It's time to rethink normal.Suffering and exclusion are normal in a believer's life. At least they should be. This was certainly Jesus' experience. An it's the experience of countless Christians around the world today.No matter your social location or set of experiences, the biblical letter of 1 Peter wants to redefine your expectations and reinvigorate your hope.Drawing on years of ministry in a Muslim-majority nation, Elliot Clark guides us through Peter's letter striking insights for today. Whether we're in positions of power or weakness, influence or marginalization, all of us are called to live and witness as exiles, in a world that's not our home. This our job description. This is our mission. This our opportunity.A church in exile doesn't have to be a church in retreat.©2019 The Gospel Coalition (P)2019 eChristian

    It's time to rethink normal. Suffering and exclusion are normal in a believer's life. At least they should be. This was certainly Jesus's experience. And it's the experience of countless Christians around the world today. No matter your social location or set of experiences, the biblical letter of 1 Peter wants to redefine your expectations and reinvigorate your hope. Drawing on years of ministry in a Muslim-majority nation, Elliot Clark guides us through Peter's letter with striking insights for today. Whether we're in positions of power or weakness, influence or marginalization, all of us are called to live and witness as exiles in a world that's not our home. This is our job description. This is our mission. This is our opportunity. A church in exile doesn't have to be a church in retreat.

    However, neither extreme is true to God's good purpose for emotions. Written by two experienced counselors, this book sets forth a holistic view of emotions rooted in the Bible, offering a practical approach to engaging with both positive and negative emotions in a God-honoring way. Readers will be encouraged to see their emotions as an opportunity to explore themselves, their values, and their affections, and to move toward deeper worship of God.

    Many books have been written on the subject and there's a reason for that. Prayer comes hard to most of us, in most seasons. And when we do pray, we often don't know what to say. What is it that my Father loves to hear about? What are the best things I could pray for my family, my church, and myself? I want to pray bigger, and better. And I want you to enjoy praying like that too. And to do that, we need to discover how to pray as the apostle Paul did. Paul clearly enjoyed prayer, and was excited about it. He expected his Father in heaven to hear what he said, and to act in other people's lives accordingly. He prayed and then was "watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 4 v 2), ready to see how God would be pleased to answer his prayers.This book focuses on Paul's prayer for his friends in the church in Ephesus, that he recounts to them in Ephesians 1 v 15-23 and 3 v 14-21. The truths that underpin and shape his prayers for them will motiva

    – Matthew 20:27 You cannot have Christ if you will not serve Him. If you take Christ, you must take Him in all His qualities. You must not simply take Him as a Friend, but you must also take Him as your Master. If you are to become His disciple, you must also become His servant. God-forbid that anyone fights against that truth. It is certainly one of our greatest delights on earth to serve our Lord, and this is to be our joyful vocation even in heaven itself: His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face (Revelation 22:3-4). Charles H. Spurgeon originally wrote this book for members of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. Spurgeon's heartfelt writing style makes this book one that today still encourages believers to move into Christian action. He emphasizes simply moving forward, using the talents and resources you already have at your disposal, for the Lord's service and your own eternal reward. The concepts presented are easy to understand and straight-forward, if only you are ready to lay down your life to follow Christ. Table of Contents Ch. 1: The Necessity of Following Christ Ch. 2: How to Go Ch. 3: The Help of the Holy Spirit Ch. 4: Only Christ Ch. 5: Great Faith and Great Works Ch. 6: Being Faithful with the Talents He Already Gave Us Ch. 7: The Joy of the Lord's Harvest Ch. 8: The Body Works Together Ch. 9: Merely a Servant Ch. 10: With God Nothing is Impossible Ch. 11: We Must Bear Fruit Ch. 12: Solely for His Glory Ch. 13: Fire and A Hammer Ch. 14: Beware of Foxes Ch. 15: Good Things Take Time Ch. 16: The Urgency of Today Ch. 17: Open Your Mouth Ch. 18: God's Limitless Providence Ch. 19: Our Meager Loaves in Christ’s Hands Original Title: We Endeavor About the Author Charles Haddon (C. H.) Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a British Baptist preacher. He started preaching at age 17 and quickly became famous. He is still known as the “Prince of Preachers” and frequently had more than 10,000 people present to hear him preach at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. His sermons were printed in newspapers, translated into many languages, and published in many books.

    What are the most important lessons the New Testament has to teach us about being a Christian?Sinclair Ferguson shows that a deep-seated concern of the writers of the New Testament was to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity—and if that was the concern of the first believers, then it should be our concern too.In clear and logical chapters that are rooted in the reality of the Christian life, the author, who has had long experience in pastoral ministry and seminary teaching, seeks to show what Christian maturity is, and how it is to be obtained.It was the apostle Paul’s desire to present those to whom he ministered ‘mature in Christ’—for such a maturity would lead to stable, servant-hearted Christians, and healthy, fruit-bearing churches.All those who desire to live useful, mature, and consistent Christian lives will gain much wisdom from reading and reflecting upon the contents of this book.

    Written for those in high school and up, Jim Orrick's fresh, evangelistic explanation gets to the heart of the matter: the Bible teaches that God always does as he pleases and that he initiates, sustains, and completes the salvation of everyone who goes to heaven. This focus sets Calvinism apart from other views within Christianity‚"‚€‚"and has huge, positive implications for daily life. Calvinism is more than the "five points" for which it is known, but those five points make an excellent framework for understanding its teaching. Taking us back to the Bible, Orrick examines what we mean when we talk about total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints‚"‚€‚"and why those ideas matter.

