The Bible Theft: Guarding Against Those Who Steal God's Word from the Church

"Thieves operate in this area" is a familiar warning in many places: airports, railway stations, supermarkets. But is this warning also necessary for the church? The thieves Peter Sanlon cautions against are not those who would take the church silverware, the weekly collection or the lead on the roof. He is concerned about those who would steal something more valuable from the church: the clear teaching of the Bible. In this volume, Dr Sanlon looks at key passages in the New Testament that address false teaching. He knows the damage it does when God's Word is replaced with human invention: Christians are confused, fellowship is broken and the Church loses its confidence to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. This is a manual for local churches to engage in crime prevention: to protect themselves against the heinous crime of stealing God's Word from God's Church. Foreword by the Most Reverend Doctor Foley Beach, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America and Chairman elect of GAFCON. WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID "Here is a series of penetrating expositions which are clearer and contemporary, bringing God's changeless Word to bear on a confused and changing World. Such preaching has been called 'logic on fire' - some of these sermons are white hot.A much needed message for today. Highly recommended reading." The Revd Melvin Tinker, Vicar, St. John Newland, Hull "These sermons prepare a church family to stand by the Truth in a post-Christian culture. What I love about Peter's material is that it has already been tried and tested in the local church. It didn't go from desk to book, but from desk to pulpit to congregation to book. That gives it an integrity and a credibility, which is to be cherished. So this material has already inspired and protected the flock. Peter wonderfully combines love and truth, faithfulness and pastoral care. I thoroughly commend this resource from the trenches of church life." The Revd Rico Tice, Senior Minister for Evangelism, All Souls', Langham Place "In a period of great turmoil in the church of Jesus Christ globally, Peter Sanlon has given us a model of preaching which addresses the reality of institutional false teaching with great clarity, authority and sensitivity. The sermons in this book will warm the heart and clear the head for effective engagement with the issues at stake in our current climate. They will also refresh those who are weary in the struggle." The Revd Dr Liam Goligher, Senior Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia