Created by a diverse team of 95 leading Bible scholars and teachers--from 9 countries, nearly 20 denominations, and 50 seminaries, colleges, and universities--the ESV Study Bible features a wide array of study tools, making it a valuable resource for serious readers, students, and teachers of God's Word.Features:Size: 6.5- x 9.25- 9-point Lexicon type (single-column Bible text); 7-point Frutiger type (double-column study notes) 2,752 pages Black letter text Concordance Extensive articles 240 full-color maps and illustrations Smyth-sewn binding Lifetime guarantee Packaging: J-card (HC), clamshell box (TruTone and leather), permanent slipcase (cloth over board)

    Ryle was well known for his warm, plain-spoken candor, the kind which appeals to all souls regardless of rank or title, and this booklet is no different. Bold, encouraging, and affectionate, A Call to Prayer is just as the title says—an earnest invitation for all children of God to come before Him in prayer. Read it, be edified, and have hope: you have access to the Maker of heaven and earth who can do all things.

    God radically changes people, and he offers us the opportunity--and the ability, by his power--to be involved in that change. We can live not just as grateful objects of his love but as effective instruments of his love in the lives of the people around us. Have you been satisfied by too little? Content with small changes in your life and the lives of others? Unsure of how to help others and uncomfortable when you encounter their needs? You don't need to start with a strategy or technique, Tripp argues--you need a renewed imagination! Only then can you grasp what is real but unseen and live accordingly. The kingdom of God is near, and it takes us far beyond our personal situations and relationships, making ordinary people a part of God's extraordinary plan for the world. This guidebook shows us how.

    Here he examines the attributes, acts, and names of God in connection with a full spectrum of relevant theological, ethical, spiritual truths.

    Full of reflection, faith, and dialogue, they reveal another side to this gifted author.

    A senior pastor pleads with his colleagues to abandon the secularization of the pastorate and return to the primitive call of the Bible for radical ministry.

    The gospel provides for our eternal salvation, but how does it benefit us day to day? Find out from author Jerry Bridges how the gospel sets you free from sin's defeat and daily transforms you into Christlikeness.Includes study guide.

    We have substituted intuition for truth, feeling for belief and immediate gratification for enduring hope. Evangelicalism desperately needs to return to the doctrines that once before reformed the world: radical depravity, unconditional election, particular redemption, efficacious grace and persevering grace.James Boice and Philip Ryken not only provide a compelling exposition on these doctrines of grace, but also look briefly at their historical impact. The authors leave no doubt that the church suffers when these foundational truths are neglected and that she must return to a Christianity that is practical-minded, kind-hearted, and most importantly, biblically based.

    These studies offer a fresh, adventurous look at all of Jesus' parables, treated according to their major themes. With the same authorial flair and daring insight that have earned him a wide readership, Capon admirably bridges the gap between the biblical world and our own, making clear both the original meaning of the parables and their continuing relevance today.

    Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the urgency and excitement of Matthew's Gospel in a way few writers have.Tom Wright has undertaken a tremendous task: to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to include in them his own translation of the entire text. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

    'Creation itself', he said, 'bears within itself an orderedpattern from which we can understand the ideas of God and even theright way to live.

    This historic apostolic letter from Pope John Paul II broadens the traditional pattern of the rosary to include the mysteries of light-five reflections on Christ's public ministry between his Baptism and his Passion.

    It is the thesis of this book that Calvin's doctrine of the Lord's Supper is the biblical doctrine, the basic doctrine of the sixteenth century Reformed churches, and the doctrine that should be reclaimed and proclaimed in the Reformed church today.

    A practical handbook of theology, it is an outstanding and comprehensive statement of Christian faith and doctrine. Fully supported by Scriptural references, this book provides students, teachers, pastors, and lay readers with a readable, thorough, and systematic presentation of God's revelation.

    Rather than burdening the reader with difficult or arcane references and arguments, he writes of familiar feelings and situations and allows the theology to unfold naturally. In First Comes Love, Hahn turns his attention to the search for a sense of belonging, revealing the intimate connection between the families men and women create on earth and the divine family, the Holy Trinity. Delving into the Gospels, Hahn shows that family terminology--words like brother, sister, mother, father, and home--dominates Jesus' speech and the writings of His first followers, and that these very words illuminate Christianity's central ideas. As he explores the fatherhood of God, the marriage of the Church to Christ, and the all-enveloping role of the Holy Spirit, Hahn deepens readers' understanding of the sacraments, teaches them how to create a family life in the image of the Trinity, and demonstrates the ways in which the analogy of the family applies to every aspect of Catholicism and its practices--from the role of "father" embodied by the ancient patriarchs and contemporary parish priests, to the comfort and guidance offered by the brothers and sisters who comprise the Communion of Saints, to the nurturing embrace of Mary, the mother of all Christians. Through real-life examples (both humorous and compassionate) and quotations drawn from the Scriptures, Hahn makes it clear that no matter what sort of family readers come from--no matter what sort of "dysfunction" they have experienced--they can find a family in the Church. Reaching out to newcomers and to lifelong Christians alike, First Comes Love is an invitation to discover a true home in the divine.From the Hardcover edition.

    Challenges readers to understand God's act of salvation so that they may fully grasp the glory of being saved.

    J. G. Vos wrote a series of studies of the Larger Catechism that first appeared in Blue Banner Faith and Life (1946-49) and has never circulated widely. G. I. Williamson has edited Vos's commentary, and P&R is publishing it in book form for the first time. Because the Larger Catechism supplements the Shorter Catechism on such topics as the church and the means of grace, Presbyterians dare not ignore it. This edition of J. G. Vos's commentary will encourage a recommitment to the Larger Catechism.