    5:17). But we still sin; still get angry, arrogant, and greedy. Sin destroys everything in its path, yet it’s also kind of fun and quite compelling. It often has us holding on to parts of the old life instead of embracing the new life we’ve been promised.   In Done with That, Pastor Bob Merritt exposes the inner battle we all fight with sin. He exposes the cycle of failure and loss and shows readers that no matter how many setbacks they’ve experienced, there is a way to enjoy a new and better life in Christ.

    

    In recent years, Christian ministries have increasingly prioritized urban areas. Big cities and suburbs are considered more strategic, more influential, and more desirable places to live and work. After all, they're the centers for culture, arts, and education. More and more people are leaving small places and moving to big ones. As a ministry strategy, focusing on big places makes sense. But the gospel of Jesus is often unstrategic. In this book, pastor Stephen Witmer lays out an integrated theological vision for small-place ministry. Filled with helpful information about small places and with stories and practical advice from his own ministry, Witmer's book offers a compelling, comprehensive vision for small-place ministry today. Jesus loves small places, and when we care deeply about them and invest in them over time, our ministry becomes a unique picture of the gospel--one that the world badly needs to see.

    . . when we fear other people more than we fear God, we become anxious slaves to their opinions and approval. But we don't have to compete to be loved! Zach Schlegel uses meditations on God's Word, reflection questions, and practical suggestions for action to guide you, day by day, toward a freer way of life in service to God. Learn how to fear God alone, rest in his grace, and live in peace, joy, and confidence.

    Whether you experience nagging worry or debilitating panic, God's Word offers hope and help. In this 31-day devotional, pastor and biblical counselor Paul Tautges delves deeply, but gently, into the heart of fear and unbelief, using daily readings, reflection questions, and practical application to fuel the faith that strengthens inner security and peace. The Bible is honest about human experiences of dread and fear, even in the lives of believers. We wage our war against anxiety through the disciplined exercise of biblical faith rooted in who God is, what he has done for us in Christ, and how he promises to continue to care for those who belong to him.

    For others, they are bothersome and irrational. No matter where you fall on the emotional spectrum, one thing is for sure: God designed you as an emotional being. Your emotions have purpose, and they’re worth handling with curiosity, respect, and wisdom. What might it look like for you to have a healthy relationship with emotions? Could you learn to discern them and use them wisely? Through the unified lens of current research and scriptural teaching, this guide explores: • how emotions work as signals on your body’s internal dashboard • why emotions are valuable (even when they are unpleasant) • what to do when your emotions don’t match the situation • helpful tools and habits to cultivate emotional health over the long-term • the ins and outs of shame, fear, anger, sadness, jealousy, and happiness Whether you’re a skeptical stoic or an impulsive feeler, pursuing a healthy relationship with your emotions is key to living a passionate and abundant life. After all, it’s ultimately about becoming a little more like the person God created you to be. “The Collins have written a unique and extraordinary book, one that blends the recent findings of psychology with the ancient insights of spirituality, all grounded in a healthy, solid biblical theology. We all ache for a healthy soul, yet this side of Eden, and especially in our modern, frenetic, fast-unraveling world, struggle to live in the love, joy, and peace we know Jesus has for us. This book is like a map, or more, a kind, calm, wise guide for the road to life." — John Mark Comer, pastor for teaching at Bridgetown Church, and author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry “Here’s your chance to take a big step forward on your journey toward understanding your inner world! This is a marvelously honest, insightful, and practical book about the surprising gift our emotions are when we understand what they signal. Read it!” — Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Road Back to You "I don't remember the last time I read such a consequential book. Jon and Tristen have brilliantly woven theology, psychology, wit, humor, and grace to give us such a desperately needed resource! I immediately thought of ten people I will be buying this book for." — Jefferson Bethke, NYT best selling author of Jesus > Religion “At the ripe old age of thirty-seven, I keep imagining myself standing outside a high school with a case of this book to hand to every student. If seventeen-year-old Joy had read this book, she would have headed into adulthood with permission to take stock of the “why” behind her emotions (there were a few) and the “what” God and science has to say about them. This is a psychology-theology book that is both profound and accessible for any age or stage. ” — Joy Eggerichs Reed, Founder of Punchline Speakers Most of us have had moments when our own reactions, thoughts, and feelings surprise or perplex us, and we wonder, "Why did I just say or do that?" In this wonderfully helpful book, the Collins have given us a practical and profound education in what emotions are, and how they can guide us into greater self-awareness. It's an invitation to think psychologically and theologically about the human person, so you can offer a healthier and more integrated version of yourself to the people around you. — Tim Mackie, cofounder of The Bible Project “‘Sometimes you choose the book. Other times, the book chooses you.’ This book chose me. I needed it.

    D. Greear (Gospel, Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart) believes the postmortems are premature. Jesus promised to build his church. He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. The church is not going away.   Along with this promise, Jesus gave clear instructions for how the church would prevail. He promised to build it on the rock of the gospel.   The most pressing need for Christianity today is not a new strategy. It is not an updated message. It is a return to keeping the gospel above all.

    We worry that our faith isn't strong enough. We struggle through the continuing presence of sin in our lives. All this steals the joy of our salvation and can lead us into a life characterized by legalism, perfectionism, and works righteousness--the very life Jesus freed us from at the cross!But Greg Gilbert has a message for the anxious believer--be assured. Assured that your salvation experience was real. Assured that your sins--past, present, and future--are forgiven. Assured that everyone stumbles. Assured that Jesus is not your judge but your advocate. With deep compassion, Gilbert comforts readers, encouraging them to release their guilt, shame, and anxiety to rejoice in and follow hard after the One who set them free.

