Christian films of the year
Premier Praise’s Selene Jordan: My top 8 songs
These songs will get you moving…
Why Christian leaders need friends, not fans
The number of well-known evangelical pastors exposed for committing ministry-ending sins has reached such a level that entire books are now being written on the subject. Here’s our review of Katelyn Beaty’s offering, Celebrities for Jesus
Need a shot of divine encouragement? This book is for you
This book is flowing with testimony and biblical truth, that brings inspiration to the thirsty reader.
Open for liberation: Why this activist’s reading of the Bible falls short
Was Jesus a revolutionary leader of a non-violent, anti-colonial movement which advocated for the dispossessed and affirmed racial equality and sexual diversity?
Thor 4: Fast, funny, forgettable...and deeply theological
Thor: Love and Thunder is all about trying to beat death in the face of an uncaring universe.
How 30 biblical women point us toward Jesus
In her new book The Seed of the Woman, Nana Dolce traces the gospel storyline through the eyes of women, from the garden of Eden to the birth of Christ
Finding faith in unexpected places by Geoff Walvin
This vibrant travelogue describes Geoff Walvin’s remarkable expedition across Asia in the 1970s, which led him to pioneer several radical church-planting missions.
I Am Mark: The story of Jesus as you’ve never heard it before
The one-man monologue of the entire Gospel of Mark is an impressive feat of memory and a truly immersive experience, says Emma Fowle
The gift of kindness - Debbie Duncan and Cathy Le Feuvre
If someone asked you: “Do you think you are kind?” what would you say? You may think of yourself as a kind-hearted person but, sometimes, kindness is associated with niceness. This book helps to differentiate the two.
12 Things God can’t do - Nick Tucker
This book will put you to sleep…in a good way. Nick Tucker firmly believes that good theology is a source of rest and peace from our anxieties and, in this book, he sets out to prove it.
A little book of rest - Sheila Jacobs
Sheila Jacobs found herself wrestling with anxiety in her early 30s when she contracted Ménière’s disease, which causes severe vertigo.
Distracted by your smartphone? This is the book you’re looking for
Andy Crouch doesn’t advocate ditching your electronic gadgets. We just need to use them differently, he says
Disney’s first gay kiss is the least worrying part of Lightyear
In a world where girls and boys are interchangeable, comedy writer James Cary is more concerned with Lightyear’s confusing gender messaging
Two Daughters: Faith and forgiveness in the face of unimaginable horror
New BBC documentary Two Daughters follows Mina Smallman, an Anglican Priest whose daughters were stabbed to death in a London park. How did she find the strength to forgive?
Ricky Gervais is still using old atheist objections in his 'cruel' comedy. But Supernature is entertaining
Ricky Gervais is still using tired atheist objections in his comedy. And while some Christians will also object to the bad language contained in the new Netflix special, sitcom writer James Cary wants to engage with the comedian's contentious material
Testament is a promising British retelling of the parables. It’s just a shame the message gets muddled
Paul Syrstad has set his biblical epic in the modern day. The premise is promising, but the delivery isn’t fully coherent, says our reviewer
Russell Brand's deeply spiritual '33' tour suggests he's not far from the Kingdom
There’s much that Christians could learn from this comedian, says Mal Calladine, but he’s still praying Brand meets Jesus
Hillsong: A megachurch exposed
At its best, this three-part documentary on Hillsong Church exposes serious wrongdoing that should bring about repentance, reflection and change. But in dipping into sensationalism and dialling the cynicism up to 11, it becomes its own undoing, says Sam Hailes
'My body is not a prayer request' This hilarious and heartbreaking book contains an urgent message
Amy Kenny's new book is a tour de force, says our reviewer
After the flood: This film exposes how Christians used Noah’s drunken curse to defend slavery
Professor Robert Beckford’s new documentary looks at how the UK Church developed a whole theology in support of slavery from one verse in Genesis. What happened next and where we go from here is well worth an hour of your time, says Chris Goswami
Elizabeth Finch: Julian Barnes’ novel fails to grasp the rudiments of Christianity
The Booker Prize winning author Julian Barnes has supposedly written a “loving tribute to philosophy”. But our reviewer says his latest novel misunderstands what Christianity is all about
The Split: There isn’t much sex in the BBC show, but that doesn’t make it good Christian viewing
As series three of The Split concludes, Rosie Ruth reflects on what the popular TV drama says about society’s attitudes to marriage and infidelity. And it isn’t good
The Northman: A bleak and barbaric reminder of the sin we’ve been saved from
Robert Eggers’ new movie is graphic and brutal. But in it, Nick Mance found a strong reminder of the grace of being saved
The Kardashians: The Christian faith of the world’s most famous family
As a new series of The Kardashians begins, Megan Cornwell wonders what Jesus would say to Kim, Khloé, Kris and co
The air we breathe - Glen Scrivener
“Why do the nations rage?” muses the writer of Psalm 2. The answer, he explains, is that they do so to free themselves from the restraints of God’s moral law. However, as the psalmist, and the rest of the Bible, points out, when you do to that, there is a ...