    Yet, by the nineteenth century, American theology had shifted dramatically away from the severe European traditions directly descended from the Protestant Reformation, of which Puritanism was in the United States the most influential. In its place arose a singularly American set of beliefs. In America's God, Mark Noll has written a biography of this new American ethos.

    Prayer can be an intimate connection to God, and taking time to reflect on the character and nature of God is vital to our spiritual growth. Combining the two will open exciting new vistas of worship for every believer.In this unique book, Rosemary Jensen offers 31 prayer devotionals designed to direct thoughtful meditation on the attributes of God. Combining Bible study with focused prayer will enrich your personal devotional and worship time. Each devotional highlights one of God's attributes and structures prayer suggestions around the ACTS acrostic, representing the four different essentials of prayer--Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Significant Scripture references are included to direct the reader's thoughts to focus on each attribute.Attributes studied include: Accessibility Creator Eternality Justice Personality Sovereignty

    Luke is one of the most intriguing saints who suffered under the Soviets. Outspoken regarding his faith, he was exiled and tortured multiple times. Yet the authorities could not deny his exceptional medical skills: he was appointed as a chief surgeon overseeing the treatment of injured soldiers during WWII and received the Stalin award for his pioneering surgical work. This book is the first presentation of his life in English. It documents his personal struggles, self-sacrifice and love for patients, miracles, and bold spiritual guidance during the Church's most difficult period in Russia.

    Written to give lay Catholics a better understanding of the Eucharist, this book is recognized as a modern spriritual classic. In remarkably clear and straightforward language, it takes the reader step-by-step into the deepest mysteries of the Eucharist--a religiously exhilarating journey into the heart of the Christian faith.

    As highlighted in A Divine Invitation, readers will be eager to discover the abundant riches available as they they grow deeper in faith. (July)

    C. Ryle had a hopeful future until the day his father declared bankruptcy. In a single moment, he was stripped of everything--land, title, wealth, security--and life as he knew it no longer existed. Ryle was devastated.And yet, had this not happened, Ryle would likely have entered Parliament rather than becoming a clergyman, and he might never have written a single book or tract or sermon, or become one of the most influential evangelical leaders of the 19th century. What could have broken Ryle beyond despair became the very instrument that led him towards holiness.Here in a single volume are not only J. I. Packer's reflections on the life of John Charles Ryle, but the very words of Ryle himself in a reprint of his classic work, Holiness. We see the faith that encouraged him through his difficulties. The hope that gave him a future. The God who blessed Ryle more than he ever imagined possible. And we are encouraged that the very God who worked a miracle in Ryle's life is the same One who works in us, leading us to holiness.

    For all 66 books, key doctrines, highlighted people, geographic, historical, and cultural background, cross references, how Christ is pictured, character/attributes of God, explanations of key words and interpretive challenges will be examined.In addition, the guide will include: "Why I Believe the Bible" How to interpret each type of literature Charts, timelines, maps "Where to Find It" index of favorite passages and key Bible events, stories, and teachings Doctrinal studies (concise, with references and brief explanations) Index of people in the Bible Topical Index "How to Study the Bible" article

    In his final days, his Christian character was revealed in an extraordinary way-his devotion to friends and family, his longing to marry the girl he loved, his concern for the poor, and above all his acceptance of God's will. In the end, his family was astonished by the huge multitude that formed his funeral procession-finally realizing that Pier Giorgio was destined to belong to the whole world. Recounted with incredible detail and love. No one will come away from reading this book unchanged.

    The first edition of all sixty-three extant sermons by St. Gregory to appear in English translation, presented together with an Introduction to the Homilies, over 1,000 notes and scholia, an index of Scriptural References, an index of Names and Subjects, and an index of Greek Words, designed to transform this remarkable treasury of Patristic wisdom into an invaluable reference resource for the student of theology. This edition completes and supersedes The Homilies of Saint Gregory Palamas.

    In the Same Sex Controversy, the authors clarify and defend the Bible's stand on homosexuality as they expand on key passages. Subjects include the basis of biblical morality, biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality, the new "homosexual apologist," and both Old and New Testament witnesses against homosexuality. They also provide information on how to lovingly and biblically reach out to those caught up in its grip.

    He it is who convinces, assures, teaches, comforts and equips the church and all its members for all the work they are called to do. In an age when many think Christianity is nothing more than human effort, based on fallible human conclusions, Owen calls the church back to divine certainty and divine resources. The style in which the Puritans wrote can present difficulties for modern readers, but this updated abridgement by Dr. R.J.K. Law will allow Owen to speak to Christians today on a theme which remains as vitally important for the well-being of the church in the twenty-first century as it was when Owen first wrote.

    This classic work made its mark 25 years ago.

    A moving exposition, marked by biblical realism and pastoral warmth, of the solemn reality of hell and the matchless glory of heaven, by the author of Peter: Eyewitness of His Majesty.

    This book should throw fresh light on the spiritual path. The Daily Reading Series presents selections from the spiritual classics in a form suitable for daily reading and meditation. These pocket size books are 4 1/4" x 7" and contain 96 pages.

    Jesus Urteaga challenges the men and women of the late 20th century to live up to the highest demands of virtue. In a vigorous all-out assault of the spiritual life, the author shows the importance of human virtues such as courage, fortitude, sincerity, and generosity in forming a solid foundation for a supernatural life in the midst of the world.

    What does it all mean? And how can something so mysterious possibly make a difference in our everyday lives? In Experiencing the Trinity Darrell Johnson shows that this doctrine is not only at the heart of biblical Christianity, but that it is also at the center of Christian experience?

