Most Popular Books by TOM WRIGHT

What am I here for? How should I behave? Most Christians, faced with those questions, think in terms either of ''rules'' or of ''living authentically''. Both lead to problems. In this book, full of fresh biblical exploration, Bishop Tom Wright proposes instead that we inhabit the ancient tradition of virtue once again -- but from a thoroughly Christian, not just a philosophical, perspective. The virtues are the strengths we need to get to our goal. Following on from his popular best-selling books Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope, he sees the goal in terms of the whole new creation, with humans renewed to look after it.

Clearing some of the confusion around Paul, his message and influence on Christianity, world-renown Pauline expert Tom Wright shares a truer picture of Saint Paul.

Tom Wright has completed a tremendous task: to provide comprehensive guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text. Making use of his true scholar''s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the urgency and excitement of Matthew''s Gospel in a way few writers have. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable commentary with helpful background information. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

What Dies in Summer is a story of how 1960s Dallas is menaced by a series of violent attacks on young women. It is a profound, moving story about coming of age amid a city in crisis. Through Biscuit''s eyes, a boy on the cusp of adolescence, we discover how their trauma reverberates throughout the community.

Pick a Game! is a reference of various voting systems Ethan and Tom have used over the years. Instead of calm discussion, you can now choose which game you want to play with a complicated voting system. These voting systems are primarily used to choose board games.

WARNING: This book contains action. Lots of action. Dinosaur-fighting action. Jurassic Park meets Transformers. Raptors wage war with their dinosaur foes across the galaxy, and they''ve set their sights on Earth. If they can''t take the planet for themselves, they plan on destroying it like they did 65 million years ago. Human-friendly dinosaurs team up with the United States military, forming the Dino Squad. Their goal? Repel the raptors, save the planet. Or die trying...

In a desperate attempt to bring some spark back to their all-too-cosy married life, professional millennials Michael and Phil switch a sherry on the couch for a night on the town. Their goal: to get in with Generation Z by trying to get off with one. Enter fit, sexy, confident Quasim. But the ''just for one night'' adventure brings shocking revelations as Michael and Phil discover more about the 20-year-old boy in their bed than they ever wanted to know, and their suburban dream is shaken to its core. Following the sold out runs of critical hits Undetectable (nominated for 3 Off West End Awards) and My Dad''s Gap Year (nominated for 4 Off West End Awards), Tom Wright''s darkly comedic and wildly sexy new play is his most provocative show to date.

A short, simple and thoroughly biblical explanation of the meaning and purpose of Holy Communion, designed to appeal to all ages • Explains its biblical origins, the different ways in which Christians have understood it over the centuries, and its crucial place in the Christian life today • With questions for reflection or discussion at the end of each chapter • Ideal for complete beginners, and anyone wanting a quick and easy refresher course

Tom Wright''s eye-opening comments on these letters are combined, passage by passage, with his new translation of the Bible text. Making use of his true scholar''s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the tension and excitement of the time as the letters seek to assert Paul''s authority and his teaching against other influences. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful interpretation and explanation, and thoughts as to how it can be relevant to our lives today. No knowledge of technical jargon is required. The series is suitable for personal or group use. The format makes it appropriate also for daily study.

Writing in an anecdotal and approachable style, Tom Wright helps us to see the great sweep of the letter to the Romans. This long-awaited two-volume addition to the hugely popular For Everyone series will be ideal for daily Bible study, a preaching aid or for those readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of this classic NT book. Tom Wright has a rare gift for communicating his understanding and enthusiasm to non-specialists. He is one of the few people alive today capable of undertaking a project such as the For Everyone guides. When complete, this series will include a new translation of the entire New Testament by Tom Wright. Section by section, the translation is accompanied by his eye-opening comments on each passage.

Book 2 of Dino Squad... WARNING: This book contains action. Lots of action. Dinosaur-fighting action. Jurassic Park meets Transformers. The raptor war continues full throttle. Dino Squad struggles to repel the raptor invaders, but the absence of two members hurts their efforts. The two missing dinosaurs wake up to find themselves stranded. They must reunite with the team. The stakes? The safety of the world.