Leadership Or Servanthood? - Hwa Yung
There’s no doubting that the Church has a leadership problem. The roll call of high-profile leaders that have fallen, failed or been exposed in recent years is sobering. Obviously, human sin is the ultimate cause, but perhaps our model of leadership is also flawed, argues Hwa Yung, who offers a ...
Christians In A Cancel Culture - Joe Dallas
Cancel culture is an important issue for Christians to consider. It occurs when someone is publicly criticised and ostracised for articulating opinions that others consider reprehensible. At its best, it can be a form of virtuous social pressure in which racists, for instance, are held to account. At its worst, ...
The Struggle To Stay - Dr Katie Gaddini
This anthropological study from Dr Katie Gaddini delves into the lives of evangelical Christian women in the US and the UK who find themselves on the fringes of their church traditions, and includes Dr Gaddini’s own journey out of evangelicalism. The book explains how women end up leaving when patriarchy, ...
Braver - Deborah Jenkins
There is a God-shaped hole at the centre of this book. Which is odd, since it is about a vicar in crisis and the neighbours she is trying to help.
The quiet genius of Brandon Heath
Christian music often relies on repetition of vaguely inspirational concepts. But Brandon Heath’s storytelling skills mark him out from the crowd, says Joel Bush
For Black Boys: A triumphant exploration of black masculinity from a Christian playwright
Kayode Adeniran found Ryan Calais Cameron’s play about Black men dealing with issues of faith, education, fatherhood, sex, racism and abuse gritty, compelling and surprisingly uplifting
Pilgrimage: One celeb found God on this new BBC series. What will happen to the other six?
Scarlett Moffatt has already spoken about how Pilgrimage helped reignite her Christian faith. As the first episode of the new BBC series airs tonight, Emma Westray reviews the show, and gives her take on where God can be found
5 things Christians can learn from Channel 4’s Amish hit 'The Simpler Life'
The Simpler Life, a new reality TV show from Channel 4, follows 24 urbanites as they attempt to live by Amish principles on a farm in rural Devon. Portia Berry-Kilby looks at what it can teach Christian viewers
5 reasons why we love (to hate) Netflix’s ‘Love is Blind’
The social experiment where single men and women look for love and get engaged, all before meeting in person has gripped viewers. C Allan explains what Christians can take away from it
It’s difficult to know who ‘Easter in Art’ is for
It’s the greatest story ever painted. But this documentary doesn’t quite live up to expectations, says our reviewer
CODA: Why Christians should pay attention to this Oscar-winning film
Now that the world has finished talking about Will Smith’s infamous slap, can we get back to the actual films? Nathanael Smith reviews CODA
Dr Noël Tredinnick: My 8 favourite songs
Noël spent 48 years at All Souls, Langham Place. A conductor, composer, arranger, orchestrator, hymnist, broadcaster, organist and lecturer, he is one of the UK’s most recognised church musicians.
A Day In the Death of Charlie Vaughan - Jonathan Ford
Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? Can you fly in the afterlife? Will you be married? Will you be able to re-visit earth? Are there animals in heaven? These are some of the questions considered in this fictional tale of Charlie Vaughan, an older gentleman who dies suddenly ...
Beyond The Collar - Rev Mark Edwards MBE
“Can a damaged child with mental health issues, a history of self-harm and suicide attempts become a successful priest?” asks the blurb of Mark Edwards’ memoir. It’s an important, and interesting, question. The book details how Edwards navigated his first curacy, and how he deals with tensions at work, his ...
Invisible Divides: Class, culture and barriers to belonging in the Church
Natalie Williams and Paul Brown write that churches are “not reaching huge sections” of their local communities and that the unreached “are starting to notice”.