    And he offers practical and fruitful advice� "born out of his five decades as a pastor� "that will benefit both new pastors and those with years in the pulpit.In a time when many churches have lost sight of the real purpose of the church, The Care of Souls invites a new generation of pastors to form the godly habits and practical wisdom needed to minister to the hearts and souls of those committed to their care.

    I have a most distinct recollection of the joys and the sorrows, the hopes and the fears, the temptations and the difficulties, the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections, and the errors and the aspirations which surround and accompany a young man’s life. If I can only say something to keep some young man walking in the right way and preserve him from faults and sins, which may hurt his prospects both for time and eternity, I shall be very thankful. There are four things which I propose to do: 1. I will mention some general reasons why young men need exhorting. 2. I will note some special dangers which young men need to be warned about. 3. I will give some general advice which I beg young men to receive. 4. I will set down some special rules of conduct which I strongly advise young men to follow. On each of these four points I have something to say, and my young friend, I pray to God that what I say may do good to your soul. – J. C. Ryle Updated edition based on Thoughts for Young Men About the Author John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) graduated from Eton and Oxford and then pursued a career in politics, but due to lack of funds, he entered the clergy of the Church of England. He was a contemporary of Spurgeon, Moody, Mueller, and Taylor and read the great theologians like Wesley, Bunyan, Knox, Calvin, and Luther. These all influenced Ryle’s understanding and theology. Ryle began his writing career with a tract following the Great Yarmouth suspension bridge tragedy, where more than a hundred people drowned. He gained a reputation for straightforward preaching and evangelism. He travelled, preached, and wrote more than 300 pamphlets, tracts, and books, including Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Principles for Churchmen, and Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Ryle used the royalties from his writing to pay his father’s debts, but he also felt indebted to that ruin for changing the direction of his life. He was recommended by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to be Bishop of Liverpool where he ended his career in 1900.

    He envisioned his followers as life-giving neighbors, bosses, employees, and friends, the kind of people who return insults with kindness and persecution with prayers. Rooted in biblical convictions, they would extend love, empathy, and care to one another as well as to those who don't share their beliefs. Over time their movement would become irresistible to every nation, tribe, and tongue. Irresistible Faith is a blueprint for pursuing this vision in our current moment, of redeemed individuals and a renewed community working for a restored world. This is a way of being that gives a tired, cynical world good reason to pause and reconsider Christianity--and to start wishing it was true.

    Read this book to discover the clarity and beauty of the Gospel just as God intended. —Bart Millard, singer/songwriter for MercyMe Confront the lies that hold you back. Discover the truth that sets you free. Let's face it - the Bible contains passages that are challenging to interpret and can even incite fear. Sure, we want to believe that God's grace applies to our unique troubles: addiction, divorce, habitual sins, or a feeling of distance from God because we don't seem to measure up. Still, perplexing Bible passages eat at us.   Bestselling author and national radio host Dr. Andrew Farley is known to challenge legalistic and lifeless interpretations with his discerning take on controversial Scriptures.    In  Twisted Scripture , Andrew skewers sacred cows and shatters destructive lies, bringing the undiluted truth about God's love and grace in a colorful and conversational look at the most controversial passages in the New Testament.    This book offers more than just encouragement and freedom. It may change everything about the way you see yourself and God.

    Patrick Schreiner argues that Matthew obeyed the Great Commission by acting as scribe to his teacher Jesus in order to share Jesus's life and work with the world, thereby making disciples of future generations. The First Gospel presents Jesus's life as the fulfillment of the Old Testament story of Israel and shows how Jesus brings new life in the New Testament.

    This engaging book provides a wealth of fresh theological insights and practical suggestions for anyone involved in teaching and learning Christianity.

    The question is have you given your life completely to the Lord and His purposes? This level of commitment and consecration comes only by having a prophetic vision of the returning Jesus. As God’s people give themselves completely to Him and His Kingdom purpose, they will become catalysts for bringing the awakening and reformation that has been prophesied.  Author, prophet, and church planter, Jeremiah Johnson, is convinced: this message is a prophetic vision of the why behind what we're called to do.  More than simply focusing on Christian behaviors and actions, when a believer has set Jesus before their eyes and lives as a bride eagerly awaiting the returning bridegroom, everything changes!In The Power of Consecration, Jeremiah helps you to... Sit at the "Table of Encounter" with the Lord. Discover how consecration is the result of your revelation of Jesus. Enter into a "new kind of fasting." Discern the 5 warning signs of the end-time "harlot bride." Resist the traps of legalism and religion. Could it be that the Holy Spirit is daring those who are hungry to come seek Him in a new way? For if we are willing to pay the price and consecrate ourselves fully to Him, He will manifest His kingdom fully in the earth.

    And when we’re confronted with something that scares us, our brain sees only two options: Attack or Avoid But either way, polarization intensifies. What if you could defy your own instincts and choose a third option—scandalous, disruptive, unthinkable LOVE? Sure, we love people who are like us, who are easy to enjoy. Everyone does. But what about our enemies, the people we consider monsters? Loving them requires exceptional strength—strength only the Holy Spirit can provide.Love over Fear is a compelling guide to conquering fear with love in an age of polarization. Hear stories of those who changed hearts and minds through radical love, learn how to practice disarming compassion, and discover the disruptive power of showing affection to monsters.

    And yet, through it all, Paul stood firm in Christ and remained faithful--to the very end.The power of Paul's example has captivated veteran pastor John MacArthur for years, and here he outlines nine unwavering convictions that contributed to this remarkable perseverance. In an age when pastoral failure and burnout are increasingly common, this book is a call to endurance in ministry, encouraging pastors to stand strong in their role and not lose heart, regardless of what God sends their way.