In The Day the Revolution Began Tom Wright invites you to consider the full meaning of the event at the heart of the Christian faith - Jesus'' crucifixion. As he did in his acclaimed Surprised by Hope, Wright once again challenges commonly held beliefs, this time arguing that the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough in reshaping our understanding of the Cross. With his characteristic rigour and incisiveness, he goes back to the New Testament to show that Jesus'' death not only releases us from the guilt and power of sin, but is nothing less than the beginning of a world-wide revolution that continues to this day – a revolution that creates and energizes a movement responsible for restoring and reconciling the whole of God''s creation. The Day the Revolution Began will take you to a new level in your appreciation of the meaning of Jesus'' sacrifice: opening up its powerful and amazing implications, inspiring you with a renewed sense of purpose and hope, and reminding you of the crucial role you can play in the world-transforming movement that Jesus started.

Twenty years on from its original appearance, this ground-breaking first volume in N. T. Wright''s magisterial series, ''Christian Origins and the Question of God'', still stands as a major point of reference for students of the New Testament and early Christianity. This latest impression has been completely reset to make Wright''s elegant and engrossing text more readable. ''The sweep of Wright''s project as a whole is breathtaking. It is impossible to give a fair assessment of his achievement without sounding grandiose: no New Testament scholar since Bultmann has even attempted - let alone achieved - such an innovative and comprehensive account of New Testament history and theology.'' Richard B. Hays

Arriving from his East Midlands beginnings into a London thick with the grime of industrialization, Joseph Merrick is an anomaly. In a city of factories that churn out uniformity, there is no place for someone like him. But Merrick and the city are evolving into something new. We follow him through the workhouse, the freak show and the hospital, as he searches for acceptance in a society that just wants to stare at him. Powerful, angry and surprising, Tom Wright''s acclaimed play imagines an alternative history of the person who came to be known as ''the Elephant Man''. It restores Joseph Merrick to the center of his own story: a man fighting for his right to be and to belong. The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man was first performed at Melbourne''s Malthouse Theatre, before receiving its European premiere at Nottingham Playhouse in 2023, directed by Stephen Bailey, and supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust.

What is Christianity? A philosophy? A set of ideas? A path to spirituality? A rule of life? Is it even a political agenda? Christianity is none of these things, yet it includes and, indeed, gives energy to them all. Christianity is a way of life. It is rooted in the good news revealed by an event that rocked the world. And those who believe this good news and live by it experience deep and lasting change. This is Paul''s message to the Corinthians - and to us today. Making use of his true scholar''s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright captures the dauntless power of these letters. They were written by Paul while in prison facing the possibility of imminent death, yet burn with undimmed passion. Paul seeks to help direct the growing faith where his influence might prove crucial, and writes a very personal letter to a slave-owner on behalf of a runaway.

Justice, Love, Spirituality, Beauty, Freedom, Truth and Power. These are ideals that we all strive for, yet so often we find ourselves falling short. Why is that? In this deeply insightful meditation, Tom Wright looks to the Gospel of John for answers. With his characteristic wisdom, he shows how John can help us to see not only why we strive for these ideals, or ''signposts'', but also why we so often experience them as broken. He also shows how Christianity provides us with the vision and resources for engaging with the questions posed by each signpost, pointing to a clear and compelling explanation of the world, and of our role and responsibility within it.

I''m spiritual but not religious.'' It''s a phrase that''s often used to explain why, although they don''t go to church, people still feel that life must have some kind of transcendent meaning. But what does this ''spirituality'' consist of? In Spiritual and Religious Tom Wright argues that, whether people realize it or not, they are often simply reverting to forms of ancient paganism that are very similar to those that confronted the earliest Christians. With his characteristic verve and incisiveness, Wright traces the parallels between the worldviews of the first and twenty-first centuries, and shows how a better understanding of God as Trinity can breathe fresh life into our understanding and preaching of the gospel today. He concludes this prophetic book with a call to contemporary Christians to make a clear choice: ''Are we to compromise with paganism, to assimilate, to water down the distinctives of Christian faith in order to make it more palatable? Are we to retreat into dualism, into a private ''spiritual'' religion which will assure us of an other-worldly salvation but which will leave the powers of the present world unchallenged. . . ? Or are we to worship the God who is Father, Son and Spirit, and to find in that worship a renewed courage, a renewed sense of direction, and a renewed hope for the future?''

