Confidence in the Living God

Confidence lies at the heart of society, determining the success or failure of the economy, the government, companies, schools, churches and, of course, individuals. As Christians, we are called to proclaim our faith in God, but how can we build and maintain this confidence in an increasingly secularised culture where such faith is often seen as marginal, embarrassing or even downright dangerous?

Using the story of David and Goliath, Andrew Watson takes a narrative theology approach to show how the Lord can indeed be our confidence, whatever the odds. He explores how God can develop a proper self-confidence within individuals and his Church, revealing the gospel through transforming words and transformed lives.

He considers, too, how we can confidently tackle the challenges of day-to-day living, whether a difficult work situation or family relationship, or simply anxiety about the future. The book includes a study guide and is ideal as a whole church course on the subject of confidence.

'If there is a quality that needs restoring to the church right now it is a faith-filled confidence in God. This timely and inspiring book is a prophetic call to rise up with a Davidic new boldness in the person and power of the living God. I highly recommend it'
- Mark Stibbe, Leader of The Father's House Trust

'A marvellously balanced, thought-provoking and inspiring account of how it is still possible to believe with confidence in a God who is already at work in his world, and who is longing to free us from fear, unbelief, and misconceptions to become the world-changing church that we are called to be.'
- John Coles, Director of New Wine

Contents include:

• Introduction: The call to confidence
• Building confident foundations
• Confidence, faith and wishful thinking
• Confidence within God's Church
• Confidence in the providence of God
• Responding to godly confidence
• A right self-confidence
• Confidence in sharing the gospel
• Confidence-imparting leadership
• Confidence at the coal face
• Conclusion: The confident Christian
• Discussion guide

Andrew Watson is Bishop of Aston and is involved in promoting church growth and leadership across the diocese of Birmingham. He was previously vicar of St Stephen's, East Twickenham, where he helped pioneer three church plants. He has also written The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus (BRF, 2008).

From Christian Marketplace - June 2009

Of course leadership models are not just confined to the New Testament. The first part of the Bible is full of inspiring (yet flawed) leaders; great men and women of faith who led God's people through good times and bad. In Confidence in the Living God by Andrew Watson, Watson turns from the leadership model of Jesus as explored in his last book (The Fourfold Leadership of Jesus, BRF, 2008) to one of the heroes of the Old Testament, David.

Using the story of David and Goliath, he looks at a key characteristic of leadership, that of confidence (in God). The book has some interesting chapter titles including "Confidence within God's Church", "A Right Self-Confidence" and "Confidence-Imparting Leadership". Due out in July, I have only seen the first part of the book where he points out the importance in leadership of not ignoring the history of the situation you find yourself leading. A good friend of mine has just taken over a new parish and one of his challenges as a leader is to instil confidence in his 'flock' that he is leading them onward yet is mindful of their history too. Perhaps I should give him a copy.

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