    They may distort the law, turning it into a checklist to try to earn God’s favor, or they may live as though the law doesn’t apply to them.In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explains the purpose of the moral law and how it applies to Christians today. As he walks through each of the Ten Commandments, we see that the law doesn’t merely expose our sin; it also reveals the character of a holy and gracious God and shows us how to live lives that are pleasing to Him.The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

    As soon as we begin to think we have understood something of the love and grace of God we soon learn from Scripture that his love and grace are even greater.The meditations in God is Always Better Than We Can Imagine are intended to help us come to Scripture with the mindset that, no matter how much we have learned in our private studies, or heard in sermons and lectures, God is always immeasurably greater than our imagination has allowed.

    

    Is it beautiful? How would you describe the color—the tones, the shades, wrapped around the ridges and swirls? Has it been damaged? Does the hard edge scrape our hand, leaving a blemish or a mark?"How we hold and carry these memories—good and bad—is a part of what forms us spiritually. In this way we have a common bond with the people of Scripture who also had a sensory life, gathering shells and trying to make sense of them. In these pages Casey Tygrett explores the power of memory and offers biblical texts and practices to guide us in bringing our memories to God for spiritual transformation.

    Best-selling author Edward T. Welch shares the comfort and peace of Jesus in fifty brief readings for those who wrestle with fear. A Small Book for the Anxious Heart is a small but powerful devotional to remind men and women of the encouraging, beautiful words in Scripture to anxious people. While many books on fear and anxiety exist—promising to help men and women manage their struggles with methods and formulas—this devotional reaches deeper into Scripture, making the Word of God more accessible. Don’t put a Band-Aid on your fear and anxiety; rather, learn to bring your fear to Jesus, relying on his Word. Welch has been counseling for over thirty-eight years and is the author of more than a dozen books, including A Small Book about a Big Problem, Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest, Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, and many others. Jesus cares for us, and in these readings, Welch invites readers to trust him for today, knowing he goes before us always.

    These steps are much more than strategies: they are truths that are rooted in Scripture. This practical and biblical guidance recognises that the path to lasting change can only be found by growing in grace as we look to Christ and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Use this book on your own, with a friend, or in a one-to-one mentoring relationship. Each step ends with a "work it through" exercise to really help you put what you're reading into practice, so that you can make a change in your life that lasts. Whatever your struggle, this warm and encouraging book will help you to get unstuck as you look to Christ in the day-to-day pressures of life.

    If it can be cooked faster, delivered faster, or fixed faster, we’re all in. But this is just one of the infinite ways that God is different from us. God has no problem taking His time. He loves to work in ways that don’t match our manic schedule. He isn’t always the God of the immediate, but His timing is always perfect.The stories in God of the Long View reveal a Creator who does marvelous, miraculous, instantaneous things! But they also reveal a God who is just as content to work over decades, lifetimes, even centuries to heal, save, and build His Church. This book explores the God who is active even when we can't see Him designing blueprints that span generations in order to accomplish His will.God of the Long View will inspire believers and skeptics alike. The Creator is orchestrating His epic narrative! We may not fully see it today, but rest assured, His agenda is worth waiting for.

     These two words are among the most explosive words any human can utter.The Apostles' Creed has shaped and guided Christian faith for almost two thousand years. Shared by Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox traditions, it is perhaps the most compelling statement of Christian doctrine the world has ever known. But do we know what it really means—and how it applies to us today?In The Apostles' Creed, renowned theologian and pastor R. Albert Mohler Jr. works line-by-line and phrase-by-phrase through each section of the Creed, revealing the rich truths it contains, including: the profound mystery of the Trinitythe miracle of the Incarnationthe world-shaking truth of the resurrectionthe hope of Christ's returnthe theological heritage contained in this ancient statementThe Apostles’ Creed is an often-overlooked treasure that contains the power to shape us for vibrant and steadfast living today, equipping believers to live faithfully in a post-Christian culture.

    The Bible is often explained with an overwhelming emphasis on the brokenness of the world.This is an attempt to teach the story of the entire Bible in a way that is simple, fresh and memorable, showing how the story isn't about brokenness, but wholeness.This book does not explain everything.It explains the whole thing.-------If you would like to know how to understand the Bible, this book is for you.

    John Perkins helps readers take the next step to make justice and love a reality. Sometimes people ask Dr. Perkins how to make a difference in the world, his simple answer is this, "Be friends. First with God. Then with others—every kind of other you can think of. Because the simple, powerful, messy, explosive truth is: the world is changed one friendship at a time." In He Calls Me Friend, Dr. Perkins argues that God is not distant and disconnected. He is the Friend who woos us, died for us, and lives within us. This Friend fills our empty places and shows us how to be friends with others. Along the way, Dr. Perkins shares his life experiences, explores biblical stories, and features profiles from several of his own personal friendships.

    

    By entering into suffering, he says, we find joy. By embracing the downward path of humility, we find glory. And by remaining small, sometimes we grow to great heights. Any leaders who have wondered if God really called them to lead a congregation will resonate with Tacklind's vulnerability in this honest and meditative account. So will readers who have found their own spiritual journey to be winding and halting rather than a constant ascent of growth. Tacklind draws from the natural world--trees, waves, mountains, and canyons--to bring to life the lessons that he has picked up along the way. C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Soren Kierkegaard and others all serve as guides who light the way on the winding path of following God.