TOM WRIGHT offers reflections on the Sunday readings in the Revised Common Lectionary for Years A, B & C. This volume, which brings together his widely read columns in the Church Times and also contains new material, covers all the Sundays and major festivals.

Writing in an accessible and anecdotal style, Tom Wright helps us to approach the rich and many-sided story of the book of Acts. Wright shows how the book builds on Luke''s gospel, laying out the continuing work and teaching of the now risen and ascended Jesus in the power of the Spirit. His writing captures the vivid way in which Luke''s work draws us all into the story, while leaving the ending open and challenging, inviting Christians today to pick up and carry on the story as we in turn live our lives in the service of Jesus. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful interpretation and explanation, and thoughts as to how it can be relevant to our lives today. No knowledge of technical jargon is required. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for personal or group use. The format makes it appropriate also for daily study.

Writing in an accessible and anecdotal style, Tom Wright opens up to us the wisdom of the letters of James, Peter, John and Judah (Jude). A vital resource for every church and every Christian, these letters are full of clear practical advice for Christians. Written for those new to the faith, they warn of the dangers and difficulties a young Christian community would face both within and without, while revelling in the delight of budding faith, hope and life. Today, these letters are just as relevant as they were two thousand years ago. They continue to help Christians to live with genuine faith in a complex modern age.

Making use of his true scholar''s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright manages to unravel the great complexity of this extraordinary gospel. He describes it as ''one of the great books in the literature of the world; and part of its greatness is the way it reveals its secrets not just to high-flown learning, but to those who come to it with humility and hope''. Wright''s stimulating comments are combined with his own translation of the Bible text. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information. The series is suitable for personal or group use. The format makes it appropriate also for daily study.

''New Testament Wisdom for Everyone'' is a challenging book presenting Tom Wright''s meditations on key passages in the New Testament. The message that Jesus preached and lived has inspired and convicted countless lives over 2000 years. Wright''s convincing and connecting voice has helped many engage with these words for themselves and act upon them, aligning themselves within Jesus'' message and the Early Church attitude. In ''Wisdom for Everyone'', readers will be invited to muse with Wright as he weaves from message to message, connecting this ancient wisdom with the modern mind. With testing questions for personal reflection or group discussion, anyone who reads this book and takes it seriously will discover that following Jesus is both costly and rewarding.

Writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright helps us to understand from the beginning of the letter that something unexplained yet terrible had happened. We feel the pain of Paul from the very opening lines, as he confronts dreadful issues of sorrow and hurt, emerging with a clearer picture of what it meant to say that Jesus himself suffered for us and rose in triumph. The letter itself moves through tragedy and from there leads into the sunlight.

Twelve Months of Sundays provides the perfect way to gather your thoughts in preparation for Sunday worship, or for regular Bible study throughout the year. Here are reflections on the Sunday readings in the Revised Common Lectionary, covering all the Sundays and major festivals in Years A, B and C. Each reflection is brimming with Tom Wright''s insights into the world and language of the Bible, encouraging a richer understanding and deeper appreciation of the Word of the Lord.

Reverand Tom Wright is an associate pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Geneseo, Illinois. He is concerned that believers are missing the essence of Christianity. Most believers feel a separation between themselves and Jesus Christ. Jesus is divine and they are not, so they feel that Jesus is over there and they are over here. As a result, there is no intimacy, no relationship with Christ. With that mindset, modern day Christianity is experiencing a power shortage, limping along in dry intellectualism. Rev. Wrights book paints a different picture. Believers have a Christnessan intersection where there is no difference between themselves and Christ. Scriptures describing Christness are found in virtually every chapter in the New Testament. Wright challenges believers to use their Christness as Jesus used His. The concept of Christness liberates believers from the practice of passively listening to sermons Sunday after Sunday. They will now become capable of leaving the bleachers, stepping onto the playing field, and getting into the game. The revolutionary insight of Christness causes Rev. Wright to ask believers to stop making excuses and become what they were created to be. What is that? you ask. Jesus describes it in John 14:12; Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father. Rev. Tom Wright is an accomplished speaker for investment and Christian audiences. He has developed a course-of-instruction called Soul Searching which enables students to discover Gods purpose for their lives. This course has been successfully taught in academia prior to his entering the ministry. (For details, see his website: Tomthesoulcoach.com).

