Reviews
The Fabelmans contains some awkward faith moments, but some great life lessons
Steven Spielberg’s latest film is a fictionalised account of his early life. Giles Gough takes a look at the childhood that shaped a Hollywood legend, and the faith themes contained in the movie
Everyone Else Burns: This apocalyptic comedy might offend, but it raises important questions for Christians
The new Channel 4 comedy series Everyone Else Burns portrays fundamentalist religion at its worst, but could it help Christians understand how outsiders view the Church?
Seeing God in the sweet ordinary - Becky Strahle
This is a sweet set of love letter-style devotionals from Nashville-based author Becky Strahle. The small, hardback book is visually appealing, and the size makes it is easy to carry with you.
Dining with Jesus - Kate Jackson
Kate Jackson’s brilliant book is marketed as “a seven course Bible study” – seven chapters, seven meals with Jesus. It will be well received by small group leaders everywhere. There are excellent individual and group questions, quotes from biblical scholars, useful cultural insights and thoughtful reflections from the author.
Loving disagreement - Christopher Landau
Have you ever disagreed with another Christian? Do you have questions about the bounds of Church unity, or wonder at what point you should leave a church or recognise a state of disunity? Writing from an Anglican perspective, Christopher Landau’s new book aims to tackle these questions.
A Christian guide to this year’s Oscar nominations
Films play a big part in shaping our culture, says Nathanael Smith. So it’s good for Christians to know what’s going on and engage with the issues they raise. Here’s his guide to the big hitters
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Tyler Staton’s inspiring invitation to the wonder of prayer blew me away
Saints, sleepwalkers and sceptics will all benefit from this outstanding book on prayer, says Emma Fowle
Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe had mystical experiences of Christ. This novel explores their lives
Victoria MacKenzie’s debut novel imagines a meeting between two famous 15th century mystics, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe. Jennie Pollock says the book brings colour and life to the women’s theology
KXC's Tom Eccleshall: My top 8 songs
Tom has overseen worship at KXC, an Anglican church in King’s Cross, London, for the past twelve years. KXC have released a number of recordings and their songs are sung internationally
The sexual reformation - Aimee Byrd
The Song of Songs is a controversial book. Erotic poem or allegory of Jesus’ love for the Church? Aimee Byrd’s latest offering sets out to explore this often-misunderstood portion of scripture, using it as a lens through which to explore the issue of male-female relationships.
Faithful disobedience - Wang Yi and others
Faithful Disobedience is a series of written accounts from leaders inside the Chinese House Church Movement. It includes testimonies from six prominent Chinese voices, most notably the pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church, Wang Yi, who was sentenced to nine years in prison, charged with “inciting to subvert state power”.
The Jehu Plan - Alvin Davies
Alvin Davies describes his eight-week daily reading plan as “Biblical wisdom for racers, speed-junkies, grease monkeys and pilgrims in a fast world”. The title of the book is taken from 2 Kings 9:20: “The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi – he drives like a maniac.”
Subversive Mission - Craig Greenfield
Craig Greenfield’s Christian life has been a wild ride. After growing up in New Zealand, he lived in a Cambodian slum for seven years, where he and his wife raised two children. After that they moved their young family to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, running an open house among the drug ...
‘Amazing grace’ is 250 years old. Here’s the story behind the song
As ‘Amazing grace’ marks its 250th anniversary on Sunday January 1st 2023, we look at the story behind one of the world’s most famous hymns and its author, John Newton
Cliff's new record puts Jesus at the heart of Christmas
Sir Cliff has grabbed the opportunity to celebrate Jesus as the true meaning of Christmas, says our reviewer
Smyrna: This shocking history lesson is hard to watch. But it’s important
This portrayal of the horrors of war and inter-religious violence, makes for difficult viewing says Krish Kandiah
Bono’s emotive memoir lets you into his soul - and it’s full of God too
Steve Stockman, who himself authored a book on the faith of U2, says Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story provides further evidence of the depth and devotion of Bono’s Christian faith
Highway 35: A heartwrenching tale of life-changing injuries, and a God who was always there
This memoir took ten years in the writing and is not for the faint hearted. It’s a roller coaster of emotion and horror, and a story of faith in the midst of suffering, says Jane Hepburn
5 albums of Christmas cheer
Top Christmas albums to help you through the festive season
Lydia - Paula Gooder
The latest book from New Testament scholar Paula Gooder is her second work of fiction, and follows the story of Lydia, mentioned only fleetingly in the New Testament (Acts 16 and Philippians).
