Face2face Collection (7 Vols.)

David, Volume 1: Encountering the Man after God’s Heart

• Author: Michael Bentley
• 96 pages | Day One Publications | 2006

Raised in obscurity, young David would not have featured on a list of candidates for the future king of Israel—but God had different ideas! Read about how God's magnificent plan unfolded in the life of this remarkable man and in the lives of those around him.

Michael Bentley worked as a bookshop manager and served in the British army before his call to the ministry. His diverse background includes freelance religious reporting for national and local radio and television, being a Religious Education teacher, and holding pastorates in Surrey, South East London and Berkshire. He is also closely involved with his local community as a member of various committees and councils. Now retired, he still preaches regularly and has a ministry of writing, with some ten books in print and more in preparation. He lives in Bracknell with his wife, Jenny, and has five children and six grandchildren.

Michael Bentley has an enviable knowledge of the Bible and an admirably simple way of relating its events, and then interweaving the stories with their relevance to our life. Thus, we see how the actions related in the Bible can still be appropriate today in the way we live our lives.
—Fran Godfrey, BBC Radio

It is easily the most fascinating account of David's life that I have ever read. As a believer I profited, I learned, I was challenged and I gained biblical knowledge and insight. It seemed as though David was a contemporary, living somewhere near me, facing many of the same difficulties I face—yes, contemporary in the best biblical sense.
—Dr. Kent Philpott, Pastor of Miller Avenue Church, Mill Valley, California, USA

David, Volume 2: Encountering the King who Reigned in Power

• Michael Bentley
• 144 pages | Day One Publications | 2007

Raised in obscurity, then shooting to prominence in the nation of Israel, David became a powerful figure and everyone loved him—well, not quite everyone. Read about his battles, his triumphs, and also his troubles in this engaging, easy-to-use guide.

Michael Bentley worked as a bookshop manager and served in the British army before his call to the ministry. His diverse background includes freelance religious reporting for national and local radio and television, being a Religious Education teacher, and holding pastorates in Surrey, South East London and Berkshire. He is also closely involved with his local community as a member of various committees and councils. Now retired, he still preaches regularly and has a ministry of writing, with some ten books in print and more in preparation. He lives in Bracknell with his wife, Jenny, and has five children and six grandchildren.

Michael Bentley treats the life of David in a simple, straightforward fashion, never losing sight throughout of the practical significance he has for us, and constantly holding before us David’s greater Son, the Lord Jesus. A very good and satisfying book!
—Roger Ellsworth, Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Benton, Illinois, USA, and Bible commentator

… a book which is full of wisdom
—Chris Porter, Minister, Easthampstead Baptist Church, England

Michael Bentley has an enviable knowledge of the Bible and an admirably simple way of relating its events, and then interweaving the stories with their relevance to our life. Thus, we see how the actions related in the bible can still be appropriate today in the way we live our lives.
—Fran Godfrey, BBC Radio

Elijah: Encountering Elijah the Fiery Prophet

• Simon Robinson
• 80 pages | Day One Publications | 2006

Elijah, the fiery prophet, lived in a time of intense spiritual darkness. People were openly disobeying God's commands, and true worship seemed to have been all but snuffed out—yet God was still at work! Bringing the power of his word and Spirit into this situation, he used Elijah to break the darkness and to draw people back to himself. This fascinating encounter with Elijah draws out his significance in God's plan and provides us with practical help to live for Christ in the spiritual darkness of the twenty-first century. Each chapter includes questions and points for reflection, making this an ideal book to be used in small groups or for personal study and devotion.

Simon Robinson is the Senior Minister of Walton Evangelical Church, Chesterfield, England. He has also written several other books, including Jesus, the Life-changer, Improving your Quiet Time, Opening up 1 Timothy, and God, the Bible and Terrorism. He also preaches and teaches in Asia and the United States. He and his wife, Hazel, have two sons.

A literary fanfare for the common man!
—J. Keith Johnson, South Mobile Baptist Church, Alabama, USA

Samuel: Encountering Samuel the King-Maker

• Roger Ellsworth
• 128 pages | Day One Publications | 2006

Welcome to the world of dirt roads and oxcarts, cattle and sheep, sandals and robes! Welcome to the world of Samuel—one of the most important men in the history of the nation of Israel. Samuel was a great prophet occupying a unique position in the history of his nation. For a long time Israel had been ruled by judges, but Samuel ushered them into a new era in which they were governed by kings. However, we are not taking this face to face look at Samuel because we are interested in his historical uniqueness, but rather because he can help us to know the God who made us and who has a wonderful purpose for all who live for him.

Roger Ellsworth has served as Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Benton, Illinois, for eighteen years. He is the author of some thirty books, including What the Bible Teaches about Angels, Moses: God's Man for Challenging Times and The God of All Comfort.