    But when the church neglects these doctrines, the impact is profound. This book unfolds the nature and necessity of biblical repentance, but for the church in particular. Roberts' in-depth study heavily references both he Old and New Testaments, and includes chapters on the myths, maxims, marks, models, and motives of repentance, as well as the graces and fruits that accompany it. There is also wise warning about the dangers of delayed repentance.

    Stephen Nichols's Martin Luther provides both. After an exciting overview of Luther's life and theology, Nichols orients the reader to some of the Reformer's major works: The Bondage of the Will, The Three Treatises, The Small Catechism, and On the Councils and the Church. Luther's ethical writings, table talk, hymns, and sermons also receive due attention. A Select Guide to Books by and about Luther concludes this volume, which displays more than 20 illustrations.

    Be it political or Christian, the world is clamoring for dynamic direction. "What a Difference a Line Can Make" is a treatise of Holy Ghost direction that has been overlooked and is long overdue. Simultaneously concise and in-depth, this book offers a crystal-clear view of Holiness themes that have been for the most part abandoned by Christendom but long held dear by God and His people.

    These homilies contain magnificent reflections on the Church and on the layperson's role in the Church, written in Saint Josemaria's attractive and compelling style. This book offers the reader and opportunity to grow in love for the Church and to learn how to serve her more faithfully, guided by a saint whose own love for the Church was truly remarkable.

    

    His riches destroyed, his family taken, and his own body afflicted. We can only imagine the depth of his loss and pain. Yet as we ponder Job's misery, do we see the threads of God's mercy throughout it? We will all face suffering at some point in our lives; it is inescapable. But what makes calamity endurable is not that God shares our shock, but that through every flame of pain and flood of fear His sovereign goodness sustains us. John Piper's interpretive poem and the stunning photography of Ric Ergrenbright remind your heart of the unshakable fact that God governs all things for His good purposes. Allow your eyes to see life--to see God--in new and powerful ways. And let your spirit rest, knowing that the Lord is not only sovereign, but sweet.

    In I Will Follow You, O God, he equipped you to respond in fresh, authentic ways to the God you came to know better in your times of worship. Now, in I Give You Glory, O God, Bridges offers you the best reasons and the best words for bringing honor to your awesome, incomparable God.In his third powerful volume of the Private Worship Trilogy, this beloved author gives you the encouragement, motivation, and specific guidance you seek for your private, individual worship of God. As a result, you can better see and understand what it really means to glorify God. To fear God. To live as his child. To follow his wisdom day by day. And you can begin to experience the blessings God promises as you truly live for him.Alone with God, let the Holy Spirit create in your heart and mind the deep, life-altering experience of giving glory to God.From the Hardcover edition.

    The Face of the Deep deconstructs the Christian doctrine of creation which claims that a transcendent Lord unilaterally created the universe out of nothing. Catherine Keller's impassioned, graceful meditation develops an alternative representation of the cosmic creative process, drawing upon Hebrew myths of creation, from chaos, and engaging with the political and the mystical, the literary and the scientific, the sexual and the racial.As a landmark work of immense significance for Jewish and Christian theology, gender studies, literature, philosophy and ecology, The Face of the Deep takes our originary story to a new horizon, rewriting the starting point for Western spiritual discourse.

    Its great themes, epochal events and towering figures set down vectors on which the biblical story is played out. The very shape of the rest of the Old Testament would collapse were the Penteteuch to be removed. The structure of New Testament thought would be barely intelligible without it. Here we meet the great ancestral figures of Israel--Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--and the towering figure of Moses, whose presence dominates four of these five books. The creative act of God, the paradisal garden, the exile of Adam and Eve, the judgment of the great flood, the call of Abraham from among the nations, the covenant of Abraham, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the law at Sinai, the plan of the tabernacle, the varied experiences of Israel in the wilderness, and the announcement of the covenant blessings and curses--all of these and more contribute to a work of world-formative power. This dictionary explores the major themes and contours of the Pentateuch. Behind and beneath the grandeur of the Pentateuch, issues of historicity have both puzzled and beckoned. But whereas in the mid-twentieth century many English-speaking scholars were confident of archaeological support for the patriarchal accounts, the climate has now changed. In the most extreme cases, some contemporary scholars have radically challenged the antiquity of the ancestral stories, arguing for their final composition even as late as the Hellenistic era. This dictionary examines and weighs the historical issues and poses possible solutions. The documentary hypothesis, the former reigning critical consensus, is now widely rumored to be on life support with no heir apparent. Meanwhile, conservative scholars reconsider what indeed a claim to Mosaic authorship should entail. This dictionary offers an assessment of the array of questions surrounding these issues and considers some possible ways forward for evangelical scholarship. At the same time, there has been a fruitful turning to the nature, message and art of the received text of the Pentateuch. Literary studies of brief episodes, sprawling sagas, complex narrative and even the fivefold composition of the Pentateuch itself have delivered promising and exciting results. This dictionary offers both appreciative panoramas and close-up assessments of these developments and their methods. TheDictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch is the first in a four-volume series covering the text of the Old Testament. Following in the tradition of the four award-winning IVP dictionaries focused on the New Testament and its background, this encyclopedic work is characterized by close attention to the text of the Old Testament and the ongoing conversation of contemporary scholarship. In exploring the major themes and issues of the Pentateuch, editors T. Desmond Alexander and David W.Baker, with an international and expert group of scholars, inform and challenge through authoritative overviews, detailed examinations and new insights from the world of the ancient Near East. TheDictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch is designed to be your first stop in the study and research of the Pentateuch, on which the rest of the Bible is built.