A spiritual manifesto by one of the world''s most popular Christian writers shows how the Psalms can help us to connect and commune with God in the way that Jesus did Makes a passionate case for putting the Psalms back at the centre of Christian prayer and worship From the Introduction: ''I have decided, as a kind of thought-experiment, to order the material in three sections. The Psalms invite their singers, as they always have, to live at the crossroads of time, space and matter. This book explores what happens at this crossing-point.''

With a foreword by The Who''s Pete Townshend, Raising Hell is a compilation of Wright''s groundbreaking photography and the true stories behind the captivating pictures. Over the years, Wright has allowed almost no commercial access to his work; his photographs have been available to only the musicians he''s worked with and a handful of record company executives… until now.

Writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright helps us see the great sweep of this letter. Romans has long been viewed as the book above all in which Paul puts forth the basic doctrines of the faith, and the picture of God''s life for us. It is the classic setting-out of the Gospel. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

This helpful and collection of Tom Wright''s insights into the meaning and practice of prayer, gives you all the accessible wisdom of the various New Testament prayers explored in his individual ''For Everyone'' commentaries. This convenient yet compact collection of explorations includes his own thoughtful translations and meditations on all the major prayers of the New Testament. Reasons to add ''New Testament Prayers for Everyone'' to your collection: - Get Tom Wrights reliable, readable insights - Benefit from his own translation from the original manuscripts - Understand the key teachings of New Testament writers - Find how the hopes and fears of the early Church compare to today''s - Make yourself an expert in the earliest written Christian prayers - Find the through line from the apostles to your prayers today Tom Wright on ''The Lord''s Prayer'': "References to Jesus'' own practice of private prayer are scattered throughout the Gospels and clearly reflect an awareness on the part of his first followers that this kind of private prayer - not simply formulaic petitions, but wrestling with God over real issues and questions - formed the undercurrent of his life and public work. The prayer that Jesus gave his followers embodies his own prayer life and his wider kingdom ministry in every clause." There are many books about prayer, but this is the first by Tom Wright to cover all the key teachings and examples to be found in the New Testament.

In this highly anticipated volume, N. T. Wright focuses directly on the historical Jesus: Who was he? What did he say? And what did he mean by it? Wright begins by showing how the questions posed by Albert Schweitzer a century ago remain central today. Then he sketches a profile of Jesus in terms of his prophetic praxis, his subversive stories, the symbols by which he reordered his world, and the answers he gave to the key questions that any world view must address. The examination of Jesus'' aims and beliefs, argued on the basis of Jesus'' actions and their accompanying riddles, is sure to stimulate heated response. Wright offers a provocative portrait of Jesus as Israel''s Messiah who would share and bear the fate of the nation and would embody the long-promised return of Israel''s God to Zion.

[CDATA[Hibernian Football Club, founded by a group of Edinburgh-based Irishmen and Irish descendents, was born in the Cowgate area of the city in 1875. A team of the people, its long history, heritage and rise to fame has created a tradition and influence that helped shape the game as we know it today. In Hibernian: The Life and Times of a Famous Football Club, Tom Wright looks at Edinburgh''s Hibernian Football club from its birth in 1875 to the present day. An anecdotal and personal journey, this volume highlights the many challenges, and lows and highs experienced by the team and its dedicated fans over the last 142 years; exploring the events that shaped the club from both World Wars, Hibs'' ''Famous Five'' days, the European Cup and the Scottish Cup win in 2016.]]

Writing in an accessable and anecdotal style, Tom Wright helps us to approach the rich and many-sided story of the book of Acts. Wright shows how the book builds on Luke''s Gospel, laying out the continuing work and teaching of the now risen and ascended Jesus in the power of the Spirit. His writing captures the vivid way in which Luke''s work draws us all into he story, while leaving the ending open and challenging, inviting Christians today to pick up and carry on the story as we in turn live our lives in the service of Jesus. Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.