    Sometimes it seems like all we do is give directions and all children do is disobey. How can we promote good behavior and a peaceful home without becoming harsh drill sergeants on the one hand or passive pushovers on the other?This book aims to help you better understand loving correction through clear steps and practical tips aimed at transforming not only your children's behavior but also their hearts. Rooted in three principles-- keep it God-centered, always mean what you say, and reward obedience rather than disobedience--this is a guide to consistent, faithful discipline that mirrors the grace-giving, truth-speaking God of the Bible and sets the tone for a loving, joy-filled home.

    The gospel of Jesus Christ helps us to face the suffering of the world and live in love and hope. The only catch is, it requires that we change. It is only by losing our consumeristic, profit-seeking, and isolated lives that we may save them. The Green Good News finds a fresh take on the Gospels, painting a picture of Jesus as a humorous and subversive teacher, an organizer of alternative communities and food economies, as a healer of bodies and relationships, and as a prophet who sought to overturn an empire and restore a more just and joyful way of life. Christ teaches and incarnates a vision for sustainable life and provides practices that mark the path toward it. By exploring this always-inspiring sustainable gospel, we can find ways to transform our lives, communities, and even creation.

    Then she met Esperance. An assault survivor living in one of the poorest, most dangerous countries in the world, Esperance and other Congolese women shared their harrowing stories with Belinda. Their vulnerability set Belinda on a path of embracing empathy. If Esperance could love in the face of so much pain, maybe there is hope for the world too. From the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to the borders of war-torn Syria, Belinda takes readers along her journey to empathy. With cutting-edge neuroscience, biblical parables, and stories of brave women from across the globe, she offers readers direction for seeing others' perspectives, listening well, and redeeming conflict. She casts a vision for lives and communities transformed by everyday Christians practicing empathy as a spiritual discipline. Join Belinda on a journey to be brave—and see your world changed.

    . . And it can change yours, too. The Bible is more than just an ancient religious document. It's a book filled with the actual words of the living God, meant to be read often and studied deeply that we might experience its life-changing power.If you're a teen who's tired of low expectations and weightless platitudes, this book will help you dig into the Bible and make the time you spend reading count for eternity. Katherine Forster walks you through three simple practices that changed how she reads Scripture--observation, interpretation, and application-- so you too can begin to understand what God has said in his word and discover how God's truth can literally transform you from the inside out.

    You will also find humor, Wisdom. Honesty. You will find Melissa’s very bone and blood…it is here, then, in reading—rather, perhaps, listening to—her words, that your heart, trapped as it may feel in its own midnight, begins to see the first signs of dawn.” –Curt Thompson, MD, author of Anatomy of the Soul Grace and Hope for Long Dark Nights Have you ever suffered with depression, sadness, or the feeling that you just can't seem to get it together? Do you wonder if you could ever view your deepest wounds in a different light?   Through candid storytelling, biblical truth, honest lament, and unexpected humor, The Radiant Midnight is a bold refusal to simplify the experience of suffering by moving too quickly to try to relieve it. With questions to guide you and practical suggestions to lead you through dark moments, this book takes you on a journey of surrender, suffering, rest, and restoration as it encourages and comforts you in whatever struggle you face. The message of The Radiant Midnight is fueled by the passionate belief that not only will God lead you out of darkness, He will be fully and beautifully present within it. You can find deep contentment in painful circumstances and discover a profound intimacy with a compassionate, tender God who is with you in every moment—in each hope-filled dawn and every radiant midnight.

    Disciple Her is filled with Kandi’s personal stories, more than a decade’s worth of discipleship experiences, and most importantly, her commitment to the Word of God.Kandi doesn’t stop at helping women understand what discipleship is—she gives them a practical game plan for weaving it into their weekly lifestyle, and teaching those they disciple to do the same. Disciple Her will be a point of reference for women to use time and time again in the years to come as women intentionally obey Jesus’ command to invest their lives into others.

    Maybe He's much better. Pastor and speaker Shane Pruitt guides readers in identifying the Christian cliches we've all heard that are actually unbiblical lies. He then counters with the truths about God as presented in the Bible, truths that bring encouragement and freedom for our lives.God won't give you more than you can handle. Really? Pastor and speaker Shane Pruitt shines a light on this and other Christian cliches that upon further inspection are actually unbiblical lies that keep far too many believers stuck in spiritual immaturity.

    A movement is what God can do when you let go of control and multiply disciples and churches. Drawing on the life and ministry of Jesus, and with reflections on past and present movements, Steve Addison provides a roadmap for leaders who want to multiply disciples and churches to the ends of the earth. Whether pioneering on the edge, riding a wave of expansion, or stuck in suffocating decline, The Rise and Fall of Movements addresses each phase in the movement lifecycle, helping leaders identify their stage and align themselves with God's purposes.

    Do you doubt you can actually make a difference in the world? Do you struggle with knowing how to express your faith in the daily routines of life? The Only One: Living Fully In, By, and For God shares simple approaches to grow as a follower of Jesus.   Dive into the concepts and tools to find the connection between “being” and “doing” with God.   Designed to be read, processed, shared, and used to equip others, The Only One is a tool to not only grow as a disciple, but also to make and multiply disciples. This is about living into a greater impact on the world and the purpose for which God designed you. It’s time to experience life with Him, and others, as a joyful and exciting adventure—read this book and get started!

    It involves self-denial, daily cross-bearing, and lifelong obedience. Salvation is promised to the one who ‘endures to the end.’ Christians need much encouragement, especially in ‘difficult times’. This the Lord supplies through pastors who love him and care for his people.John Owen was such a pastor. One way he sought to help his fellow-believers was to hold occasional meetings for spiritual conference and fellowship at which various topics were addressed and discussed, with Owen providing a concluding summary of the proceedings.The short chapters in Searching Our Hearts in Difficult Times contain a number of Owen’s talks and sermons on a wide range of subjects which are as relevant to Christians today as they were to believers some three and a half centuries ago.Abridged and made easy to read.