    In a culture that requires believers to depend strongly on God and his Word, this Bible will help you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the person of the Holy Spirit as the source of the Church’s power. The Themefinder icons included throughout the text tell at a glance which theme a given passage addresses, including Baptized in/Filled with the Holy Spirit, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Fruit of the Holy Spirit, Healing, Salvation, Witnessing and more.Wonderful as it is to be saved for all eternity, we also long to walk with the Lord today. We want to hear his voice, know his heart, receive his gifts, and participate in what he is doing. We desire what the early church had that Jesus promised would be ours as well: lives lived in the intimacy, vision and power of his Spirit. Based on the common underpinnings of Pentecostal and charismatic traditions, the Life in the Spirit Study Bible is designed as an important Biblical resource for all Christians, regardless of church background, who long to deepen their connection with the Holy Spirit. If you are hungry for greater intimacy with Jesus, if what you’ve read in the Bible suggests amazing possibilities for your personal relationship with God, if you long to experience the message, faith, devotion and power described in the book of Acts, then this KJV study Bible will help you build a bedrock of spiritual understanding and faith for living a down-to-earth life equipped with the presence of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Features:Complete text of the King James Version (KJV) translationThemefinder icons located by Scripture passages tell at a glance which theme a given passage addressesStudy notes offer insights that help you understand and apply the Scriptures77 Articles address a wide variety of topics surrounding life in the SpiritWord studies shed light on the meanings of key words in their original Greek and Hebrew contexts5 Custom-designed mega-charts visually portray “Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Christ,” “The Kingdom of God Versus the Kingdom of Satan,” “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” “The Work of the Holy Spirit,” and “The Last Days of History”Book introductionsIn-text maps and chartsFull-color map sectionConcordanceWords of Christ in redSubject and Themefinder indexesReading planTables of contents for articles, maps and chartsRibbon markerThumb indexed to make finding the books of the Bible easierGenuine leather cover lays flat when open8.8-point type size

    In the ultimate apologetic, John MacArthur presents a case for Christianity that serves as a logical explanation as much as a solid defense.

    In this profound exposition of the truths of an integrated life, Radical Optimism challenges the reader to confront difficulty with authentic spirituality. Meditation, the practice of silence, and the body of mystical experience are all effective forces that confound evil and give us the means to live a loving life. Beatrice Bruteau is both a brilliant synthesizer and an original thinker. She brings to bear her knowledge of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and science in this exploration of how to embrace the spirit of optimism in a world grown increasingly dark and desperate. "The deepest truth is our union with the Absolute, Infinite Being, with God. That's the root of our reality. And it is from that root that my optimism is derived," she states. This is a viewpoint that acknowledges evil, but puts it in its place. In Bruteau's view, evil is not simply the opposite of good, because goodness has the unique power to create, whereas evil can only react, distort, and destroy. It is the creative power of goodness that sustains us in our confrontation with evil. Radical Optimism describes the value of meditation, leisure, relaxing the body, and keeping silent for a period of time-all within the context of the ordinary demands of life. There is a role to be played by imagination, mythology, and self-image in either promoting or interfering with our ability to "find our base and our center in the sense of eternity and wholeness." As the founder of an international network for contemplatives of all traditions, Bruteau is able to present her practical spirituality in terms that all readers can understand, no matter what their backgrounds. Radical Optimism also expresses the idea that our growing global interdependence-cultural, economic, and ecological-can help us to "sense the reality of each person within the unity of shared life" and thus be motivated to act in the interests of the larger community. Radical Optimism shows us who we really are-a unique, precious, creative act of God-and with this understanding we can find the way beyond evil and suffering.

    An exploration of process theology, centering on the major paradox challenging theologians: how to reconcile a timeless, changeless God with the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity.

    Original.

    How does Calvinism affect the way you view - worship, humility, adversity, outlook, evangelism, holiness, assurance, liberty, prayer, guidance and living faith? Terry Johnson illuminates the practical implications of Calvinism and how God's grace changes every aspect of your life.

    J. Mahaney strip away the nonessentials and bring you back to the simplest, most fundamental reason for your faith: Jesus Christ. Chapters include "Breaking the Rules of Legalism," "The Cross Centered Day," and "Assurance and Joy." His Gift, Your Hope Do you desire more passion for Jesus Christ? Return to the very essence of your faith--the cross of Christ. Here, the deepest truths of Calvary will stir your passion for Him into an unquenchable fire.

    Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. expounds in a disciplined manner upon the specific holiness of the priesthood and the supernatural fruitfulness of the priestly apostolate. Steeped in Sacred Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas and other traditional Catholic sources, the author presents the classic Catholic traditions on the priestly vocation traditions which many seminarians and young priests today may have never even heard of. Impr. 264 pgs, PB

    Weems draws upon two prayers from the Book of Luke, examining the relationship between Mary and her older cousin to reveal the important effect mentoring has on the lives of women. The story of a young pregnant Virgin Mary visiting her older pregnant cousin Elizabeth, told in Luke 1:39-56, is one of the most profound examples in the Bible of an empowered mentoring relationship between women. Drawing upon the Hail Mary and The Magnificat 9rayers, SHOWING MARY retells this touching story, revealing how both mentor and protg use their respective gifts and energies to support ach other. This relationship is then applied to modern life, emphasizing the importance of women mentoring women, nurturing each others dreams, sharing wisdom and experiences, and building networks of mutually rewarding friendships between older and younger women.

