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The Cross
Why are people still talking about a carpenter’s son who lived 2000 years ago? What is the go with this thing called a cross, and why do we see it on church rooftops and around people’s necks? And, really, what does this have to do with people living in the 21st century?
In this conversational and sometimes humorous read, Edward Surrey finds answers to such questions and more, putting the spotlight on Jesus, his teachings, lifestyle and obedience to God, even to the point of death on a Roman cross.
You’ll read about individuals—some fictitious, some real—whose habits, thoughts and problems might be similar to those of people you know, maybe even yourself. And you’ll discover why the life and death of this guy Jesus is still so important not just for Christians, but for everyone.
In this conversational and sometimes humorous read, Edward Surrey finds answers to such questions and more, putting the spotlight on Jesus, his teachings, lifestyle and obedience to God, even to the point of death on a Roman cross.
You’ll read about individuals—some fictitious, some real—whose habits, thoughts and problems might be similar to those of people you know, maybe even yourself. And you’ll discover why the life and death of this guy Jesus is still so important not just for Christians, but for everyone.
152 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Edward Surrey
4 books2 followersEdward Surrey is from England and has taught the Bible to high
school students at churches in Shenton Park, Australia and Exeter,
England. Before that he taught maths at Stowe School in Buckingham.
He loves his wife, watching American football, fly fishing and being a
trampoline for his kids.
school students at churches in Shenton Park, Australia and Exeter,
England. Before that he taught maths at Stowe School in Buckingham.
He loves his wife, watching American football, fly fishing and being a
trampoline for his kids.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 28, 2014
Memorable. Biblical. Clear. Compelling.
An excellent book that connects high-schoolers especially with the centrality and pervasiveness of the cross in the Christian life.
Where The Cross of Christ by John Stott is dense and rigourous, The Cross by Edward Surrey is accessible and easily digested. Both are courageous presentations of the cross and both are wonderful contributions to the Christian library.
But I know which one I'd recommend to a 15 year old.
An excellent book that connects high-schoolers especially with the centrality and pervasiveness of the cross in the Christian life.
Where The Cross of Christ by John Stott is dense and rigourous, The Cross by Edward Surrey is accessible and easily digested. Both are courageous presentations of the cross and both are wonderful contributions to the Christian library.
But I know which one I'd recommend to a 15 year old.
November 17, 2015
Four and a half stars.
Once past the forbidding cover, the interior of this slim book is just divinely elegant. Ok, maybe 'forbidding' is a little extreme, perhaps 'unenticing' is more accurate. I've currently got more than 100 books in a series of formation piles in my bedroom, waiting to be read, and only the relative smallness of the book took my fancy one evening when I was more insomniac than usual. The cover, truly, had put me right off.
Once inside, any hope that it was going to put me to sleep faded immediately. I've got to say that 'divinely elegant' is probably not quite accurate as a description either - it surpasses that. I fell in lust immediately with the simple look of the text on the page. Lust is probably not the best thing to admit to here but, frankly, the design of this book is simultaneously sublime and minimalist. I'm not a big fan of minimalist so it has to be exceptionally well done to appeal to me: this is seriously lovely.
That progression of words starting with E in the footer -- Eden - Exodus - Exile - Emmanuel - Execution - Enthroned - End Times - End -- so appealed to the symbolist in me that I spent more than a moment in rapt attention, just on the titles! I know, I know, you think I've lost it, waxing lyrical about a list of sections. But truly, the stylish interior design is to die for.
Oh, yes, not forgetting it's got content too. Well, it's nifty. Again I could probably choose a better word: effortlessly easy, encouraging, engrossing and engaging, enjoyably enlightening, excellent and evangelical plus esthetically economical, even.
The territory Surrey covers in this book is the old beaten track of the Gospel in its modern four or five point guise. He's added a few extra points at the End but this will be familiar territory for many preachers and teachers.
That said, I've never seen it this well done before. The thought that has been put into every aspect of the presentation shows in the superb quality of the production.
But that cover. I see how it meshes with the interior design. But I still don't like it. In fact, maybe I'll re-instate that word I started with: 'forbidding'. It's sufficiently off-putting for me to deduct a whole half star on the rating. DS
Once past the forbidding cover, the interior of this slim book is just divinely elegant. Ok, maybe 'forbidding' is a little extreme, perhaps 'unenticing' is more accurate. I've currently got more than 100 books in a series of formation piles in my bedroom, waiting to be read, and only the relative smallness of the book took my fancy one evening when I was more insomniac than usual. The cover, truly, had put me right off.
Once inside, any hope that it was going to put me to sleep faded immediately. I've got to say that 'divinely elegant' is probably not quite accurate as a description either - it surpasses that. I fell in lust immediately with the simple look of the text on the page. Lust is probably not the best thing to admit to here but, frankly, the design of this book is simultaneously sublime and minimalist. I'm not a big fan of minimalist so it has to be exceptionally well done to appeal to me: this is seriously lovely.