    What if you could experience heaven on earth today? Not flying angels singing on clouds, but the fulfilled, abundant life Jesus promised in the Bible—a life that, regardless of your circumstances or your present context, experiences joy, happiness, and peace that is difficult to encapsulate in human terms. What if heaven was available to us today? Pastor and author Robby Gallaty thinks it is. We have been taught that salvation is getting man out of earth to live in heaven when the Bible teaches that God desires to bring heaven to earth through man. In Here and Now, readers will journey together to uncover the nucleus of Jesus’ messages, which says the opposite. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God (both are synonymous as we will see) more than any other topic. No other concept is even close.

    Sider provides a career capstone statement on biblical peacemaking. Sider makes a strong case for the view that Jesus calls his disciples to love, and never kill, their enemies. He explains that there are never only two options: to kill or to do nothing in the face of tyranny and brutality. There is always a third possibility: vigorous, nonviolent resistance. If we believe that Jesus is Lord, then we disobey him when we set aside what he taught about killing and ignore his command to love our enemies.This thorough, comprehensive treatment of a topic of perennial concern vigorously engages with the just war tradition and issues a challenge to all Christians, especially evangelicals, to engage in biblical peacemaking. The book includes a foreword by Stanley Hauerwas.

    Laura Tucker passed away on 18 August 2016, leaving behind Tim and their three children. This is a frank and poignant story of how grief and grace can mingle and co-exist as Tim faced the future he didn’t choose. Tim has written this book in order to help bring courage and faith to those who face seemingly insurmountable challenges.

    and questions you haven’t yet pondered! The NIV Quest Study Bible features over 7,000 notes written in an engaging question and answer format that give insight into the common, uncommon, and sometimes perplexing passages from the Bible. You will have the opportunity to consider questions like “Why did God send angels to Jacob?," "What prevents God from hearing our prayers?," and "Why does God test us?” as you explore God’s Word using the many study helps.The original Quest Study Bible was conceived in 1989 when two publishing companies, Zondervan and Christianity Today International, worked together to develop a Bible that would answer the challenging questions that arose as people read Scripture. Focus groups around the United States evaluated the usefulness of potential study Bible features and helped select the features that would be included in this Bible. Then, more than 1,000 people received passages of Scripture and were asked, “What questions do you have about this portion of the Bible?” Their responses helped determine what kinds of questions the notes would answer, helping to create a resource that answers the questions that real people have asked about the Bible. Notes have been updated in subsequent releases to ensure that this Bible stays relevant and current to modern readers. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) Over 7,000 insightful notes arranged in a unique question and answer format Nearly 350 articles investigate the most asked questions about the Bible Book introductions that answer questions about each book, such as “Who wrote it?,” “Why?,” and “What should I look for?” Article index and expanded subject index Single-column Scripture text arranged in a modern, two-color page design Over 150 charts, timelines, and maps A reading plan with three distinct tracks to follow NIV Dictionary-Concordance 16-page full-color map section Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface

    We begin opening up, caring for each other, and helping each other grow. We discover a new power in our lives and find new strength for living as the Holy Spirit shapes us into a beautiful example of community. The CSB Life Connections Study Bible is a revised and updated version of the best-selling and renowned Serendipity Study Bible. The original Serendipity Study Bible was the culmination of 40 years of community building by Serendipity House Publishers, which revolutionized small groups and personal study through thousands of accessible questions and study helps throughout the Bible. The CSB Life Connections Study Bible includes thousands of questions and study helps for all 1,189 chapters of the Bible—all updated for today’s readers. This Bible includes short chapter-by-chapter comments about key people, places, and events along with guidance through the "Open-Consider-Apply" method for small group study and personal reflection. • "Open" questions initiate discussion and/or reflection • "Consider" questions focus on the details of the passage • "Apply" questions encourage application to daily life • Also included are select “For Groups,” “For Worship,” and “Dig Deeper” questions for further study, reflection, discussion, and application. Additional features include: Study note commentary on every page to accompany the thousands of chapter specific margin questions, 60 “life focused” course study plans, 16 topical course study plans, two-color interior design, smyth-sewn binding, presentation page, single-column text, topical subheadings, black-letter text, 9-point type, textual footnotes, concordance, and full-color maps. The CSB Life Connections Study Bible features the highly reliable, highly readable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB), which stays faithful to the Bible's original languages without sacrificing clarity. With its optimal blend of accuracy and readability, the CSB is ideal for the church—for reading, for teaching, for sharing with others.

