Who is the Christ we serve? What does it mean to be part of the body of Christ? How can we live more Christ-centred lives? Introduced and edited by Bishop Sarah Mullally, here are forty reflections that lead us deeper into the meaning and practice of life in Christ today. Drawing on the collective wisdom of all the area bishops in the Diocese of London. each reflection includes a Bible reading, a prayer and a suggestion for action based on the reading. The result is an exceptionally helpful Lent book, offering a rich array of biblical insight and spiritual guidance that Christians of all traditions will warmly welcome and appreciate.
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction 1
Part 1
THE CHRIST WE SERVE
1 The Word made flesh 11
Graham Tomlin
2 If you are the Son of God 15
Joanne Grenfell
3 Who is this Jesus? 19
Jonathan Baker
4 Who do you say I am? 23
Ric Thorpe
5 The likeness of the invisible God 26
Sarah Mullally
6 The reflection of God's glory 30
Pete Broadbent
7 He revealed his glory 34
Rob Wickham
8 Taken up into glory 38
Jonathan Baker
PART 2
OUR CALLING AND BAPTISM
9 Follow me 45
Joanne Grenfell
10 Come and see 49
Pete Broadbent
11 Buried with him in baptism 53
Graham Tomlin
12 Those who call on the name of the Lord 57
Pete Broadbent
13 Given us new birth 61
Sarah Mullally
14 All one in Christ Jesus 65
Joanne Grenfell
15 Go and make disciples 68
Ric Thorpe
16 Feed my sheep 72
Rob Wickham
Part 3
ON BEING THE BODY OF CHRIST
17 Many gifts but one Spirit 79
Ric Thorpe
18 One new humanity 83
Joanne Grenfell
19 The bond of peace 88
Jonathan Baker
20 How often do we forgive? 92
Sarah Mullally
21 One as we are one 96
Rob Wickham
22 Citizenship in heaven 100
Graham Tomlin
23 On honouring the poor 103
Pete Broadbent
24 One body in Christ 107
Jonathan Baker
Part 4
BECOMING MORE CHRIST-LIKE
25 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly 113
Joanne Grenfell
26 Having the mind of Christ 118
Sarah Mullally
27 Transformed into his image 122
Graham Tomlin
28 We shall be like him 126
Pete Broadbent
29 Remain in me 129
Rob Wickham
30 Led by the Spirit of God 133
Graham Tomlin
31 Built into a spiritual house 136
Ric Thorpe
32 Having the same love 140
Rob Wickham
Part 5
LIVING A CHRIST-CENTRED LIFE
33 Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you 147
Pete Broadbent
34 He went off to a solitary place, where he prayed 151
Rob Wickham
35 Do the things you did at first 155
Ric Thorpe
36 If we confess our sins he is faithful 159
Jonathan Baker
37 Love your enemies 163
Sarah Mullally
38 Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me 167
Graham Tomlin
39 Seek peace and pursue it 171
Sarah Mullally
40 Let perseverance finish its work 175
Joanne Grenfell
The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE is the Bishop of London. Before her ordination she was Chief Nursing Officer in the Department of Health. She was awarded Honorary Doctorates of Science from Bournemouth University, (2004), the University of Wolverhampton (2004) and the University of Hertfordshire (2005) and was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 for her contribution to nursing and midwifery. Her previous books include A Good Advent (SPCK, 2018).