Pray then listen - Teresa O’Driscoll
“Write a book and show people how to speak to me.” This was the message received by Teresa O’Driscoll during lockdown in 2020. The result is a book that is designed to enhance your prayer life, penned by an author with 20 years’ experience of leading prayer groups.
Good and beautiful and kind - Rich Villodas
Good and Beautiful and Kind is a theological book with some biographical elements, which aims to help Christians live out the gospel more authentically.
Gifts of grace - Jared C Wilson
When people used to ask me: “Are you ready for Christmas, Patrick?”, the answer was usually: “No!”
God TV’s Fergus Scarfe: 8 songs to make you feel Christmassy
I’m one of those people who listens to Christmas music all year round.
This film claims the word ‘homosexuals’ shouldn’t be in our Bibles. Did translators get it wrong?
Most churches in the world today preach that homosexuality is a sin, citing biblical references to support their case. But what if the word “homosexual” was added to the Bible by mistake? That’s the claim of a new documentary film, 1946. Premier Christianity’s resident Bible scholar, David Instone Brewer, went to see it
The Crown is full of deceptive sensationalism. Truth matters to God, it should matter to us too
As season 5 of Netflix’s The Crown kicks off, Mark Greene reminds us that God places a high value on the truth. Artistic licence is no excuse to erode it
The Bishop of Oxford's surprising case for same-sex marriage is flawed
The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft has come out publicly in favour of the Church of England changing its doctrine of marriage to include same-sex partnerships. But having studied the bishop's 48-page booklet, entitled Together in Love and Faith, Ian Paul believes the arguments are unconvincing
Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me is a powerful reminder that Christians struggle with their mental health too
As a fellow musician, Philippa Hanna is all-too-aware that the spotlight cannot cure low self-esteem, or meet our need for connection. Only God can do that
A pocketful of hope - Pat Allerton
While the dark days of Covid-19 lockdowns are becoming an increasingly distant memory, the image of a lone vicar cycling the empty streets of his London patch, stopping to pray and play a hymn to his unsuspecting parishioners is an event that many of us still recall with a great ...
Something you once knew - Joshua Luke Smith
“The culture today tells us we can be whoever we want to be. So why do so many of us feel stuck?” asks musician, pastor and poet-turned-author, Joshua Luke Smith.
The unhiding of Elijah Campbell - Kelly Flanagan
When a book is described as anything “…meets The Shack”, the bar is immediately set high.
Rings of Power is deeply spiritual and brims with timeless themes
Mark Greene explores the biblical resonances and contemporary challenges in Amazon’s latest blockbuster series
The Sandman: The horror-fantasy show that dares to mention God
The Netflix series controversially casts a female Lucifer in a storyline that has echoes of the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Giles Gough explores
7 things we learned about Stormzy’s faith from his Louis Theroux interview
The chart topping rapper is hosting Bible studies in his home, rediscovering the power of grace and praying that God will bring him a wife. Sam Hailes reports
Don’t be put off by the low budget. This film about radical Bible translator John Wycliffe deserves to be watched
A new biopic of John Wycliffe promises to bring the viewer “face to face with a man of true genius”. As Morningstar embarks on a premiere screening tour across the UK, Eddie Arthur says we all owe a lot to this radical translator
Wholly Buyable: The clever podcast explaining the Bible to non-Christians
I’m reading the Qur’an at the moment, rather late in my life.
Sue Rinaldi: My top 8 songs
The singer-songwriter and worship leader is also a speaker and creative trainer. Her interests in culture, justice, technology and the future fuel her living and writing
Resilient disciples - Rick Hill
While some have chosen “comfort and compromise”, Northern Ireland-based speaker and leader Rick Hill wants the reader to “embrace the cost of discipleship”.
Surprised by Jesus is a ‘must-have’ book for any Christian
‘Jesus Christ simply cannot be tamed.’
100 Bible films
Matthew Page’s impressive book on the history of scripture adaptations is a Christian cinephile’s dream, covering everything from five-minute silent films to four-hour Italian epics.
Islam on trial - Chawkat Moucarry
The demise of Christianity in the West has been well-documented for some time. But Syrian born, Arab-speaking academic Chawkat Moucarry argues that Islam has experienced similar tribulations as it struggles to address the challenges of this present age.
This England: Branagh’s Boris shows little Christian integrity. But tell us something we didn’t know
This England follows Boris Johnson’s tumultuous first months as Prime Minister, tracing the impact of the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. But what does it tell us about godly leadership, asks Giles Gough?
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
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
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