    – Acts 20:28 The objective of the Christian ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this. Applause, fame, popularity, honor, and wealth – all these are vain. If souls are not won, and if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is futile. Questions we have to ask ourselves: Has it been the purpose of my ministry and the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach and in every visit I make? Is it under the influence of this feeling that I continually live and walk and speak? Do I pray and toil and fast and weep for this? Do I spend and am I spent for this, counting it, next to the salvation of my own soul, my greatest joy to be the instrument of saving others? Is it for this that I exist? To accomplish this, would I gladly die? Have I seen the pleasure of the Lord prospering in my hand? Have I seen souls converted under my ministry? Have God’s people found refreshment from my lips and gone on their way rejoicing, or have I seen no fruit of my labors? Am I content to remain fruitless? Am I satisfied to preach without knowing of one saving impression I made or one sinner awakened? Opinions are not what man needs; he needs truth. Not theology, but God. Not religion, but Christ. Not literature and science, but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only begotten Son. Table of Contents Ch. 1: The Importance of Being Hot for Christ Ch. 2: The Importance of Being Right with God Ourselves Ch. 3: The Danger of Unfruitful Ministry Ch. 4: The Importance of Eliminating Our Faults Ch. 5: The Need of Revival in Ministry Former Title: Words to Winners of Souls About the Author In 1808, Horatius Bonar was born into a family of several generations of ministers of the gospel. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh and was ordained in 1838. As a young pastor at North Parish, Kelso, he preached in villages and farmhouses, proving himself to be a comforter and guide. In 1843, he joined 450 other pastors to form the Free Church of Scotland after the “Disruption.” Horatius Bonar wrote numerous books, tracts, periodicals, and more than 600 hymns. He believed that people needed truth, not opinions; God, not theology; and Christ, not religion. From his first sermon to his last, he ended with “In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”

    That was until he rediscovered his Christian faith through a simple secret: he was adopted by God.Interweaving his personal story with theological insight, Krish shows us how the doctrine of adoption helps us to understand everything; it gives us purpose and power, perspective and peace. This book is for anyone seeking new depth and intimacy with the God by discovering the greatest secret woven throughout the pages of the whole Bible.

    In this book, the second in our Foundations Series, Senior Pastor Jon Tyson and Teaching Pastor Suzy Silk unpack the Biblical framework for our belief that the way of Jesus empowers people everywhere to join God in bringing renewal to our workplaces, families, and neighborhoods. Each chapter contains an "action" section to help you process and apply what you have just read to your daily life as you learn to walk with Jesus in increasing levels of intimacy. As you read this book, we encourage you to do this with others. Join a book club, a community group, or a few friends over coffee each week and discuss the questions in the Group Guide at the back of the book. Our prayer is that this book will equip you and people everywhere to seek His face and to cry out for renewal and Spirit-empowered revival in our communities, in our time.

    Talking with kids about Jesus no longer comes naturally to many Christian parents. In Raising Disciples, pastor Natalie Frisk helps us reconnect faith and parenting, equipping parents to model what following Jesus looks like in daily life. Filled with authenticity, flexibility, humor, and prayer, Frisk outlines how parents can make openings for their children to experience God in their daily lives. As curriculum pastor at The Meeting House, one of the largest churches in Canada, Frisk calls parents who follow Christ to ask the big questions about the spiritual formation of children and teens. In practical and thoughtful ways, she equips parents to disciple their kids in various stages of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Raising Disciples will awaken parents to the possibly of Jesus-centered parenting and encourage us to engage in the lost art of discipling our own kids. Foreword by Marv Penner, director of the National Center for Excellence in Youth Ministry.

    A canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, and a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus without loss to itself communicates its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day we have many canals but few reservoirs." —Bernard of ClairvauxOriginally commissioned by Food for the Hungry to spiritually nourish staff members serving on the front lines of international relief work, The Reservoir is an accessible weekday devotional for renewal and growth in Jesus. Written by Renovaré team members including Chris Hall and Carolyn Arends, it first covers foundational questions­­—What is spiritual formation? What is my picture of God? What is my picture of myself?—then dives into in the six great Christian traditions outlined by Richard Foster’s book Streams of Living Water.Each entry contains a quote, thought, Scripture passage, and questions for reflection or discussion to help you “live in the overflow” and become a reservoir rather than a canal. Your purchase helps further the work of two nonprofit organizations. All proceeds from the print version are donated to Renovaré, and proceeds from the digital version are split between Renovaré and Food for the Hungry.

    This book is designed to give you a Biblical framework for living in the Way of Jesus in modern life, and charting a pathway of personal formation that will lead to growth and maturity.

    But all is not lost, says bestselling author Gerald Sittser. Although the church is concerned and sobered by this cultural shift, it is also curious and teachable.Sittser shows how the early church offers wisdom for responding creatively to the West's increasing secularization. The early Christian movement was surprisingly influential and successful in the Roman world, and so different from its two main rivals--traditional religion and Judaism--that Rome identified it as a "third way." Early Christians immersed themselves in the empire without significant accommodation to or isolation from the culture. They confessed Jesus as Lord and formed disciples accordingly, which helped the church grow in numbers and influence.Sittser explores how Christians today can learn from this third way and respond faithfully, creatively, and winsomely to a world that sees Christianity as largely obsolete. Each chapter introduces historical figures, ancient texts, practices, and institutions to explain and explore the third way of the Jesus movement, which, surprising everyone, changed the world.

    What if asking Jesus into our hearts is not the heart of the gospel?In By the Way, pastor and author Derek Vreeland reframes everything we've been told about Christianity and what it means to follow Jesus. Discipleship isn't an add-on. Jesus didn't say, Go into all the world and get people saved or Get people to ask me into their hearts. Jesus said, Go therefore and make disciples. Reclaiming discipleship as the heart of the Christian faith means seeing anew the gospel, the cross, the resurrection, transformation, and the community of faith. We learn the ways of Jesus by practicing them, Vreeland says, and in By the Way, he introduces us to the ways of Jesus.Discipleship means joining God's joyful mission of reconciliation on earth, not just saving souls for the afterlife. Following Jesus is more like taking a long walk in the woods than sitting in a classroom. Living by the Way takes practice—and that's the point.