That progression of words starting with E in the footer -- Eden - Exodus - Exile - Emmanuel - Execution - Enthroned - End Times - End -- so appealed to the symbolist in me that I spent more than a moment in rapt attention, just on the titles! I know, I know, you think I've lost it, waxing lyrical about a list of sections. But truly, the stylish interior design is to die for.
Oh, yes, not forgetting it's got content too. Well, it's nifty. Again I could probably choose a better word: effortlessly easy, encouraging, engrossing and engaging, enjoyably enlightening, excellent and evangelical plus esthetically economical, even.
The territory Surrey covers in this book is the old beaten track of the Gospel in its modern four or five point guise. He's added a few extra points at the End but this will be familiar territory for many preachers and teachers.
That said, I've never seen it this well done before. The thought that has been put into every aspect of the presentation shows in the superb quality of the production.
But that cover. I see how it meshes with the interior design. But I still don't like it. In fact, maybe I'll re-instate that word I started with: 'forbidding'. It's sufficiently off-putting for me to deduct a whole half star on the rating. DS
July 15, 2014
Three reviews from our CALEB reviewers:
(1)
If a judge wanted to find you guilty of being a Christian, would he find enough evidence?
This is just one of the discussion questions at the end of a chapter in The Cross.
Via a number of fictional characters and vignettes, the author introduces the reader to a variety of issues he wishes to address surrounding the Cross.
With a conversational style and humour particularly aimed at a youth readership, The Cross would provide a non-threatening springboard for discussion, useful for those working in youth ministry. KL
(2)
Take ten teenagers with temperaments ranging from very shy and introverted to full on extravert and with everything in-between. The world in which they live is as varied as their personalities and their commitment to Jesus ranges from questionable to almost there. Edward Surrey certainly understands teenagers and he also knows how to relate to them and how to connect the cross of Jesus to the Old Testament as well as the New. He highlights all the signposts along the way to the central point of all history. Surrey effectively and appropriately uses teen-speak to lighten the content of this very valuable book. Each of the ten chapters finishes with discussion questions and a Scriptural suggestion for further reading and reflection. I cannot think of a better Confirmation gift or present for a young new Christian. In fact, it makes a great gift for a Christian of any age. DS
(3)
Edward Surrey introduces each chapter with a description of a ‘normal’ young person that you might find in any youth group. They might be Christians, or lonely, too smart for their own good, ordinary nice people, but they all need Jesus. Je uses each personality as a jumping off spot to introduce each topic and leads the reader through the process of understanding how and why we need Jesus. He start in Genesis and goes right through to Revelation, from Adam and Eve in the garden listening to the snake and doing what they want to do rather than obey God. Surrey’s writing is clear and fresh and his turn of phrase and way of explaining passages is amusing and innovative, making the meaning perfectly clear and hard to ignore. LS
(1)
If a judge wanted to find you guilty of being a Christian, would he find enough evidence?
This is just one of the discussion questions at the end of a chapter in The Cross.
Via a number of fictional characters and vignettes, the author introduces the reader to a variety of issues he wishes to address surrounding the Cross.
With a conversational style and humour particularly aimed at a youth readership, The Cross would provide a non-threatening springboard for discussion, useful for those working in youth ministry. KL
(2)
Take ten teenagers with temperaments ranging from very shy and introverted to full on extravert and with everything in-between. The world in which they live is as varied as their personalities and their commitment to Jesus ranges from questionable to almost there. Edward Surrey certainly understands teenagers and he also knows how to relate to them and how to connect the cross of Jesus to the Old Testament as well as the New. He highlights all the signposts along the way to the central point of all history. Surrey effectively and appropriately uses teen-speak to lighten the content of this very valuable book. Each of the ten chapters finishes with discussion questions and a Scriptural suggestion for further reading and reflection. I cannot think of a better Confirmation gift or present for a young new Christian. In fact, it makes a great gift for a Christian of any age. DS
(3)
Edward Surrey introduces each chapter with a description of a ‘normal’ young person that you might find in any youth group. They might be Christians, or lonely, too smart for their own good, ordinary nice people, but they all need Jesus. Je uses each personality as a jumping off spot to introduce each topic and leads the reader through the process of understanding how and why we need Jesus. He start in Genesis and goes right through to Revelation, from Adam and Eve in the garden listening to the snake and doing what they want to do rather than obey God. Surrey’s writing is clear and fresh and his turn of phrase and way of explaining passages is amusing and innovative, making the meaning perfectly clear and hard to ignore. LS
April 25, 2015
Wow. To start with, the cover blew me away. I was immediately drawn to
The book because of this minimalistic cover.
Surrey writes in a conversational manner. He connects with his reader. He is biblical. The draws out the sweetness of the cross for high schoolers to see.
Loved it. I highly recommend it!
Sell your bed, buy this book.
The book because of this minimalistic cover.
Surrey writes in a conversational manner. He connects with his reader. He is biblical. The draws out the sweetness of the cross for high schoolers to see.
Loved it. I highly recommend it!
Sell your bed, buy this book.
April 25, 2015
I found this book helpful in improving my understanding of the cross as a whole.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews