Best of
Discipleship

2006

A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God's Love


Milton Vincent - 2006
    He offers it to us every day as a gift that gives to us everything we need for life and godliness. This book includes 31 "Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily." Use this book to preach the gospel to yourself daily and you will be amazed at the difference it will make in your life.

The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath


Mark Buchanan - 2006
    Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. "If I only had more time," is the mantra of our age. But is this the real problem?Widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we've really lost is "the rest of God-the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of himself we can know only through stillness." Stillness as a virtue is a foreign concept in our society, but there is wisdom in God's own rhythm of work and rest. Sabbath is elixir and antidote. It is a gift for our sanity and wholeness--to prolong our lives, to enrich our relationships, to increase our fruitfulness, to make our joy complete. Jesus practiced Sabbath among those who had turned it into a dismal thing, a day for murmuring and finger-wagging, and he reminded them of the day's true purpose: liberation-to heal, to feed, to rescue, to celebrate, to lavish and relish life abundant.The gift of Sabbath is essential to our full humanity and faith, says Buchanan. Far from being some starched and dour day only to be endured, Sabbath is a day wide and bright, brimming with laughter, enough to lend beauty to all our other days. Readers will be changed forever by this pivotal book."It seems very unsabbath-like to describe a book about Sabbath with the adverb 'urgently'--but we urgently need this book. Mark Buchanan shows us that our busyness is killing us--killin us--and that Sabbath is our best cure, our best path for rest and reverence and discipleship."--LAUREN WINNER, Best-selling author of Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath"With the easiness of long intimacy and a very deft hand, Buchanan here braids together into one gracious and sustaining strand the beauty of Sabbath, the wisdom of its keeping, and the generosity of God in gifting us with it. These pages are not just a blessing, they are a psalm that cries out to be joyfully engaged."--PHYLLIS TICKLE, Religion editor (ret.) Publishers Weekly and compiler of The Divine Hours

Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith


Henri J.M. Nouwen - 2006
    With Nouwen's guidance, we can reorient our lives and open the door to true spiritual transformation.Henri Nouwen, the world-renowned spiritual guide and counselor, understood the spiritual life as a journey of faith and transformation that is deepened by accountability, community, and relationships. Though he counseled many people during his lifetime, his principles of spiritual direction were never written down. Now two of his longtime students, Michael Christensen and Rebecca Laird, have taken his famous course in spiritual direction and supplemented it with his unpublished writings to create the definitive work on Nouwen's thoughts on the Christian life. Stories, readings, and thematically organized questions for reflection and guided journal writing provide an unparalleled resource for spiritual direction, both for individuals and for small groups.

Created for Work: Practical Insights for Young Men


Bob Schultz - 2006
    Honest productive work is the backbone of strong families and blessed nations. Bob Schultz's previous book, Boyhood and Beyond, addressed essential issues related to godly character as boys transition into manhood. In Created for Work he applies his engaging homespun wisdom, with stories from real life, to teach young men (and boys) what it means to be good workers. Created for Work inspires young men and offers the tools and encouragement they need to embrace God's ways and always give an honest day's work. Questions at the end of each chapter make Created for Work an excellent read-aloud book for a father and son or for group discussion.

Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle


Derek Prince - 2006
    Like fireside chats, these meaty chapters share the message Derek Prince most wanted to impart in the years before his death. With superb biblical exposition and practical application, he discusses the interaction between believers on earth and spiritual powers in heavenly places. Topics include building a soldier's character, facing testing, Holy Spirit training, and the battle of the heavenlies. With this manual in hand, readers will learn to develop character that endures to the end.