    Spiritual Warfare without the Spiritual Weirdness explains all the scriptures on spiritual warfare, the armor of God, strongholds and the wiles of the devil; and offers you a spiritual warfare battle plan that can help you to overcome anything you face in your Christian walk. We show you that spiritual warfare is something that every Christian could and should be involved in. There are many misconceptions about spiritual warfare based on popular misguided teachings. These teachings are not always based on the Bible, but on contemporary religious thinking. Are you looking for special prayers for spiritual warfare? Are you trying to “take back what the devil stole” or “download blessings” from the spiritual realm? Does your spiritual warfare battle plan involve “decreeing and declaring” or “commanding your morning”? Do you think to gain victory in spiritual warfare, you need to cast demons out of your life? This is what I call waging a bad warfare, because none of it is scriptural – NONE. True warfare is about using the weapons God gave you (the armor of God) to pull down strongholds in your mind. There is a strong chance that you are living a defeated life because there is some element of Biblical truth that you have not fully grasped deep in your spirit. True warfare is about replacing your wrong thinking with scriptural thinking. This alone can give you the victory you seek. Spiritual Warfare without the Spiritual Weirdness shows you how to pray, how to identify strategies of the devil, how to identify strongholds, and how to pull them down. Spiritual Warfare without the Spiritual Weirdness is based solely on the Bible. We pray that it will be a tremendous blessing to you.

    It’s not enough to “believe", as the inadequate English translation of the word pisteuo would have us understand. John shows us how Jesus used these signs to awaken ordinary people to believe “all in” and become sold out Christ followers. This seven-week journey will explore the seven ways Jesus awakened sleeping giants to become true kingdom followers and change the world. No amount of new facts about Jesus would be the jangling alarm to awaken true followers. Watching someone parachute out from an airplane is nowhere near the same thing as jumping yourself. New Testament believers went “all in” to follow Jesus and that is the route plotted by John for you. It is my desire that this seven-week journey will awaken you from your slumber (Eph. 5:14) and you will include and encourage those around you to become true followers of Jesus as you learn essential kingdom skills necessary to develop multiplying disciples.

    Glenn Packiam wants to empower readers to find great joy, purpose, and passion in their daily living. While bread may be one of the most common items on our dinner tables, Jesus chose to take it at the Last Supper and invest deep, wonderful, and transcendent meaning in it. Like the bread that was blessed, broken, and given; readers will see how God uses ordinary experiences to cultivate their mission and their brokenness to bring healing to the world. The ordinary is not the enemy; it is the means by which God accomplishes the miraculous. Through clear biblical teaching and practical steps, Packiam leads the reader into a more purposeful, directed, hopeful future.

      Stages of the Soul is about making tangible spiritual progress. It’s about truly understanding—understanding like you’ve never understood before—that you are deeply loved. Nancy Kane walks you through five stages of the soul’s journey toward embracing God’s love. As you learn about each stage you’ll be able to: identify where you are in the process of spiritual growth understand the role of pain and suffering in your life experience God’s love in the radically deep way you were designed to experience it. Imagine loving God in a way that fills you up from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed. Imagine having Christ’s love for the world flow out of your heart without insecurity, anxiety, or selfishness getting in the way. That what this bookis all about: radically deeper love. This book will help you see more clearly how the Lord tenderly guides us to greater wholeness, holiness, and love. But Stages of the Soul is not just another book, it will become both your companion and guide as you walk day by day in greater intimacy with Christ There is nothing more valuable than help in your journey toward spiritual wholeness. Receive that gift today.

    For others, it refers to some generic religious practice. Shedding life-giving light on what often remains ill-defined and unclear, this book sets forth a vision of biblical spirituality—“a renewed sense of the momentousness of being alive in God’s world as God’s people are led by God’s Spirit through God’s Word unto godly, Christlike character.” With careful exegetical work and theological reflection, the contributors—pastors and scholars such as Christopher W. Morgan, Paul R. House, Nathan A. Finn, and Gregg R. Allison—address spirituality from the perspective of the Bible, exploring topics such as the Trinity, divine sovereignty and human responsibility, the “already” and “not yet,” and the church. This book also addresses practical questions about spirituality related to the workplace, disciplines of the body, and more.

    Or maybe you went to Sunday School and have a vague mental picture of God and Jesus and a boatload of animals. Oh, and a couple of naked people in a garden with an apple and a snake. This will be a simple book, starting at the ground level, and it will progress into a complex book, giving you a deeper insight into the Christian faith. It will not be an over-your-head book about the Defenestration of Prague and the Diet of Worms (neither of which is as gross as it sounds). It will be a book that will meet you where you are and encourage you to the next level.

    To revive and reclaim this teaching for believers in the twenty-first century, editors John Goodrich and Mark Strauss have assembled an expert team of scholars to uncover what every New Testament book teaches about discipleship, providing a comprehensive, biblical picture. In addition, other contributors explore discipleship in the context of the local church, spiritual formation, and the life of the mind. Together, these essays point the way forward for becoming more like Jesus Christ, and helping others do the same, in our personal and corporate lives.An impressive roster of scholars who have addressed a vital but often neglected topic in both the church and in the academy. . . . Rich with insight, Following Jesus Christ represents a major advance in this essential area of study. --Craig A. Evans, Houston Baptist UniversityWe are treated here to a survey of what discipleship means in the New Testament from experts in the field, and we also see some of the wider dimensions of discipleship in this important work. All those wanting to understand discipleship will find this to be a valuable resource. --Thomas R. Schreiner, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

     Each letter covers a different aspect of what it means to be a Christian—from how we are saved by God, to why we read the Bible and go to church. This resource is designed to work in tandem with Just for Starters, a set of seven foundational Bible studies. If you’re doing these studies with someone, you’ll find that the book ties in well with what you’re studying week by week.