Five Events That Made Christianity: Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost [9780281078066]

Jesus was a pest to the Romans and a threat to the religious leadership, so they hung him out like so much refuse. Little did they realize that it was like trying to put out a fire with petrol. The whole world exploded. With characteristic style, John Pritchard takes us on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, as he unpacks the five great events that made Christianity - Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost. We explore: `What happened?' `What did it mean?' `What does it mean for us?' Absorbing, immediate and full of stories, this volume offers deeply considered theology, brilliantly communicated to connect with life as we actually experience it.

PREACH REVIEW:

John Pritchard was Bishop of Oxford until he retired in 2014 and this is the latest in a line of approachable books including How to Explain Your Faith and How to Pray.

I liked the way this book is clearly written in everyday language that is non- threatening and easily readable. For example, the introduction is titled, ‘A word at the beginning: what’s happened to Christianity’s core beliefs?’ As someone who yearns to share my faith, I always want to improve how I do this, and this book gave me some clarity and tools to use.

Personally it helped me to strengthen the connections between the five key events of Christianity that we so often disconnect in deeper individual studies and reflections. I found the chapter on the Ascension a starting point but still have lots of questions so will seek to do some deeper study around that event.

Despite the readable form, I can imagine that some new to Christianity would still find some of the terms and language inaccessible. However, the part-narrative writing style of the book makes it a joy to read. It offers the reader a wonderful chance to take a personal journey of discovery into the heart of a loving God and how he has expressed his love for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and by sending the Holy Spirit.

As John Pritchard writes, ‘God has definitively done these things in the life of Jesus Christ and we have the privilege of entering them and being transformed by them.’

I would recommend this book to someone who is new to Christianity and seeking spiritual insight because it gives plain facts in a readable form. The book is equally helpful for a mature Christian who would find it liberating to focus in prayer on the five key events that changed history. It will undoubtedly help equip us all in sharing our faith with others.

Preach magazine book review by Jane Mitchell

AUTHOR: THE RT REVD JOHN PRITCHARD is a retired Bishop of Oxford. He was Bishop of Jarrow and, before that, Archdeacon of Canterbury. He has written many books for SPCK.