Publications
Finding Lost Words: The Church’s Right to Lament edited by G. Geoffrey Harper and Kit Barker
G. Geoffrey Harper & Kit Barker, Finding Lost Words: The Church’s Right to Lament, ACT Monograph Series, Wipf & Stock, 2017
The brokenness of this world inevitably invades our lives. But how do you maintain faith when overwhelmed by grief? When prayer goes unanswered? When all you have are questions, not answers? What do you say to God when you know he is in control but the suffering continues unabated? Is there any alternative to remaining speechless in the midst of pain and heartbreak?
This book is about finding words to use when life is hard. These words are not new. They are modes of expression that the church has drawn on in times of grief throughout most of its history. Yet, the church in the West has largely abandoned these words–the psalms of lament. The result is that believers often struggle to know what to do or say when faced with distress, anxiety, and loss. Whether you are in Christian leadership, training for ministry, or simply struggling to reconcile experience with biblical convictions, Finding Lost Words will help you consider how these ancient words can become your own.
“As the contributors to Finding Lost Words so insightfully point out, the Psalms offer us a robust invitation to express our honest feelings before God. I found this volume utterly compelling and encourage everyone to read this book and let the laments of the Psalms teach you how to pray.”
–Tremper Longman III, Westmont College
About the editors:
Geoff Harper is a Lecturer in Old Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Kit Barker is a Lecturer in Old Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Other ACT contributors:
Rachel Ciano is a Lecturer in Church History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Rob Smith is a Lecturer in Theology and Music Ministry at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Ian Maddock is Senior Lecturer in Theology at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Kirk Patston is Coordinator of Higher Degrees by Research and a Lecturer in Old Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Malcolm Gill is Coordinator of Master of Arts Program and a Lecturer in Preaching and New Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
Sharon Wood was Missionary in Residence at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in 2015.
Alan J. Thompson is a Lecturer in New Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
David Burge is a Lecturer in Theology and New Testament at Sydney Missionary and Bible College.
David Cohen is Head of Biblical Studies and Lecturer in Hebrew Bible and Language at Vose Seminary, Perth.
Andrew Sloane is the Director of Postgraduate studies and Lecturer in Old Testament and Christian Thought at Morling College.
Don West is Principal of Trinity Theological College, Perth.