On this Rock

'As you read this book I hope you will learn to love the Bible, and be excited by its claims and challenges. But, more importantly, I hope you will be led closer to Jesus.'

Stephen Cottrell has written this book for new Christians who want to grow in their faith and for more experienced Christians who want to re-set the compass of their discipleship. In 28 Bible readings telling the story of the apostle Peter, he explores what being a disciple meant back then, and how it relates to the life of a disciple today. As well as teaching about how to grow as a follower of Jesus, the book will help establish a regular pattern for Bible reading, reflection and prayer.

Ideal for churches and church leaders planning missions or Alpha follow-up courses

This book is featured within Foundations21. To view all BRF titles in the Foundations21 library, click here.

Stephen Cottrell was consecrated as Bishop of Reading in the Diocese of Oxford in June 2004 and, within that role and as Chair of the Diocesan Board to Education, enjoys telling stories about Naughty Nora in many schools across the Diocese. Formerly Canon Pastor at Peterborough Cathedral, Stephen has a wealth of experience in building up the faith of the worshipping community and helping to develop mission and ministry. Stephen has worked as a full-time evangelist and teacher about mission with Springboard, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury's initiative for evangelism, and written widely about evangelism. He is one of the authors of Emmaus: The Way of Faith, a programme for evangelism, nurture and discipleship that is now used by about 3000 churches in Britain and around the world. He has also written Catholic Evangelism (Affirming Catholicism/DLT, 1998), contributed chapters to numerous books including Mass Culture (BRF, 1999) and is author of On this Rock, a book for new Christians published by BRF in 2004. Stephen is married to Rebecca and enjoys telling stories to his three young sons, Joseph, Ben and Samuel.

From The Franciscan, May 2004

Stephen Cottrell's ministry is driven by a desire to see people grow into the fullness of Christian discipleship, and this book is likely to be an effective means to that end. He also has a clear love of scripture, and the book is written in the format of 28 reflections on Bible readings (printed) designed for daily use and guiding the reader through the ups and downs of the life of the apostle Peter. As Stephen Cottrell says in his introduction, Peter is chosen not for his 'brilliance or even his faithfulness, but because he shows us what being a disciple of Jesus is actually like.' As it follows Peter through various scattered New Testament passages, the book does exactly that, making clear the relevance of Peter's experience and the biblical witness to many aspects of Christian discipleship today. The introduction also includes a brief but helpful and balanced section on 'The Authority of Scripture' and elsewhere in the book various insights of scholarship are gently included without any great attention begin drawn to them for their own sakes, and in a manner which strengthens faith whilst accepting what is helpful and reasonable from the disciplines of Biblical criticism.

The book is designed for new Christians, and the essentials of Christian life, including the sacraments, Christian witness and service in the world, and regular prayer and Bible reading are all touched upon. I was pleased to see a gentle encouragement towards such disciplines as the use of Sacramental Confession. The book is also intended, however, 'for more experienced Christians who want to re-set the compass of their discipleship.' Having read the book in its intended way for daily reflection, rather than more rapidly as a detached 'reviewer', I could recommend it for that readership, too, as an encouragement and occasional challenge for anyone prepared to come to the book with an appropriate humility of approach.

Reviewed by Desmond Alban SSF

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