    Oskar Skarsaune offers us fascinating snapshots and analyses of the interactions, arguments and shaping influences of Judaism on the life, creed and practices of the church.

    Seraphim Rose set out to select and translate these counsels of two of the Desert Fathers of 6th-century Palestine. He found that many of the questions posed to these great saints are not unlike those asked by Christian strugglers today, and their answers cut right through common fantasies and misconceptions.

    Jesus was not silent on the cross. When readers turn their attention to His cries they will be utterly changed.

    It discusses the lay, religious, and priestly states of life, and examines the ways in which we recognize and respond to the call of God. Written in a deeply Ignatian spirit, the book provides a comprehensive meditation on Saint Ignatius' "Call of Christ" and demonstrates that we must answer Christ's call if we want "to give greater proof of our love".The goal of this meditation is to understand why the act of choosing a state of life is possible and necessary-so that we can arrive at the perfection of Christian love in whatever state or way of life God may grant us to choose. It affirms that the act of choosing a Christian state of life is found in the Gospels and emanates from the personal meeting of the believer with Jesus Christ.Among the topics in this book are the following: The Great Commandment, Creation and Service, Grace and Mission, Image and Truth, The Nature of the Call, and The Historical Actuality of the Call."A milestone in the Catholic theology of vocation. This book could change your life." - America

    Like no other resource, this volume reveals in detail the full, sweeping legacy of Spirit-empowered movements that have touched hearts and lives both in modern America and across the centuries and continents: in medieval Europe, Finland in the 1700s, South India in the 1800s, Azusa Street at the turn of the 20th century--and much more, including ongoing moves of the Holy Spirit throughout the world today. One thousand entries provide the most extensive information available on Pentecostal, charismatic, and neocharismatic movements. The diverse topics covered include, as a small sample, glossolalia, black and Hispanic Pentecostalism, prophecy, the role of women, faith healing, music, sociology, missions, church growth, and different historic and contemporary revivals. With its unique international and historical perspective, this completely revised and expanded second edition of the acclaimed Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements offers features that no other reference of its kind approaches. Its extraordinary scope and detailed, up-to-date coverage make this the definitive resource on Pentecostal and charismatic denominations and movements both in North America and worldwide. Includes: Exhaustive coverage of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in 60 countries and regions--individual histories, cultural and theological aspects, and key figures and institutions. Statistical section with a wealth of current information on the growth of classical Pentecostalism as well as charismatic and neocharismatic movements. 1,000 articles. Over 500 photos and illustrations, maps, and timeline. Cross references, bibliographies, and indexes to people, places, and topics.

    Saul. David. Goliath. Jonathan. When we think of 1 & 2 Samuel, these names and the stories that make them memorable generally come to mind. But these narratives are more than mere history.Peter Leithart offers here a typological reading of 1 & 2 Samuel as a unified book. By giving careful attention to the book's literary structures and its patterns of types and antitypes, Leithart unveils the symbolic world of Samuel's cumulative and cohesive story. His reading enhances our understanding of New Testament Christology while at the same time giving us a framework for applying the Old Testament to our own lives.

    As the author demonstrates in this compact and readable book, the Book of Jonah emerges as perhaps the most profoundly Christian of all the books in the Hebrew Bible, and the book that speaks with the most telling resonance for our own age. The Book's message is a serious and compelling one.

    It has as a basic conviction the existence of a personal God, who is the supreme source of radiating love. He prizes man and doesn't want to confuse him with Himself, but maintains and raises him to an eternal dialogue of love. Such a spirituality has no place where an evolutionary progress of man, connected to a divinity conceived as an impersonal essence, is affirmed. This progress can have no result other than man's disappearance in the impersonal divinity. But the personal God, and thus the supreme source of love, can't be conceived of as a single person, but as a community of persons in a perfect unity. You see then why the Christian teaching of a Trinity of Persons in a unity of essence is the only one which can constitute the basis of a perfect spirituality for man, understood as a full communion with God in love, without his being lost in it. Dumitru Staniloae, Orthodox Spirituality It should be remembered, especially in the Western context, that the roots of Christian theology are not only Western, but reach deeply into the theological mind and the living Christian experience of the Orthodox East. Before the medieval political and cultural schism between the Latin and Greek worlds and the subsequent Protestant Reformation, the Christian West was itself, in fact, Orthodox, part and parcel of one united, albeit admittedly bi-polar, Byzantine Commonwealth. In our own time, as Western culture once again gradually comes to recognition of the "Eastern" Orthodox Church as being existentially part of its own root tradition, the imperative of discovering common ground and defining a common frame of reference relative to essentials of Christian spiritual life arises as a matter of some urgency. -Alexander Golubov, Foreword,Orthodox Spirituality

    Providing much more than dictionary-style entries, Brueggemann acknowledges the deep interconnectedness of these themes as he explores their depth, complexities, and interrelationships. By reading across the entries, readers will sense the dynamism of the faith of ancient Israel. Each entry states the consensus reading, identifies what is at issue in the interpretive question, and discusses the practical significance of the issue for the church today--in part by suggesting contemporary connections to the ancient texts. Reverberations of Faith will be a great resource for both students and laity.

    While Barth's writings are permeated by biblical citations and exegesis, there are only a few examples of Barth's interpretation of an entire biblical book. In this anniversary edition of The Epistle to the Philippians, Karl Barth's exposition of the book of Philippians is again made available. Two new introductory essays by Bruce L. McCormack and Francis B. Watson examine the significance of Barth's theological exegesis of Philippians and introduce Barth's approach to biblical interpretation.