The Purple Book: Biblical Foundations for Building Strong Disciples


Rice Broocks - 2006
    Why? Because they're looking for a foundation that no storm in life will prevail against---and a heart that's shaped and guided by the knowledge of God's Word. The Purple Book is a twelve-part Bible study keyed to the TNIV and designed to help new believers and longtime followers of Jesus stand firm and grow strong in the Christian life. Take the challenge to build the foundation of your life on the Word of God. Do The Purple Book.'I love The Purple Book. It continually helps reinforce the only foundation worth building upon--- a biblical one.' ---Peter Furler, newsboys'The Purple Book has been instrumental in my growth as a believer...an effective tool in helping mebuild the life that God has intended for me.' ---Mark Brunell, Washington Redskins

Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice


Dallas Willard - 2006
    With each selection, you'll progress through Dr. Willard's plan for renovating the complete person. Each provocative reflection includes a thoughtful, meaty selection by Dallas Willard along with Jan's illuminating personal stories, plus suggestions for making the concepts come alive in your own experience.

Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation


Ruth Haley Barton - 2006
    Picking up on the monastic tradition of creating a rule of life that allows for regular space for the practice of the spiritual disciplines, this book takes you more deeply into understanding seven key disciplines along with practical ideas for weaving them into everyday life. Each chapter includes exercises to help you begin the practices--individually and in a group context. The final chapter puts it all together in a way that will help you arrange your life for spiritual transformation. The choice to establish your own sacred rhythm is the most important choice you can make with your life.

Won't Let You Go Unless You Bless Me


Andree Seu - 2006
    It was a messenger from God, she writes. Andrée Seu writes with insight and humility about everyday grace as she seeks and anticipates daily blessings. Won't Let You Go Unless You Bless Me collects 30 essays.

Agape Road: Journey to Intimacy with the Father


Bob Mumford - 2006
    Thankfully, God uses that broken road to draw us back toward the destination our hearts long for----intimacy with Him. In Agape Road, author Bob Mumford illustrates how to avoid taking detours by abiding in Jesus. Experiencing God's unconditional agape love gives us the security, identity, and belonging we cannot get any other way.

What Jesus Demands from the World


John Piper - 2006
    These demands are Jesus' way of showing us who he is and what he expects of us. They are not the harsh demands of a taskmaster. For example, the demand that we come to Jesus is like the demand of a father to his child in a burning window, "Jump to me!" Or like the demand of a rich, strong, tender, handsome husband to an unfaithful wife, "Come home!" What Jesus demands from the world can be summed up as: "Trust and treasure me above all." This is good news!In What Jesus Demands from the World, John Piper has gathered many of Jesus' demands from the four Gospels. He begins with an introduction that puts the demands in a redemptive-historical context, then concisely examines each demand. The result is an accessible introduction for thoughtful inquirers and new believers, as well as meditative meat for veteran believers who want to know Jesus better.

Woman, Thou Art Loosed! Workbook


T.D. Jakes - 2006
    For the single parent and the battered wife, for the abused girl and the insecure woman, there is a cu

Blackaby Study Bible: Personal Encounters with God Through His Word


Henry T. Blackaby - 2006
    Unique notes and articles throughout the Bible give you guidance for experiencing dramatic, life-changing "God encounters" on a daily basis.This is the crowning work of Dr. Henry Blackaby, co-author of the bestseller Experiencing God, and his four sons, Drs. Richard, Thomas, Melvin, and Norman Blackaby. Now you can learn how to develop a regular habit of Bible reading and study, expecting great things to happen as God engages you in His Word. See how God has encountered people in many times and places, using ordinary men and women in extraordinary ways to do His will.

No Man Left Behind: How to Build and Sustain a Thriving Disciple-Making Ministry for Every Man in Your Church


Patrick Morley - 2006
    Add a testimony, some pancakes, a prayer, and—poof!—a men’s ministry. Right? Making disciples of men—getting them to walk with Christ, live like Christ, and work for Christ—is hard.If you’ve been struggling to get traction with men, this revised and updated edition of No Man Left Behind can revolutionize your efforts. Drawing upon thirty years of research and work with more than 2,500 churches, the authors offer a proven strategy that will help you disciple every man in your church.No Man Left Behind is the blueprint for growing a thriving men's ministry that has the power to rebuild the church as we know it, pulling men off the couch and into active involvement as part of the body of Christ.Find out how to:Shift your paradigm from a men’s ministry to a ministry to all your menIdentify the unwritten “man code” that your church conveys to every guy who walks in the doorDevelop a concrete, seamless process to help men who don’t know Christ become passionate disciplesYou can reach men.You can help them grow closer to Christ.This book will show you how.

