ABOUT THIS BOOK

Few would dispute the fact that there are many enemies of the gospel today. Some would be surprised to know that they, personally, are virtually enemies of it because of the reduced or truncated gospel they preach. The nature and content of the gospel certainly determines the ways and modes we have of preaching the good news. So we have 'soft sell', 'hard sell' and—as it ought to be—'true sell'.

In this series of Studies we seek to get back to the substance and heart of the apostolic gospel in order to preach it without fear and favour. We seek to discover afresh the word which the early Christians knew, and in which they lived. Not much will be served by examining and decrying the deficient and wrong ways in which the message is preached in these days. We can use our time more profitably in seeking to clarify the powerful work of the Cross and the Resurrection.

Deficient proclamation of the word has resulted in deficient pastoral understanding and pastoral care. That is why we have chosen the subjects under consideration in this School. We are hopeful that sharing them together will freshen us all, and perhaps stir up the fire in us until it blazes and others catch alight.