    All creation longs for that day - The Day of the Saints. This day is on God's prophetic timetable and is the day when the Saints will fulfill all the Scriptures regarding Christ's glorious church. The Day of the Saints is written with a sense of urgency and a surge of passion about God's great plans for His end-time people. With prophetic clarity, author Bill Hamon, fits together the Biblical directives and the spiritual power that will prepare and propel the saints of God into the world. The saints of God are called to take the message of the Kingdom into the marketplaces of the world and Dr. Hamon shows how all of history has been moving towards this magnificent end.

    Raoul Plus's no-nonsense prayer manual dispels the false notions of prayer that we all have and shows how we can, in fact, pray without ceasing even at times when exhaustion cripples us and cares threaten to sweep us away.

    Most expositors merely skim the surface for messages on tithing or sabbath-keeping. Yet Leviticus is one of the most important books of the Old Testament; it not only describes the complete religious system of ancient Israel, it also lays the theological foundation for the Christian gospel.In Holiness to the Lord, Allen P. Ross enables preachers and teachers to mine the riches of Leviticus and deliver them to a contemporary audience. Following the same practical method he used in the acclaimed Creation and Blessing, Ross first carefully sites Leviticus within its context in the ancient world. Then he traces the development of God's plan of salvation-how Leviticus' laws, rituals, symbols, and events prepared for the complete revelation in Jesus Christ. Finally, unlike traditional commentaries, Ross offers helpful ideas for correlating Leviticus to New Testament teachings (particularly Romans, Hebrews, and Peter) and for applying the material in relevant expository form.Holiness to the Lord is every expositor's indispensable guide for interpreting the Law for the church and for elucidating Leviticus in practical, biblical messages about worship, sanctification, and obedience.

    Thomas, preferring that the reader should encounter them, "on his own". His work has been one of selection, in which he has sought to assemble such passages as will provide an introduction to the form and design of the whole Thomistic system.Yet he has so ordered his texts as to impress upon the reader a special feature of St. Thomas's thought, what he calls its double aspect: St. Thomas sees the whole scheme of reality ordered and penetrable by reason; yet the mystery of Being itself remains: "The effort of human thought has not been able to track down the essence of a single gnat."Josef Pieper, one of the most highly regarded Thomistic philosophers of the twentieth century, wrote numerous philosophical works including Leisure: The Basis of Culture, Guide to Thomas Aquinas, Only the Lover Sings and many more.

    Smith continues to uncover the truths of and in the Bible. Christ is the crux of the entire Bible story, from the first page to the last. Volume 3 encourages and strengthens readers to discover the life-changing realities found in the New Testament.

    He draws upon the rich traditions of the Church, as well as the writings of the great Christian mystics, to create a work that is both new and old, revolutionary and orthodox. This profoundly moving meditation will aid any contemplation on the life of Christ.The subject of this book is the objective and divinely revealed truth of the Nativity of Christ, as proclaimed by His infallible and immaculate Bride. It is the splendor of this truth, of Love's noon in Nature's night, which for two millennia has captivated the Fathers and Schoolmen, and activated the genius of poets, painters, and musicians. Illustrated with eight color paintings.

    He considers, further, how we as humans can experience Christ's humanity and divinity through his words. Are we able to recognize this speech as divine, and if so, then how? What can testify to the divine nature of these words? What makes them intelligible? Startling possibilities -- and further questions -- emerge as Henry systematically explores these enigmas. For example, how does the phenomenology of life bring to light the God of which scripture speaks? Might this new region of phenomenality broaden or transform the discipline of phenomenology itself, or theology? Henry approaches these questions starting from the angle of material phenomenology, but his study has far-reaching implications for other disciplines too. Intended for a wide audience, his work is a uniquely philosophical approach to the question of Christ and to the place of this question in human experience. This highly original, interdisciplinary perspective on Christ's words was Henry's last work, published shortly after his death in 2002.

    It is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend...." Ps. 55:12-13 The paucity of resources for pastoral care of acquaintance-rape survivors highlights the invisibility of this growing crime and its largely uncharted pastoral challenges. In fact, most rape is by an acquaintance. Only 16 percent of such cases are reported; and, because they are difficult to prosecute, only 5 percent of those reported result in guilty verdicts. Focusing on the psychospiritual effects of this sexualized violence, Kristen Leslie offers the psychological and theological tools to religious professionals for understanding the deep spiritual trauma of the survivor and how best to work with her to reconstruct a personal world of meaning, trust, and faith. Based on extensive interviews with survivors, Leslie explains the personal and theological issues they raise, what they found helpful from religious professionals, the images and metaphors most germane to their trauma and recovery, and how they coped with or healed from the experience of rape. An exemplary and important study in practical theology, Leslie's volume will not only equip pastoral caregivers and counselors with specific guidelines. It will also enlighten them on the crucial role that theology can play in the re-construction of shattered lives.

    "An Invitation to Prayer" stands as an eloquent testimony to Pope John Paul II's message of peace and love -- a powerful collection that invites us to actively participate in prayer as a duty, a privilege, and an infinite source of comfort and hope.

    This book, the first to present an overall account of John's life and work, sets him in the context of the early synods of the Church that took place in the Palestinian monasteries during the first century of Arab rule.

    347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek surname chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", rendered in English as Chrysostom.[1][2]The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church as a saint and Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and parts of the Lutheran Church, commemorate him on 13 September. Some Lutheran and many Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria recognizes John Chrysostom as a saint (feast days: 16 Thout and 17 Hathor).[3]John is known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Among his sermons, eight directed against Judaizing Christians remain controversial for their impact on the development of Christian antisemitism.[4][5][6]. He was also active in destruction of pagan symbols and places of worship, including the temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

    Smith has drawn from all four volumes of his work, Unlocking the Bible Story, to create this fascinating and thought-provoking guide. Using ten key words from his books, he leads the reader through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and opens doors to further inspiration. 10 Keys offers a bridge to his series, and is also a wonderful stand-alone book of revitalizing truths.