Joyful Exiles: Life in Christ on the Dangerous Edge of Things


James M. Houston - 2006
    He passes on what he has come to regard as pivotal concerns for leading a faithful Christian life in current society and culture. This is an advanced discipleship book for those who want to learn from someone with mature spiritual insight who has gone before them. If you are interested in Christian maturity, faithfulness, spiritual formation, and life, and want a guide through the "currents and eddies" of our society and culture, this book is for you.

The DNA of Relationships for Couples


Greg Smalley - 2006
    The practical solutions are built on the basic steps that are explained in The DNA of Relationships. Smalley uses fictional couples (based on real client experience) who are grappling with real-life problems ranging from work and family priority balance issues to extramarital affairs. Through the telling of the stories of real couples going through the step-by-step counseling process, the book provides a tool to help both partners identify destructive relationship habits and explains how to begin the rebuilding process.

Becoming Who You Already Are


Jonathan Montaldo - 2006
    This title uses Merton as a starting point; and points us, in the end, to embrace our deep connections with all of creation through the God who made us.

The Book of John - Smart Guide (The Smart Guide to the Bible Series)


Lin Johnson - 2006
    No other guide makes his ministry more understandable than The Smart Guide to the Bible: The Book of John. Walk with Jesus as he recruits the twelve disciples. Sit down on the hillside and listen as he teaches the parables. Watch as Jesus performs miracle after miracle. And at every step along the way, understand the critical concepts and life-changing lessons Jesus wants you to learn.

Disciplemaking: Doing What Christ Commanded


Judy Streeter - 2006
    But, are Christians truly grounded in the bedrock of doctrine that supports and enriches their faith? Can they explain what they believe? Are they equipped so they can teach others? Do they have any cultural impact at all? In these post-Christian times, Judy Streeter encourages a return to the example of Jesus Christ while He was on earth. His primary plan was to disciple a few men. It was where He invested most of His time, knowing that the continuation of His teachings rested on their shoulders. The combination of good instruction, plus accountability within a small group makes for a fertile environment where solid growth can occur. Convinced that the church needs this kind of dynamic to nurture its own and to withstand the influences of a secular culture, Judy makes a strong case for the importance and effectiveness of obeying Christ's command to "go and make disciples." Beginning with the convicting principles of Scripture and moving into a clear definition of discipleship, this book is doctrinally solid, yet practical, and obviously written by someone who has spent years doing what is recommended.

How People Change


Timothy S. Lane - 2006
    Paul David Tripp and Timothy S. Lane collaborate to expose the heart issues at stake and help people to make real, lasting change. These answers, the authors assert, lie in appropriating the fullness of the grace and freedom of Jesus in new ways that offer radically more hope than conventional models.

Swimming Lessons: How to keep New Christians Afloat in a Sinking World


Grant Edwards - 2006
    Paperback

Fighting for David: An Inspiring True Story of Stubborn Love, Faith, and Hope Beyond Reason


Leone Nunley - 2006
    "Fighting for David" is the story of Leone's courageous battle for David's life and his family's fight to help him overcome many of his disabilities. (Remarkably, David can now speak, walk with the aid of a walker, and with the help of a caregiver, live in his own home.) After witnessing this amazing—if less-than-perfect—outcome, Leone is uniquely qualified to help readers understand why even “imperfect” life has value and why faith and persistence can be more powerful than a doctor's diagnosis.