The memoirs of Christian publishing legend Tony Collins
Our editor reviews They’ll Never Read That
'Kingdom Race Theology' is a missed opportunity
Written by the US-based pastor and author Tony Evans, Kingdom Race Theology attempts to biblically examine our ethnic identities alongside our Christ-centred identity. However, this is as deep as his theology goes. There is little consideration of the roles that experience, tradition and reason could contribute. The inclusion of “God’s ...
A disturbing tale of how an evangelical vicar lost his faith
If you want a nice Christian book for your mother-in-law, look somewhere else. This is a disturbing read.
Interested in faith and equality? Try this podcast
Launched in 2019 following the birth of her third child (who was given the moniker ‘Equality’ as a middle name), Becs Dhillon’s ‘Conversations on Faith and Equality’ podcast does what it says on the tin. Teaming up with her dad, Rev Nicky Gumbel, leader of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), the ...
Against The Tide: Watch John Lennox provide evidence for God in the age of science
This is a well-polished and engaging documentary that bucks the trend when it comes to Christian filmmaking, says Justin Brierley
Did we get Mary Whitehouse wrong?
As a BBC documentary considers whether the Christian anti-porn crusader Mary Whitehouse was ahead of her time, Rev Peter Crumpler recalls his own conversation with the often mocked campaigner
This is going to hurt: What the hard-hitting medical drama means to me as a Christian doctor
Adam Kay’s BBC drama deals with serious themes. But a supportive church and the help of God can make all the difference, says Rosalind Revans
Eyes To See - Tim Muehlhoff
The goal of Eyes to See, as Muehlhoff states, is to recognise that “all good gifts come from God”, to paraphrase James 1:17. His argument is that God’s handiwork is all around us and, if we can see and better appreciate it, it will enhance our faith and create opportunities ...
The publishers say this book has a 'raw hip hop style'. But it read like a sermon to me
At less than 70 pages long, Are You Good With God? is more of a long tract than a book. Imagine those leaflets that evangelism teams hand out to shoppers on the high street, expand the points into a few paragraphs, throw in the odd anecdote and pop culture reference, ...
The Da Vinci Fraud: Did Dan Brown guilty of theft?
Dan Brown’s popular novel The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction which sets the hero, Robert Langdon, on a knight’s quest to find the holy grail – a supposed last descendant of the “marriage” between Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene.
Need to give your pain to God? Sheila Walsh's encouraging book will help
To be human is to want to give up when life gets too much; to be a Christian is to cling to the promises and the hand of God when life feels overwhelming. This is the encouragement of Scottish songwriter Sheila Walsh in her latest book.
Equipping Christians to counter other worldviews is a noble goal. But this book isn't suitable for newcomers
Ask the average person on the street what ‘woke’, ‘critical race theory’ or ‘mansplaining’ are, and they probably won’t have a clue. This is the language of an increasingly acrimonious but extremely important battle that is being played out in our schools, workplaces and even our churches. There is a ...
Belfast has been tipped for 7 Oscars. Here’s what Christians can get out of it
Don’t expect a deeper insight into Protestant-Catholic relations. But Belfast does remind us that faith can always be weaponised, and Christians must have compassion on those who are fleeing violence
Jai Bhim: What IMDb's highest ranked film teaches us about persecution and the search for justice
Jai Bhim might have missed out on an Oscar nomination, but it’s still the highest ranked film on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). And it’s not hard to spot the parallels with the persecution of Christians in India today, or the saving grace of Christ, says our reviewer
Jessica Chastain’s movie about disgraced televangelists is both an eye-opener and a bridge builder
This new film gives us a sympathetic portrayal of a Christian ‘power couple’ who dominated religious TV broadcasts in the 1980s
Daughters of Eve: This documentary exposes misogyny in the Church
This film deserves an audience far wider than just those who are already critical of the Church’s patriarchal past, says Chine McDonald
Tom Read: 8 songs you need to hear
Tom is a songwriter, music producer and founder of The Modern Hymnal, a community of worship leaders committed to championing UK-written worship songs
This Here Flesh: A breathtaking piece of contemplative storytelling
This top-rated book deserves a place on your shelf, says Chine McDonald
Where's the joy in lament? This book holds the answers
We review Rachael Newham’s new book, And Yet
- Issues
- Topics A-Z
- Writers A-Z
- © 2022 Premier Christianity
Site powered by Webvision Cloud