    Specifically, it explores three of the most common yet theologically rich images of the Holy Virgin She Who Points the Way or Hodegetria, The Virgin of Loving Kindness or Eleousa, and The Virgin of the Sign or Oranta all of which serve as a wonderful springboard for theological and personal reflection.

    He takes as a starting point the fact that the post-biblical Jewish world lost its geographical centre with the destruction of the temple and so was left with a textual centre, the Holy Book. Idel argues that a text-oriented religion produced language-centred forms of mysticism.

    These secrets show the power available to those who understand their covenant with God. Covenant, a term used widely in ancient times, has been misunderstood, especially by western culture. Now, Malcolm Smith illustrates the background, history; and relevance of God's covenant to life today. The reader will discover that the covenant does not only include salvation, but also contains the foundation to a fulfilling life.

    Smith continues to uncover the truths of and in the Bible. Christ is the crux of the entire Bible story, from the first page to the last. Volume 4 encourages and strengthens readers to discover the life-changing realities found in the New Testament.

    This better, more contented and satisfying life is only for the people who believe in him, because, as Terry demonstrates, the Sermon on the Mount was preached to the disciples and not to the general population. This blows a horrible hole in the theories of those who try to take this collection of Jesus' teachings as a guide to more harmonious living outside the church. God's blessings here are on his people in a special way, not on the population as a whole. To this end Terry doesn't allow for the word 'blessed' to be translated 'happy', as it trivialises some very serious points Jesus makes. He explains the beatitudes, showing both what they don't mean and opening up what they do. His conclusions are strong, challenging and immensely practical. You will be engaged in the impact of Jesus' words as you never have before.

    Thomas Manton (1620–1677) was an English Puritan clergyman.

    One will learn communion's origin deepen his relationship with God and be challenged in discipleship.

    In this inspiring volume, Michael Plekon introduces readers to a diverse and unusual group of men and women who strove to put the Gospel of Christ into action in their lives. The "living icons" Plekon describes were, among other things, priests, theologians, writers, and caregivers to the homeless and poor. One was an artist who became the greatest icon painter in this century; another was assassinated for his teachings in post-Soviet Russia. These remarkable people of faith lived through times of great suffering: forced emigration, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. Many of them were criticized, if not condemned, by ecclesiastical opponents and authorities. Yet each demonstrate a unique pattern for holiness, illustrating that the path to sainthood is open to all. With the fall of state socialism, Eastern Orthodox churches and monasteries are being reopened and receiving renewed interest from believers and nonbelievers alike. Plekon calls to our attention people like Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1832), a monk, mystic, counselor, healer, and visionary; Father Alexander Men (1935-1990), a Russian whose writings after Glasnost ultimately led to his tragic assassination; Mother Maria Skobtsova (1891-1945), a painter, poet, and political activist who was killed in a concentration camp for hiding her Jewish neighbors; and Father Lev Gillet (1893-1980), one of the twentieth century's greatest spiritual teachers. Living Icons, which includes a foreword by Lawrence S. Cunningham, brings to life the beautiful, and often unfamiliar, spirituality of the Eastern Orthodox Church through some of its most remarkable members. It shows with simplicity and clarity that Christ and the Gospel are often manifested in extraordinary ways in the lives of ordinary people.

    

    Joshua prefigures Christ as he faithfully leads God’s people, like the church militant, through battle into triumph. This commentary explores the history, culture, archaeology, and theology of the book to deepen faith in the victorious Savior. It focuses on the faithfulness of God in keeping his covenant promises, which are fulfilled in Christ. Throughout the commentary the author’s intimate knowledge of the Holy Land and his experience as a missionary and pastor bring the biblical text to life. The commentary is illustrated with maps and photos.

    In an age fairly rich with heroes, Pope John Paul II is truly the great man of the past century -- a man who personally confronted all that century's tragedies, from Nazism to Communism. And now, in old age, he wrestles with materialism, "the culture of death, " and new scandals that could, on his leaving, tear the church in two.This pope is also a paradoxical figure -- an intellectual animated by confidence and joy, a poet and playwright, a supporter of freedom who decries its abuse, a tough political gamesman, and a mystic convinced that the bullet that nearly killed him was directed away from his heart by the hand of the Mother of God.Here, bestselling author Peggy Noonan brings her sharp observations, acute sensibility, warmth, and wit to the life of this pope, and shows the personal impact his journey has had upon her and millions of others throughout the world. Written with heart and depth, this book is a heartening celebration of a man whose life teaches us perhaps the greatest lesson of all: how to live.

    This second collection of essays and letters by Sasse spans the years 1940 through 1976.

    

    . . cutting through the confusion and heretical dangers associated with Bible interpretation." --"Moody" magazine

    This is the Participant's Guide for the When God Weeps GroupWare.

    Thus, the new birth, or regeneration, is a thing of great importance. But is regeneration the result of faith, or is it the cause of faith? And what part does the human will play in this eternally significant event? These are the questions that Van Mastricht answers in this book, which contains a useful introduction by Brandon Withrow.

    In The Letter Writer, Paul is seen to be both the Apostle of grace and of Torah, because the Torah, when received in the context of faith in Yeshua, is God's revelation of sanctifying grace.