Insightful biblical interpretation and powerful theological truths are compellingly portrayed and carefully explained throughout this book. I heartily commend Face2Face with Samuel for a wide range of readers.
—David S. Dockery, President, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee

Sennacherib: Encountering Assyria's Great and Terrifying Ruler

• Clive Anderson
• 96 pages | Day One Publications | 2007

Sennacherib was once a name that sent chills down spines, yet today, relatively few have heard of him, and even fewer know much about him. Lord Byron immortalized one part of his life in a poem, but there was much more to this man than king and fearsome warrior. Coming face to face with him in this book not only reveals a complex and multi-talented man, but also the formidable enemy that the land of Judah, its king Hezekiah and prophet Isaiah were confronted with at a time of national crisis.

Today, many Christians across the world find themselves faced with situations that appear to be beyond their control. How should they react in such circumstances, and what help can they expect to receive? This book, while dealing with real history, also focuses on life in the twenty-first century and gives pointers towards being faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Clive Anderson is the pastor of the Butts Church in Alton, Hampshire, and a member of The British Museum Society, The British School of Archaeology in Iraq, and The Egyptian Exploration Society, and leads tours to the Middle East and Egypt and around the British Museum. He is the author of Opening up Nahum, Opening up 2 Peter, Travel with Spurgeon, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot, and has co-authored with Brian Edwards Through the British Museum with the Bible. Clive has spoken in the USA, Europe, and in the Far East, and is also a frequent broadcaster on local radio. He and his wife, Amanda, have one son.

Clive Anderson brings ancient history to life. Out of the stony slabs of antiquity, Sennacherib emerges, flesh and blood… This book is a must for preachers and teachers and an invaluable aid to Bible study. It is easily accessible scholarship—providing accurate background knowledge, sound biblical exposition and searching application.
—Rev. Dr. Jim Winter, Pastor, Horsell Evangelical Church, and author of several books

Simon Peter: Encountering the Preacher at Pentecost

• Roger Ellsworth
• 96 pages | Day One Publications | 2007

Simon Peter is one of Scripture’s most fascinating characters. Plucked from obscurity to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, he embarked on a journey that featured both stunning failures and impressive triumphs. Through it all, he was sustained and helped by the grace of God. He rises from the pages of Scripture to assure us that the same grace is available to and sufficient for us. No one can ever fall so far as to be beneath the reach of that grace or rise so high as no longer to need it.

Roger Ellsworth has served as pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Benton, Illinois, since 1988. He is the author of some thirty books, including Opening up Philippians, Opening up Psalms, People in the Passion of Jesus, and Face2face Samuel. He has also served as President of the Illinois Baptist State Association and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of South Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Too often people do not see the real humanity of biblical characters and fail to see the connections between various parts of Scripture. Roger Ellsworth helps to address these issues in his compelling study of Simon Peter. When one traces the references to Peter through the Gospels, Acts and the letters of Paul and Peter himself, it helps not only in understanding Peter but also in seeing the unity of Scripture. This book is accessible yet rich in thought and application.
—Ray Van Neste, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Christian Studies Director, R. C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, Jackson, Tennessee

Elisha: Encountering the Messenger of Salvation

• Jim Winter
• 111 pages | Day One Publications | 2008

The stories from the life of the prophet Elisha are well known—his call by Elijah, Naaman’s healing from leprosy, the miraculous provision of oil for a widow and her two sons, and of a son for the Shunammite woman and her husband. But what are we to learn from him and his life? In these studies Jim Winter explores how Elisha was very different in character from Elijah, yet was still used to bring justice and righteousness back to the nation of Israel. He demonstrates how both his life and death point us to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jim Winter has been an evangelical pastor in England for over twenty years and has preached and lectured in the UK, USA, and south east Asia. After a long period of ministry in London’s inner city, he now lives and ministers in the south of England. He and his wife, Marie, have two sons. He the author of Opening up Ecclesiastes, available from Logos in the Opening Up Commentary Collection (24 Vols.), Depression: A Rescue Plan, and Travel with William Booth.

Called to succeed the great Elijah in ministering to Israel in godless and corrupt times, Elisha faced enormous challenges. Jim Winter brings us face to face with this under-appreciated prophet, reminding us all the while that the God who was sufficient for him is still sufficient. Ministers of the Gospel may find special encouragement for their own challenges by walking with Jim Winter in the footprints of the prophet. The many illustrations makes Jim Winter’s book very readable. The applications make it very helpful. The pictures of Christ make it very valuable, reminding us that in Christ alone we find meaning for this life and hope for the life to come.
—Roger Ellsworth, Minister of Immanuel Baptist Church, Benton, Illinois

All credit to Jim Winter for the way he opens up the life of Elisha. He takes us into the past through the pages of Scripture and brings us face to face with this great prophet. Then he brings Elisha into our present, deftly drawing out the principles that make him relevant to our day. But then he goes one step further. With warmth and biblical sensitivity he brings us to Christ. So here, in handling these passages, Jim Winter does what every true expositor should do: he brings us face to face with Jesus!
—Mark G. Johnston, Minister of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, England