    An influence on philosophers such as Anthony Kenny and Alasdair MacIntyre he was also befriended by poets and literary critics such as Seamus Heaney and Terry Eagleton. Equally at home in philosophy and theology, he despised jargon and intellectual posturing as a substitute for reason and argument. At the time of his death, he left a wealth of unpublished material- so outstanding in its quality and originality that it is surprising that it was never published in book form. This is now put to rights. In God Still Matters we have the chance to read McCabe on the topics that interested him most - philosophy of God, Christology, Fundamental theology, Sacramental theology and ethics. No-one who reads this volume will doubt that McCabe was one of the outstanding Christian thinkers of his generation and the epitome of Dominican intellectual openness and rigour.

    The selections included here, chosen for their pastoral tone, speak across the centuries and inform the spiritual concerns of today.Drawing on Luther’s Bible prefaces and commentaries, his treatises and sermons, his letters, his “table talk,” and his enduring hymnbook, Faith and Freedom will provide a spiritual resource for anyone seeking the heritage of modern Christian spirituality. Moreover, it requires no specialized knowledge of Reformation theology or Church history. Rich in language, direct, powerful, fresh in ideas, and often disquieting in their effect, the writings of Luther provide compelling reading.

    It features foundational questions in historical Jesus research plus Aramaic backgrounds of the Gospels.

    They range from the personal to the polemical; from youthful enthusiasm to the gratitude of an aged warrior; sketches from works in progress; portraits of prisoners and dissidents; and a gifted reporter's dispatches from the flash points of mid-twentieth-century social and economic conflict. Day's writing offers readers not only an overview of her fascinating life but a compendium of her prophetic insights, spiritual depth, and unforgettable prose.Chapters are *The Brother and the Rooster, - *Guadalupe, - *Letter From Mexico City, - *Spring Festival in Mexico, - *Bed, - *Now We Are Home Again, - *Notes From Florida, - *East Twelfth Street, - *Review: Saint Elizabeth by Elizabeth von Schmidt-Pali, - *Real Revolutionists, - *Review: The Catholic Anthology by Thomas Walsh, - *For the Truly Poor, - *Saint John of the Cross, - *Houses of Hospitality, - *The House on Mott Street, - *Tale of Two Capitals, - *Letter: 'In the Name of the Staff,'- *King, Ramsey and Connor, - *It Was a Good Dinner, - *About Mary, - *Tobacco Road, - *Review: In the Steps of Moses by Louis Golding, - *Review: Our Lady of the Birds by Louis J.A. Mercier, - *Peter and Women, - *Letter: 'Things Worth Fighting For?'- *The Scandal of the Works of Mercy, - *Traveling by Bus, - *Letter: 'Blood, Sweat and Tears,'- *The Story of Steve Hergenhan, - *Priest of the Immediate, - *We Plead Guilty, - *Letter: 'From Dorothy Day,'- *Pilgrimage to Mexico, - *In Memory of Ed Willock, - *Southern Pilgrimage, - *A.J., - *On Hope, - and *A Reminiscence at 75. -Patrick Jordan, managing editor of Commonweal, is a former managing editor of The Catholic Worker. He resides in Staten Island, New York."

    Reisinger, Bible scholar, evangelist, pastor and author probes these questions in a way that brings fresh appreciation to the work that Christ has accomplished on behalf of sinners. John states, "The gospel is the story of how Christ 'finished the work my Father gave me to do.' Learning the gospel is learning about him and the work he came to do." That Christ is the believer's Sabbath is clearly shown from the Scriptures. Christ has provided for fallen man that which man could never earn by his own works. Christ has done all that the Father desired and ushered in the age in which believers rest in him. It is the author's desire that the teaching in this little booklet will encourage the child of God to find joy, peace, and rest as he trusts in the finished work of his Lord and Savior, even the Christ.

    Put simply, Nietzsche is an atheist--belief in God, he argues, denies the value and meaning of human life. Whitehead says the opposite--human life finds no meaning unless God exists. Faithful to the Earth, winner of the Bross Prize for Christian Scholarship that is awarded only once every 10 years, goes way beyond contrasting the theist with the atheist. J. Thomas Howe argues that Whitehead's understanding of God lays the foundation for a religious life strikingly similar to that described in Nietzsche's tragic, but affirmative, philosophy. In Howe's eyes, the theology of Whitehead provides a doctrine of God that is not subject to Nietzsche's criticism of Christianity. For Whitehead, religious life is not opposed to life in the world.

    Here we can find answers to the contemporary psychological struggle for inner peace.In a fresh and engaging reading of this ancient contemplative spirituality, Jean-Yves Leloup explores the writings of many spiritual masters from across the centuries. In particular he focuses on the Desert Fathers, the fourth-century monk Evagrius, St. John Cassian, and the anonymous 19th-century author of The Way of the Pilgrim. Drawn from the experience of the monasteries of Sinai and Mount Athos, here is a clear and practical presentation of the spiritual art of arts: stillness in the face of interior pain and confusion.

    Calvin on Prayer is from Book Three of the Christian classic, Institutes of the Christian Religion. It is both a good introduction to Calvin’s masterpiece and excellent teaching for the Christian’s vital life of prayer. In it John Calvin gives general guidelines for prayer, shows Christ as our great Mediator, practically portrays the different kinds of prayer, and concludes with most useful exposition of the Lord’s Prayer.

    Piece by piece, Samuel E. Waldron strips away years of false teaching and faulty exegesis thrust upon the church to reveal what the Bible, in its own simple but profound way, says about what will happen at the end of this present age.

    Spiral Bound. REVISED EDITION